Personal Pressbreak Program

Honor the Game

I love the game of basketball, and I hope you do too. Basketball has a long history and is the most played sport in the world. A lot of great things happen on the basketball court. I feel that it is an honor to be involved in the sport. That's why I want to talk to you about Honoring the Game. Now, I am sure many of you have had parents or coaches talk to you about sportsmanship, or what it means to be a "good sport." What does it mean to you to be a good sport? (Answers may include "play fair," "don't cheat" etc.) Sportsmanship is important, but in order to get the most out of this basketball season, I want you to honor the game. We say that Honoring the Game goes to the ROOTS of the matter: R-O-O-T-S. Each letter in ROOTS stands for an important part of basketball that we must respect. The R stands for Rules. The first O is for Opponents. The next O is for Officials. T is for Teammates, and the S is for Self.

R is for Rules

The rules of basketball are what allow us to keep the game fair. Respect for the rules is important, even when it's possible to break them without getting caught. I want you to play by the rules, even if you think you won't get caught if you break them. Breaking the rules dishonors the game, even if it means that we win.

O is for Opponents

Without opponents, we could have no game. A good opponent makes us do our best. Sometimes your opponents are friends of yours. I want you to respect your opponents, and remember they are out there to have fun just like us. I want you to try your hardest to win, not because you hate your opponent, but because you want to play your best. I promise that I will try to show respect for opposing coaches and teams, and I expect you to do the same.

O if for Officials

It is very important to respect officials. Often, this can be the most difficult part of Honoring the Game, so we need to remember to keep it as a focus when we play. Officials have been selected and trained to enforce rules, and they have a very hard job. Without the officials the game would be unsafe and unfair. Officials are not perfect (just like coaches, athletes and parents!) and sometimes make mistakes. However, there is no excuse for treating officials with disrespect when they make errors. I want you to show respect for officials, even when you disagree with the call. I promise to try to do the same thing.

T is for Teammates

A big part of basketball is the team. Being with your teammates should be fun. Later in life you will often be part of a team, and it is important to learn to work together. I hope you feel a commitment to each other as teammates and that you will agree to always play as hard as you can in practice and in games. Please encourage and support each other on and off the playing field.

S is for Self

Some people only Honor the Game when their opponents do, but I want us to Honor the Game no matter what the other team or its fans do. I want us to be the kind of team that Honors the Game even when others do not because we set our own personal standards. And we live up to them no matter what. We have respect for ourselves and would never do anything to dishonor the game.

So what do we mean when we say that Honoring the Game goes to the ROOTS of the matter? Respect for : Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and Self. If you do these five things, you are Honoring the Game. You and your teammates will get the most out of our season, and you will join the great tradition that is soccer. Now let's Honor the Game starting right now at this practice, especially when we scrimmage.

from the Positive Coaching Alliance at http://www.positivecoach.org

Redefining "Winner"

Basketball is a great game. It's a lot of fun to play, and it's also a way that we learn important lessons that can help us later in life. I know that I learned a lot from playing competitive sports when I was your age.

I want to tell you about a goal I have for the team and for each of you individually this season. It's called "Act like a winner to be a winner."

There are two kinds of winners. What is one kind of winner? What does "winner" mean to you? (Answer likely to be something like "The one who has the most points at the end of the game.")

One kind of winner is the team that has the most points at the end of the game. And we want to be that kind of winner. We want to work as hard as we can to win as many games as we can.

There is another kind of winner though that is just as important. That is a winner in life.

We want to learn from this season how to be a winner in everything we do, not just baseball.

To be a winner we need to start acting like a winner. And a winner is someone who is working for mastery of whatever activity he or she is doing. So in baseball we want to work toward mastery to be the best basketball player and team we can be. And we want to learn how to achieve mastery at anything we want to be good at.

To help understand the way that we achieve mastery, we use the example of a tree that we call the Tree of Mastery. If you climb the Tree of Mastery you will be successful.

We say that the Tree of Mastery is an ELM tree because there are three things you need to do to climb the Tree of Mastery:

E is for Effort. We want to give our best effort every time we come out on the field. I am more concerned that we try our hardest than I am if we win. We could win against a weak team without giving it our best effort, and that doesn't really mean anything.

On the other hand we could play a team that was stronger than we are and try our very hardest and lose. I would be proud of us in that case because we were acting like a winner by trying our hardest even though the other team ended up winning the game.

So the first part of the ELM tree is E for Effort.

L is for Learning. We want to continue learning and improving every week in practice and every time we play a game. If we continue to learn, we will get better, and that is more important than whether or not we are better than some other team.

We could be better than another team without learning and improving if that team is a weak team. And we could be weaker than another team but be learning a lot and getting better all the time. It's more important to me that we learn and improve than it is to beat a team that isn't very good. And it's more important that we learn and improve even if we lose to a team that is stronger than we are.

So the second part of the ELM tree is L for Learning.

M is for Mistakes. Most people think it's bad to make a mistake. But mistakes are part of the learning process. You can't learn something as complicated as baseball if you are afraid to make a mistake. And people that are afraid to make a mistake often don't even try very hard.

I want you to know that it is okay to make a mistake on this team. We want to learn from our mistakes and not let them discourage us or keep us from working hard. So, is it okay to make a mistake on this team?

Yes, it is. And the third part of the ELM tree is M for it's okay to make a Mistake.

Acting like a winner involves three things. It means:

Giving your best effort every time,

Continuing to learn and improve, and

Not letting mistakes (or fear of making a mistake) stop you.

If you do these three things, you are acting like a winner, and you will be a winner in life as well as basketball.

from the Positive Coaching Alliance at http://www.positivecoach.org

Fill the Emotional Tank

Wouldn't you love to hear a coach say this.

"Have you ever heard of the home court advantage? How often do you think a team wins on its home court? It turns out that a team wins at home a lot more than when they are away. One reason for this is the emotional support of the fans. It tends to lift our emotions and make us play better.

We want to be able to play our best all of the time. To play our best we have to keep our "Emotional Tanks" full. What is an emotional tank? Well, it is like a gas tank in a car. When it is full, we run well, but when it is empty, we can't go very far.

Why is it important that we keep each other's tanks full? If our emotional tank is empty, we become negative, and we give up easier. If our tanks are full, however, we are optimistic and are able to handle difficult situations. As the coach, I will do my best to help fill your emotional tanks. To have a really great season, I need your help.

Think about when you miss a free throw. What would someone say to make you feel worse?"Nice job (sarcastically)," "You stink!" See, that was easy. We call that draining the emotional tank. When you criticize or insult your teammates, you make them feel worse. That's why we call it draining the emotional tank. I will try not to drain your emotional tank, but sometimes I will have to correct you to help you learn the game. I will try to do this in a way that keeps your emotional tank full.

