Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Food Donations at CYO Track and Field Saturday

CYO Athletics will be accepting food donations this Saturday, May 19th, at the All Comers and Individual Championship Meets. The food will be donated to the Food Bank @ St. Mary's. CYO Athletics families are encouraged to participate and take the opportunity to talk with their athletes about the importance of incorporating proper nutrition into their diet. For more information about what food to donate to St. Mary's, Click Here, and for a resource for you to discuss proper nutrition and facts about hunger with your athletes, Click Here.

Friday, May 11, 2012

Case Study: Overcoming Fear of Failure

In the PLC coaches training, we discuss a scenario where a volleyball player is due up for their turn in the service rotation, and they are afraid to mess up. What do you do as the coach?

In a powerful way, a very similar situation happened this last season in volleyball. Here is one coach's story:

"One boy would get so distraught from the pressure, that I sat him more than some of the others in fear that he was going to cry.  He really had a hard time keeping it together. We all talked at the next practice about composure, grace, and confidence. He improved greatly in the next match!"

This coach strategically used time in practice to discuss composure, grace, and confidence. That communication helped the team support one another and this player was able to overcome his fear of failure. What would you have done in this situation? Have you had a similar situation with a player's fear of failure?

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Head Injury Risks in Soccer

This article was forwarded to CYO Athletics, and discusses some of the medical risks involved in playing soccer, particulary in relation to concussions. It is important that athletes are continuously educated as to how to use proper technique when heading a soccer ball, and learn how to identify proper spacing with other players when making the decision to go for a header.

In addition, coaches, parents and athletes should all be able to identify the signs and symptoms of a concussion. For more information about concussion safety, visit the Lystedt Law section of the CYO Athletics website.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Young People Need Good (PLC) Coaches

It seems that today’s athletic culture is driven by the notion that sports is nothing more than an opportunity to assert physical dominance over an opponent. Winning has become the ultimate goal with little or no concern for the shrapnel that is left in the lives of the young people who are reared in this single-minded environment.

Ok, perhaps the first paragraph was a little strong… but here are some simple reasons why coaches are now more important than ever in the lives of young people.

• Only 3.8% of elementary schools provide physical education (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2009).

• Children are on the average spending over 50 hours a week on electronic media – television, video games, email, social media, etc. (Bloomberg Business Week, 2010).

• According to the Center for Disease Control, one in three children are likely to develop type 2 diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure due to sedentary lifestyles (Good Housekeeping, 2012).

• 58% of children age 2-5 can play simple computer games versus 44% who know how to ride a bike (CNN, 2012).

Heart disease…as a teenager? No P.E.? Kids don’t know how to ride a bike? Fifty hours per week on electronic media? That’s a full time job plus overtime on and above school related activities. Now more than ever the role of the coach is critical in helping shape the lives of young people. The critical question is: “What are our coaches teaching our young people?”
According to Play Like a Champion Today® philosophy, coaches are teachers using a different platform to educate. Instead of English, math and science they use practice time, discipline and teamwork to teach life lessons and moral development through sport.
That said moral development doesn’t spontaneously happen through organized sports. Just as practices require “reps” to get better physically, coaches have to be deliberate about promoting moral development by taking “moral development reps” throughout the day. Here are a few fundamentals that will support anyone who is truly coaching their student-athletes for moral development:
• emphasize that moral values come before all else

• take time before each practice and game to call attention to moral values

• take time after each practice and game to evaluate how well the team lived up to its espoused values

• help players to develop their moral reasoning by discussing moral problems as a team

The wide world of sports has changed in many ways…the one thing that stays consistent is the need for good coaches to guide, mentor and love young people. Remember to Play Like a Champion Today®!

VIA Play Like A Champion Today(R) Sport Parent Notes

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Hands only CPR 1 minute video

Here is a link to a video put together by the American Heart Association which shows how to do hands-only CPR on adults. A person is two to three times more likely to survive cardiac arrest if hands only CPR is performed on them after 9-1-1 is called and before paramedics arrive. As their website states, “The life you save is most likely someone you love.”