Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Great documentary on Netflix called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi." 

Lots of lessons for sports parents on what it takes to achieve success.  Jiro runs a simple 10-seat sushi shop in a Tokyo subway station and all he serves...is sushi.  Nothing else. 

A 3-star Michelin rated restaurant, with a global waiting list running months out in advance for a seat,  85-year old Jiro is still learning and perfecting his craft.   

http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/

Post-Game Growth in Youth Football

Post-Game:  Create space between a bad performance and post-game life lessons.  Let the sting wear off before offering constructive ideas for improvement. 

Too many times I see parents replaying their son’s mistakes after a game before they even get to the car.  Give it 24 hours before having that conversation – the player will be less defensive and more receptive.  Ask open-ended questions in areas the player has control over and can improve upon like effort, attitude, intensity, concentration, and being a good teammate. 

You’ll notice that these conversations have nothing to do with a sports-parent’s expertise on blocking and tackling – remember that coaches coach and parents support.  Be the emotional backstop that creates confidence in the student-athlete to overcome adversity.  Adversity will show up again and again in sports and later on in careers and personal lives.  Shape the ability to say, “Hey, we knew this bad outcome was a possibility.  It happened.  So what.  We’re moving forward.” 

Having these pre and post (season, tryout, game) routines is an effective way for sports-parents to support student-athletes.  Get  present; focus on process-oriented goals, and control the controllables.

More football parenting tips @ http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418994275&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

Pre-Game Prep in Youth Football

Pre-Game: An effective pre-game routine is to discuss specific “worst case scenarios” with your student-athlete and talk about how they will respond.  They have a choice.  Bad stuff will happen regardless of preparation and effort.  Working through possible worst case scenarios beforehand and accepting that mistakes will happen helps reduce game-day pressure and anxiety. 

For example, as a wide receiver one of the most difficult catches to make is the one thrown…slow…and perfectly…while wide open in the end zone with the crowd watching.  That’s just too much time to get up in your head and think “what if this, what if that…”  So work through those kinds of situations.

Help shape the student athlete’s ability to shake off a mistake so they can focus on the next play.

Benefits of Division III Football

Why Div III

Don’t rule out Div III.

Unlike Div I and II football, there are no athletic scholarships available at the Div III level.  And sure, the facilities may be a…slight downgrade from a University of Oregon, and no, D3 athletes do not get playbooks on IPads and they don’t fly first class…they don’t roll like that.  Chances are good they’ll be loaded on a crowded bus to this game, the next game, and probably the game after that.

So why Div III football?

Be a big fish in a small pond:

Attending a D III school may allow an athlete a better chance to actually play for four years instead of sitting on the bench.

True college athlete-student experience:

Div III programs provide shorter practices schedules and seasons, and there are limited offseason requirements.  This frees up time to pursue internships, network with other classmates, make career contacts, and be a college “student.”  Playing football at a D III program is not a 24/7 commitment.  And in the long-game that is a good thing.  When only 1.6% of NCAA football players make the pros, it’s good to have a plan in place for after graduation.

Grants, Work-Study and Academic Scholarships:

Div III programs offer a lot of assistance to student-athletes to help pay for school.  It probably won’t cover everything but considering D III provides a chance to play, and chance to be a college student, D III should be a strong consideration for many student-athletes looking for a well-rounded college experience.

More football parenting advice @ http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418653814&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

NCAA Guide for Student Athletes (free guide)

NCAA Guide for College-Bound Student Athletes.  Download the free PDF from the NCAA's publication site.  Very useful, easy to read info for both sports parents and students.

https://www.ncaapublications.com/p-4354-2014-15-ncaa-guide-for-the-college-bound-student-athlete-sold-as-a-package-of-25.aspx

NCAA Football Recruiting & Boosters....the "Buddy Garrity's"

Boosters:  Inducements are illegal. Money, cars, gifts, family housing, hell, a free taco lunch to talk about your son’s athletic future is off the table when it comes to boosters and the recruiting of prospective student-athletes.  And pretty much every program has a “Buddy Garrity” somewhere close by.

Under NCAA bylaws, boosters are prohibited from recruiting high school athletes both before and after a National Letter of Intent is signed.  And any recruiting violation by a booster is attributed to the school.

