This week we tackle part two of our Learning to Teach While Teaching Series:
Today's subject --> HARD WORK
I think it’s safe to assume we all agree that our generation (Generation X) has worked hard to give our children (Millennials) all the things we didn’t have – to provide those experiences and opportunities that we believed would be valuable to them later in life. We strive to make sure our children have the very best of everything. We spare no expense, we call in favors and if need be… would "swim a gasoline ocean with a lit blow touch in our mouths" for our children’s sake.
With our aggressive nature and over-achieving attitude, we open doors and create paths for our children and in some cases we seem to care more about their success than they do… Have we gone too far? Have we done too much? Have we created a generation of young people who feel they have a “right of entitlement?” Have we unintentionally crippled the hard work gene from the lives of our young people?
Let’s be realistic…our children are more technologically savvy than we were at their age, they’ve experienced much more than we did at their age (partly due to our efforts) and they have a huge convenience factor that most of us didn’t enjoy until the mid-nineties. Remember popping popcorn? Remember what a big deal it was to have “popcorn night?” Remember that big ol’ pot and putting the oil in it with the kernels and waiting anxiously for the popcorn to slowly creep out from underneath the lid? Hmmmm… today it’s just a flat bag and the push of a button and….taaah-daaah! Instant popcorn!
Yeah… yeah I know everybody has their own idea of what hard work should be. We’ve all heard the quotes before, right?
“No pain… no gain”
“Work works”
“There’s no traffic jam along the extra mile”
“No one has ever drowned in a pool of sweat”
Does this mean that I have to subject myself to physical pain in order to work hard? Is that the only way? Is there a way for us to instill hard work in the value system of our young people?
I submit to you my friends that sport is a way to subconsciously re-invent the wheel. Struggle, passion, commitment, selflessness are but some of the many ingredients required for success. Sport is a way to help us re-instill hard work as a part of the normal regime in the lives of our otherwise unencumbered young people.
Enter the importance of a good coach… not just a coach who’s good with X’s and O’s or who’s all about wins and losses, but a coach minister…a coach who understands the importance of coaching for character and building young people as human beings. Young people need a coach who won’t sacrifice character development for athletic prowess… a coach who actually cares about them – not just his/her legacy.
At the end of the day, life is challenging. Hard work is just a part of what we’ve come to know intimately as “the daily grind.” We may not be working hard in the physical sense, but working effectively with others, having the discipline and focus to keep it all together and somewhere in that microcosm of life finding the patience to be a person for others. Our young people need to know this… they need to be taught this… they need to understand this… the need to embrace this…
Yes, hard work isn’t always fun and it definitely isn’t the coolest thing to do, but it is necessary…VERY necessary.
Thoughts?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Learning to Teach While Teaching Part I: Discipline
Today we discuss the first section of our series on Coaching for Character. Today's topic: DISCIPLINE
As coaches we always say that discipline is important and how we need to be a disciplined team in order to be successful. What is discipline exactly? Merriam-Webster defines discipline as: (1) training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character (2) orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior (3) Self-control
Hmmmm…..from these definitions seems that discipline is a basic form of mental toughness. Not mental toughness in the sense that one is completely oblivious to everything around them, or getting beat to the proverbial pulp, but mental toughness as in staying the course and being focused on one's goal.
Let's even take one step further and consider the root word of discipline which is - DISCIPLE. A disciple is one who "spreads the teachings of another." Wow... that's strong! As coaches we are challenged to teach morals and values as much as the specific techniques required to play our chosen sport. As ministers we are called to glorify the Kingdom of God by our representation both on and off the field.
The best definition of discipline that I can remember was given to me by my life trainer during my brief stay in the NFL – Mack Newton. His quote was simply: “discipline is doing what you should do, when you should do it, whether you like it or not.” I have to admit that immediately I thought the definition was dry and a bit blunt… but then again you would have to know Mack. That said, I took his words of wisdom and made them my personal mantra.