What would someone say to make you feel better after you missed a shot. ("Get the next one," "Shake it off!") We call that filling the emotional tank. Here are some ways to fill the emotional tank:

Tell your teammate when you see him do something well, or when you see him giving his maximum effort, even if he does not make the play.

Tell him when you see him improving. This will make him want to continue trying hard to improve even more.

Listen to your teammates. If your teammate has an idea he wants to share, you can fill his tank by listening to what he has to say. No one wants to be ignored.

I promise to do all of these things. Also, I want you to do tank-filling activities with each other.

Here is a great way that you can help me. It is called the Buddy System. Once in a while at practice, I'll ask you to pair up with a buddy. It might be a different buddy every time. I want you to look for the things that your buddy is doing well. Remember, though, you have to be truthful, or else it won't mean anything. Also, try to tell your buddies exactly what they did right. If your buddy makes a nice pass, say "Good pass! Way to bounce it in to the low post."

Do you think it is important to say more positives than negatives? How many more positives should you say? I am going to try to shoot for five positives for every negative. I don't want you to worry about the exact number of positives you say, just remember, be as positive as you can.

So, right now, pair up with someone else, and he will be your buddy for today's practice. Later in the practice, I am going to have each one of you report back to the team on what your buddy said to you to fill your tank.

This season is going to be an especially great season if we support each other and keep our emotional tanks full. With full emotional tanks, we will be off to the races, and there is no limit to what we can accomplish."

from the Positive Coaching Alliance at http://www.positivecoach.org

What is a Champion?

A Champion's Creed...

Champions get up one more time than they have been knocked down.

Champions give their all no matter the score.

Champions do what is right even when it hurts.

Champions know winning is not necessarily measured by the final score.

Champions take a stand for what is right, even when they stand alone.

Champions see every challenge as an opportunity.

Champions make those around them better.

Champions do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Champions dedicate themselves to prepare for success.

Champions put the success of others above individual achievement.

Champions understand winning is not the only thing.

Champions live by a higher personal standard.

Champions stand firm when others around them fall.

Champions live what they speak and speak what they live.

Champions lay down their own desires for the benefit of others.

Champions willingly accept responsibility, and graciously deflect honor.

Champions never sacrifice what is best for something good.

Champions may fail...but they never quit.

Pressure

by Coach Doug Reese

"Sure I'm nervous every time I'm out there. Even when I was a kid, I felt the pressure. There is pressure everytime you are in there. That's the of the game - pressure." - Tony Esposito, NHL Hall of Fame Goaltender, Chicago Blackhawks

Very few athletes can comprehend what it is like to play professional sports. The pressure can be intense and gut wrenching to say the least. Roger Maris of the 1961 New York Yankees knew the cost of fame, fortune, failure and pressure better than most.

In the summer of '61 Maris chased a baseball record that put the pressure of the entire sports world upon his shoulders. His pursuit? To become the major league single season home run champion by surpassing the legendary Babe Ruth's 1927 record of 60 home runs.

Once thought to be unbreakable, Ruth's record was under siege in the summer of 1961. The quality of major league pitching had been diluted by expansion that year, while eight or more games had been added to the traditional 154 game season. The Babe's record was a prime target to fall.

Maris was a quiet, farm boy who grew up in Fargo, North Dakota. He had spent the first seven years of his career in smaller baseball markets of Cleveland and Kansas City. A newcomer to New York, Maris was immediately uneasy and restless in his new big city surroundings. And Maris was viewed with suspicion because he wasn't a "true" Yankee.

As spring turned to summer that year, Maris was knocking the cover off the ball. Soon the overzealous media began projecting the possibility of breaking Ruth's record. With each home run came more and more questions.

"Can you break Ruth's record?" "How does it feel that you will probably surpass the great Babe Ruth?" "If you break the record, do you feel that puts you in the same company with the Babe?" Maris had a very difficult time responding to the media and all the questions. "How do I know? I don't want to be Babe Ruth," he blurted out on several occasions.

As summer wore on, Maris continued to hit home runs at an alarming rate. As the pressure increased, Maris' hair began to fall out in clumps. His pre-game ritual consisted of smoking cigarette after cigarette, while drinking gallons of black coffee. All the while, he spoke to virtually no one. Maris paced the locker room. "If I sat in front of my locker, my stomach turned to knots," he said.

The reporters of New York hounded him... "if the record is to be broken, it should be done by someone with greater baseball stature and greater color and public appeal... Maris is colorless... He is not more than a good big-league player... He is average in the field and often surly... There just isn't anything deeply heroic about the man."

On September 26th, the 158th game of the season, Maris tied the Babe's record. Maris went without a home run in the next three games. In the final game of the season, in his second at bat, in the fourth inning against Boston's Tracy Stallard, Maris lifted a 2-0 fastball at the knees into the right field bleachers. He had done it! The single season home run record was his.

Because the baseball season was eight games longer for the first time, then baseball commissioner Ford Frick decided to place an asterisk beside Maris' name in the record books. Thus, Ruth's record was semi-persevered.

Athletic Principle

"The only pressure I'm under is the pressure I've put on myself." - Mark Messier, Stanley Cup Champion, New York Rangers

What seems like a long drawn out story, the season of 1961 for Roger Maris, was a perfect example of paying a price and competing under pressure. The pressure of the legend of Babe Ruth, the media, the commissioner, and the fans of New York all paid a heavy toll on Roger Maris. When Maris should have been on the top of the world for his accomplishments, he was miserable and empty.

Former Yankee great, "Mr. October," Reggie Jackson summed it up perfectly, "I have so much respect for the man. For the mental part almost more than the physical. I mean, can you imagine what it's like to hit 61 home runs in a season? In New York?"

Pressure - it is a way of life in athletics. Pressure abounds... pressure to win, the pressure to make the team, the pressure to keep your position and ranking, the pressure of criticism and fame.

Basically there are two types of pressure that an athlete will face. The first type of pressure is the kind which you have control over. This type of pressure is usually the pressure that comes because you have failed to train and properly prepare. It shows up when you are out of shape - whether it be your cardiovascular system, your flexibility, your strength, your weight, or your mental state of mind. It is not being in the optimal combative state.

This type of pressure also shows up in your preparation for competition. This usually happens going into a battle without a plan or without a strategy. It is going into a tough competition without doing your homework on your opponent. All of this type of pressure is totally avoidable. The real problem is that you created this mess by not being disciplined to detail.

