The Power of Community

As everyone is I’m sure aware, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament started over spring break this year. My parents were lucky enough to get tickets to Notre Dame’s first two games in Chicago, so my entire family enjoyed the NCAA atmosphere. I, however, was in Punta Cana, which I’m definitely not complaining about. Although I didn’t get to experience what it was like to watch the two games in person with my family, I was able to watch both games with 75 other Notre Dame seniors in the Dominican Republic. I knew I would be “blogging” after the beginning of the NCAA tournament, so I was hoping to be able to write about Notre Dame’s success and great wins. Now, of course, due to the loss to Florida State, but more importantly due to the experience I had watching the game with my closest friends, I want to write about how sports can affect a community.
I’m not going to lie, just like I’m sure everyone else in this class, I was pretty disappointed when Notre Dame lost to Florida State. I had them going far in my bracket, as many other loyal Notre Dame fans. Even after the loss in the Big East Tournament, all I heard were things like, “its good that they lost, they have more time to prepare for the NCAA tournament.” When I watched the first game with my friends in Punta Cana, I was sitting in a hotel room, and even though we didn’t look as sharp as we had in the past, everyone was confident it was just first round jitters. My point is that everyone was so confident in the ability of the Notre Dame team because it seems that our community of students endlessly hopes for success. I will never forget my freshman year football season when we would cheer and go crazy for a touchdown because we didn’t experience many wins. So now that we had such a successful team, everyone refused to accept anything less than a deep tournament run.
This is where I want to talk about why I will never forget the Florida State game. It obviously isn’t because of the great win, but because of the game watch experience I had. There were 76 of us in Punta Cana together and on Sunday night, which was our last night, we all took over the “Overtime Sports Bar” and watched the game together. People from the resort kept coming in asking where we were all from and why we were all together. We had pulled out chairs and tables and gotten the game put up on the big pull down screen; each of us loyally watched the game from start to finish. We cheered loudly as if we were at the game, and everyone had a great time, not because we were winning (we were losing by a lot most of the time) but because there were so many of us centered around one hope. The hope that our team, made of mostly seniors, would pull out a win and somehow come back from the deficit. Not until two minutes left did people finally start to give up hope. Even in losing, though, everyone cheered. At the end of the game, I was definitely disappointed, but I realized how great it was that one game could bring 76 people, in a place as beautiful as the Dominican Republic, together to cheer and watch a hopeful Notre Dame win. For me, that game watching experience embodied why I love sports, especially why I love college sports and tournaments, like March Madness.

Mary Ellen Mazza, ND 2011
Social Foundations of Coaching

March Madness

As the March Madness “Big Dance” tournament is rounding the end, it looks as though the underdogs have taken over this season. Though, there were many big wins for teams that were expected to win, there were also a number of huge upsets. I was lucky enough to be able to watch some of these upsets live. I was at the United Center in Chicago, IL when a #11 seeded, Virginia Commonwealth team thoroughly upset the #3 seeded Purdue Boilermakers. The game was intense to watch because the VCU team was only lucky enough to get into the tournament by the extra places added to the tournament just this year in the play-in games. Purdue should have been in control the whole game, and had a quote on quote “easy win” when looking at the game on paper, but VCU was able to get the win out of the game and move on to the sweet 16 games. Not only was VCU a big upset, but as hard as it was for me to watch our Notre Dame basketball team play, they also were on the down side of a big upset as well. The FSU #10 seed really hit hard on our #2 seeded team just moments after VCU beat Purdue. Again, most people went into that game thinking that this would be an “easy win” just because of the rankings and how we had previously played. On paper everything seemed to work perfectly in our favor; even an elite 8 or at the very least a sweet 16 chance was heavily in our favor.
Watching these two games in person as well as watching many of the other upsets that have thus far happened in the tournament got me thinking about the difference between what a team should play like versus what they do play like. It’s hard to imagine on paper a #10 seed beating a #2 seed by over ten points, but when watching it, you clearly saw who the better team was on that specific day. Maybe we could have played better on a different day, and maybe nine games out of ten that we played against that same team we would win, but that one opportunity the team who played best (regardless of their seed on paper) advanced to the next round. I just think it’s incredibly interesting how no matter how hard or long we study the way in which a team plays, it is nearly impossible to pick the perfect winners for each and every round.
Amy Prestinario, ND 2012
Social Foundations of Coaching Blog

Sport Book Review: Find A Way: Three Words That Changed My Life

A great read for any athlete or person who has struggled with rough times in their life is book written by former NFL running back Merril Hoge. The title of the book is called Find A way: Three Words That Changed My Life. The book is your typical autobiography on Hoge's life from the time he grew up in Idaho and all the way to his life after football. The book displays Hoge's unbelievable determination to become a football player in the NFL. From the time he was a child, Hoge nailed up the saying "Find A Way", to tell himself that no matter who told him he was unable to do anything, he would find a way to overcome it.