Having played at Notre Dame I thought I understood what it took to work hard and give it my all. What I didn’t understand was how to give more than I had. Mack pushed me far beyond any physical or mental limit that I could have imagined. It was tough…in fact, it actually hurt. The feeling of knowing that I gave everything I could give in an effort to be successful was one of the most rewarding feelings I had ever felt. Physically, mentally and emotional exhausted yet happy to have competed…and that was just the workout!
It’s not always easy to discipline oneself. We all fall a little short of the "excellence" mark from time to time. Discipline in that vein comes from how resilient you are in regaining your composure and continuing on your journey. As I have told my students in the past: “None of us were born with a MANUAL OF LIFE in a little baggie; failure is a part of any success.” We have the power to decide how we handle any given situation in our lives. We may not be able to control what happens to us, but we have total control of how we react to it in moving forward.
As coaches and athletic administrators it's our job to assert discipline in our programs. It's also our responsibility to be sure that our student-athletes understand that through this discipline they are not only learning their sport of choice, but also becoming the best possible version of themselves which will enable them to become productive members of society.
Sounds like a tall order coaches... but then again no one ever said ministry was easy. Discipline: "Doing what you should do when you should do it - whether you like it or not." Well said Mr. Newton - thank you.
As coaches we always say that discipline is important and how we need to be a disciplined team in order to be successful. What is discipline exactly? Merriam-Webster defines discipline as: (1) training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character (2) orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior (3) Self-control
Hmmmm…..from these definitions seems that discipline is a basic form of mental toughness. Not mental toughness in the sense that one is completely oblivious to everything around them, or getting beat to the proverbial pulp, but mental toughness as in staying the course and being focused on one's goal.
Let's even take one step further and consider the root word of discipline which is - DISCIPLE. A disciple is one who "spreads the teachings of another." Wow... that's strong! As coaches we are challenged to teach morals and values as much as the specific techniques required to play our chosen sport. As ministers we are called to glorify the Kingdom of God by our representation both on and off the field.
The best definition of discipline that I can remember was given to me by my life trainer during my brief stay in the NFL – Mack Newton. His quote was simply: “discipline is doing what you should do, when you should do it, whether you like it or not.” I have to admit that immediately I thought the definition was dry and a bit blunt… but then again you would have to know Mack. That said, I took his words of wisdom and made them my personal mantra.
Having played at Notre Dame I thought I understood what it took to work hard and give it my all. What I didn’t understand was how to give more than I had. Mack pushed me far beyond any physical or mental limit that I could have imagined. It was tough…in fact, it actually hurt. The feeling of knowing that I gave everything I could give in an effort to be successful was one of the most rewarding feelings I had ever felt. Physically, mentally and emotional exhausted yet happy to have competed…and that was just the workout!
It’s not always easy to discipline oneself. We all fall a little short of the "excellence" mark from time to time. Discipline in that vein comes from how resilient you are in regaining your composure and continuing on your journey. As I have told my students in the past: “None of us were born with a MANUAL OF LIFE in a little baggie; failure is a part of any success.” We have the power to decide how we handle any given situation in our lives. We may not be able to control what happens to us, but we have total control of how we react to it in moving forward.
As coaches and athletic administrators it's our job to assert discipline in our programs. It's also our responsibility to be sure that our student-athletes understand that through this discipline they are not only learning their sport of choice, but also becoming the best possible version of themselves which will enable them to become productive members of society.
Sounds like a tall order coaches... but then again no one ever said ministry was easy. Discipline: "Doing what you should do when you should do it - whether you like it or not." Well said Mr. Newton - thank you.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Learning to Teach While Teaching Intro
This week I thought we would open with a subject that all parents, athletes and coaches hold near and dear... or at least they should - coaching for character.
What exactly is coaching for character? What does that even mean? How does one go about it? What is character development? Who's responsible? Why is it even important?
There's a whole lot more to sports than just winning... and please don't get me wrong, I don't think any of us wants to lose. Truly, wins and losses are a fundamental part of sports AND life. That said what do you really learn if morals and values aren't taught while teaching?
Huh? What the…?