Another type of pressure is the kind that is unavoidable. It is beyond the realm of your control. This kind of pressure usually comes from outside sources. It is the pressure to live up to someone else's expectations. This is the kind of pressure you must learn to face, because there is nothing you can do to prevent it.

The most important issue to consider as an athlete and as a coach about pressure is how are you going to deal with it. It is there. It just won't go away. You can't run, you can't hide, you can't pretend it is not there; you must face it. Basketball Hall of Fame and NCAA National Championship Coach, John Wooden said this:

"If you are trying to live up to the expectations put on you by the media, parents, fans, your employer, or whatever else there may be, it's going to affect you adversely because it brings On worry and anxiety. I think that is the tendency of people who choke under pressure. They're thinking about living up to the expectations of everybody else instead of just doing their job the best they can."

When you step on the field of competition, you step on a field covered with "landmines" of pressure. At every step, at every turn is the possibility of a pressure explosion. As Roger Maris found out, expect it... it comes with the territory!

Life Principle

"Because of the demands on a goalie are mostly mental, it means that for the goalie the biggest enemy is himself. Not a puck, not an opponent, not a quirk of size or style. Him. The stress and anxiety he feels when he plays, the fear of failing, the fear of being embarrassed, the fear of being physically hurt, all the symptoms of his position, in constant ebb and flow, but never disappearing. The successful goalie understands these neuroses, accepts them, and puts them under control." - Ken Dryden

In his 17 year major league career, Kirk Gibson batted .268, stole 284 bases, scored 985 runs, recorded 870 RBIs, clouted 255 home runs, and compiled a .976 fielding average. Despite winning the MVP in 1988 and batting third on two World Series Championship teams, Gibson is remembered most for one of the most dramatic events in post-season history.

Hobbled by injuries, Gibson sat out the first game of the World Series against the Oakland A's.

Twenty-four hours before the opening game of the Series, Gibson couldn't so much as jog in his living room. He tried to swing the day before the Series began and couldn't. He was so beat up and certain he couldn't play that he didn't even arrive at Dodger Stadium in time to be introduced with the rest of the players and coaches during the pre-game ceremonies.

The Dodgers were trailing the A's 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth with two outs and a runner on first. Gibson, who couldn't start because of a badly injured knee, came up to pinch hit against Dennis Eckersley, Oakland's All-Star closer. Gibson worked Eckersley from 0-2, to a full count.

Here are the exact words from Jack Buck who called the game for CBS radio:

"Gibson... swings! And a fly ball to deep right field! This is gonna be a home run! Unbelievable! A home run for Gibson! And the Dodgers have won the game, 5-4! I don't believe what I just saw!... I don't believe what I just saw!"

Kirk Gibson triumphantly circled the bases, pumping his fists all the way around the diamond.

"It's depressing and demoralizing that you can't be out there. That's what you live for, To play in those situations... So all through the game, while I'm icing, I'm working on It. Then here's the bottom of the eighth, then the top of the ninth. I'm sitting there in the trainer's room in my shorts, and something in my head says, 'It's time to get dressed.'"- Kirk Gibson

Kirk Gibson thrived on pressure. It was the pressure packed situations where Gibson could relax and just perform. Nothing bothered him. The bottom line was Kirk Gibson was a competitor, and pressure just fueled his fire.

Pressure or stressful situations can be your foe. Too little stress and you will be under-aroused, and not be fully motivated to perform. Too much stress and you will be over-aroused, and may panic, tighten up, thereby harming your performance. Either way, too hot or too cold, your performance will suffer.

Pressure really comes from you! Now that may sound strange, but it is true. Pressure and stress can come in many different forms; lack of time, grades in school, money, parents, boyfriend/girlfriend, injuries, trying to make the team, etc. Sports psychologists tell us that some individuals are bothered by certain things, while others have no problems whatsoever in the same situation.

The bottom line is nothing in particular causes stress. The pressure, the stress is caused by how you perceive the situation, the idea, the requirement, or the expectation. It comes down to how you interpret the event or circumstance.

It is important to realize that any pressure you do feel is caused by how you are looking at the situation. It is coming from your picture of how things should be, and what you think needs to be. By placing such values on an idea you begin to produce pressure, tension, stress, anxiety, and fear. No one can compete in their Ideal Performance State with that load on their back!

If you find the pressure is building you can take the following steps:

Understand that you are making the stress.

Step back and identify what you are stressing over.

Look for the solution to the specific problem (what can I do about it!).

Get to work on the solution.

If there is not an immediate solution, let it go...

Refocus on an idea or thought that will help you.

Just by understanding that you are in control, you are a step closer to actually being in control. You have the power so use it!

When an athlete is worried about the possibility of a poor performance, they call the feelings they are experiencing "nervousness." When the same athlete is in a positive frame of mind concerning a competition, they call the feeling, "excitement."

You control the process! A simple trick is to "reframe" or rename the stress. Instead of focusing on the "butterflies" in your stomach as nervousness, call it instead EXCITEMENT. Be excited that you can compete. Be excited that this is the opportunity you have been training for. Be excited that this just may be your best performance ever.

Capture the attitude of Kirk Gibson, "That's what you live for, to play in those situations..." Love the moment!

http://www.tothenextlevel.org

Sportsmanship

by Coach Doug Reese

"If character is what you do when no one is watching, then perhaps sportsmanship is that conduct with everybody watching." - Bob Ley, ESPN

In the 2003 NCAA I National Wrestling Championships in Kansas City, two collegiate wrestlers battled for All-American honors in the second round of the championship bracket. From the University of Iowa was undefeated Steve Mocco, the top-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the nation. From intrastate rival Iowa State was Scott Coleman.

Coleman was being manhandled by Mocco during the match. Mocco attempted to turn Coleman by using a bar-arm and pinning Coleman's head between his knees while working on forcing Coleman to go to his back.

In his excitement and his aggressive style of wrestling, Mocco elevated the arm of Coleman too high and away from the body. The referee stopped the match and penalized Mocco for an illegal hold. Coleman remained on the mat in pain, barely able to lift his right arm.

According to the rules of wrestling, had Coleman informed the referee he could not continue, the undefeated Mocco would have been disqualified, ending the hope of a national title.

Instead, Iowa State coach Bobby Douglas, who wasn't even initially even coaching in his athlete's corner rushed onto the mat and instructed Coleman to return to the mat...for at least one more second...before retiring because of an injury default.

That one second was the difference between a national championship which Mocco eventually earned, and a painful nightmare for Iowa State's Scott Coleman. It also served as a quick reminder to Steve Mocco and many others in the Kemper Arena that day that true sportsmanship is measured by more than championships.