And the NCAA bylaws are unforgiving - under § 13.02.14.1, once an individual or entity is classified as a university’s “representative of athletic interests,” aka “booster,” they are considered a booster for life!  There is no coming back from Boosterville.  Beware Boosterville.

More high school football parenting tips @ http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418392552&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

NCAA Football Recruiting: Verbals vs. Signed Letter of Intent

Verbal Commitment vs. Signed Letter of Intent:

 

   Verbal commitments from player to coach or coach to player/family are not binding.  It’s perfectly legal and compliant for a young athlete to “say” he intends to attend University A and then back out and sign with University B.  But it cuts both ways.  A coach can and will talk about how much he wants to sign your son only to “go in a different direction” on signing day.  It happens.  A lot. 

 

Only a (1) signed Letter of Intent with (2) an athletic financial aid package attached is binding on the athlete and the school.  This is why it is so important to think through all the pros and cons before signing.  Once that binding letter of intent is signed, the student-athlete is committed to the school for at least one full academic year (two semesters or three quarters).

More football parenting tips @ http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418308785&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

Ban the Fade Route.

With a 36% chance of success, it's time to ban the Fade Route to the corner of the end zone.  Ban it.  Ban it now.



The fade route is overrated - Fantasy Index

Spergon Wynn or Tom Brady in the 6th Round???

Some examples of marginally successful late bloomers:

Jerry Rice: Rice didn’t go to USC, Notre Dame or University of Texas.  No.  The greatest wide receiver in history attended… Mississippi Valley State University. 

Aaron Rogers: Rogers, the Green Bay Packers QB and Super Bowl winner started his college career at Butte Community College because he didn’t get a single Division I athletic scholarship offer coming out of high school!

Tom Brady: The multi-super bowl champ and future hall of famer was a 6^th round draft.  A couple QB’s selected ahead of Tom Brady - Giovanni Carmazzi, Hofstra - Drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in Round 3, Pick 65; and Spergon Wynn, SW Texas State - Drafted by the Cleveland Browns in Round 6, Pick 183.

Michael Jordan:  And everyone knows the story of Jordan by now.   The fiercest, most competitive and gifted athletic talent ever was cut from his high school varsity basketball team as a sophomore.  But he stayed with it.  Imagine our loss had Jordan’s parents said, “Meh, maybe basketball is not for you, young Michael.  Let’s try baseball.”

Bottom line – avoid comparisons that may discourage a student-athlete to stick with a sport they love to play.

How Moms can Spot a Sports Concussion

Excerpt from my book, Zero Offseason: Divorce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Mom.

Book available @ Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418047261&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

...though we can’t eliminate the initial concussion, we can take steps to prevent a second concussion during the critical healing period; that is the “return to play” focus for athletes, parents, coaches and healthcare providers.  

According to the CDC, parents, coaches and staff should look for the follow symptoms after a forceful blow to a student-athlete’s head or body that results in rapid movement of the head:

·        Athlete appears dazed or stunned

·        Confusion about assignments or position

·        Moves clumsily

·        Loss of consciousness (even briefly)

·        Behavioral changes

·        Slurred speech

·        Can’t recall events prior to or after the fall or hit.

And student-athletes might self-report the following symptoms:

·        Headache or “pressure” in the head

·        Nausea or vomiting

·        Balance or dizziness problems

·        Double or blurry vision

·        Sensitivity to light or sound

·        Feeling sluggish

·        Concentration or memory problems.

3.9M Concussions?

3.9 million — that’s the estimated number of sports and recreational-related concussions every year in the United States, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (“CDC”).  The problem, though, is that you can’t see a concussion.  

Briefly, a concussion is an injury that changes how the cells in the brain normally function and is caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull.  The CDC reports that football and hockey have the highest number of concussions, followed by soccer, wrestling, basketball, field hockey, baseball, softball and volleyball. It’s estimated that U.S. high school athletes sustain 300,000 concussion per year; 67,000 from interscholastic football. The risk of concussions is highest in the 15-to 19-year-old age group among all age groups nationally.

The CDC offers some great free info on concussion management.  

More tips on sports parenting available @   http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417895295&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

---

 

 

 

Sports Parenting - Best Practices

Best Parental Practices (Team) – parents of youth

athletes have a choice. They can be an asset or

detriment to team chemistry and development. Be a

“team” parent and find out how you can best support

the team and coaches. This goes a long way on the

coaching tree.

