Amateur Athletic Status & the Dangers of Sports Agents

If there is one absolute in the recruiting game it is this – stay away from agents trying to build a relationship with your student-athlete.  There is no faster way of destroying amateur eligibility and putting a black mark on your reputation than accepting representation, vague promises of future representation, or benefits like housing (see Reggie Bush) or cars from an agent to a student-athlete or family.  And with the immediacy and reach of social media any interaction by a student-athlete or family with an agent will get noticed. 

The NCAA bylaws strictly prohibit this student-athlete/agent relationship under § 12.3.1.1 and .2.  This includes both written and verbal arrangements and both present and casual promises of future representation after your son or daughter has completed his or her amateur eligibility in that sport.

More info at www.NCAA.org

What do Ben Franklin & Coach Bill Belickick Have in Common?

Interesting podcast from Tim Ferriss (Four Hour Workweek) on embracing the grunt work.

http://fourhourworkweek.com/2016/06/10/the-canvas-strategy/

Divorce & Goal Alignment

With 1M kids playing high school football and 850K divorces per year it's important for coaches to discuss parent-athlete-coach goal alignment in the pre-season meeting.

How Kids Learn

Pretty amazing but more than 50% of kids in US public schools are now eligible for a public lunch program. 

Hefty article but a good read from The Atlantic on how to reach kids from low income households and keep them invested in staying in school.

Useful info for sports parents and youth coaches.

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/06/how-kids-really-succeed/480744/

EntreLeadership: Work/Life Balance

Great interview of Dr. Meg Meeker from EntreLeadership on work-life balance and effective communication, conflict management.

Interview #149 titled, "Leading the Next Generation"

https://www.entreleadership.com/posts.podcast

The Sports Parenting Podcast: The ABC's of Divorce & Sports Parenting

Thank you, JBM, for the interview on your podcast show, The Sports Parenting podcast! 

We covered the "ABC's" of Divorce & Sports Parenting - aligning goals with the ex and coach, following the best interests standard in decision making, and controlling the controllables.

Interview link below...

http://jbmthinks.com/2016/05/sports-parenting-podcast-youth-sports-divorce.html/

Trophy Kids - Sports Parenting

Good documentary with tips on sports parenting. 

Trophy Kids @ Netflix.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3231100/