This particular topic resonates with me very much. As you know, I operate a wrestling school, one that caters to individuals who are passionate about training in the sport of wrestling. Specializing in wrestling would seem to help my business in many respects, but it actually doesn't and I don't support athletes specializing in one sport until they compete at the collegiate level.
Sport specialization is a catchy, professional-sounding phrase for those who choose to participate and compete in only sport. They "specialize" in training for thier sport of choice because they believe their undivided focus to it will help them improve at exponential rates. They're wrong. As children develop kinesthetic awareness, it's more advantageous for them to be involved in many different activities and sports.
When I was a young child, I participated in wrestling, soccer, baseball, football, golf and gymnastics. Every sport helped me understand something different about my body, and, in turn, made me better at each sport. As I began to mature physically, the skills and body awareness that I had acquired in each sport became very evident. Add to that my summer love with our trampoline and an appreciation for dancing, I could do things with my body that could never have been taught in one sport.
I was a successful as a wrestler because I worked hard and possessed quality technical skills, but my ability to maneuver my body in unorthodox ways is what set me apart. This is what I learned by participating in other sports. I used those sports to make me a better athlete. Being a better athlete made me a better wrestler.
Aside from the physical tools that I developed participating in other sports, I also learned valuable emotional and mental lessons. As I started winning more on the wrestling mat, it was important for me experience trials in many different ways to develop perseverance and character. I encourage wrestlers to participate in cross country in the fall. Aside from the cardiovascular base one builds, the mental tests are unmatched in other sports. In cross country, athletes face many unpredictable forms of adversity. How one chooses to look at those situations, and inevitably overcome them, is an extremely valuable commodity to take into other sports.
Another benefit of being involved in multiple sports is the opportunity to take a "mental break." Most coaches understand the importance of letting the body recover from physical demands, but equally as important is making sure the mind has adequate rest time. The younger the athlete is, the shorter the attention span and ability to focus on tasks. This includes a sports season. It's important to cultivate the mind at its proper development stage. Young athletes need to be involved in many activities whereas older athletes can be involved is far less because they have the cognitive ability to focus for longer periods of time. I desperately needed a mental break from wrestling every March. I put so much energy and focus into my wrestling season that I didn't have the mental capacity to focus on wrestling when the season was finished. Educators understand this. Look at how public education is assembled.
At the elementary level, kids learn in a broad environment with very little specialization. Certainly, during math time, they learn math, but they do so in the same environment where they learn many other subjects. Throw in recess, physical education and other convenient mental breaks and you have grades 1-5. In middle school, students begin "specialization." As they change class periods, they move into a different learning environment. Teachers even specialize in certain subjects. Most middle schools in Wisconsin have seven or eight class periods in a school day. Moving forward to high school, most schools exercise the block scheduling system (four class periods in a school day) and students start selecting the subjects they are interested in. Obviously, in college it becomes even more specialized. Sports should follow this mold because it's based on the needs of the kids.
Individual sport specialization is dangerous because it prohibits the overall development of athletes. Children need the opportunity to develop their body, mind and soul through many different avenues. Body awareness, mental strength and perseverance are integral in every sport; I didn't even touch on social development.
Continue encouraging your sons and daughters to participate in a variety of activities and sports. The only time it's acceptable to begin the specialization process is when the basic commitment to another sport is compromised (can't make it to practice, competitions, etc.). Until then, participate in everything. Your body, mind and soul will thank you in the long run.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Too many competitions
I'm attempting to gain momentum in this blog series on the issues faced in youth sports. The first two may have been sensitive to a few individuals and I'm not planning on holding anything back. I want to be sure that we confront these issues in a constructive way and, hopefully, we can all grow and learn from these conversations.
This topic is far less personal, but still very sensitive to parents and coaches. What I find to be most interesting about this, the third post of the series, is these topics are more sensitive to the adults than they are to the youth...something to ponder on. Is our focal point the needs of the kids or the desires of the adults?
I believe a major problem in youth sports is there are too many competitions. I'm concerned about this for two reason. 1.) Kids are burning up their competitive years at a young age, and 2.) Learning and developing athletes has gone out the window. I'll explain my thoughts with two simple illustrations.
Kids are burning up their competitive years
I received amazing advice from a three-time Olympian (wrestler) when I was in high school. He said the average athlete has roughly 10 competitive years in his/her system. Basically, he said we can choose to use those 10 years at a very young age or later in our career. He added there are a few exceptional athletes who can stretch their 10 years into 15-20 years. I haven't been able to dig up any scientific studies on this topic, but I think there's a lot to what this 12-time US National team member had to say.
My wife was a Big Ten Champion on the track in the 10,000 meters and an All-American in the 5,000 meters. Her coach limited the amount of 5K's and 10K's she could compete in throughout each season and in her career. In fact, the 10K race she won at the Big Tens was the first she had competed in during the season. To him it was simple, he believed an athlete's body could withstand only a set number of distance events in a season and career before their productivity started to decline. He had the ultimate standard - time. If your times started getting slower, your body had reached its peak. We don't have a stop watch standard in every sport, but I see athletes declining at much too young of an age in other sports, too.
By the way, this track coach won multiple national team titles, produced over 15 Olympians, coached in the Olympic Games on three separate occasions and never competed in an organized track and field event himself. He used science to win. He saved his athletes so they could reach their competitive peak at the optimal time, and it in wasn't middle school.
Learning and developing athletes has gone out the window
I remember eagerly awaiting the day that I took my driver's test. I turned 16 in the fall of my sophomore year and earned my licence soon thereafter (on my first try). Getting a driver's licence is a pivotal moment in life of a teenager, almost a right of passage into young adulthood. The Department of Transportation doesn't let an individual take a driver's test without first being educated on the rules of the road. In fact, learning needs to take place prior to tests in most facets of life, except athletics.
In youth sports, we forget about the importance of learning the sport. Instead, we thrust kids into the furnace of fire and hope they learn during the competition. There are teachable moments all around us, but teaching during competition isn't effective. What's wrong with making sure that an athlete understands the sport he/she is participating in before competing? We wouldn't dream of putting a 16 year old boy behind the wheel without the proper training, but we don't have a problem expecting a 10 year old to perform on the field, in the arena or on the mat with no training at all. Youth athletes need to learn how to compete before they compete.
I seek opportunities to listen to those who have gone before me and had success at the highest levels. The people I mentioned have been national champions, world champions and Olympic champions, and they're very well-rounded individuals. We miss out on all of this with too many competitions too early.
As an adult, coaching staff or parent, sit down and make conscious decisions on what events are necessary and how to seize the opportunity to help youth athletes learn. My wrestling club is opened 12 months a year, but we're very intentional about when and how much each athlete trains and competes. Together, we choose what events to participate in, and sometimes this means taking a weekend off.
For young athletes, sometimes the best "training" is spending a weekend fishing with Grandpa or building a deck. It's not about competing more. It's about learning more.
This topic is far less personal, but still very sensitive to parents and coaches. What I find to be most interesting about this, the third post of the series, is these topics are more sensitive to the adults than they are to the youth...something to ponder on. Is our focal point the needs of the kids or the desires of the adults?
I believe a major problem in youth sports is there are too many competitions. I'm concerned about this for two reason. 1.) Kids are burning up their competitive years at a young age, and 2.) Learning and developing athletes has gone out the window. I'll explain my thoughts with two simple illustrations.