"I felt like I was going into shock," said Mocco. "I was put in a position that I could have been put out of the tournament. The Iowa State coaches have all my respect and I owe them a lot. They represented their team with class and were warriors."

According to Coach Bobby Douglas, "We did the right thing. I don't think that would have been good for the sport. It wasn't that he was deliberately trying to hurt him. He got hurt because of position. If you get in that position and don't go over, you will get hurt."

Athletic Principle

"One man practicing good sportsmanship is far better than 50 others preaching it." - Knute Rockne

In perception and practice, sportsmanship is defined as those qualities which are characterized by generosity and genuine concern for others:

Play fair, take loss or defeat without complaint, or victory without gloating

Treat others as you wish to be treated Respect others and one's self

Impose self-control, be courteous, and gracefully accept results of one's actions

Display ethical behavior by being good (character) and doing right (action)

Be a good citizen

"Sportsmanship is defined in the dictionary as, "a person who can take a loss or defeat without complaint, or victory without gloating, and who treats his opponents with fairness, generosity, courtesy."

Sportsmanship is a learned skill. Our nature is to seek victory and put ourselves first no matter what the situation. It takes direction, coaching, and understanding in how to conduct yourself (whether in victory or defeat); being moral, being mature, being a person of character, or just simply being the person to walk away from controversy, a potential fight, a cheap shot, or trash talk.

Sportsmanship is always thinking of the consequences before you talk or act. What you say and do as an athlete does affect others. Think about it!

Sportsmanship is a character quality. The time to build character is now! Just as the building that stands the test of time must have a strong foundation, so must you. If you don't build that foundation, you will have a hard time reaching your goals. If you are able to reach them without character, the satisfaction you feel will be fleeting. Consider for a moment the story of Ben Johnson of the Canadian Olympic team:

In the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, Ben Johnson of Canada won the 100 meter dash, setting a new Olympic and World Record in the process. Carl Lewis of the United States came in second place claiming the Silver medal. After the race, the Olympic officials found that Johnson had an illegal substance in his body - anabolic steroids.

Ben Johnson ran the Olympic race illegally. He was stripped of his Gold medal, of his Olympic and World Record, and of the respect of his peers. Eventually Ben Johnson was banned from the sport for life!

Even though Ben Johnson ran faster than all of the other runners, he failed to live up to the sportsmanship of the Olympic ideals. Ben Johnson took a crooked path and he was found out - he lost much: records, awards, endorsements, prestige, glory and honor, and his integrity!

Sportsmanship is simply an athlete or a coach who behaves fairly, honestly, and generously in the heat of battle. It is playing and competing within the rules of the game. It is training and competing with honesty and integrity in everything you do.

Now, you may not be Ben Johnson, and you may not be going for the Olympic Gold medal, but you can still compromise your integrity and flirt with the gray areas of sportsmanship:

In football, sportsmanship is not holding, tripping, or leg whipping to take your opponent out of the play.

In wrestling, sportsmanship is making weight without the use of diuretics, saunas and plastic suits.

In basketball, sportsmanship is keeping your tongue under control, not talking trash up and down the floor.

In hockey, sportsmanship is keeping emotions in check, not high sticking, slashing and tripping, or holding an opponent.

In baseball, sportsmanship is not throwing high and inside at a batter to leave a message.

Start building a solid foundation now! Do it with character, do it with integrity, do it with class, and do it as a true sportsman!

Life Principle

"Sportsmanship for me is when a guy walks off the court and you really can't tell whether he won or lost, when he carries himself with pride either way." - Jim Courier, Professional Tennis Champion

Some people define good sportsmanship as the "Golden Rule" of sports - in other words, treating the people that you play with and against as you'd like to be treated yourself. You can demonstrate good sportsmanship when you show respect for yourself, your teammates, and your opponents, for the coaches on both sides, and for the referees, judges, and other officials. Good sportsmanship take maturity and courage; when you work really hard at a sport, it's not easy to admit that you made a bad play or that someone has more skill than you do.

People who have developed the skill of good sportsmanship usually find that the positive attitude they've learned on the field carries over into other areas of their lives. At school, for example, they're able to appreciate the contributions made by their classmates and they know how to work as part of a team to complete a project. They may enjoy more success at work as well, because good sports are respectful of others, including costumers and co-workers.

It can be just as hard to be a good sport when you've won a game as when you've lost one. You've probably seen athletes who take their own successes too seriously. They celebrate a goal with a prolonged victory dance or constantly brag about their abilities. After a while, you get tired of hearing them talk about how great they are.

Individuals who possess the character of sportsmanship, on the other hand, are gracious and generous winners. They can acknowledge their victories without humiliating their opponents. They are quietly proud of their success, letting their victories speak for themselves. Even if they win by a landslide, they still find ways to compliment their opponents.

When it comes to losing, people who are good sports congratulate the winner promptly and willingly. They accept the game's outcome without complaint and without excuses, even if they suspect that the referee made some questionable calls. They understand that in sports - as in life - you may not always win, but you can learn something from losing. In fact you learn more from defeat than you will ever learn from victory.

Although it's great to be champion, it's even better to have enjoyed the process of trying to reach the top. Good sports know how to play fair and how to have fun while they are doing it.

So what does it take to demonstrate good sportsmanship in real-life situations? Here are some examples of things that you can do:

Learn as much as you can about your sport. Play by its rules. Show up for practice, work hard, and realize that if you're on a team, everyone deserves a chance to play.

Talk politely and act courteously towards everyone before, during, and after games and events. That includes your teammates, your opponents, your coaches and theirs, the officials presiding over the game, and even the spectators (who can sometimes be loud with their opinions).

Stay cool. Even if others are losing their tempers, it doesn't mean you have to. Remind yourself that no matter how hard you have practiced and played, it is, after all, just a game.

Avoid settling disputes with violence. If you're in a difficult situation or someone's threatening you, seek help immediately from your coach or an official.

Cheer your teammates on with positive statements - and avoid trash talking the other team. Acknowledge and applaud good plays, even when someone on the other team makes them.

When officials make a call, accept it gracefully even if it goes against you. Remember that referees may not be right every time - but they're people who are doing their best, just as you are.

Whether you win or lose, congratulate your opponents on a game well played.

Irina Karavaeva, a gymnast from Russia gave the international sports community a gift with an example of sportsmanship which all sportsmen around the world would do well to take note. After noticing that the judges in the World Gymnastic Championships in Denmark made a mistake in her favor, she handed the Gold medal over to second place finisher Ana Dogonadze of Germany.