It is your typical overachieving athlete story, but there is quite the twist on it. When Hoge speaks of his life after football, dealing with concussion symptoms and trying to transition into the working world, you can feel sympathy for the pain and suffering he went through dealing with head trauma. This hit home to me very hard since I went through many of the same issues he did with his symptoms of concussions. The book turns and you see the true strength of Hoge when he is diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Hoge received the news about his cancer while vacationing in his cabin in Idaho with his family. When the news came, he told his kids exactly what he had and what he would have to go through without sugarcoating it. Hoge's daughter came up to him and told him "Daddy, FIND A WAY." Hoge then knew that he was in for the fight of his life, but vowed to himself that he would destroy the cancer within him.

This uplifting and motivational story of Merril Hoge is truly compelling to anyone who has been diagnosed with or knew someone with cancer, or anyone athlete or person who feel that they cannot power through tough times in their life. Hoge's book gives people hope and teaches one of the most valuable lessons of life, the mind is a powerful tool and a gift, and every person who uses this gift will be surprised at what they can accomplish and overcome.

Daniel Wenger, ND Football
Social Foundations of Coaching

The Long Ride Home

Good day all...

I thought we might switch gears today and examine one of the issues in youth sports that is overlooked more than Bobby Knight's behavior on the bench... the ride home after an athletic contest with parents. Some of the worst parenting and coaching in the world takes place in the privacy of the dreaded car ride home. Parents berate, condescend and over power young athletes to the point that many of them may lose all interest in a sport they truly love.

This was never more evident to me than with my own son. I've been his coach since he was old enough to walk. I've given him, in my opinion, some of the best coaching and advice that can be given to a young athlete. That said there's still a parent-child relationship to foster before athletics. Admittedly, I've always been tougher on my own children than other kids I've coached, but being involved with football the past few seasons has really opened my eyes.

Hmmmmm... where is he going you ask? The answer is really simple. Parents (present company included), always want the best for their kids. However, we can all be a bit over the top when "critiquing" our young athlete's play. He or she may not be living up to whatever expectation we may have, but that's not for us to decide. Although they are children, and to a point they will always be children in our eyes, they need to take some responsibility and figure things out on there own. If it's important to them, they'll go for it. As parents and role models I believe it's our job to give them every opportunity to be successful... that's it. Present the opportunity, provide support and leave the rest to them. Here are a few things to keep in mind during that "long ride home."

PURE RELENTLESS PEARLS OF WISDOM FOR PARENTS

1. Ease up a little -No matter what you say, you will never be tougher on them than they are on themselves.
2. They aren't you - So what you did at that age doesn't necessarily apply in today's sports arena.
3. Let's be honest, some of them just aren't athletically gifted - Just love them for who they are and be fine with that.
4. Ask them... don't tell them "How do you think you played today?" versus "I don't think you played well today." You might be surprised how in tune they are with how they performed.
5. Don't assume - They may not want to play the sport you played as a kid. Their favorite sport could be completely different. Let them decide which direction to go.
6. Always remember to tell them you love them - Sometimes no matter the approach you take, things can get out of hand. Just remind them that you love them and no matter what you're there for them.
7. We're talking youth sports here - nobody is picking up a check at the end of the game... if so, sign me up!
8. Relax and enjoy the game - This one is for me specifically. We've got to remember they're young and even the pros make mistakes. Lift 'em up.
9. If they ask give an honest yet loving answer - If you get them to ask what you think...think before you answer. In some cases they may be hanging on your every word.
10. Youth sports are about the experience and having fun - Never let them lose sight of that. We tell them a lot by how we conduct ourselves.

Our kids are under enough stress and pressure in today's society. Way more than any of us can ever imagine from where we've come. The last thing they need is to be placed on the defensive in the only safe place some of them may have...with mom and dad.