Kids are burning up their competitive years
I received amazing advice from a three-time Olympian (wrestler) when I was in high school. He said the average athlete has roughly 10 competitive years in his/her system. Basically, he said we can choose to use those 10 years at a very young age or later in our career. He added there are a few exceptional athletes who can stretch their 10 years into 15-20 years. I haven't been able to dig up any scientific studies on this topic, but I think there's a lot to what this 12-time US National team member had to say.
My wife was a Big Ten Champion on the track in the 10,000 meters and an All-American in the 5,000 meters. Her coach limited the amount of 5K's and 10K's she could compete in throughout each season and in her career. In fact, the 10K race she won at the Big Tens was the first she had competed in during the season. To him it was simple, he believed an athlete's body could withstand only a set number of distance events in a season and career before their productivity started to decline. He had the ultimate standard - time. If your times started getting slower, your body had reached its peak. We don't have a stop watch standard in every sport, but I see athletes declining at much too young of an age in other sports, too.
By the way, this track coach won multiple national team titles, produced over 15 Olympians, coached in the Olympic Games on three separate occasions and never competed in an organized track and field event himself. He used science to win. He saved his athletes so they could reach their competitive peak at the optimal time, and it in wasn't middle school.
Learning and developing athletes has gone out the window
I remember eagerly awaiting the day that I took my driver's test. I turned 16 in the fall of my sophomore year and earned my licence soon thereafter (on my first try). Getting a driver's licence is a pivotal moment in life of a teenager, almost a right of passage into young adulthood. The Department of Transportation doesn't let an individual take a driver's test without first being educated on the rules of the road. In fact, learning needs to take place prior to tests in most facets of life, except athletics.
In youth sports, we forget about the importance of learning the sport. Instead, we thrust kids into the furnace of fire and hope they learn during the competition. There are teachable moments all around us, but teaching during competition isn't effective. What's wrong with making sure that an athlete understands the sport he/she is participating in before competing? We wouldn't dream of putting a 16 year old boy behind the wheel without the proper training, but we don't have a problem expecting a 10 year old to perform on the field, in the arena or on the mat with no training at all. Youth athletes need to learn how to compete before they compete.
I seek opportunities to listen to those who have gone before me and had success at the highest levels. The people I mentioned have been national champions, world champions and Olympic champions, and they're very well-rounded individuals. We miss out on all of this with too many competitions too early.
As an adult, coaching staff or parent, sit down and make conscious decisions on what events are necessary and how to seize the opportunity to help youth athletes learn. My wrestling club is opened 12 months a year, but we're very intentional about when and how much each athlete trains and competes. Together, we choose what events to participate in, and sometimes this means taking a weekend off.
For young athletes, sometimes the best "training" is spending a weekend fishing with Grandpa or building a deck. It's not about competing more. It's about learning more.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Uneducated coaches
I have the unique opportunity to coach as my full-time profession. As a result, I put a lot of effort into improving my abilities and knowledge. So, it will come as no surprise that when I have the chance to work in a high school or college wrestling room, travel to an international competition or spend time at the Olympic Training Center, I do my best to soak in as much as I can in hopes of becoming a better coach. Being globally connected in the wrestling world has allowed me to see major differences between the United States and the rest of the world in how we handle sports and coaches.
Our sports systems are drastically different than the European way. Our community identity is in high school sports. They're a part of our public education and create friendly competition amongst kids and adults. I read a book in college that claimed one of the main reason we haven't had a Civil War in recent years is because of high school sports. We settle conflicts on the high school football field whereas countries that don't have this outlet resort to killing each other.
In Europe, sports and school are separated completely. Thinking only about the sport, I can't say which system I am in favor of more, but when it comes to offering students another form of education, I like the American system. However, we're beginning to see a decline in youth sports across America and face an obesity epidemic. So, are we doing well enough to be satisfied with what we're doing?
I'm drifting off course, but I think coaches education has a lot to do with retention and the overall health of our youth athletes. In Russia, for example, they won't let an adult come close to an athlete without an advanced degree in coaching. I'm not talking about a teacher who can coach. Many Europeans universities offer coaching as a major. In fact, a lot of elite international athletes are students at universities earning their degree in coaching.
Our system is starting to fail us at the grassroots level (decline in numbers, etc.) and at the elite levels. In 2008, the United States was shaken by the lack of performance at the Olympic Games. Sure, we won the overall medal count, but sports that were traditionally dominated by Americans weren't in Beijing. There are many theories, but I think it comes down to coaching.
When I return from a major international competition like the World Championships, one of the most common questions has to do with why the Russian wrestling team dominates so much. The Russians chuckle at our training routines and American mindset: train harder and win more. They come from a school of thought that says train more efficiently and train smarter and win more. It's simple, it comes down to coaching. It's not about running more sprints than the other team or taking less water breaks, it's about understanding how to get the most out of each athlete and that takes education and application.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we require every coach to possess a college degree in coaching. However, I do think it's appropriate to expect coaches to be educated on basic human physiological ideas like stretching, strength training and basic periodized training so athletes "peak" at the proper time. I understand that we're not looking for six year old athletes to peak, but we are looking for them to advance and progress at normal rates and most coaches need some light shed in that direction.
What can we do in the United States? I'm not sure. It might not be something that we can control. However, we can start one coach at a time. If you're reading this, are you a certified coach (with any certification program)? Have you considered networking with other coaches to discuss how to get better as a coach? Are you thinking about what each athlete needs to perform his/her best at the most important times of the season? Do you have a self-evaluation in place to assure that you're doing things correctly? These are the types of questions you need to be asking yourself to continually improve as a coach.
What are you doing about educating yourself? Take advantage of the educational opportunities that are available. You might have an athlete that could be the next Olympic champion, or an individual who might invent something that could "save the world," it's imperative that you're cultivating that person properly.
Our sports systems are drastically different than the European way. Our community identity is in high school sports. They're a part of our public education and create friendly competition amongst kids and adults. I read a book in college that claimed one of the main reason we haven't had a Civil War in recent years is because of high school sports. We settle conflicts on the high school football field whereas countries that don't have this outlet resort to killing each other.
In Europe, sports and school are separated completely. Thinking only about the sport, I can't say which system I am in favor of more, but when it comes to offering students another form of education, I like the American system. However, we're beginning to see a decline in youth sports across America and face an obesity epidemic. So, are we doing well enough to be satisfied with what we're doing?
I'm drifting off course, but I think coaches education has a lot to do with retention and the overall health of our youth athletes. In Russia, for example, they won't let an adult come close to an athlete without an advanced degree in coaching. I'm not talking about a teacher who can coach. Many Europeans universities offer coaching as a major. In fact, a lot of elite international athletes are students at universities earning their degree in coaching.
Our system is starting to fail us at the grassroots level (decline in numbers, etc.) and at the elite levels. In 2008, the United States was shaken by the lack of performance at the Olympic Games. Sure, we won the overall medal count, but sports that were traditionally dominated by Americans weren't in Beijing. There are many theories, but I think it comes down to coaching.
When I return from a major international competition like the World Championships, one of the most common questions has to do with why the Russian wrestling team dominates so much. The Russians chuckle at our training routines and American mindset: train harder and win more. They come from a school of thought that says train more efficiently and train smarter and win more. It's simple, it comes down to coaching. It's not about running more sprints than the other team or taking less water breaks, it's about understanding how to get the most out of each athlete and that takes education and application.