Like any other profession, the coaches talk. Make no

mistake on this point. Coaches (from rookie up to high

school varsity) know and talk to each other about who

the team-oriented parents are and who the problem

parents are from previous seasons. Once you get

tagged as a problem parent that can be a hard label to

shake. Take the long view and work hard to be a

parent the coaches look forward to working with every

season.

Players Play; Coaches Coach & Parents Support

Easy rules; complex roles.

If you want to work with your child on technique outside of practice, definitely talk to the coach beforehand and find out what to focus on so you are in step with the coach’s expectations. 

Teaching your child a skill set that contradicts what the coaches expect just creates confusion, frustration and divided loyalty – don’t put a twelve year old in the position of deciding whether to disappoint mom/dad or the coach with performing what has been taught. 

As a football coach, I’ve watched inexperienced sports parents with good intentions working with their sons before practice teaching “wrong” technique. 

Talk to the coach.

Zero Offseason: Divoce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Moms available @ Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416752128&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

James Cameron: | TED.com - Failure is an Option

Great Ted Talk by James Cameron - the importance of curiosity; the idea that failure is an option but fear is not. 



James Cameron: Before Avatar ... a curious boy | Talk Video | TED.com

Who Needs a Helmet?

Believe it or not, helmets were not "required" in professional football until 1939.  With roughly 3.9M reported concussions every year due to recreational sports, it can safely argued that helmets are...a good thing.

Lots of concussion prevention and management advice available at USA Football and the Centers for Disease Control.  Also your state's governing body for high school sports will have free advice as well.

I also cover concussion awareness in my sports parenting book for divorced moms new to youth sports.

Zero Offseason: Divorce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Mom

http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416491953&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

.08%? So You're Saying There's a Chance...

Hit the Books!  Only .08% of high school football players will make it to the NFL four years later. 

Zero Offseason:  Divorce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Mom now available at Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416409108&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

Sports Parenting Guide for Divorced Moms - Available on Kindle

Just published a new book titled, Zero Offseason: Divorce, Youth Sports & Tips for the Insanely Busy Sports Mom, at Amazon.com.

This book is written for busy sports moms burning the candle at both ends.

Zero Offseason covers how to deal with the uncooperative ex, how to stay of the coaches' "Blacklist," parenting plans and sports schedules, child support and expenses, and tips for developing student-athletes.

Link below:

 http://www.amazon.com/Zero-Offseason-Divorce-Sports-Insanely-ebook/dp/B00PLY51RW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416233631&sr=8-1&keywords=zero+offseason

How Effective Leaders Use Comparions and Competition to Motivate and Build Momentum

Good article from "Both Sides of the Table" on how leaders use comparisons and competition to motivate.



Start-ups are all Naked in the Mirror

Dreams of an NFL Career? Have a Backup Plan

Some sobering stats about making it to the NFL.  Encourage your student-athlete to hit the books this fall!

 

High School Senior Football Players: 310,000

Percent of High School Players to the NCAA:  6.5%

Percent of High School Players to the NFL:  0.08%

Percent of NCAA players to the NFL:  1.7%

NCAA Football Players Drafted to the NFL:  254

 

...so out of roughly 310,000 high school football players, only 254 will be drafted into the NFL four to five years later.  And out of those 254 many will be cut before the first regular season game. 

Child Support & Sports Camp

Child Support is calculated on a state by state basis.  But for the most part, parents are obligated to cover the "necessities."  This would include food, clothing, medical treatment and shelter.  Because sports camps, personal coaches and youth league fees are not a "necessity" these expenses are not mandatory for one or both parents to contribute.  Payment for extracurricular activities, such as youth sports expenses, must be negotiated between the parents.  One more reason for both parents to find a way to work collaboratively for the best interests of their child. 

Parenting Plans & Youth Sports - "Best Interests" Standard

Acrimonious divorce?  It happens.  But does the parenting plan support your child's athletic schedule? 

One anecdote I share with parents every season is Alec Baldwin vs. Kim Basinger.  After a nine year marriage, Baldwin and Basinger waged war with an eight year custody battle, involving $3M in court costs and legal fees, and 90 + court proceedings.

Who benefited from that?