This is the first time such an occurrence has happened in the sport of gymnastics. Irina Karavaeva noticed that the judges had made a mistake which attributed the Gold medal to her, and even though she is the eight-time world trampoline champion, Olympic champion and European champion, she decided to hand the medal to the second-place German gymnast.

"I am very sorry that the error was committed by the judges at the World Championships in Denmark. I feel it is necessary to correct the mistake, and I have decided to give the medal to my friend Ana Dogonadze of Germany as a sign of my friendship, and as a sign of fair play.

Fair play - sportsmanship was clearly shown by the actions of the Russian gymnast. This is a shining example of a young lady who performs at the highest level and yet does it with a pure attitude and with the true spirit of sport.

It is not easy to do what Irina Karavaeva did! It takes a person of character, class, and integrity.

Irina Karavaeva is to be congratulated and honored for valuing the sport more than the medal. We who love sports should take notice. Here is a role model for sportsmanship that we should never forget!

http://www.tothenextlevel.org

Injuries and Setbacks

by Coach Doug Reese

"Accept challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory." - Vince Lombardi

Greg LeMond was the first great cyclist that the United States produced. LeMond won a Gold, Silver, and a Bronze medal in the Junior World Championship time trials in 1978. Then LeMond went on to claim Senior World titles in 1979, and again in 1983. In 1986, LeMond won the world's greatest bike race, the Tour de France, a 2,486 mile race, becoming the first American racer to win the title.

Greg LeMond had everything going for him. Fame, fortune, and a bright future seemed assured. Then on April 27, 1987, while turkey hunting, LeMond was accidentally shot by a blast from a shotgun. The explosion from the shell put holes in LeMond's back, his legs, his hands, and broke two of his ribs. Everyone associated with LeMond, from his competitors to his team manager thought he was through as a world class cyclist.

Against all odds, Greg LeMond came back! Not just to compete, but to win! LeMond went on to win both the Senior World Championships and the Tour de France in both 1989, and again in 1990.

LeMond's comeback earned him the ABC Wide World of Sports "Athlete of the Year," Sports Illustrated's "Sportsman of the Year," as well as a trip to the White House to meet the President of the United States.

Athletic Principle

"Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional." - M. Kathleen Casey

You hope it never happens to you, but it does. You have sustained an injury and you will be out of practice and competition for a while. As an athlete, your number one concern is getting back to full strength as soon as possible so that you can return to training and competition. Injuries just don't create physical damage, but psychological damage as well. The injury can affect your thoughts, your emotions, your attitudes and your self-image.

Following an injury, all athletes have the tendency to respond with a wide array of emotions such as denial, anger, and depression regarding the unfairness of the injury. Although this is typically a natural reaction, you really need to move beyond these feelings and take some positive steps that will help you cope with the setback.

Approach the Injury as a Challenge

As a competitive athlete, you continually face the challenges that you and your coach must attempt to overcome. The same is true with injuries. Rather than viewing the injury as a crisis that must be endured, it should be seen as a challenge that you and your athletic trainer will strive to conquer. The injury can be viewed as yet another test of your desire and determination.

Accept Responsibility

The injury happened to you - not your coach, your trainer, your teammates, or your parents. It is up to you to assume the responsibility for your rehabilitation. People are there to help you, but the bottom line is that the hard work is up to you. You need to ask yourself, "What do I need to do to get back in the game?"

By taking responsibility and accepting the task at hand, you are putting yourself closer to the goal.

Ask Questions about Your Injury

Not knowing what to expect regarding your injury can cause unnecessary fear and anxiety. It is important to ask your doctor or athletic trainer questions such as:

Exactly what type of injury do I have?

How long can I expect to be out of practice and competition?

What is the purpose of the treatments I am receiving?

What should I expect during the rehabilitation?

Are there parts of practice, conditioning, and strength training that I can still participate in that won't aggravate my injury?

By understanding the injury and knowing what to expect during the rehabilitation process, you will feel less anxiety and a greater sense of peace. Also, if you know in advance that there will be ups and downs in your rehab, you will be able to deal with these situations when they occur.

"Do not let what you can not do interfere with what you can do." - John Wooden

Maintain a Positive Attitude

As a competitive athlete you have learned to be committed to the sport, how to maintain a positive focus, and how to concentrate on your strengths and abilities. The same holds true for overcoming setbacks.

To enhance the rehab process, you need to be committed to overcoming your injury by showing up for your treatments, working hard, and listening and doing what your doctor and/or athletic trainer tells you to do. You also need to monitor what you are thinking and saying to yourself regarding the injury and the rehab process.

Your self-talk is important. Are your thoughts negative and self-defeating? To get the most out of your daily rehab, you need to work hard and maintain a positive attitude. Remain focused on what you need to do.

Seek Social Support

A very common response after an injury is for the athlete to isolate themselves from teammates, coaches, and friends because they feel these relationships have changed now that they are not "part of the team." It is very important to maintain the relationship and try to keep things as they were prior to the injury.

Your teammates and coaches can be a real source of strength when you become frustrated. They are there to listen when you need to vent some anger, or can offer advice or encouragement during the rehab process. Just knowing you don't have to face the injury alone can also be a tremendous comfort. So, go to practice; remain around the locker room and the weight room. Be visible by being an active member of the team.

Identify Goals and Strategies

In athletics, you need to have goals to be successful. Goal setting helps you know what you need to do in developing a plan to move in the right direction.

In rehabilitation of your injury, it also helps to set goals. By setting goals related to your recovery, you will have something to focus on each day in making your comeback. This will help keep you motivated. By monitoring your goals you will also be able to notice small improvements in the rehab of your injury. You will feel more confident that you are getting better and improving.

Remember to work closely with your trainer. It will help to work with them to set realistic goals that are in line with each stage of your rehab. Most athletes have a tendency to try to speed-up the recovery by doing too much too soon.

Other Support Services

Use your mental skills. Mental skills will also aid in your ability to rehab the injury. Skills such as relaxation, imagery and positive self-talk have been found to be rather effective in the recovery process.

Physical training specialists are available to design workout programs to maintain your cardiovascular conditioning level and your sports skill level during your rehab. Also, modified strength training and exercise programs can be designed based upon your specific injury. Make use of these support services as they are available to assist you in your recovery.

Life Principle

"The size of your heart - how much determination you have is what matters. If you work hard enough at whatever you do, you'll be able to accomplish it." - Erica Routt

Sometimes it seems like the only big news that ever comes out of the sports world is negative. Every now and then, however, an inspirational story emerges out of the realm of athletics that remind us what sports are really all about.

Jim Abbott, who was born without a right hand, reminded us when he threw a no-hitter against the Indians on September 3, 1993.