Now, I'm not suggesting that we require every coach to possess a college degree in coaching. However, I do think it's appropriate to expect coaches to be educated on basic human physiological ideas like stretching, strength training and basic periodized training so athletes "peak" at the proper time. I understand that we're not looking for six year old athletes to peak, but we are looking for them to advance and progress at normal rates and most coaches need some light shed in that direction.
What can we do in the United States? I'm not sure. It might not be something that we can control. However, we can start one coach at a time. If you're reading this, are you a certified coach (with any certification program)? Have you considered networking with other coaches to discuss how to get better as a coach? Are you thinking about what each athlete needs to perform his/her best at the most important times of the season? Do you have a self-evaluation in place to assure that you're doing things correctly? These are the types of questions you need to be asking yourself to continually improve as a coach.
What are you doing about educating yourself? Take advantage of the educational opportunities that are available. You might have an athlete that could be the next Olympic champion, or an individual who might invent something that could "save the world," it's imperative that you're cultivating that person properly.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Overzealous Parents
The overzealous parent. You've seen him. In fact, as soon as you read "overzealous parent," you probably formulated an image in your mind of one. You know, the guy who lives vicariously through his child because he never reached his dreams and he's hell bent on his kid achieving what he never did. Or the mom who doesn't understand the sport, but screams at the top of her lungs whenever her kid is in the spotlight as if her life depended on it. Both are spectacles at sporting events and both are destroying youth sports.
I appreciate when parents are genuinely excited for their children and I'm always thankful to see a mother or father love their child and care for them deeply. Our society needs more parents who raise their children this way. We don't need anymore parents creating problems because of the way they act.
These parents harm youth sports because they scare people. Children are afraid of their unjust wrath and other parents fear they physically, mentally or emotionally will hurt their kids. They're unapproachable and confrontational, making it nearly impossible to hold them accountable. I've heard many stories of kids quitting sports because these parents. I've also heard of parents not permitting their kids to participate because of them. Not only are they affecting the number of participants, they're having a drastically negative impact on the experience of those who do participate.
The problem with the overzealous parent is an issue of perspective. The best way to combat this issue to be sure everyone with a clipboard and in the stands has a healthy perspective on youth sports. Perspective, simply put, is the capacity to view things in their true relation and relative importance.
Sports should be used as a metaphor to teach life lessons and parents shouldn't be exempt from the educational opportunities. Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. We need to be clear about our objectives and pay attention to what counts most -- helping these children become great men and women someday.
The best way to make sure we keep these parents in check is by having a coach-parent-athlete meeting. Ideally, this meeting would be held by the coach, but it can also be arranged by a parent or group of parents. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the main objectives of the season and make sure everyone is on the same page. During this meeting, it's important to talk about the expectations of everyone involved -- coaches, parents and athletes -- and develop high standards of sportsmanship. The behavior of parents is important so they don't torpedo the experience for the kids. Be proactive.
When I was in 3rd grade, my father had a moment that isn't proudly displayed on his mantle. I was competing in a local youth wrestling tournament and the young high school official didn't have a complete grasp on the rules. My opponent performed an illegal hold and my dad came unglued. He made a scene as he reprimanded the official. After all, he was right, the official wasn't aware of what was happening, but the way it happened was a problem.
Another parent from our youth club pulled my dad aside with a very calm demeanor. He explained that he understood why my dad was upset, so my dad felt like he had done well to confront the official. Then, the other parent asked my dad to take off his River Falls Wrestling shirt because he didn't represent the character that the program wanted to promote. It was a very humbling experience for my dad. If that other parent wouldn't have held him accountable to the club standards, more negative experiences may have happened and I may not have been involved in the sport much longer. There's always a lot at stake when we're dealing with children.
There's no room for overzealous parents in youth sports. High standards and accountability can help assure everyone is on the same page. It's not about the parents, but they still have a place in the sport to grow and learn, just like our children. But in the end, it's about the children.
I appreciate when parents are genuinely excited for their children and I'm always thankful to see a mother or father love their child and care for them deeply. Our society needs more parents who raise their children this way. We don't need anymore parents creating problems because of the way they act.
These parents harm youth sports because they scare people. Children are afraid of their unjust wrath and other parents fear they physically, mentally or emotionally will hurt their kids. They're unapproachable and confrontational, making it nearly impossible to hold them accountable. I've heard many stories of kids quitting sports because these parents. I've also heard of parents not permitting their kids to participate because of them. Not only are they affecting the number of participants, they're having a drastically negative impact on the experience of those who do participate.
The problem with the overzealous parent is an issue of perspective. The best way to combat this issue to be sure everyone with a clipboard and in the stands has a healthy perspective on youth sports. Perspective, simply put, is the capacity to view things in their true relation and relative importance.
Sports should be used as a metaphor to teach life lessons and parents shouldn't be exempt from the educational opportunities. Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. We need to be clear about our objectives and pay attention to what counts most -- helping these children become great men and women someday.
The best way to make sure we keep these parents in check is by having a coach-parent-athlete meeting. Ideally, this meeting would be held by the coach, but it can also be arranged by a parent or group of parents. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the main objectives of the season and make sure everyone is on the same page. During this meeting, it's important to talk about the expectations of everyone involved -- coaches, parents and athletes -- and develop high standards of sportsmanship. The behavior of parents is important so they don't torpedo the experience for the kids. Be proactive.
When I was in 3rd grade, my father had a moment that isn't proudly displayed on his mantle. I was competing in a local youth wrestling tournament and the young high school official didn't have a complete grasp on the rules. My opponent performed an illegal hold and my dad came unglued. He made a scene as he reprimanded the official. After all, he was right, the official wasn't aware of what was happening, but the way it happened was a problem.
Another parent from our youth club pulled my dad aside with a very calm demeanor. He explained that he understood why my dad was upset, so my dad felt like he had done well to confront the official. Then, the other parent asked my dad to take off his River Falls Wrestling shirt because he didn't represent the character that the program wanted to promote. It was a very humbling experience for my dad. If that other parent wouldn't have held him accountable to the club standards, more negative experiences may have happened and I may not have been involved in the sport much longer. There's always a lot at stake when we're dealing with children.
There's no room for overzealous parents in youth sports. High standards and accountability can help assure everyone is on the same page. It's not about the parents, but they still have a place in the sport to grow and learn, just like our children. But in the end, it's about the children.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
7 biggest problems in youth sports
Before I get started with this series about the problems that we face in youth sports, I think it's appropriate to outline what I believe to be the largest hurdles. I did my best to channel my thought process into the seven biggest problems. This way, I can tackle one issue each day.
To wet your palette, here are the 7 biggest problems that we face in youth sports:
- Overzealous parents
- Uneducated coaches
- Too many competitions
- Sports specialization
- Weight management
- Emphasis on winning
- Communication
Obviously, there are other problems within the culture of youth sports, but I believe these seven are the largest, most relevant and need immediate attention.
Often times, when people discover problems, they don't offer solutions to fix them. I don't want to be a cowardly complainer who lacks the courage to make positive changes, so I will offer solutions to make each situation better. In addition, I will try every solution first hand at Victory.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The condition of youth sports...let's go
I have written two blogs about my philosophy on coaching youth wrestling and have received a lot of positive feedback from athletes, coaches and parents. I've been very pleased by how many people agree that youth sports needs immediate attention and a general make-over as soon as possible. We need everyone to embrace healthy perspectives.
