November 30, 2023
Headlines

become

How Does A High School Athletic Program Become Great?

Laura09 mins

I have often wondered what makes excellence in high school athletics? I grew up in an high school that demanded excellence in all of their sports programs, boys and girls. But, it was not always that way. Actually, when I attended this high school, our school was very average in sports. But, during my senior year, something magical happened. It just seemed like all of our sports teams started to get better and better. We won the state championship that year in both boys basketball and football. The next year, the school won state in football, track, cross country and girls tennis. After that, my high school has never looked back. What happened? How did we go from being average to being great? What was the tipping point? Was it just a great class of kids? Was it the coaching staff? What happened?
Well, before I Get There, Excellence In High School Athletics Is Earned…
By comparison, many years later, I know of a high school that is just the opposite. Academics in the school are great. I really believe the teachers, administrators and coaching staff are terrific. And… so are the kids. But, on the athletic field or court, they just don’t have it. They finish at the bottom of the pack every year in every sport. Why? How can one school set records for the number of state championships, while another school sets records for the number of losing seasons?
I have had the fortune of being involved with both types of athletic programs. You would think that being involved with a winning program is much easier. I would beg to differ. Being involved with a winning program is much tougher than being involved with a losing program. It’s tougher on the administrator, the coach staff, the parents, and especially the players.
Excellence In High School Athletics – Here’s Why It’s Tougher…
Being involved in a winning athletic program demands excellence. Everyone in a winning program knows that winning requires a total commitment to excellence. Winners don’t take shortcuts. Winners come in early and stay late. Winners work-out in the off-season. The community demands winning. The school demands winning. The parents, the school administrators, the coaches… they all demand winning. In order to win… everyone must do their job. It’s just not performance on the field. That is actually the end result of each person’s everyday effort to reach the same goal… to win.
But, how does a high school get to that position? How to you go from bad to average to great. I believe it starts with the school administrators. The administrators of the school must develop this attitude. This attitude must then be demanded of the entire coaching staff. Being average is no longer an option. If the coach is not willing to demand excellence, to put in a 110% effort toward the development of their sports program… they are out. The coaches need to develop their current high school players. And… they need to …

Read More

Turning Your Weaknesses Into Strengths to Become More Successful and Happier

Laura07 mins

Tom Dempsey was born with a partial right arm, and only half a right foot. To most, that would have ruled out a life in football, but Tom had a different belief system.
He developed a custom kicking shoe that fit his disfigured foot, with a flat toe about three inches in diameter. With hard work, Tom mastered the technique of his special equipment. He would swing his leg and drive the ball like a polo player using a mallet, propelling a football long distances.
Unbelievably, Tom made it to the NFL and landed a job as kicker for a new team, the New Orleans Saints. The Saints were finishing up a dismal season. With only one win to date, they were playing a much better team, the Detroit Lions. With just two seconds remaining on the clock, Tom Dempsey had a chance to kick the game winning field goal. But, there was much more than just the game on the line: history was at stake. Dempsey hit a 63 yard field goal through the uprights-the longest field goal ever, propelling the Saints to a 19-17 victory. That kick was a defining moment in his life. Using his special strength, Dempsey became an inspiration to millions on that day in 1970.
All true winners have learned to turn an apparent weakness into a strength. David Meador is a champion in his own right; David won the U.S blind golf championship. But that is not what makes him special-David has learned to turn his blindness into a platform for his professional speaking business. David speaks around the country about focus-yes focus. He shares with his audiences that blindness has allowed him to remain focused on the important aspects of life. His blindness does not allow him to be distracted by television, YouTube or text messaging, aspects of everyday life that can deter many of us from achieving our potential. As David puts it, he is the only guy in America who can walk into Home Depot and not be distracted by anything on the shelves. David’s blindness is his strength. In fact, his message is so powerful that he usually receives a standing ovation; David’s apparent weakness is his most poignant ally.
Voltaire likened life to a game of cards. Each player must accept the cards dealt to him. But once those cards are in hand, he alone decides how to play them to win the game. Tom Dempsey and David Meador took their cards and played a great hand. What cards have you been dealt?
Drill: Playing your cards
Most people run away from their weaknesses, or just deny their existence. Sometimes it is too painful to acknowledge them or just too energy draining to work on them in our high paced lifestyle. What is not realized is that many of our weaknesses can become a great strength–it all depends on our perspective.
President Andrew Jackson turned an apparent weakness of having an overly hot-temper into a negotiating strength. Andrew …