What High School Basketball Taught One Athlete

My sophomore basketball coach was the best coach I have ever had. In my grade we had seven kids out for basketball. Two of those kids were very good so they were up on the varsity. The rest of us were not very good basketball players, but that did not change my coach’s expectations of winning games. What makes this coach the best I ever had was what he did with very little basketball talent. He did not sign up to coach to lose.
The practices that he ran were the most efficient and effective that I have been part of. Since we were a group that was not going to dunk on anyone or make crazy drives to the basket he decided to focus on different parts of the game. The parts of the game that we focused on were parts that could be done effectively on hard work alone.
Every practice we spent half the time going over defense. We would spend a quarter of the time doing rebounding drills. We would spend the rest of the time either shooting threes or going over an aspect of the game that was more cerebral, i.e. spacing on the zone or where everyone should be on the fastbreak.
As a result we played defense and rebounded better than anyone else. We also shot the three very well. Even though our shots looked pretty bad we had practiced it so much that more often than not the ball went in. By the end of the season we were playing very smart and effective basketball.
There a lot of takeaways from this coach, but the most exciting one is that hard work and hustle still pay huge dividends. Our coach instilled in us an attitude that always made our practices intense. We would go after loose balls harder in our practices than most teams do in games. Our coach would always emphasize playing hard and smart. So we would spend about two hours a day at a breakneck pace trying to outhustle each other. Once we got to the game, that switch would not turn off.
The point of this is that as a coach, great talent is never guaranteed. However, through hard work and hustle, games can still be won. My 19-2 sophomore high school basketball team is a testament to how it is possible to win a lot of games through outworking the other team.
Jordan Smith
Social Foundations of Coaching Course
Notre Dame 2011

Learning to Teach While Teaching Series Part VII: Passion

Passion is a very peculiar word. We’ve heard it used in many different contexts over the years. Hmmmmm…let’s see – there have been crimes of passion, we’ve seen passionate outbursts by players and coaches, maybe someone we know has passion for what they do, some have even described passion in a sexual connotation meaning a physical relationship between two people – there’s even “The Passion of the Christ” for our viewing pleasure and critique…but what is the true meaning of passion.

The word passion comes from the Latin word pati which means to suffer. Latin was spoken by the early Romans and this word was used specifically when referring to the suffering of Jesus… some seven hundred or so years later the meaning began to transform into strength of feeling and ultimately what we have come to know today as love and sexual passion.

Ok, now that the history lesson is over, how does this relate to teaching while teaching? I’m glad you so profoundly asked. In the current definitions of passion it is truly important for coaches and athletes alike to have passion for what they do. Having a strong sense of purpose is part of the picture. The purpose is set in the expectation as set by the head coach and then carried forth by the leaders on the team. If all are on the same page, success is inevitable.

We’ve all heard stories of teams that over-achieve, or who did something great when the “odds” were stacked against them. I would argue that in spite of their lack of ability, skill or even numbers the players and coaches all had the same goals, mindset and were committed to achieve. Of course they were disciplined, focused and well prepared, but the ultimate difference possibly came from the passion with which they played.

Let’s see… passion comes from the Latin word meaning suffer and if a player is selfless he or she then puts his or her teammates before themselves. That in itself is an act of sacrifice (coming from the Latin word meaning; to make sacred) for the whole.

At the end of the day, as coaches we want to convey to our student-athletes the importance of giving all they have for as long as they compete. Strength of purpose, selflessness and sacrifice are all ingredients of passion. If mixed in the correct amounts along with discipline, hard work, trustworthiness and respect success is eminent…this is the true breakfast of champions!

Over the past week, the blogosphere has lit up over a video showing John O'Connor, the head basketball coach at tiny Holy Family University, shoving one of his players to the ground during an early morning rebounding drill and kicking him when he stayed down. The nineteen year old Sophomore struggled to his feet, bleeding from his nose and holding a sprained wrist that has now kept him out of the game for over a month. Coach O'Connor was dismissed from the University last week, but has since taken to the airwaves saying that although his tactics went too far, his intent was still a noble one. He insists that his "tough love" approach was designed to prepare his players for life and teach them lessons that extended beyond the basketball court. "Its always been about the kids and teaching and trying to get them to learn that, in life, there's lessons to be learned in this game" he told the Philadelphia Daily News. The incident, and O'Connor's defense of his methods, has sparked a public debate about both the role of coaches and whether or not tough-methods are appropriate. At first glance, it may seem that a ministerial-based approach to coaching would be wholly at odds with O'Connor's behavior. Although certainly it would be inexcusable to physically assault a player whose care and development has been entrusted to you, but what about the concept of tough love? Is the Norman Dale approach from Hoosiers, although unpleasant, superior to a coach who teaches only the techniques and spares his players the discomfort of challenging situations? The Video is linked below.

James Hasson, ND 2011
Social Foundations of Coaching
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncBckf71Tbs