Obviously, I look at youth sports through the eyes of a wrestling coach. Many of the hurdles that we face are similar in other sports. This has motivated me to write a new "blog series" addressing the major issues that our society and culture faces in regards to youth sports (particularly, youth wrestling). I will attempt to outline a few of the major problems and offer suggestions on how to better serve the needs of our youth.
I'm embarking on this adventure much like a crusade. I'd like this to be a catalyst for change in the wrestling community as I confront these issues head-on. I've met too many parents who have children walk away from sports because of these issues. With your help, we can change the culture. It may seem impossible with all of the voices, all of the inertia and all of the counter productive momentum pushing in the wrong direction, but together we can do it.
I'm asking my readers, as large or small as the following is, to engage in difficult discussions with other members of your club and community. I'm also interested in what you have to say about these issues, so feel free to comment below or send me an e-mail. If you have an issue that I don't address but would like me to, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to offer my two cents.
It is possible to uphold new standards of excellence and expect the best from our parents and coaches so that we can do what's BEST for our future generations. I believe we can change the culture of youth sports in America and I'm looking forward to this challenge. It's not too late to get it right and it's never wrong to do what right! Let's go!
Obviously, I look at youth sports through the eyes of a wrestling coach. Many of the hurdles that we face are similar in other sports. This has motivated me to write a new "blog series" addressing the major issues that our society and culture faces in regards to youth sports (particularly, youth wrestling). I will attempt to outline a few of the major problems and offer suggestions on how to better serve the needs of our youth.
I'm embarking on this adventure much like a crusade. I'd like this to be a catalyst for change in the wrestling community as I confront these issues head-on. I've met too many parents who have children walk away from sports because of these issues. With your help, we can change the culture. It may seem impossible with all of the voices, all of the inertia and all of the counter productive momentum pushing in the wrong direction, but together we can do it.
I'm asking my readers, as large or small as the following is, to engage in difficult discussions with other members of your club and community. I'm also interested in what you have to say about these issues, so feel free to comment below or send me an e-mail. If you have an issue that I don't address but would like me to, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to offer my two cents.
It is possible to uphold new standards of excellence and expect the best from our parents and coaches so that we can do what's BEST for our future generations. I believe we can change the culture of youth sports in America and I'm looking forward to this challenge. It's not too late to get it right and it's never wrong to do what right! Let's go!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Who's going to coach my son?
Coach's education has become very important to me. As I open my mind to what the world has to offer me, I have come to expect other coaches to do the same. Individuals never outgrow learning, especially those who are educators and coaches.
Why is it then, that the place that I see those who are least willing to learn are in positions that have the most influence in the life of a child? The most influential person in the life of a child is, in fact, Coach. Studies have proved the two most important words that American children hear or say is, “Coach says.” That’s a heavy burden to carry and a very large responsibility that must be taken seriously by anyone who calls themselves “coach.”
The problem that we have in the United States is that anyone can call themselves coach. We let every Tom, Dick and Harry put on that title if they’re willing. Never mind if they’re qualified for the position, if they’re interested then give them a clipboard and whistle. I guess it’s consistent with the “participation mindset,” that everyone is a winner and everyone gets equal playing time. Why should it be different for adults, right?
I’ll tell you why it should be different, because the lives and overall well-being of children is at stake. Their character development is in the hands of coaches. Our future leaders are being shaped by these individuals. Sometimes, this is left up to an adult with no positive character traits and no leadership skills. I think it is wise to have very high standards for coaches.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who has given their time and energy to helping children in sports. I believe that most coaches are genuinely doing the best that they can and doing what they believe is right. However, this doesn’t give everyone a free pass to coach because not everyone is a good coach, even if they’re doing the best that they can. Sorry, but not everyone is qualified to coach.
I communicate with coaches and parents on a regular basis. I hear many different perspectives and my conviction on youth sports grows stronger and stronger each day. There is a right way to coach youth athletes and there is a wrong way. The right way is to encourage participation by making sports fun and focusing on development and retention while promoting healthy lifestyles and sound decision making abilities with positive character. Period. That’s it. That’s youth sports. Notice, I didn’t mention anything about winning?
The wrong way, 100% of the time, is to focus on winning. When winning becomes the focus, development is hindered. Short cuts are inevitably taken to find immediate success. There are no long-term goals to those who focus on winning at the youth level. This short sightedness leads to the demise of youth programs and high school sports. We’re getting everything out of our children at an age when they don’t understand its significance and it’s robbing them of future opportunities to grow. Sorry, but your 3rd grader is not an exception, either. I don’t care how advanced you believe he/she is, or how ambitious you are as a coach, you can’t, can’t, CANT substitute development for a chance at fleeting, temporary success. If this offends you, I'm glad someone is finally telling you because you're wrong.
The best analogy that I have to understand my commitment to development at the youth levels is like planting a tree. I planted a small pine tree in my back yard three years ago. It would have been easier to plant that little thing right outside my backdoor instead of far away in the corner of my yard. It would have been easier to care for it, water it and watch it grow. Heck, it may have even grown quicker because I would have paid close attention to it. However, in a few short years, when that pine started to mature, it would not have been able to grow anymore. The roots would have grown into the house. I’m certain the insurance company would have eventually made me dig it up because it could damage the integrity of the foundation. Plus, who wants a tree alongside the house? I'd much rather have a beautiful deck outside my backdoor. This is how youth sports should be viewed. This is the right way. It’s wrong to plant your tree outside your door.
Today, there are 57 million kids playing youth sports who are between 6 and 14 years of age, but only 7 million 15 years or older. Too many people are planting their trees next to their houses and it's time to do something about it.
One coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person impacts in an entire lifetime. So, what’s our filter for these people? How do we choose who gets to coach my son? What are the qualifications, if any, to hold these precious, moldable hearts and minds in our hands? A child’s future is at stake. I don't think we need to make sure a coach understands the cognitive abilities of children, or their kinesthetic capabilities and awareness of lactic acid threshold and periodized cycles. We need someone who is willing to learn and grasps the sport they’re teaching, and above all, loves children and wants to see them develop into men and women?
I'm very passionate about seeing children succeed and I'm not sorry if this offended you. I'm not interested in making coaches feel good about what they do. It's not about them. We need to start thinking about what the kid’s need, not what the adults want.
Why is it then, that the place that I see those who are least willing to learn are in positions that have the most influence in the life of a child? The most influential person in the life of a child is, in fact, Coach. Studies have proved the two most important words that American children hear or say is, “Coach says.” That’s a heavy burden to carry and a very large responsibility that must be taken seriously by anyone who calls themselves “coach.”
The problem that we have in the United States is that anyone can call themselves coach. We let every Tom, Dick and Harry put on that title if they’re willing. Never mind if they’re qualified for the position, if they’re interested then give them a clipboard and whistle. I guess it’s consistent with the “participation mindset,” that everyone is a winner and everyone gets equal playing time. Why should it be different for adults, right?
I’ll tell you why it should be different, because the lives and overall well-being of children is at stake. Their character development is in the hands of coaches. Our future leaders are being shaped by these individuals. Sometimes, this is left up to an adult with no positive character traits and no leadership skills. I think it is wise to have very high standards for coaches.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate everyone who has given their time and energy to helping children in sports. I believe that most coaches are genuinely doing the best that they can and doing what they believe is right. However, this doesn’t give everyone a free pass to coach because not everyone is a good coach, even if they’re doing the best that they can. Sorry, but not everyone is qualified to coach.
