Leadership and Character

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test his character, give him power.” All leadership positions come with a certain degree of power, but character, is displayed through the use of that power. Character, is the firm foundation upon which one must build to win respect. The respect that leaders must have requires that one’s ethics be without question. Therefore, no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on anything less. In the final analysis, how we are perceived communicates far more than what we say.

As parents, coaches and professionals, we are constantly being watched and evaluated. To provide the right example, we must stay above the line between right and wrong and stay well clear of the gray areas. By taking the higher road, and demonstrating the courage to do the right thing, people will follow. This will build others up, challenge, inspire and bring out the best in one’s athletes or employees, because no one will follow a hypocrite. So, look over your shoulder now and then to be sure someone’s following you. If they are, then you are leading in the right direction.

As Andrew Carnegie once said, “the older I get the less I listen to what people say and the more I look at what they do.”

Sub or Specialist? A Matter of Preparation

In every sport and at every level, the role of specialization is taking on more significance. Players coming in at various points in a game invariably contribute to a team’s success as much as anyone. Consider the following roles in Baseball: Middle Relief, Setup Man, Closer, Pinch Hitter, Defensive Specialist, etc. Each of these roles is vital to a team’s success during the course of a long season. Therefore, having a strong bench, made up of skilled individuals who know their roles and are secure in them, is a must.

How does a player keep himself ready? By staying focused on the game and seeing every pitch. This will keep him connected and give him a feel for when he may be needed. Also, stretching, jogging or taking a few swings will help keep the body from tightening up and sends a positive message to the coach. Anyone can come off the bench as a sub, but it takes a disciplined person to accept that role while having the proper attitude of preparation.

Remember, “Great moments are born, from great opportunity”, but one must be ready to grasp it. The USA Olympic Hockey Team in 1980 defeated the Soviet Team in the first round of medal competition, not because they were more talented, but because they were prepared to pull off, “The Miracle”.

Advice on Playing Time

In most cases playing time is earned, long before the season officially begins. The making of those decisions, involves many early player evaluations. These evaluations usually continue throughout the season of sport to guard against: complacency, discontent and to provide competition. Just as the right to start has been earned over time, it is not likely to be lost in a moment. However, there usually comes a time when every coach begins to consider a lineup change, so be ready.

The keys to dealing with the lack of playing time are patience, hard work and a positive attitude. It also helps to set high goals and be the hardest worker on the team. While it is never easy to deal with a negative assessment of one’s ability, turn it to a positive by using that assessment as motivation. Do not mope or go through the motions. Prove you belong out there. Remember, people play their way both in and out of the lineup. Following this discipline on the field, will carry over into life and one day you will find yourself a successful leader whose work ethic will be rewarded and emulated. Hang in there and play the game you love.

Play Ball

As High School Baseball gets ready to begin across the country, many young athletes will begin to see visions and dream dreams. They will envision themselves in many different scenarios being productive and saving the day. I can remember playing “whiffle ball” in the front yard - pretending to be in the World Series with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the 9th. Of course I delivered, and in our dreams we always do. So, dare to dream because every day someone accomplishes the impossible.

To accomplish those dreams athletes must be willing to set high standards and not be satisfied with anything other than their best effort. Remember, nothing worth while ever comes easy. Be focused, set goals, know what you want and act on it. Legendary Notre Dame Football Coach Lou Holtz in his book “Winning Every Day” states: “you don’t have to be the most talented person to be successful, but you do need to get the most out of your talent”. Coach Holtz understood this from personal experience and is an example of overcoming obstacles in the highly competitive field of Division I Football.

The obstacles to accomplishing our dreams Holtz states are: complacency, lack of confidence, listening to negative assessments and pressure. Preparation dispels these obstacles and builds confidence. Only those who do not prepare feel pressure. Therefore, make a commitment to excellence, give 100% effort 100% of the time and you will see your dreams come true. Have a great year.

The Student Athlete

Being successful both in the classroom and on the field requires: discipline, sacrifice and hard work. These qualities are very familiar to athletes, who compete for their positions every day. However, athletes must also perform in the classroom, to be eligible on the field. All too often I've seen kids become over scheduled and over loaded to the point that it affects their academic standing and their opportunity to compete.