Parents Ruin Sports for Their Kids by Obsessing About Winning - The Atlantic

Good article re: setting process-based goals. 



Parents Ruin Sports for Their Kids by Obsessing About Winning - The Atlantic

Getting "Present" - Control the Controllables, Part II

“Thought Stop” works like this:  once an athlete feels their focus drifting from the immediate moment

(1) the athlete consciously acknowledges that distraction without judgment or fighting the distraction;

(2) the athlete briefly examines where his/her focus should be; and finally,

(3) the athlete allows themselves permission to refocus on the present. 

Thought Stop must be done quickly when in the middle of a game.  This is not an existential go sit on the mountain top and contemplate the meaning of life kind of fix.  Thought Stop is a tool in the tool box to rapidly get back into the right mind set.

Tips for using Thought Stop:

·        Review distracting thoughts without judgment (stay relaxed);

·        There’s absolutely no use in fighting back against distracting thoughts (stay relaxed) - allow these gremlins an exit door on every side of the brain;

o   Example – when someone says, “whatever you do….don’t focus on a pink hippopotamus riding a unicycle” where does your focus go?

Distracting thoughts are a never-ending battle (stay relaxed).  Think of Thought Stop like an endless roll of duct tape, a quick fix to get back on track until the next pink hippopotamus comes along.

Getting "Present" - Control the Controllables, Part I of II

Getting Present – The “Controllables”

The most common trait of mentally tough athletes is the ability to “get present.”  And this skill takes deliberate and repeated practice so it becomes a habit.  And once it becomes a habit it requires constant attention to avoid the slide back into worrying about external factors. 

The best example I’ve ever seen of “getting present” was Michael Jordan in game 5 of the 1997 NBA finals against the Utah Jazz.  Jordan came out on the floor with the flu and a 103 temp.  He literally took over the game and destroyed the Jazz with 38 points while fighting passing out on the floor.  Jordan “got present.”

When “present” the athlete focuses on process-oriented goals rather than outcome, channels energy on what they control, and settles into a game-mode mind set where instincts are allowed to run the show (the zone).

So what is the trick?  Easy to say, not so easy to do.  How does an athlete get present?  One useful exercise to use is a concept called “Thought Stop.” 

“Thought Stop” works like this:....to be continued...

Burnout & Breathing Room in Youth Sports

Burnout is a thief.  Burnout steals all the great life skills that youth sports can teach.  It is up to the sports-parent to get on the same page and align their goals with that of the student-athlete.  And it is also up to the sports-parent to create breathing room and purposefully schedule downtime from competitive youth sports.

Breathing Room.  Breathing room is a critical part of skill development. Breathing room is not a luxury or something to be “earned” by on-field performance.  Scheduling purposeful downtime allows the athlete to decompress and digest what has been learned.  Even a machine-like Navy SEAL requires downtime.  Shouldn’t same the same apply to a promising twelve-year-old wide receiver?

The Seven Mental Dwarfs

The Seven Mental Dwarfs. 

If this is your child’s first sports season, review those areas where he or she struggles making progress outside of sports (school work, chores, playing nice in the sandbox, etc).  It usually involves a combination of these seven mental roadblocks:

·        procrastination;

·        perfectionism;

·        fear of failure;

·        analysis paralysis;

·        limited comfort zone;

·        indecision; or

·        complacency. 

Expect to see these same mental roadblocks pop up in athletic development.  Create a game plan to address these issues to keep the athlete motivated.

California Interscholastic Federation - Sports Parents' Resource

The CIF website is a great resource for student-athletes and new sports-parents.  Lots of free information on safety, athletic scholarship eligibility, and the onslaught of rules and regulations that go into high school sports participation.  Considering bookmarking for reference.... 



California Interscholastic Federation

Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game

An example of why process-oriented goals are so important for when a student-athlete must deal with a bad, unfair outcome.  Imagine being one out away from pitching a perfect game (only 23 pitchers have done this in 135 year of pro baseball) and the first base ump blows a call on the final batter.  How to respond....



Armando Galarraga's near-perfect game - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

N.J. Dad files $40 million lawsuit after his son is kicked off track team for missed practices | Prep Rally - Yahoo Sports

Suing your son's high school track coach for $40M is not exactly the best way to attract college athletic scholarships.