I communicate with coaches and parents on a regular basis. I hear many different perspectives and my conviction on youth sports grows stronger and stronger each day. There is a right way to coach youth athletes and there is a wrong way. The right way is to encourage participation by making sports fun and focusing on development and retention while promoting healthy lifestyles and sound decision making abilities with positive character. Period. That’s it. That’s youth sports. Notice, I didn’t mention anything about winning?
The wrong way, 100% of the time, is to focus on winning. When winning becomes the focus, development is hindered. Short cuts are inevitably taken to find immediate success. There are no long-term goals to those who focus on winning at the youth level. This short sightedness leads to the demise of youth programs and high school sports. We’re getting everything out of our children at an age when they don’t understand its significance and it’s robbing them of future opportunities to grow. Sorry, but your 3rd grader is not an exception, either. I don’t care how advanced you believe he/she is, or how ambitious you are as a coach, you can’t, can’t, CANT substitute development for a chance at fleeting, temporary success. If this offends you, I'm glad someone is finally telling you because you're wrong.
The best analogy that I have to understand my commitment to development at the youth levels is like planting a tree. I planted a small pine tree in my back yard three years ago. It would have been easier to plant that little thing right outside my backdoor instead of far away in the corner of my yard. It would have been easier to care for it, water it and watch it grow. Heck, it may have even grown quicker because I would have paid close attention to it. However, in a few short years, when that pine started to mature, it would not have been able to grow anymore. The roots would have grown into the house. I’m certain the insurance company would have eventually made me dig it up because it could damage the integrity of the foundation. Plus, who wants a tree alongside the house? I'd much rather have a beautiful deck outside my backdoor. This is how youth sports should be viewed. This is the right way. It’s wrong to plant your tree outside your door.
Today, there are 57 million kids playing youth sports who are between 6 and 14 years of age, but only 7 million 15 years or older. Too many people are planting their trees next to their houses and it's time to do something about it.
One coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person impacts in an entire lifetime. So, what’s our filter for these people? How do we choose who gets to coach my son? What are the qualifications, if any, to hold these precious, moldable hearts and minds in our hands? A child’s future is at stake. I don't think we need to make sure a coach understands the cognitive abilities of children, or their kinesthetic capabilities and awareness of lactic acid threshold and periodized cycles. We need someone who is willing to learn and grasps the sport they’re teaching, and above all, loves children and wants to see them develop into men and women?
I'm very passionate about seeing children succeed and I'm not sorry if this offended you. I'm not interested in making coaches feel good about what they do. It's not about them. We need to start thinking about what the kid’s need, not what the adults want.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Six year old athletes and the Olympics
I've never been to the Olympic Games, but someday hope to. I have watched the Olympics with great attentiveness since I was five years old and know a lot of Olympic athletes and coaches. I've been in the wrestling corner for six different Olympic athletes and have been cornered by coaches who have competed in the Games, too. Add to that the time that I have spent at various US Olympic Training Centers and national governing bodies, I feel like I have a good grasp on what it takes to become an Olympian. That's why I find it almost "comical" when I talk to a parent of a youth wrestler and they cannot stop talking about how their six year old son/daughter aspires to be an Olympian.
Tonight I will be hosting my first youth wrestling opportunity of the season at Victory School of Wrestling. Generally speaking, the young athletes and parents that participate in activities at Victory have a healthy perspective on wrestling. Our parents love nothing more than to see their child give their best effort and learn valuable life lessons through sports. However, we are clearly focused on the development stage for youth athletes and the Olympics are light years away.
I love hearing little boys tell me that they want to be the next Henry Cejudo or hearing girls aspiring to be the next Clarissa Chun. In fact, I encourage those dreams. I don't like when parents tell me that their child aspires to be these athletes, though.
I have seen parents prohibit the development of their child because they place a heavy emphasis on winning at a young age. Believe me, I am not a fan of the "everyone's a winner" attitude, but I think there's a time and place for everything. An Olympic gold medal at age six should NEVER be in the plans. And I mean never.
This notion extends beyond the realm of the Olympics into national and state level events. Parents have told me that their child's "dreams" will be crushed if they're not allowed to participate in this event or the other and they've worked so hard to become a state champion, etc., etc. Unfortunately, what that parent may not understand, is that their child probably doesn't even know what his/her dad is talking about. It's his dream, not the child's dream. This makes me sad.
I hope when my little guy is old enough to compete in youth athletics, I actively support his endeavors and support the goals that his little mind has the capacity for. Six year old children are not cognitively mature enough to understand what the Olympics are or what a college scholarship is. Encourage them to have fun competing. Help them fall in love with the sport of their choice and the idea of being active and competitive. When they're ready to take on the responsibilities that come with those lofty goals, they'll be able to attack them with conviction because it will come from within. Not from Dad.
I assure you, today we will play a lot of games, laugh hard and have fun at this youth camp. Hopefully these young athletes will leave Victory with more excitement for the sport than they came with. In the meantime, they may learn a few basic skills and develop as wrestlers, but only if their little minds are ready. I refuse to cut their childhood's short by loading them with pressure to succeed that will eventually cut their athletic career short. I want to see them fall in love with the sport and never be able to leave.
Tonight I will be hosting my first youth wrestling opportunity of the season at Victory School of Wrestling. Generally speaking, the young athletes and parents that participate in activities at Victory have a healthy perspective on wrestling. Our parents love nothing more than to see their child give their best effort and learn valuable life lessons through sports. However, we are clearly focused on the development stage for youth athletes and the Olympics are light years away.
I love hearing little boys tell me that they want to be the next Henry Cejudo or hearing girls aspiring to be the next Clarissa Chun. In fact, I encourage those dreams. I don't like when parents tell me that their child aspires to be these athletes, though.
I have seen parents prohibit the development of their child because they place a heavy emphasis on winning at a young age. Believe me, I am not a fan of the "everyone's a winner" attitude, but I think there's a time and place for everything. An Olympic gold medal at age six should NEVER be in the plans. And I mean never.
This notion extends beyond the realm of the Olympics into national and state level events. Parents have told me that their child's "dreams" will be crushed if they're not allowed to participate in this event or the other and they've worked so hard to become a state champion, etc., etc. Unfortunately, what that parent may not understand, is that their child probably doesn't even know what his/her dad is talking about. It's his dream, not the child's dream. This makes me sad.
I hope when my little guy is old enough to compete in youth athletics, I actively support his endeavors and support the goals that his little mind has the capacity for. Six year old children are not cognitively mature enough to understand what the Olympics are or what a college scholarship is. Encourage them to have fun competing. Help them fall in love with the sport of their choice and the idea of being active and competitive. When they're ready to take on the responsibilities that come with those lofty goals, they'll be able to attack them with conviction because it will come from within. Not from Dad.
I assure you, today we will play a lot of games, laugh hard and have fun at this youth camp. Hopefully these young athletes will leave Victory with more excitement for the sport than they came with. In the meantime, they may learn a few basic skills and develop as wrestlers, but only if their little minds are ready. I refuse to cut their childhood's short by loading them with pressure to succeed that will eventually cut their athletic career short. I want to see them fall in love with the sport and never be able to leave.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Shoot for the moon and land among the stars...really?
Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. Really? What if you miss the moon and land on Mars? Then you're not among stars. In fact, the closest star to Earth is 93 million miles away. If you shoot for the moon, which is, on average, about 240,000 miles from Earth, and land among the stars then you are way off course.
The author of this quote was famous musician and author Les Brown. Brown believed what you do today will determine what your tomorrows will bring. "You are molding your tomorrow based on what you do today," he says. "You can determine what your future holds based on how much time and energy you spend working on yourself now. Find out what it is you want, and go after it as if your life depended on it. Why? Because it does," says Brown.
This doesn't seem consistent with the notion of shooting for the moon and landing among the stars, does it? Of course, it's a very clever and cute quote, and it looks great on monthly calendars, but it's not the winning attitude that Brown promoted, yet it's his most famous quote.
Dissecting the quote even more, I think of individuals that I've come across who approach their lives this way. It seems as though the people who truly posses the shooting for the moon mentality are never really conscious of who they are and what they're capable of (and not capable of) doing. They also go against what Brown's biggest claim is: taking care of today to better mold your tomorrow. Shooting for the moon is not taking care of today and seeing where it brings you.
Norah Jones sings about this in a different context, but with similar results. From "Shoot the Moon" she sings, "You shoot the moon/and miss completely/and now you're left to face the gloom." This doesn't sound like landing among the stars is a very desirable outcome if we miss the moon.
I'll choose to approach life the way Brown intended according to his legacy, not his misguided quote on my high school English teacher's classroom wall. One of Browns books is called It's not over until you win! The title alone shows that we can't always be content with shooting for the moon as it's some "pie in the sky" and take what's left. No way! Keep going until you get to where you desire to be.
We're all going to fail at something in life, or in life in general. My encouragement is so that you'll keep trying, keep swinging, getting back on the horse, getting up and doing it all again...every time. Don't be content with landing among the stars. After all, if we land among the stars, we're probably too far off course to recognize that, most likely, we're burning.
The author of this quote was famous musician and author Les Brown. Brown believed what you do today will determine what your tomorrows will bring. "You are molding your tomorrow based on what you do today," he says. "You can determine what your future holds based on how much time and energy you spend working on yourself now. Find out what it is you want, and go after it as if your life depended on it. Why? Because it does," says Brown.
This doesn't seem consistent with the notion of shooting for the moon and landing among the stars, does it? Of course, it's a very clever and cute quote, and it looks great on monthly calendars, but it's not the winning attitude that Brown promoted, yet it's his most famous quote.
Dissecting the quote even more, I think of individuals that I've come across who approach their lives this way. It seems as though the people who truly posses the shooting for the moon mentality are never really conscious of who they are and what they're capable of (and not capable of) doing. They also go against what Brown's biggest claim is: taking care of today to better mold your tomorrow. Shooting for the moon is not taking care of today and seeing where it brings you.
Norah Jones sings about this in a different context, but with similar results. From "Shoot the Moon" she sings, "You shoot the moon/and miss completely/and now you're left to face the gloom." This doesn't sound like landing among the stars is a very desirable outcome if we miss the moon.
I'll choose to approach life the way Brown intended according to his legacy, not his misguided quote on my high school English teacher's classroom wall. One of Browns books is called It's not over until you win! The title alone shows that we can't always be content with shooting for the moon as it's some "pie in the sky" and take what's left. No way! Keep going until you get to where you desire to be.
We're all going to fail at something in life, or in life in general. My encouragement is so that you'll keep trying, keep swinging, getting back on the horse, getting up and doing it all again...every time. Don't be content with landing among the stars. After all, if we land among the stars, we're probably too far off course to recognize that, most likely, we're burning.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Fishers of men, but why fish?
On most large college campuses across the United States, you're sure to find a crazy, uneducated-looking tool condemning students for their lifestyle and lack of "faith" in God. These fire and brimstone preachers often focus on what everyone else is doing wrong in their life instead of attempting to tell others what is potentially great in their own life.
When I was a junior in college, I was helping Athletes In Action hand out informational pamphlets at a Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game. Because AIA is a Christian organization, a lot of controversy stirred outside of the Kohl Center. A powerful organization named Freedom From Religion protested UW's decision to play AIA claiming it gave them a platform to share their message with others. As a result, an unkempt fire and brimstone preacher decided to bring his arrogance and soap box to the Kohl Center that night.
Far from being the salt of the earth, this man focused on a few passage from the bible that became very offensive to those who were there to simply watch a basketball game. Most of the dialogue he tried to create was out of context, but innocent bystanders couldn't decipher that on their own and were likely foggy on what the bible actually said. Plain and simple, he was turning people off.
One of my friends, Brady, decided to take matters into his own hands. After all, he was a genuine Christ follower and had good news about Jesus to share with others. He approached the individual in a very calm demeanor and politely asked his name and who he was trying to reach with his message. Because he was polite, the man downed his tone and told him the organization that he represented. Brady told the man that he was a Christian and was excited to see how God was going to use the Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game, this man was on the same page.
Then, Brady asked him if he liked to fish. The man did. Brady continued a conversation that looked something like this:
Brady - Well, I love to fish, too.
The man (excited, as if Brady was going to ask him to join him someday in fellowship) - Really?
Brady - Yeah, I really do. If you and I were fishing, and you were fishing on one side of the boat and I was on the other, and I kept making noise, throwing things in the water and causing a stir, would you enjoy fishing with me?
The man - Of course not, not if you're going to make all of that noise.
Brady - Why is it so bad for me to make noise when I fish, that's just how I do it.
The man - Come on, seriously? You can't make noise because you'd scare away all of the fish.
Brady (putting his hand on the man's shoulder) - You're scaring away the fish. (Brady walks away)
I remember this like it was yesterday. Brady's humble, non-confrontational approach toward this man allowed helped hold him accountable. It was obvious that this man had read the bible, so he was familiar with the fishing analogy. Jesus used it in a famous story that is recorded in Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 5:1-11. He told Simon and Andrew to get rid of their [fishing] nets and become fishers of men -- tell the story of Jesus.
At church last weekend, we heard a sermon from Andy Stanley called "Why Fish?" It was an amazing presentation on the notion of fishing for men. He illustrated the message with a passage from Acts when Peter and John healed a crippled beggar. This beggar "jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God" (Acts 3:8). He couldn't help but praise God and tell others of his personal experience. The religious leaders were angry with Peter and John and tried to keep them quiet, but they couldn't contain themselves because they saw something incredible and had to tell others.
Being fishers of men is not trying to impress others with your knowledge of the Bible and being able to compare the world religions. It's not about a religious conviction, it's about seeing something that happened and sharing your personal experience.
The basic summary of the sermon is that, as Christ followers, we need to tell people about the story of Jesus along with our personal encounter with the Savior. People can find God on their own, but they can't find the story of Jesus without being told. It's history and history needs a storyteller. To be fishers of men, we need share our story of how Jesus impacts our life.
It's uncomfortable and scary, but really it's quite simple. Tell others about Jesus. Their life and salvation may depend on it. Too often others become aware of what Christians are against instead of what they believe and why. I want people to know the story of Jesus Christ because it's the most important story ever told.
So, in light of being careful to not scare away any fish, I encourage you to watch this video clip from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This helps me understand Acts 3:8 and what this cripple may have experienced. If you have an experience like this man, or witness something similar, wouldn't you tell everyone you come in contact with? Well, much like Charlie's grandfather, we do have a golden ticket in Jesus Christ! Tell someone. Fish.