There is a reason why the word "student", comes first in the phrase, "student athlete". The discipline of being a student comes before the opportunity to play. Therefore, we (parents, teachers and coaches) have a concurrent responsibility to provide an environment where our student athletes can be successful in the classroom, so they can compete on the field.
Remember, both athletic and academic demands will intensify at the next level.

Here are a few suggestions.
1) Develop a time management schedule
2) Set Priorties, Goals and Rewards
3) Do regular grade checks
4) Provide extra help/time
5) Provide encouragment/confidence
6) Maintain a balance in all activities

The Ideal Athlete

What makes the, “Ideal Athlete”? Most people would say a combination of speed, strength, agility and power. These physical attributes do go a long way in determining the success one may have in competition. However, there are other characteristics that go into the making of the ideal athlete: Humility, Loyalty, Dependability and Respect. These character traits, or the lack of them, will go a long way in determining one’s success in life. Both must be taught, developed, modeled and nurtured.

When I think of someone who has all the physical and character traits of the ideal athlete, Tiger Woods comes to mind immediately. His recent handling of Kelley Tilghman’s remark, speaks volumes of his character. Tiger had many people, groups and organizations pressuring him into speaking out about race. However, he chose to remain true to his character and forgive a friend. Thank you Tiger.

Marketing Yourself

I have often been asked the question, What can I do to increase my opportunity to play somewhere after High School? The answer is, to employ some simple marketing techniques.
As marketing has become a major influence in athletics at every level, it only makes sense to become an active part of that process. Today, only 10% of student athletes receive a full athletic scholarship. Therefore, to insure college coaches notice your talents and achievements, you may need to market yourself. Here are a few suggestions to start with.
1) Choose your market: Select colleges from multiple divisions. Not everyone will play Div.1
2) Advertise yourself: Draft a letter of introduction and send it out. You can find contact information for colleges on the web. Include a copy of your schedule with your letter.
3) Provide product visibility: Attend games to show your interest. College coaches are very busy people and can't always get out to your game.
Finally, as a helpful guide, I would suggest Robert L. Scotts book, "How to Market Your Student Athlete". This book has easy-to-follow guidlines that will get you the results you are looking for.
Go get'em.

College Admission Tests

Any student applying to California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), the honors program at a community college, certain merit-based scholarships, or private universities and colleges, should take either the SAT Reasoning Test (which tests verbal, math, and writing abilities) or the ACT, which tests verbal, math, social studies, and science reasoning. An overwhelming number of colleges and universities will recognize either test. If you have the money and the time, take both. Additionally, for the UC and top private universities, applicants must take two Subject Tests in two different subject areas: history/social science, English Literature, mathematics, laboratory science, or language other than English. Registration can be done online.
Reminder:
Tests must be taken by December of the senior year. Private colleges have other deadlines and test dates.

Community College Information

Requirements:
1) Be a high school graduate (diploma, satisfactory GED)
2) A person 18 years of age or older
3) File an Application which is usually available from the college online.
4) Take Placement Tests: Most require English and Math placement tests prior to enrolling.
5) Provide Transcripts: -Take a copy of your final transcript to the community college counselor.

NCAA Clearinghouse information

Students who enroll as college freshmen and wish to participate in NCAA Division I, II or III athletics must be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse. The academic standards include high school graduation, a qualifying GPA and test scores, successful completion of approved courses and all other college minimum admissions requirements. It is the responsibility of the student to register with NCAA Clearinghouse by the beginning of the senior year. To register, prospective students-athletes should access the registration materials by visiting the Clearinghouse web-site at http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/. At the home page, click on “Prospective Student-Athletes”.

The Stolen Base

The higher one goes, "up the ladder" in Baseball, the more difficult it becomes to, "steal " a base. Pitchers: get better at holding runners, Catchers: footwork, pop time, arm accuracy and strength improves. This translates into the need for base runners to work at improving their skills as well. While there is no substitute for speed, a player does not have to be blessed with great speed to be a good base stealer. Daily instruction with guided practice in game situations, will translate into a greater percentage of stolen bases. Remember, in order to experience success, one must be willing to risk failure.