Cyclist Lance Armstrong reminded us on July 26, 1999 - just three years after doctors gave him a 50-50 chance to live - by winning the first of his five consecutive Tour de France titles. And although many people are unaware of the date's importance, the most recent such reminder occurred on September 18, 2003.

That's when Neil Parry, a member of San Jose State's punt-return team, played 30 of the most heroic seconds in college football history.

With 13:45 left in the game versus Nevada, the crowd began to chant, "Parry! Parry!" as he sprinted onto the field.

Now let's flash back to Parry's freshman season.

On October 14, 2000, in a game versus the University of Texas-El Paso, Neil Parry suffered an injury on a special teams play in the third quarter of the game.

Parry was running downfield, covering a kickoff when a teammate was knocked down and rolled into Parry's leg.

Parry heard the bones snap - the fibula and tibia breaking the skin - but his first thought was that the Spartans had a chance to play in a bowl game and he would miss it.

As he lay on the field at Spartan Stadium, bleeding from a compound fractures on his lower leg, Neil Parry vowed he would play football again.

But in the following weeks what Parry lost was more than just the opportunity to finish the season. Soon after Parry broke the leg he developed a life-threatening infection. Surgeons were forced to amputate his leg three inches below the knee less than two weeks later.

Parry's return to the football field had been 23 months in the making. It began the day after the amputation as Parry sat in the hospital with his father, a surgical nurse, and watched a football game on television. It was then that Neil Parry decided he would be back on the field.

"The next day after the operation I asked my Dad if he thought I could run again. He said yes. So I said, "Why not play football again?'" said Parry.

In the next two years, Parry endured 20 surgeries and was fitted for 15 different prosthetic legs.

I"I had the desire then, and I still have the desire now even after my setback," said Parry. "Going through all of this has taught me a lot about life. I could have given up. But I didn't because I love football."

By August 2001, 10 months after the injury, Parry was back at practice, participating in fall workouts. Parry had hoped to play in 2001, but when that went awry he set his sights on the 2002 home opener against, coincidentally, Texas-El Paso.

That's when the hurdles changed to red tape. His insurance carrier, Mutual of Omaha, threatened to cancel its lifetime coverage for Parry's prostheses. When that problem cleared - Mutual of Omaha reconsidered its position - Parry's leg acted up again. Then another operation was needed.

"After 25 surgeries and just problem after problem, everything kept going the wrong way," Parry said. "A few times it was just like, "Man, is this really what I want to do? Is this going to happen?" But this last summer everything just started going well and one thing led to another."

Parry began practicing in full pads for the first time since the injury in the fall of 2003. He finally convinced Coach Fitz Hill that he was ready.

"He's earned the right," Hill said. "Nobody's given him anything."

"I want to finish what I started," Parry said. Neil Parry did just that.

The story of Neil Parry is a story of comeback, not a setback. It is a story of determination, heart, and grit. It is a story of no matter what happens to you, you are bigger than any circumstance. It is a story of a real champion!

http://www.tothenextlevel.org

Integrity

by Coach Doug Reese

"The integrity of the game is everything." - Peter Ueberroth, Former MLB Commissioner

Competition is defined as a struggle, a rivalry, a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage. There are a number of ways to give yourself an advantage, or an edge on the athletic field - one is by out working your opponent; being in great physical shape, being as strong as possible, and by being technically sharp. There are other methods to gain an edge over the competition such as developing tactics and strategies, strong mental skills, and self-confidence in your abilities. Competition is not just playing a game any more; it has now evolved into a technical science.

Yet, there are still athletes who look for an edge in all of the wrong places - and will sacrifice their integrity in the process.

The beloved Chicago Cub slugger Sammy Sosa was caught with a corked bat in a game during the 2003 baseball season - a clear violation of the rules. Why would anyone cork a bat? To gain an advantage - a hitter with the density of a heavier bat while maintaining the speed of a lighter bat has in fact a weapon that will propel the ball faster, and farther.

Unfortunately baseball has a history of cheating. Pitchers throw spitballs, scuff balls with thumbtacks, or rub them with sandpaper. One Yankee player admitted to putting "super balls" inside his bat. There was the Black Sox scandal to "throw" the World Series in 1919, and teams have been known to steal signs with cameras from the outfield bleachers or scoreboards. Yes, the American past time is looking more like corporate America all the time.

One former big leaguer, now in the front office of a major league team said, "All the players are looking for an edge. It's the same now as when I played. It is all about getting an edge, which is why guys use things like steroids, amphetamines, or corked bats."

In a post-game news conference, Sosa immediately began the task of regaining favor with the fans, in hopes of reclaiming his tarnished image. "I apologize from the bottom of my heart. I just picked the wrong bat," Sosa said.

As for even why Sammy Sosa even had a bat that was corked, he said, "Just to put on a show for the fans (in batting practice). I like to make people happy."

It is easy to see why Sosa might have resorted to cheating. Sosa was struggling at the plate. He was failing to play up to his potential and his average, RBIs, and home run totals were behind his normal production. It is not a huge leap in logic to believe Sosa could, or would stretch the rules to improve his struggling performance.

Whether Sosa's actions were an accident or cold-hearted cheating - he compromised his integrity. Now everybody looks at the smiling, fun-loving Sammy Sosa in a different light.

Questions abound in the minds of players, fans, and sportswriters - how many of Sosa's 292 home runs in the last five seasons were hit with a corked bat? How many were the result of a steroid juiced body?

We can believe Sammy, forgive him, or just rest on the facts that he was caught red-handed in a game on camera!

For many the doubts will never go away. Sammy's integrity is gone forever.

Athletic Principle

"If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity, nothing else matters." - Alan Simpson

Integrity is defined simply as, "moral uprightness; honesty." There are many good and solid reasons why one should live an honest life, much of what we read in the newspaper and hear on ESPN Sports Center is really about athletes who lack integrity and moral uprightness which affects their life on and off the field.

Many can argue and make the case for the need of integrity in sports today, but in fact integrity is actually a shield of protection which guards those who walk in honesty and truth. The athlete who embraces integrity can walk securely. Those athletes will not be the topic of scandals, rumors, and gossip. But the athletes who decides to cut corners, the ones who takes the crooked path will not only be found out, but will pay a price for his lack of integrity. Consider for a moment the life of Lyle Alzado:

Lyle Alzado was a man's man. He was tough, talented, and physical. In the 1970s and into the mid-1980s, Alzado proved himself as a premier threat in the National Football League.