When I was a junior in college, I was helping Athletes In Action hand out informational pamphlets at a Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game. Because AIA is a Christian organization, a lot of controversy stirred outside of the Kohl Center. A powerful organization named Freedom From Religion protested UW's decision to play AIA claiming it gave them a platform to share their message with others. As a result, an unkempt fire and brimstone preacher decided to bring his arrogance and soap box to the Kohl Center that night.
Far from being the salt of the earth, this man focused on a few passage from the bible that became very offensive to those who were there to simply watch a basketball game. Most of the dialogue he tried to create was out of context, but innocent bystanders couldn't decipher that on their own and were likely foggy on what the bible actually said. Plain and simple, he was turning people off.
One of my friends, Brady, decided to take matters into his own hands. After all, he was a genuine Christ follower and had good news about Jesus to share with others. He approached the individual in a very calm demeanor and politely asked his name and who he was trying to reach with his message. Because he was polite, the man downed his tone and told him the organization that he represented. Brady told the man that he was a Christian and was excited to see how God was going to use the Wisconsin vs. AIA basketball game, this man was on the same page.
Then, Brady asked him if he liked to fish. The man did. Brady continued a conversation that looked something like this:
Brady - Well, I love to fish, too.
The man (excited, as if Brady was going to ask him to join him someday in fellowship) - Really?
Brady - Yeah, I really do. If you and I were fishing, and you were fishing on one side of the boat and I was on the other, and I kept making noise, throwing things in the water and causing a stir, would you enjoy fishing with me?
The man - Of course not, not if you're going to make all of that noise.
Brady - Why is it so bad for me to make noise when I fish, that's just how I do it.
The man - Come on, seriously? You can't make noise because you'd scare away all of the fish.
Brady (putting his hand on the man's shoulder) - You're scaring away the fish. (Brady walks away)
I remember this like it was yesterday. Brady's humble, non-confrontational approach toward this man allowed helped hold him accountable. It was obvious that this man had read the bible, so he was familiar with the fishing analogy. Jesus used it in a famous story that is recorded in Matthew 4:18-22, Mark 1:16-20 and Luke 5:1-11. He told Simon and Andrew to get rid of their [fishing] nets and become fishers of men -- tell the story of Jesus.
At church last weekend, we heard a sermon from Andy Stanley called "Why Fish?" It was an amazing presentation on the notion of fishing for men. He illustrated the message with a passage from Acts when Peter and John healed a crippled beggar. This beggar "jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping and praising God" (Acts 3:8). He couldn't help but praise God and tell others of his personal experience. The religious leaders were angry with Peter and John and tried to keep them quiet, but they couldn't contain themselves because they saw something incredible and had to tell others.
Being fishers of men is not trying to impress others with your knowledge of the Bible and being able to compare the world religions. It's not about a religious conviction, it's about seeing something that happened and sharing your personal experience.
The basic summary of the sermon is that, as Christ followers, we need to tell people about the story of Jesus along with our personal encounter with the Savior. People can find God on their own, but they can't find the story of Jesus without being told. It's history and history needs a storyteller. To be fishers of men, we need share our story of how Jesus impacts our life.
It's uncomfortable and scary, but really it's quite simple. Tell others about Jesus. Their life and salvation may depend on it. Too often others become aware of what Christians are against instead of what they believe and why. I want people to know the story of Jesus Christ because it's the most important story ever told.
So, in light of being careful to not scare away any fish, I encourage you to watch this video clip from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. This helps me understand Acts 3:8 and what this cripple may have experienced. If you have an experience like this man, or witness something similar, wouldn't you tell everyone you come in contact with? Well, much like Charlie's grandfather, we do have a golden ticket in Jesus Christ! Tell someone. Fish.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Social entrepreneurship
As a fashion icon within the wrestling community, I have a responsibility to remain current on styles and trends (recognize the sarcasm, please). Thanks to this burden, I have been sporting a pair of TOMS Shoes. TOMS were created by social entrepreneur Blake Mycoskie. Not only are the shoes chic, they are extremely comfortable. However, the reason TOMS Shoes have taken the world by storm is because they have created an opportunity to leave a footprint in humanity, pun intended, and have a positive impact on the world by providing a pair of shoes to someone in need for every pair they sell. This is what has drawn me to TOMS.
As a sole-proprietor, I gravitate toward stories of individuals having an impact on the world. I strive to inform my athletes on the importance of being globally connected and using our gifts and abilities to make the world a "better place." I was inspired by Mycoskie's explanation of himself and his company. He called his mission social entrepreneurship. It resonated with me so well because I see myself as a social entrepreneur, too.
The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric covered a trip of Mycoskie's to Ethiopia (see the video here). In an interview he said, "social entrepreneur is a really good description of what I am...you have the entrepreneurial gift and spirit to create something out of nothing...it's still a business, but you do it for other reasons other than just to make a profit. You do it for the social well-being and the betterment of whoever you're focusing on."
I have organized Victory School of Wrestling in a way that I believe I am using my gifts and expertise to have a positive impact on our society. We are a business with overhead costs, etc., but making a profit is far from my number one priority. I'm extremely fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I believe I was created for, but many things have fallen into place that have allowed me to pursue this dream. As a result, I measure my success as a businessman/entrepreneur in lives changed, not financial security. Finances are a crucial ingredient to running a business, but Victory is rich is many other ways aside from money.
Most recently, I was privileged to have to opportunity to speak to over 50 youth athletes in a neighboring community. I spoke to them about making good decisions and accepting the responsibility of positively influencing others. Even if we try not to, we are always influencing people. We have the choice to either positively influence them or negatively influence them. How we view our role as an athlete and individual is exceedingly important because it all needs to be for a greater cause. It needs to be about more than us (see my What is it all for blog).
I regularly thank God for the opportunity to serve him and bring him glory through the sport of wrestling. I am also extremely thankful for individuals like Blake Mycoskie. People like him give me the confidence to continue impacting our future leaders and the next social entrepreneurs.
Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change (from Ashoka.org). My idea is to positively influence the world through the sport of wrestling. I have a few tools in my back pocket to do so--education and experience--but my greatest direction comes from God.
While a business entrepreneur might create entirely new industries, a social entrepreneur comes up with new solutions to social problems and then implements them on a large scale. Victory aims to build up individuals into great men and women so that they can impact others with a cause greater than themselves and actively strive to make the world a better place.
As a sole-proprietor, I gravitate toward stories of individuals having an impact on the world. I strive to inform my athletes on the importance of being globally connected and using our gifts and abilities to make the world a "better place." I was inspired by Mycoskie's explanation of himself and his company. He called his mission social entrepreneurship. It resonated with me so well because I see myself as a social entrepreneur, too.
The CBS Evening News with Katie Couric covered a trip of Mycoskie's to Ethiopia (see the video here). In an interview he said, "social entrepreneur is a really good description of what I am...you have the entrepreneurial gift and spirit to create something out of nothing...it's still a business, but you do it for other reasons other than just to make a profit. You do it for the social well-being and the betterment of whoever you're focusing on."