Read More

Having an Action Camera Can Help You Become Even Better at Any Sport

Laura05 mins

In this day and time, technology has brought us endless possibilities. Having a video camera to record your action packed moments, comes useful in so many ways. When you use a camera to record while in a performance, you are guaranteed to see your faults and highlights. Being able to track your speed, measure your distance, record in High Definition, or even use a GPS are just some of the advantages action camera offer on the market today. Finally, having a action camera that provides enough memory, video quality, and durability is a important factor when choosing a camera to best suit your needs. Having a quality action camera will give you the ability to focus on your sport and not the camera while in action.
Having a sports camera to record all your adrenaline pumping moments is rewarding. You will be able to review your performance or act as if you were reliving the moments. Being able to share your film footage with friends and family is always a rewarding feeling. Many sports enthusiast use a sports camera to critique their performances.
Many of the camera on the market today offer great features such as track mapping, GPS, High Definition, wireless recording, and weatherproof options. Having a action camera that records in High Definition is awesome for getting all those wide angle shots and the full range of scenery. If you are a motor sports enthusiast having a on board camera that has track mapping and a GPS, is great to track your every stop and turn.
Choosing a action camera that has good quality video is important to most users. When purchasing a wireless camera or a single cable camera you should choose a camera that has a resolution of 500 to 1200 fps (Frames Per Second). The higher the resolution the clearer and vivid your video quality will be. Most sports action camera on the market today use SD cards to record the memory onto. These SD cards are user friendly and can record anywhere from 3 to 6 hours on one card, depending on the mega bite size. You can simply insert the SD card into the serial port in your computer and download your videos instantly. Most wireless camera and helmet camera on the market today are weatherproof, waterproof, shock proof, and can even be submerged under water up to 100 feet. The durability of the housings and cables are sure to withstand most environments and conditions, excluding fire or a hard fall on the pavement.
All in all, having an action camera for recording all your adrenaline pumping moments and events will be a definite investment you will not regret. Deciding on which camera with which features to adapt to your sports or filming will be important to insure you get the best footage for your dollar. Whether your skiing or wake boarding, most of the cameras available are durable to withstand most conditions and climates. Having a action sports camera will improve most …

Read More

Great Tips To Help You Become A Better Soccer Player

Laura05 mins

You have so much fun playing soccer. But, you want to take things a little further by acquiring some knowledge to help you with your soccer game. Truly, soccer is a great sport, and you are about to learn some great tips. Continue reading so that you can show you are a great soccer player.

Never make the assumption that you’re out of the current play once you’ve passed a ball. Keep up with the action as you may see the ball soon come back to you. If some players never pass the ball again after catching it, do not hesitate to point out their mistakes.

Recognize that how you pass the ball to someone else has meaning. For example, a hard pass indicates a sense of urgency, and it may tell the player that someone is coming up on them. A soft pass often indicates that you want the player to retreat toward you a little. There is much you can say on the field, even without words.

If you are a goalie, you must learn to stay low. By learning to stay low and balanced, you will be able to block most shots. Be ready to lunge toward either side of the goal. This is best accomplished by spreading your legs approximately shoulder width apart and then lunging toward the ball when it is kicked.

Strength training is an important part of any soccer players practice. For effective strength training concentrate on your thigh and calf muscles along with your core muscles. Core muscles help you maintain balance while your thigh and calf muscles help you kick harder and farther than opponents who do not strength train.

Play indoor soccer sometimes instead of outdoor soccer. You will play on a smaller field indoors. The smaller field helps you focus on your ball handling and decision making skills. The practicing of those skills will help you have a better performance when you’re back outside.

When it comes to goal keeping, equipment is important. One of the most important pieces of equipment for a goalie is their gloves. These gloves not only help them catch the ball, but it also protects their wrists and fingers from injury. The gloves should be made of a heavy grade latex for best gripping and protection.

If you are kicking the ball and you notice someone running towards you, do not panic. There is a very simple method of avoiding them. First, kick the ball to one side of your body. Once you do this, quickly kick the ball to the other side. If you do this fast enough, you will avoid your opponent and be ahead of them. As a result, you will be better prepared to score.