N.J. Dad files $40 million lawsuit after his son is kicked off track team for missed practices | Prep Rally - Yahoo Sports

CA - Online Family Law Self Help Info

With school coming up, divorced sports-parents should make sure they are on the same page with school sports expectations - time commitments, adjustments to custody schedules, expenses.  What is in the "best interests" of the student-athlete? 



Keep the "best interests" standard in mind when making major decisions that impact your child's participation in sports (which may serve as a child's safe harbor when there is conflict at home.) 



Online Self-Help Center - selfhelp

The Savior Fallacy: Over-Betting on Star Players in Sports and Business

Why the "Treadmill of Mediocrity" theory may be wrong.  Sometimes it doesn't make sense to blow it up and start over. 



The Savior Fallacy: Over-Betting on Star Players in Sports and Business - Derek Thompson - The Atlantic

CDC - Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports

Link to the Centers for Disease Control - Concussion Management in High School Sports - prevention tips and stats.



CDC - Heads Up: Concussion in High School Sports - Concussion - Traumatic Brain Injury - Injury Center

Summer Sports Camp - A Checklist

School is almost out which means summer camp is coming up.  

For those sports parents getting ready to send their student-athlete off to camp for the first time, here is a quick checklist for things to consider:

1.  Coaches Certification:  make sure the coaches, all the coaches, are certified in CPR, concussion management, and have passed background checks.

2.  Coach Experience:  Don't be dazzled by a coaching roster stacked with Div I players.  Div. I?  Yes, and?  Athletic ability and coaching experience are two very different skill sets.  Find out exactly how long your son or daughter's summer coaches have actually....coached.  And at what level.  They should have experience coaching at your kid's level to be effective communicators.

3. Multi-Sport Summer:  Better to spend time in camps in different sports than at three football or basketball camps over the summer.  This helps the student-athlete to get comfortable being uncomfortable - different coaches, campers, expectations, and muscle group and skill development.

4.  Parenting Plan:  Is your current parenting plan working for the child as a road map or as a weapon against the ex?  The summer parenting plan should work around summer camps and clinics rather than camps working around the plan.  Use the "Best Interests" standard.  

Navy Midshipmen Football Schedule for 2014 - Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day. 

And thanks to all vets, past and present, for all those sacrifices. 

Navy Midshipmen schedule for 2014:



Navy 2014 Schedule - Midshipmen Home and Away - ESPN

Wide Receiver Recruiting - Control the Controllables

A recruiter comes out to watch you play. 

Let's say your team has a total of 40 offensive plays  in that game.  And let's say the QB throws the ball your way four times.  Finally, let's say you caught only two of those four passes.  Is that enough for the recruiter to go on and make an educated evaluation?  Yes, you bet.  Were you directly involved in 10% of the plays that night?  No.  You were directly involved in 100% of the offensive plays that night. 

The ball got thrown your way four times, you caught two.  What did you do on the other 36 offensive plays?  Recruiters will evaluate your pre-snap reads to post-snap adjustments. 

What did you do (or not do) when the ball was not in your hands the other 90% of the game?  The little things count.  Stance and start, releases against man-press coverage, stacking the DB and staying on your route, stemming, footwork, handwork, top of the route breaks, discipline, stalk blocking, cross field blocks, hustle between plays, leadership.   It all counts. 

What you do when the ball is not in your hands, which will be a lot as a wide receiver in any offense, counts more than what you do with the ball.

David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger? | TED Talk Video

Interesting Ted Talk by David Epstein on how sports science and technology play such a huge role in sports records and advancement.
Hard to believe, but a 1936 trained Jesse Owens could have competed against....and won, in a race vs. a 2014 trained Usain Bolt.

David Epstein: Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger? | Talk Video | TED.com

How to Respond When the World's Biggest Pop Star Fires Your A**

Troy Carter, La Gaga's former manager for seven years, got fired.  No going-away party, no gold watch, no dry cake.  And how he responded.  From Fast Company magazine.



Troy Carter: Fired By Lady Gaga And Loving It | Fast Company | Business + Innovation

BYU investigating allegations of improper benefits to football players

If a "clean" school like BYU needs to investigate itself re: improper gifts and benefits to its football team, it is time to review to concept of amateur athletics and the governance of the NCAA.  Some of the rules just don't apply in 2014 - punishments for "free meals?" 