I have organized Victory School of Wrestling in a way that I believe I am using my gifts and expertise to have a positive impact on our society. We are a business with overhead costs, etc., but making a profit is far from my number one priority. I'm extremely fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I believe I was created for, but many things have fallen into place that have allowed me to pursue this dream. As a result, I measure my success as a businessman/entrepreneur in lives changed, not financial security. Finances are a crucial ingredient to running a business, but Victory is rich is many other ways aside from money.
Most recently, I was privileged to have to opportunity to speak to over 50 youth athletes in a neighboring community. I spoke to them about making good decisions and accepting the responsibility of positively influencing others. Even if we try not to, we are always influencing people. We have the choice to either positively influence them or negatively influence them. How we view our role as an athlete and individual is exceedingly important because it all needs to be for a greater cause. It needs to be about more than us (see my What is it all for blog).
I regularly thank God for the opportunity to serve him and bring him glory through the sport of wrestling. I am also extremely thankful for individuals like Blake Mycoskie. People like him give me the confidence to continue impacting our future leaders and the next social entrepreneurs.
Social entrepreneurs are individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems. They are ambitious and persistent, tackling major social issues and offering new ideas for wide-scale change (from Ashoka.org). My idea is to positively influence the world through the sport of wrestling. I have a few tools in my back pocket to do so--education and experience--but my greatest direction comes from God.
While a business entrepreneur might create entirely new industries, a social entrepreneur comes up with new solutions to social problems and then implements them on a large scale. Victory aims to build up individuals into great men and women so that they can impact others with a cause greater than themselves and actively strive to make the world a better place.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Think positively
As we approach the end of the Preseason Training Program at Victory School of Wrestling, we are reflecting on our objectives and evaluating if we're on track in meeting the standards set in the beginning. The main objectives deal with the physical, mental and spiritual dimensions of training in hopes of becoming the Total Athlete.
Refining our technique, returning to basic skills and conditioning was purely physical. The spiritual aspect was addressed in training like barbarians and possessing a transcendent cause. Thinking positively has been the heartbeat of the mental development as these student-athletes stand on the doorstep of greatness.
The mantra of the 2008-09 season was greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done which coincides with this year's find the silver lining and turn it gold. The relation to each other is thinking positively. The greatest athletes are capable of discovering opportunities for growth in every situation. Their positive attitude become infectious and they make others around them better people.
The famous country singer Kenny Rogers released a song over five years ago that perfectly illustrated the positive thinking that I'm talking about. He tells the story of a little boy who is in his back yard playing baseball by himself. The kid tosses the ball in the air, swings and misses and there was strike one. He bends over, picks up the ball and does it again. Strike two. Finally, bound and determined to hit the ball over the fence, the kid throws the ball in the air and swings with all of his mite. The ball falls to the ground and that's strike three. Without hesitating, the boy walks into the house and tells his parents that he's the world's best pitcher. The song's tune isn't great, but the message is. This boy was thinking positively about his abilities.
I believe the best athletes in the world think positively. If they strike out, they may just realize that they're pretty good pitchers. Thinking positively allows each athlete to focus on their strengths and recognize where they succeed most. This is crucial in the development of young men as they strive to become confident individuals who reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously and expect the greater reward.
We can all choose to think positively right now. Sometimes it's very difficult, but if we change our attitude and perspective, we can change our life. In changing our life, we change lives of others and eventually have a greater impact on the entire world.
Refining our technique, returning to basic skills and conditioning was purely physical. The spiritual aspect was addressed in training like barbarians and possessing a transcendent cause. Thinking positively has been the heartbeat of the mental development as these student-athletes stand on the doorstep of greatness.
The mantra of the 2008-09 season was greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done which coincides with this year's find the silver lining and turn it gold. The relation to each other is thinking positively. The greatest athletes are capable of discovering opportunities for growth in every situation. Their positive attitude become infectious and they make others around them better people.
The famous country singer Kenny Rogers released a song over five years ago that perfectly illustrated the positive thinking that I'm talking about. He tells the story of a little boy who is in his back yard playing baseball by himself. The kid tosses the ball in the air, swings and misses and there was strike one. He bends over, picks up the ball and does it again. Strike two. Finally, bound and determined to hit the ball over the fence, the kid throws the ball in the air and swings with all of his mite. The ball falls to the ground and that's strike three. Without hesitating, the boy walks into the house and tells his parents that he's the world's best pitcher. The song's tune isn't great, but the message is. This boy was thinking positively about his abilities.
I believe the best athletes in the world think positively. If they strike out, they may just realize that they're pretty good pitchers. Thinking positively allows each athlete to focus on their strengths and recognize where they succeed most. This is crucial in the development of young men as they strive to become confident individuals who reject passivity, accept responsibility, lead courageously and expect the greater reward.
We can all choose to think positively right now. Sometimes it's very difficult, but if we change our attitude and perspective, we can change our life. In changing our life, we change lives of others and eventually have a greater impact on the entire world.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Someone smashed my pumpkins
I understand that people experience a form of exhilaration when they break the law or do something they're not supposed to, but I have difficulty in identifying with many of the stupid things people do. Smashing pumpkins is one of them, and I'm not talking about Billy Corgan's shaved head. I'm talking about my beautiful decorative pumpkins on my front steps.
This morning I woke up and walked down stairs to find that someone had thoughtlessly smashed my pumpkins. Two medium-sized and one very large pumpkin (which cost me $14) were in the street split in half. The temperature dropped below freezing overnight, so the smashing possibilities were less than desirable for these juveniles, I'm sure, but they still decided to destroy my pumpkins.
I grew up on a dairy farm, so I didn't experience my intricately carved pumpkins being smashed by a bunch of hooligans. However, when we left the country for the city, I did. In middle school, my feelings were hurt when my creativity was laying in the street being run over by cars. I can't imagine how I would have felt if were much younger. This is why pumpkin smashing (and ruining others snow forts) bothers me so much. Not only are you smashing pumpkins, you're smashing a child's heart.
This year I bought very nice pumpkins because our house looks great in the fall. My son is only one year old, so he's not old enough to carve pumpkins anyway. But when he is old enough, and I am able to catch some little hood rat attempting to smash Isaiah's precious little pumpkins, I will smash him. That's a promise.
Until then, once these pumpkins thaw, I'm going to scoop out all of the insides and bake some flavorful pumpkin seeds. I might even take a stab at some pumpkin seed pesto.
This morning I woke up and walked down stairs to find that someone had thoughtlessly smashed my pumpkins. Two medium-sized and one very large pumpkin (which cost me $14) were in the street split in half. The temperature dropped below freezing overnight, so the smashing possibilities were less than desirable for these juveniles, I'm sure, but they still decided to destroy my pumpkins.
I grew up on a dairy farm, so I didn't experience my intricately carved pumpkins being smashed by a bunch of hooligans. However, when we left the country for the city, I did. In middle school, my feelings were hurt when my creativity was laying in the street being run over by cars. I can't imagine how I would have felt if were much younger. This is why pumpkin smashing (and ruining others snow forts) bothers me so much. Not only are you smashing pumpkins, you're smashing a child's heart.
This year I bought very nice pumpkins because our house looks great in the fall. My son is only one year old, so he's not old enough to carve pumpkins anyway. But when he is old enough, and I am able to catch some little hood rat attempting to smash Isaiah's precious little pumpkins, I will smash him. That's a promise.
Until then, once these pumpkins thaw, I'm going to scoop out all of the insides and bake some flavorful pumpkin seeds. I might even take a stab at some pumpkin seed pesto.
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