How will you watch Final X?

Final X is tomorrow and we're set to watch it at a girl's wrestling camp at Victory School of Wrestling.  Our Girls Exclusive Camp is Friday through Sunday.  Athletes "camp" at Victory on the mats.

Obviously, we had hoped to be in the event with a few athletes, but that's not how it worked out for us this season.  Now we'll watch both rounds between sessions at camp.

We've had the opportunity to watch high level wrestling at camps in the past and it has always been a great experience for the campers.  We've watched the Olympic Games the past two cycles on the projector at Victory and have gathered to watch the World Championships, too.  Obviously, it's always best when we have an athlete (or more) competing in these big events.  We have several connections to many of those competing tomorrow.

Watching these events with others, especially people who have competed in and/or coached in them, gives so many unique perspectives in one area. 

The first round is tomorrow at 2:00 PM and the second round is at 5:00 PM.  What are your plans for Final X?

Guest Post: JD's Reflection from Camp

An important note from JD from the Ben Kjar Standout camp on June 15, 2006:

Ben Kjar shared a lot of wrestling techniques and mental skills.  His formula for setting goals is called, "Calling Your Shot."

1. Call Your Shot: write down your goal

2. Shot Callers: name 2-3 people who will hold you accountable - coaches, teammates, parents, etc.

3. Shot Clock: set an expiration date for your goal or a date to achieve your goal

Pleasure and Pain: name rewards for achieving the goal and consequences for not achieving the goal.

Additional quote: don't be a Karen not calling your shots and not taking shots.

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JD is a recent graduate and will wrestle in college next season.

Guest Post: Ayda's Reflection from Camp

Ayda's review from the Ben Kjar Standout Camp at Victory School of Wrestling on June 15, 2006:

It was super cool!  Ben's story was so much more than just a wrestler or someone with Crouzon Syndrome.  He had so much adversity in life but has overcome all of it.  And it all made him a better person.

Through all of his struggles, he also kept a great relationship with his faith, which was super inspiring.

Overall, there were so many great takeaways from the camp, but two things he said during the wrestling practice stuck out to me the most.  One was to maximize every single day, which means get the most out of it, go the extra round, never give up, and control your attitude and effort.

The other is the person who gives up second in wrestling is the one who gets the score.

This camp opened my eyes to understanding how to truly set goals, also known as "call your shot" and it doesn't matter who your opponent is, it matters when and how you're going to maximize every scoring opportunity during the match and wrestle 100% the entire match.

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Ayda is 16 years old and will be a junior in high school.

Ben Kjar Camp

We finished the Ben Kjar Standout camp today.  It was great!  

We had a large number of participants and everyone "called their shot" (set goals, named accountability partners, and timed the goal.  There were so many take aways and we're confident that kids made decisions to level up.

I'll make a few more entries with some of the takeaways camp.  We need a day or two to be able to process things.

 

Championship Events

I challenged our high school wrestlers to be engaged with the sports scene this past week and weekend.  A lot is going on.  Just tonight was the Stanley Cup Finals and the UFC fights at the White House.  Recently, the NBA Finals, RAF, World Cup, and other events have taken place.

The best athletes will always be able to glean something from these big events.  And it's extremely important to recognize the opportunity for a new source of championship information.  

Last night after the Knicks won the NBA Finals, I heard the series MVP speak to his time alone in the gym visualizing a championship.  This week I heard both hockey teams talk about systems and buy in.  These were the best athletes or the best teams in the world competing on the highest stage and we hear basic principles.  Nothing fancy.  A goal, a plan, commitment, hard work, etc.  The same stuff we preach everyday.

Championship events will never get old for me.  I love soaking in the atmospheres and looking for the stories behind the story.

Working together as a family

When I was a kid, my brother and I got hired to mow Dave and Donna Smith's lawn.  They provided the lawn mower and gas and, most times, Dave helped us pull the cord to start the mower because we were so little (and weak).  My dad also helped out on occasion because we needed a ride to their house.  One fall season, we were asked to rake the fallen leaves. So, we rallied our parents and sisters and raked a billion leaves.

We got our payment in an envelope accompanied by a refrigerator magnet that said, "the family that rakes together, aches together."  We had it on our fridge for many years.  It was actually pretty reflective of our family overall.  We did a lot of work together.  

Starting things out on a dairy farm, everyone had something to do.  Then it became sports with parents on youth boards - soccer, baseball, wrestling, etc.  We striped fields, mowed lines, set-up mats, hauled mats, and we did most of it together as a family.

Now, with kids of my own, I try to replicate some of those formative times that I had.  Times that I believe forged a strong work ethic.  Kind of like developing a grinder mentality.  So we do as much work together as we can.  We mow lawns, clean up around Victory, build things and tear them down, etc.  

Today, we went to our rental property and cleaned, mowed and painted.  All together.  And it was pretty dang fun.  We talked about life, learned basic life skills, cleaned up messes, fixed things, and just hung out together.  I actually felt like a pretty decent parent today.

World Cup - USA’s First Game

The U.S. Soccer Team put on a terrific performance tonight in the their opening game of the World Cup.  They were a lot of fun to watch.  After this game, there will be a lot of expectation on this team.  Rightfully so.  I’m excited to cheer them on.

I aim to watch as much of the World Cup as I can.  I have many reasons.  The biggest is I just enjoy watching the best people in the world doing their thing on the biggest stage.  I watch all of the big championships in as many sports as I can.  Fancy that the NBA Finals and NHL Stanley Cup Finals are happening simultaneously to the World Cup. 

I watch for habits and routines to shine through.  What’s revealed when the pressure is on is usually pretty easy to see.  I watch body language and anticipate when someone seeks out a pressure situation and answers the call.  As a fan, I sit on the edge of my seat hoping to see something like that.  Something great.  As a coach, I try to help athletes thrive in big moments.  As an athlete, I felt like I performed best when the pressure was the greatest.  I could watch top performers all day, everyday.

What are you planning on watching in the sports world over the next few weeks?