BYU investigating allegations of improper benefits to football players

Team Building tips From Pixar

Pixar has produced 14 consecutive profitable films which is unheard of for any Hollywood studio.  And no industry has to deal with egos like the film industry (and at Pixar they had to contend with Steve Jobs).  That can't be easy. 

Ed Catmull discusses how Pixar has achieved this success in his new book, Creativity, Inc.  Article and book excerpts below from Fast Company magazine. 

http://www.fastcompany.com/3027135/lessons-learned/inside-the-pixar-braintrust

Parents, players try to make sense of helmet products

Article from USA today regarding safety claims and football equipment. 



Bottom line - research any claims and get educated on concussion management.  



The Center for Disease Control is a good, objective start.  And most state's interscholastic athletic sites have free information as well.



Parents, players try to make sense of helmet products

NCAA Recruiting: Too Good for Junior College?

Not everyone gets a Div I look from a top BCS-contender school.  If a prospective student-athlete struggled with grades or injury in high school they may get passed over in such a competitive market (remember, only 3% of athletes receive an athletic scholarship). 

Junior college may not have the bright lights but it is a solid option, and sometimes the only options for certain student-athletes.  Spending a year or two at the JuCo level may allow the student-athlete to develop good study habits and prove recovery from injury.

Couple examples of the JuCo route - Aaron Rogers and Cam Newton.  Things worked out okay for them.

Wide Receiver Recruits - Twitchy Eyeballs

The art of attention is long gone - like a fade route to the corner of the end zone. 

For sports-parents and student-athletes looking to get the attention of college coaches and recruiters with personal websites and video highlights, keep in mind the following.....

From Fast Company's April '14 issue "Go Native, AD Man"

The average attention span at the end of 2013 was 8 seconds, a 33% drop from 2000, when it was 12 seconds. 

The same study reveals that about 17% of page views last less than 4 seconds!!!  (editor's note - I hope you are still reading this post.)  Only 4% of page visits last more than 10 minutes

....so, when putting together your website, highlight reel, and wide receiver resume you'll need to edit, edit, and then edit some more.  And when you are done, go back and edit one last time. 

NFL Draft - The Wide Receiver Era

It's a good time to be playing wide receiver these days at the high school level.  The game of football continues to change into a much more wide open, high speed, explosive style of play.

Take a look at the draft numbers:  For the first time in NFL history, a tailback was not selected until the 2nd round at the 54th pick. 

Leading the board in the 1st round were defensive backs - a total of 9 picks in the 1st round were DB's!  The total number of DB's selected in the draft - 53.  The next biggest group - linebackers with 37.  And third, Wide Receivers with 33.

Computer Science as a NCAA Core Course

Believe it or not, computer science is not considered a "core course" in the vast majority of states and high schools when considering what is and what is not a "core course" for NCAA athletic scholarship eligibility.

In 2013, Idaho and Tennessee passed legislation to allow computer science to fulfill math or science core course requirements.  This is progress, slow progress, as it's hard to find a more relevant and important set of skills than computer science technology when kids are hard pressed to find employment after graduation from college. 

Let's hope this trend continues at a faster pace across the country.

Jake Burton (Burton Snowboards) article

Nice article by Jake Burton from Inc. magazine on "grit" and the struggles of building an "overnight" success.  Effort beats lazy talent over time, every time. 

http://www.inc.com/magazine201403/liz-welch/burton-snowboards-success-story-.html

Baseball parents ordered to take down seats deemed superior to softball bleachers

Good decision?  Bad decision?  Did they look at all the options?



Baseball parents ordered to take down seats deemed superior to softball bleachers | Prep Rally - Yahoo Sports

NCAA "Core Course" Requirements - Is the NCAA Out of Touch?

NCAA Core Course Requirements – Is the NCAA out of touch?

Starting August 2016 a high school student athlete must achieve a 2.3 core course GPA to be fully eligible for a Div I athletic scholarship.  In addition, the student athlete must complete a total of 16 core courses before high school graduation, seven of those 10 core courses must be from a combination of English, math and natural/physical science; and 10 of those 16 core courses must be completed before starting the senior year of high school.

Core courses include the following:  English; math; natural/physical science; social science; foreign language, comparative religion; and philosophy.   