Yeah, that's right you heard it here first folks; teaching while teaching... as much as we (coaches) are teaching (coaching is nothing more than teaching) young athletes how to execute a specific movement, play or technique we should also be sure to capture those "teachable moments" that will further benefit our young athletes in life. As a matter of fact, that's a huge part of our responsibility as coaches.
Athletes are always looking at how their coaches conduct themselves. ALWAYS - We are responsible for what they see... in other words we must be able to model the very behavior that we expect from them.
The following are a few areas that can be "taught while teaching" in sports...
• Discipline - "Doing what you should do whether you like it or not." -Mack Newton
• Hard work - "No one has ever drowned in a pool of sweat." -Lou Holtz
• Trustworthiness - "Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Humility - "A man wrapped in himself makes a very small bundle." -Ben Franklin
• Positive Attitude - "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." -Churchill
• Respect - "Respect yourself and others will respect you." -Confucius
• Passion - "Passion is the genesis of genius." -Anthony Robbins
In the coming weeks we will dive into a seven (7) part blog series about the above character traits as they pertain to athletics as a vehicle to teaching life lessons. I hope you will join the discussion...
Enjoy -
What exactly is coaching for character? What does that even mean? How does one go about it? What is character development? Who's responsible? Why is it even important?
There's a whole lot more to sports than just winning... and please don't get me wrong, I don't think any of us wants to lose. Truly, wins and losses are a fundamental part of sports AND life. That said what do you really learn if morals and values aren't taught while teaching?
Huh? What the…?
Yeah, that's right you heard it here first folks; teaching while teaching... as much as we (coaches) are teaching (coaching is nothing more than teaching) young athletes how to execute a specific movement, play or technique we should also be sure to capture those "teachable moments" that will further benefit our young athletes in life. As a matter of fact, that's a huge part of our responsibility as coaches.
Athletes are always looking at how their coaches conduct themselves. ALWAYS - We are responsible for what they see... in other words we must be able to model the very behavior that we expect from them.
The following are a few areas that can be "taught while teaching" in sports...
• Discipline - "Doing what you should do whether you like it or not." -Mack Newton
• Hard work - "No one has ever drowned in a pool of sweat." -Lou Holtz
• Trustworthiness - "Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Humility - "A man wrapped in himself makes a very small bundle." -Ben Franklin
• Positive Attitude - "Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference." -Churchill
• Respect - "Respect yourself and others will respect you." -Confucius
• Passion - "Passion is the genesis of genius." -Anthony Robbins
In the coming weeks we will dive into a seven (7) part blog series about the above character traits as they pertain to athletics as a vehicle to teaching life lessons. I hope you will join the discussion...
Enjoy -
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Pushing vs. Shoving… Which Would You Prefer?
As parents we always push our children to be better than they believe they can be… that’s part of the job in parenting. We all want to make sure that our kids have a better opportunity to be successful…a better opportunity than we did; but how far is far enough to push? How far is too far to push? At the end of the day maybe we should examine the difference between “pushing” and “shoving.”
When we hear the word “push” we usually think of someone challenging us to go harder and further than we’ve ever gone… kinda like achieving a level that you never thought attainable. Throughout that state of being “pushed” there are usually times when you think that you can’t continue and you’ve gone as far as you can possibly go… completely exhausted… physically, mentally and emotionally. At the same time however, you remain invigorated and determined to achieve the goal or task at hand… fighting tooth and nail to conquer whatever obstacles may lie ahead. Fear isn’t a consideration and at the very root of this journey is the idea that you WANT to be there… You ACCEPT the challenge.
Being “shoved” is more of a violent movement than anything… right? Whenever fights start there’s usually one person who “shoves” the other person causing an immediate emotional outburst of retaliation. When you think about being “shoved” you think about being forced to do something and thrown into an arena that you don’t really care to be in. Fear (we’ve all heard of the acronym associated with F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real) is a dominant factor which causes “paralysis of analysis.” No action. No movement. No fight. No nada! There’s no interest in the challenge much less the goal or the fight.
Merriam-Webster defines shove as: v. to put in a rough, careless or hasty manner; to move by forcing a way
Does that sound like anyone you know?