Alzado played for the Denver Broncos, the Cleveland Browns, and the Los Angles Raiders. He was a true defensive standout who was versatile; he could play both defensive end and tackle, and he could pass rush with the very best in the game. In fact, Alzado was recognized by his peers as one of the best, being named to the NFL All-Pro team.

Alzado was known for his quickness, speed and strength, not to mention his fierce intensity. Alzado once ran a 4.75 forty-yard dash when his playing weight was over 300 pounds. This coupled with his tremendous strength made him a force in the National Football League.

In 1984, Alzado made it to the top when his team the Los Angles Raiders won the Super Bowl. Alzado owned a restaurant in West Hollywood and had embarked on a career as a movie actor, playing roles in nine motion pictures. Alzado's life and his future career looked awful bright. Then in 1992, Alzado announced to the world that he had brain cancer.

"I started taking anabolic steroids in 1969, and I never stopped," he admitted during his pain-racked final days. "We're not born to be 300 pounds, or jump 30 feet. All the time I was taking steroids, I knew they were making me play better. Now look at me. My hair's gone, I wobble when I walk and have to hold on to someone for support, and I have trouble remembering things. My last wish? That no one ever dies this way."

Many times we see what appears to be a short cut, a quicker route, and we leave the straight path, for a crooked one. The crooked path may look enticing, look easy, and much faster than the one we were on, but this perceived shortcut will be filled with obstacles that entangle us and knock us down to our knees.

We must at all costs remain on the straight path. We must make wise decisions. If we are unsure what to do when we come to the crossroads of life, we then must seek out wise counsel from parents, coaches, or teammates.

Staying on the straight path and staying free of obstacles requires commitment, perseverance, discipline, and a strong reminder that in life or sport - there are no shortcuts!

Life Principle

"If you say you are a man of character, then you do the right thing on purpose - not by accident." - Herman Edwards, Head Coach, New York Jets

The value of integrity is greater than any amount of speed, strength, or skill you could develop. Here is a number of reasons why you should strive to develop integrity into your character:

Trust - to be successful in sport and in life requires a reputation for honesty. When people trust you the doors open to greater opportunity.

Less Stress - people who tell the truth have less concern, less stress, and feel better about themselves.

Pride - you have pride when you do the right thing. You have pride when you pay a price, work hard, and sacrifice. Pride is a result of diligent effort, not shortcuts.

Relationships - are the jewels of our lives. Some would argue that relationships ARE our lives. Breeches in trust can be the death blow of friendships When trust is gone, there is no foundation upon to build. Relationships lacking in trust will be hollow and shallow..

The right thing to do is seldom the easy thing to do - but it is well worth the effort.

"As simple as it sounds, we all must try to be the best person we can: by making the best choices, by making the most of the talents we've been given." - Mary Lou Retton, Olympic Gold Medalist, Gymnastics

There was a story of a young athlete who attended a university in the southeastern United States. He was on the football team as the starting wide receiver. The athlete was continually striving to shape and mold his own character by doing the right thing. It was his hope and desire to do the right thing no matter what the cost.

A cross-state rival came into town that season for the homecoming game. During the closing minutes of a very tight and exciting game, the wide receiver ran his pass route across the goal line and into the end zone. The quarterback rolled out to the right hash marks and drilled a pass that was low and off target. The receiver slide and reached out at shoe top level to pull the ball into his chest. The referee in the corner of the end zone raised his arms and signaled a touchdown! But the receiver knew otherwise, he had trapped the ball. He hadn't caught the pass at all, his body all but blocked the view of the referee.

The stadium crowd was cheering wildly for the hero of the game. The receiver got up tossed the ball to the referee and said, "Ref, wait a minute"...

He jogged over to the official and shook his head, "I trapped it." The official wiped out the touchdown, and the home team lost the game by four points.

The receiver stood there alone, not only against his teammates that said, "What does it matter, man?" but also against a stadium full of people.

The receiver said, "I can't take the credit. I did not catch it."

This athlete showed his true character - he played fair, by the rules, and stood strong and alone for the truth. He showed sportsmanship - for that is what integrity is.

Not everyone will honor integrity as noted in the above story. It is a sad statement when the prevailing attitude of the day is to "win at all costs" and "whatever it takes." Today I hope that you did in and respond to a higher standard of conduct. It is our charge to compete with sportsmanship, true to the rules, honestly, fully seasoned with class and integrity. That is the true ideal of what sport is really about.

http://www.tothenextlevel.org

Dealing With Adversity

The Carrot, Egg, and the Coffee Bean

Submitted by James Miller, Ferris State University

A certain daughter complained to her father about her life and how things have been so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up.

She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed that just as one problem was solved another arose.

Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen, filled three pots with water and placed the fire on high. Soon the three pots came to a boil. In one he placed carrots, in the other he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans. He let them sit and boil without saying a word.

The daughter sucked her teeth and impatiently wondered what he was trying to do. She had problems, and he was making this strange concoction!

In a half and hour he walked over to the oven and turned down the fire. He pulled the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. He pulled out the eggs and placed them in a bowl. Then he ladled out the coffee and placed it in a third bowl. Turning to her he asked, "Darling what do you see?"

Smartly, she replied, "Carrots, eggs, and coffee." He brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Her face frowned from the strength of the coffee. Humbly she asked, "What does it mean Father?"

He explained. "Each of them faced the same adversity, 212 degrees of boiling water. However each reacted differently."

"The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. But after going through the boiling water, it softened and became weak."

"The egg was fragile. A thing outer shell protected a liquid center. But after sitting through the boiling water, it's inside became hardened."

"The coffee beans are unique however. After they were in the boiling water, it became stronger and richer."

"Which are you? he asked his daughter.

When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Are you the carrot that seems hard, but with the smallest amount of pain, adversity, or heat you wilt and become soft with no strength?

Are you the egg, which starts off with a malleable heart and fluid spirit? But after a death, a breakup, a divorce, a layoff you become hardened and stiff. Your shell looks the same, but you are so bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and heart, internally.

Or are you like the coffee bean?

The bean does not get its peak flavor and robust until it reaches 212 degrees Fahrenheit. When the water gets the hottest, it just tastes better. When things are the worst, you get better. When people talk the most, your praises increase. When the hour is the darkest, trials are the greatest, your worship elevates to another level. How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?http://www.tothenextlevel.org

SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

(switch to the mule's perspective) Initially, the old mule was hysterical! "You're doing what! BURYING ME!" But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him, in the way that only mules can be struck one would imagine. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

Douglas R. Whatley, Vice President INFOSYS Development Group "IT Consulting, Project Mngmt, Recruiting" <http://www.infosysdg.com> (512) 342-2688 ext 101 (512) 342-2998 fax 9508 Jollyville Rd, #301, Austin, Texas 78759

The Spark of Passion

by Coach Doug Reese

Have you ever seen an athlete with passion for their sport? They are the first one to practice and the last one to leave. They eat, drink, sleep, think, and talk about their sport almost continually. They plan out each day from beginning to end with training as their foremost commitment. They live a life of sacrifice putting their education and careers on hold while they pursue their dream with relentless intensity. Their friends and even some members of their family think they are obsessed and crazy. Most don't understand them at all.