Sounds reasonable enough, I guess.  However, the following classes are NOT considered core courses and therefore not factored into the required GPA for athletic scholarship eligibility:  Art; Music; Personal Finance; Video Editing, Welding; Software Application; Website Construction; and Computer Repair.

Is the NCAA out of touch?  Does this approach make sense in our increasingly service-industry, freelance economy?  And how is “social science” more of an indicator of academic acumen than website construction?  What occupation is in demand and gets more google hits between “local social scientist’ compared to “local website designer”? 

Music is the first cousin of mathematics, Art teaches creative thinking, and Personal Finance is probably one of the most important classes a high school kid can take.  But none of these classes is stressed as a “core course.”  So where do expect a high school kid’s focus will be based on these standards?

A kid can BS his or her way through a philosophy exam but not so much when expected to play “Three Blind Mice” on the clarinet for a passing grade.  Could the NCAA play Three Blind Mice? 

Should the NCAA review its core course requirements?

Phillies Turn Unsigned Draft Pick in to NCAA for Using Agent

A cautionary tale for sports parents with student-athletes wanting to test the waters of professional sports.  The baseball draft works differently from football but the bottom line is that student-athletes and their families are responsible for knowing the rules to protect amateur status. 

When in doubt, refer to your university's Professional Sports Counseling Panel, rather than an "agent" or "advisor," for advise on your son's marketability and prospects in the pros.  Once a student-athlete loses his amateur status, he is done in that sport at the college level. 

The NCAA Professional Sports Counseling Panel information is found in the NCAA Div I manual at section 12.3.4.

Story is below.   

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/24449174/report-phillies-turn-unsigned-draft-pick-in-to-ncaa-for-using-an-agent

Wide Receiver - The Recruiting Game (Intangibles)

Recruiting Wide Receivers – The Intangibles

For high school wide receivers with a goal of playing college ball, there are four quick boxes that will be checked off by every football recruiter looking their way: 

Speed (up field separation);
Quickness (lateral separation);
Size (creating mismatches); and
Character (football IQ, leadership, drive, mental toughness, off field behavior)

Which of the above four traits does your student-athlete have ultimate control over?  Does it make any sense that a guy like Wes Welker, at five foot nine can dominate defenses?  Is he fast?  Sort of.  Quick?  Somewhat, but no more than most other NFL receivers.  And his size?  Not quite imposing unless matched up against a Del Mar horse jockey.  What separates Wes Welker are the intangibles - his character, and drive to compete and impose his will on defenders. 

Every high school wide receiver will have a mixed bag of the four traits (speed, quickness, size and character).  Help your student-athlete to maximize the one trait that is always within their control (character).        

Football Moms and Concussion Awareness

3.9 million — that’s the estimated number of sports and recreational-related concussions every year in the United States, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The problem, though, is that you can’t see a concussion.   

Briefly, a concussion is an injury that changes how the cells in the brain normally function and is caused by a blow to the head or body that causes the brain to move rapidly inside the skull.  The CDC reports that football and hockey have the highest number of concussions, followed by soccer, wrestling, basketball, field hockey, baseball, softball and volleyball. 

It’s estimated that U.S. high school athletes sustain 300,000 concussion per year; 67,000 from interscholastic football.  The risk of concussions is highest in the 15- to 19-year-old age group among all age groups nationally – and this is the group that is usually playing sports year-round.

According to the CDC, parents, coaches and staff should look for the follow symptoms after a forceful blow to a student-athlete’s head or body that results in rapid movement of the head:

Athlete appears dazed or stunned

Confusion about assignments or position

Moves clumsily

Loss of consciousness (even briefly)

Behavioral changes

Slurred speech

Can’t recall events prior to or after the fall or hit.

And student-athletes might self-report the following symptoms:

Headache or “pressure” in the head

Nausea or vomiting

Balance or dizziness problems

Double or blurry vision

Sensitivity to light or sound

Feeling sluggish

Concentration or memory problems.

Concussion Awareness Resources for parents and coaches:

CDC Heads Up Program: www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports ;

Washington Interscholastic Activities Association: www.wiaa.com — “concussion management guidelines”;

Seattle Sports Concussion Program: www.uwmedicine.org — concussion education and examinations;

USA Football: www.usafootball.com.