Ultimately, we need to be able to rightfully divide a loving “push” from a careless, hasty “shove” as parents. I was told by one of my coaches a long time ago: “the biggest room in the world is room for improvement.” Of course our kids need improvement… they’re kids, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we too live in that same room.
Your feedback is most appreciated...
Oscar McBride
Associate Director
Play Like A Champion Today(TM)
When we hear the word “push” we usually think of someone challenging us to go harder and further than we’ve ever gone… kinda like achieving a level that you never thought attainable. Throughout that state of being “pushed” there are usually times when you think that you can’t continue and you’ve gone as far as you can possibly go… completely exhausted… physically, mentally and emotionally. At the same time however, you remain invigorated and determined to achieve the goal or task at hand… fighting tooth and nail to conquer whatever obstacles may lie ahead. Fear isn’t a consideration and at the very root of this journey is the idea that you WANT to be there… You ACCEPT the challenge.
Being “shoved” is more of a violent movement than anything… right? Whenever fights start there’s usually one person who “shoves” the other person causing an immediate emotional outburst of retaliation. When you think about being “shoved” you think about being forced to do something and thrown into an arena that you don’t really care to be in. Fear (we’ve all heard of the acronym associated with F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real) is a dominant factor which causes “paralysis of analysis.” No action. No movement. No fight. No nada! There’s no interest in the challenge much less the goal or the fight.
Merriam-Webster defines shove as: v. to put in a rough, careless or hasty manner; to move by forcing a way
Does that sound like anyone you know?
Ultimately, we need to be able to rightfully divide a loving “push” from a careless, hasty “shove” as parents. I was told by one of my coaches a long time ago: “the biggest room in the world is room for improvement.” Of course our kids need improvement… they’re kids, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that we too live in that same room.
Your feedback is most appreciated...
Oscar McBride
Associate Director
Play Like A Champion Today(TM)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
High School Rudy Awards - Vote for your Favorite
Twelve high school football players receive belated Christmas gift from Trusted Sports.
Trusted Sports and Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger announce the top twelve High School Football ‘Rudy’ Award Finalists. $25,000 in college scholarships awarded to final four.
Bend, OR – December 28, 2010 – Santa is coming a little late for twelve inspirational high school football players this year. Trusted Sports and Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger announced today the top 12 finalists of the second annual High School Football Rudy Awards. Chosen from over 250 nominees, these 12 young men have inspired their teammates, coaches, and communities. Chosen for their ability to inspire others to excellence on and off the gridiron, the finalists come from the four corners of the nation, and across the pacific from Hawaii. Their inspirational stories can be found at www.HighSchoolRudyAwards.com.
“These twelve finalists are amazing! I’d like to meet each and every one of them so I can shake their hand and let them know how much they’ve inspired me,” said Drew Bledsoe, Chairman of the Selection Committee. “Over the Holidays I’ve shared some of their stories with friends and family, and we’re in awe by what these kids have been through. They really honor the soul of the High School Football Rudy Awards which is all about motivating others, and demonstrating immense courage and integrity. Every single one of them is a ‘Rudy’.” Bledsoe heads up the selection committee that includes notable sporting personalities such as Leigh Anne Tuohy, mother of NFL player Michael Oher and inspirational figure of the film The Blind Side; Shaun Alexander, former Seattle Seahawks running back and NFL MVP; and NBC Football Sideline Reporter, Andrea Kremer.
The High School Football Rudy Awards top twelve finalists are:
- Chance Anthony of Hardinsburg, Kentucky
- Kamron Clark of Canton, South Dakota
- Kenny Daily of Bend, Oregon
- Tyler Dutruch of Slidell, Louisiana
- Jake Eilers of Breese, Illinois
- Michael Harris of Fort Worth, Texas
- Schuylar Hurd-Johnson of Indianapolis, Indiana
- Reid Layton of Seminole, Texas
- Phillip Madriaga of Aiea, Hawaii
- Cody Rye of Ironwood, Michigan
- Tray Waite of Warren, Ohio
- Kyle Wilcox of Seffner, Florida
The finalists were chosen based on their ability to inspire others, their courage and character, and their commitment to the game while overcoming personal or physical challenges. Known by high school football coaches as the award that honors athletes for the heart they bring to the game as opposed to the stats, the final four scholarship recipients will be named on January 18, 2011. The winner will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship to a college of their choice. Two runners-up in addition to a fan favorite determined by online voting will each receive a $5,000 scholarship. America can vote for their favorite nominee online through January 17th. Since voting began, nominees have tallied more than 1,250,000 votes.