Many Olympic athletes and many more who never make it to that level train and compete simply for the indescribable passion that they possess. They don't do it for the big contract, the endorsements, or the title or medal - those are just the rewards earned for pursuing the passion. They go to practice each day, training with an emotion that is deeply stirring, it is a driving force in their lives. They are energized beyond comprehension possessing an unflagging pursuit of something that cannot be measured, bought or sold. A former Olympic champion recently commented that he put in well over 16,000 hours of training into his Gold medal performance. That was 16,000 hours of passion - not work. Work can be dull, boring, monotonous. Passion flows with energy even at the point of exhaustion.

One person with passion is greater than the passive forces of ninety-nine who have only an interest. Henri Frederic Ameil once said, "Without passion man is a mere latent force and a possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth it spark." God has put inside every person the potential to be passionate. If you have a passion - it is a gift from God! Too many people have "only an interest." Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes that, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength," (Ecclesiastes 9:10 NLV).

Everyone loves something. We are shaped, molded, and motivated by what we love. It is our passion! Ignore what you are passionate about and you ignore one of the greatest potentials that God has put inside of you. Nothing significant was ever achieved without passion. Jesus was a passionate man. He died for us because He loved us passionately.

Most winners are just ex-losers who got passionate. The greatest loss in the world is the persons who have lost their enthusiasm, their passion. Driven by passionate conviction you can do anything you want with your life. I believe that with all my heart.

What generates passion and zeal in you is a clue to your destiny... what you love is a clue to something you contain. Fulfilling God's plan for your life is either a passion or it is nothing. We are told to, "Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve GOD, your God, with everything you have in you," (Deuteronomy 10:12 THE MESSAGE). Passion is what changes the world. Passion is what wins the battle. Passion is what it takes to be victorious. Strike the iron, cast the spark of your passion and light up the world.

http://www.tothenextlevel.org

Character

by Coach Doug Reese

"Sports do not build character. They reveal it." - Heywood Hale Brown

As head football coach of the then World Champion Dallas Cowboys, Tom Landry made many decisions concerning "America's Team." The Cowboys reached the playoffs year after year, not only because of their innovation, coaching, but also because of the quality of their athletic personnel. When it came to drafting rookies, signing free agents, and forming the team, character qualities of the individual team members was a key element for success according to Coach Landry.

"You know, for the Cowboy's, when we draft men for our team, we look for five things, and the first is character," noted Landry.

When asked, "What if you find a terrific athlete who lacks character?"

Landry's responded, "That's easy. We don't draft him. I have noticed that there's never been an exception. When any one of our men gets involved with drugs, their character leaves. They are finished. It's just a matter of time."

For NFL Hall of Fame coach, Tom Landry, character was the most important component that each athlete must possess to play for the Dallas Cowboys to be successful. Character was the number one thing he looked for in his athletes. Why?

"Character is the most important determinant of a person's success, achievement and ability to handle adversity," noted Coach Landry.

Athletic Principle

"Fame is a vapor, popularity an accident, riches take wing, those who cheer today will curse tomorrow; only character endures."- Horace Greeley

We hear so many people talk about character and its importance, so actually what is it? Character is defined as "the aggregate (the rock) of features and traits that form the individual nature of a person... moral or ethical qualities... qualities of honesty... courage... integrity... reputation. A person once said that, "Character is what we are when nobody is looking."

Branch Rickey, the owner and manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers once said, "I always looked for what I called the 'red thread' of discipline, confidence, courage, and commitment in a man's life. I look for it in every rookie."

If we were to poll coaches and ask them about what character qualities would be necessary for athletes to be successful, we would most likely hear response like this:

Reliable

Determination

Committed

Concentration

Trustworthy

Perseverance

Self-Sacrificing

Self-Controlled

Disciplined

Confident

Dedication

Team Player

If an athlete had these qualities, most coaches would jump for joy, for they would have the makings of a champion. Too many athletic careers are lost because of a lack of character. Pride gets in the way, short cuts are taken, compromise is made, and discipline disappears. Character is lost and a downward spiral begins that tragically short-circuits the potential that was once there.

"How a man plays a game shows something of his character, how he loses shows it all." - Unknown

A long list of athletes could be mentioned here who threw away great athletic potential because of a lack of character. Drugs, gambling, alcohol, poor choices in friends all can cost an athlete to fall from greatness. Read the current sport pages and see for yourself... drunk driving, sexual assaults, gambling debts, and even murder... it is happening today in sports by athletes who lack character!

Life Principles

"You should care more about your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are. Your reputation is only what people think about you." - John Wooden

Daryl Strawberry had a gift for playing baseball. A Los Angles native with a ripped 6'6" physique and a sweet swing that kept pitchers up at night, Strawberry was the 1983 National League Rookie of the Year, and he helped lead the New York Mets to a World Series title in 1986. Strawberry was on track to a Hall of Fame career, but along the way Strawberry developed an addiction to drugs and alcohol.

The addiction grew out of control, and Daryl Strawberry was suspended from Major League Baseball. Not only did Strawberry find himself being arrested, but he also had to deal with treatment, counseling, probation, and finally jail.

Daryl Strawberry's life and baseball career took a downward spiral. Somehow the opportunity to use his gift of baseball wasn't important to Daryl. Over time, his poor decisions, hanging with the wrong group of friends, allowed what would have been a record-breaking career to die.

Daryl really made some poor decisions. But, many of us also make similar decisions without realizing it. It is really easy to waste an amazing gift. The gift of athletic ability. The gift of academic ability. The gift of friends. The gift of speed, or strength, or whatever God has blessed you with. These gifts may not sound that dramatic, but one day at a time, making the wrong decisions, you can find these giftsthese God intended blessings to be gone.

We all have done it. We make one little decision to sleep in late, to blow off a practice or a workout, to have a few beers, to eat one more piece of pizza - then suddenly we realize that we are not in the place we were once before. Each poor decision has taken us closer to the valley, rather than to the summit where we desire to be. Each poor decision snowballs into bigger mistakes. Soon we find out life, our life is out of control in a downward turn, lost without any viewable able character.