You have finished reading this article about soccer, and now you need to go out to the field and put into play what you’ve learned. Do not take the fun out of the sport, but remain dedicated and practiced as well. It is time to …

Read More

Become A Better Soccer Player With These Great Tips

Laura05 mins

Each country around the world has a sport that is loved by its people. But, soccer is a sport that is loved by pretty much every country. If you are like most people, you probably do not understand everything about soccer. That is about to change; this article will give you essential soccer information.

Look for numerical advantage on the field. You want to pass the ball to a player who is near others from your team rather than a player who is surrounded by defenders. Talk to your team about this strategy and encourage them to form groups in an empty area so you can easily gain a numerical advantage.

Learn how to anticipate where the ball is going during a game. You need to know when the ball is going towards you. You also need to know what to do when you do get the ball. Anticipating when you’re defending is important, too. If you can foresee the opponent’s next move, it increases your chances of stopping the movements.

Practice your dribbling by using a tennis ball. The little ball will assist you in learning how to adjust your feet to maintain control. When you feel good doing that, a regular soccer ball is much easier to handle.

Watch televised soccer games to find a few cool moves to incorporate into your repertoire. Watch the play over and over until you have learned exactly how to perform the move. Then, go outside and begin practicing it. After you have practiced for thirty minutes, come back inside and watch the move again noting any changes you need to make to your practice.

Mistakes are great to learn from. If the ball is taken from you when you dribble, learn the reason why. Keep an eye on the dribbling techniques of others to pick up good pointers. Ask your coach for further advice.

When shooting the soccer ball, use only the front part of your foot. If you use your toes or the inside or outside of your shoes, your shot will not be as powerful or as directed as it should be. Practice this shooting technique until it becomes second nature.

In order to get better at anything, including your soccer skills, you need to be committed to making steady progress. Rather than focusing on any one set back or loss, keep focused on your overall development over time. If you lose a game, learn what you can from it and turn it into an opportunity to make positive change.

Learn how to receive a fast moving ball by developing soft receive footwork. This type of footwork cushions the blow when a ball is passed hard to you. By softening the blow, you can regain control of the ball quickly. If, however, you receive the ball with a stiff foot, the ball will generally be knocked further away from you.

In conclusion, soccer may be the only sport that virtually every country enjoys watching and participating in. Since reading …

Read More

Become A Pro On The Basketball Court By Following These Tips

Laura05 mins

What does it take to be a great basketball player? The fact is that it requires more than just talent. You have to practice, learn and work hard to be able to become a basketball great. Start by reading this article in full to absorb all the advice it provides you.

When you’re dribbling the ball, you should avoid looking down at the ball. You should be able to dribble without staring at the ball. If you can dribble without seeing the ball, you’ll be able to keep your eyes on the rest of the game. This will help you to know who is open for a pass or if you have a chance to take a shot.

When you are dribbling the ball, be sure that you are doing so with your head up. If you have your eyes on the ball instead while you are dribbling it, you cannot keep an eye on those defending you. This could lead to them stealing the ball away from you.

To become a good rebounder, learn how to box out your opponent properly. The idea is that when a shot is taken, you turn towards the basket and block your opponent from getting a good position to rebound. The best rebounders have mastered this skill and own the space right near the basket.

Don’t prepare more for a game than you do for a practice. If you don’t tape up for practice, don’t do it for games. You will naturally take games more seriously than practice. However, you don’t need to start panicking over a game by overpreparing. Have a consistent and calm routine.

Keep your hands active. Use a deflective hand high to block shots and intercept passes. Use a ball hand low to block low passes and try to poke the ball away from your opponent. Always swipe your hand up when playing the ball. Swiping down at the ball could result in a foul.

Use two hands when trying to make shots. Have both thumbs on the ball so that they are almost touching. Put the ball over your head but be sure you are able to see what you are aiming for. When you shoot, aim for the backboard or give it a backspin by rolling your hands down while shooting.

Be careful about trying to block shots. In most organized leagues, blocking the shot on the way down or when in the imaginary cylinder above the net results in a goaltending call. This just gives the opponent the attempted points, whether they would have made the shot or not anyway.

To give yourself a big advantage in any game of basketball, study the moves of your opponents. Players often have certain moves that they repeat or a certain approach that they favor. If you can make a plan to disarm their favorite move or approach, you can often outplay them.

If you want to be a top star on the court, use these tips to better …

Read More