About Trusted Sports
The High School Football Rudy Awards™ are operated in partnership with the Trusted Sports Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity focused on getting and keeping kids in the game. Trusted Sports empowers young athletes to live up to their full potential through positive sports experiences that form active, healthy habits for a lifetime.
For information:
Sandy Henderson
Trusted Sports Inc.
www.HighSchoolRudyAwards.com LOG IN AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!
Phone: (541) 848 9509
Email: sandy@trustedsports.com
Trusted Sports and Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger announce the top twelve High School Football ‘Rudy’ Award Finalists. $25,000 in college scholarships awarded to final four.
Bend, OR – December 28, 2010 – Santa is coming a little late for twelve inspirational high school football players this year. Trusted Sports and Daniel ‘Rudy’ Ruettiger announced today the top 12 finalists of the second annual High School Football Rudy Awards. Chosen from over 250 nominees, these 12 young men have inspired their teammates, coaches, and communities. Chosen for their ability to inspire others to excellence on and off the gridiron, the finalists come from the four corners of the nation, and across the pacific from Hawaii. Their inspirational stories can be found at www.HighSchoolRudyAwards.com.
“These twelve finalists are amazing! I’d like to meet each and every one of them so I can shake their hand and let them know how much they’ve inspired me,” said Drew Bledsoe, Chairman of the Selection Committee. “Over the Holidays I’ve shared some of their stories with friends and family, and we’re in awe by what these kids have been through. They really honor the soul of the High School Football Rudy Awards which is all about motivating others, and demonstrating immense courage and integrity. Every single one of them is a ‘Rudy’.” Bledsoe heads up the selection committee that includes notable sporting personalities such as Leigh Anne Tuohy, mother of NFL player Michael Oher and inspirational figure of the film The Blind Side; Shaun Alexander, former Seattle Seahawks running back and NFL MVP; and NBC Football Sideline Reporter, Andrea Kremer.
The High School Football Rudy Awards top twelve finalists are:
- Chance Anthony of Hardinsburg, Kentucky
- Kamron Clark of Canton, South Dakota
- Kenny Daily of Bend, Oregon
- Tyler Dutruch of Slidell, Louisiana
- Jake Eilers of Breese, Illinois
- Michael Harris of Fort Worth, Texas
- Schuylar Hurd-Johnson of Indianapolis, Indiana
- Reid Layton of Seminole, Texas
- Phillip Madriaga of Aiea, Hawaii
- Cody Rye of Ironwood, Michigan
- Tray Waite of Warren, Ohio
- Kyle Wilcox of Seffner, Florida
The finalists were chosen based on their ability to inspire others, their courage and character, and their commitment to the game while overcoming personal or physical challenges. Known by high school football coaches as the award that honors athletes for the heart they bring to the game as opposed to the stats, the final four scholarship recipients will be named on January 18, 2011. The winner will receive a $10,000 academic scholarship to a college of their choice. Two runners-up in addition to a fan favorite determined by online voting will each receive a $5,000 scholarship. America can vote for their favorite nominee online through January 17th. Since voting began, nominees have tallied more than 1,250,000 votes.
About Trusted Sports
The High School Football Rudy Awards™ are operated in partnership with the Trusted Sports Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity focused on getting and keeping kids in the game. Trusted Sports empowers young athletes to live up to their full potential through positive sports experiences that form active, healthy habits for a lifetime.
For information:
Sandy Henderson
Trusted Sports Inc.
www.HighSchoolRudyAwards.com LOG IN AND VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE!
Phone: (541) 848 9509
Email: sandy@trustedsports.com
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