Girls Rule - Boys Drool

Came across this article online tonight and thought some of you might find it interesting.

Girl kicked off boys team for being too good?
by Sandy Maple May 20th 2008

12-year-old Jaime Nared is an excellent basketball player. Since second grade, she's been demonstrating her Jordan-like skills on a boys team at The Hoop, a private basketball facility in Beaverton, Oregon. She's been known to score 30 points in a game and regularly runs circles around her male counterparts.

But last month, seemingly out of nowhere, her coach was informed by Hoop officials that Jaime had to go. The reason, they claim, is that league rules prohibit mixed-gender teams. This was news to Coach Michael Abraham, who has been coaching basketball for 32 years. "I never saw the rule," he says. "If I'd known about it, I wouldn't have put any of my teams in the league. Besides, she's been playing on this team since second grade, and she plays on our team when we travel around the region. There's never been any problem in any event, not one word of complaint."

Well, nobody complained about it until last month, when several parents let Hoop management know they weren't happy about Jaime's presence on the team. They say their sons don't play as well against her because they are nice boys who have been taught not to get rough with girls. They also believe that having a girl on the floor is distracting and preventing their boys from focusing on the game.

Coach Abraham, as well as Jaime's parents, think the real issue here is that this 12-year-old girl is making the boys look bad. "I remember one play. She stole the ball, dribbled up court and made a behind-the-back pass to a teammate. He missed the lay-in, and she grabbed the rebound and put it in. I think it was just too much for some of those parents," says Jaime's mom, Reiko Williams. "The next day, she came home and said they wouldn't let her play with the boys anymore."

Hoop officials insist that they are just belatedly enforcing the rules that have existed the entire time Jaime has been playing for them. After a failed appeal, she is now playing with the girls - on a sixth grade team as well as a non-traveling high school team.

4:13

$4M a Year Worth of Focus

For anyone who watched No. 8 Alabama beat the living mess out of No. 3 Georgia on Saturday night, few would have thought that ‘Bama coach Nick Saban would be furious with his team afterward.

Saban looked as if he had been the one getting beaten, not the coach that had humiliated No. 3 in their house. His fans might have been dancing to the band, but he could barely remember the 31-0 first half thanks to his team’s mental lapse that let Georgia make the score respectable.

Twice in his postgame media conference Saban banged his fist on the table, aftershocks of frustrations. He went on long tangents about lack of mental strength. Every word of praise was followed by twice the criticism.

He frowned even more than usual. He already had chewed out the team for five minutes in the locker room. He already had gone on and on about the dangers of embracing success.

The guy is all about staying focused on winning, a true sight to behold. It isn’t his fun demeanor that earns him $4 million per year.

His human side can remain hidden. He doesn’t care. He knows he’s loved for his ability to deliver glorious football nights like this one. In getting a team so focused it can walk into a Georgia snake pit and score on its first five possessions.

It’s his ability to get Alabama back to powerhouse status, a force to be feared across the league.

One of Coach Saban's players seems to understand his coach's demands:

"He's looking for something to make you better," safety Rashad Johnson said. "He wants us to play perfect from start to finish, that's the kind of coach you want that's not going to accept this because we didn't finish off the way we want to and the way he wants us to."

Coach Saban's concern about his team losing focus after beating UGA reminds me of the old saying: "The arrogance of success is thinking that what you did yesterday will be good enough for tomorrow."

Leadership Lessons = LESS ME…MORE WE

One of the unexpected challenges coaches usually run into (speaking for myself) as they get caught up in the day to day planning of getting the team prepared for the upcoming season, is the naming of Captains without actually instructing the Captains as to what is expected from them.

I am NOT a believer in using seniority as the criteria for selecting a Captain. Being a team Captain means much more than counting during warm ups and meeting with the refs before a game. It means they are or at least should be the “coaches on the court” during the game and “role models” off the court.

They should be an extension of the coach in every way.

I came across an article about the leadership lessons of USAF General Colin Powell and found four that can easily relate to high school sports.

Lesson #1:
"Being a responsible Captain (or leader) sometimes means making people mad."
Good leadership involves responsibility to the welfare of the group, which means that some people will get angry at your actions and decisions. Trying to get everyone to like you is a sign of mediocrity. Always stand firm on your principles and on what is expected from the team and always do what is right. Treat everyone fair, but not necessarily equal.

Lesson #2:
"Never neglect small details. “
When everyone's mind is dulled or distracted the leader must be doubly vigilant. The best game plan in the world is worthless if it can't be implemented rapidly and efficiently. Keep the team focused and on the task at hand. Don’t allow distractions, even small ones, they can have a dramatic effect on the team mind-set before or during a game. The goal is to have the team’s mind on the game all day long, not just the five minutes before the game starts.

Lesson #3:
"You don't know what you can get away with until you try."
You know the expression "it's easier to get forgiveness than permission?" Well, it's true. Good leaders don't wait for the coach to tell them what to do, they instinctively know or try things out. They're prudent, but not reckless. If you see that a defensive personnel switch needs to happen or maybe a timeout needs to be called…then do it, don’t wait for the coach to do it.

Lesson #4:
"Keep looking below surface appearances.”
Don't avoid doing so just because you might not like what you find. Many times you can help prevent trouble by keeping your finger on the pulse of the team and being proactive by dealing with a problem before it becomes a major disruptive issue. That means dealing with tardiness, petty arguments and immature behavior BEFORE it becomes a problem.

Be the best you can be.

4:13

The 17 Indisputable Laws of Teamwork

Simple talent will never translate into success unless other factors related to character and attitude are strong as well. The more talented a team is, the more leadership is needed. Teams don't simply come together on their own; they require leadership to do so.

 The Law of Significance: One Is Too Small a Number to Achieve Greatness

 The Law of the Big Picture: The Goal is More Important Than the Role

 The Law of the Niche: All Players Have a Place Where They Add the Most Value

 The Law of the Great Challenge ("Mount Everest"): As the Challenge Escalates, the Need for Teamwork Elevates

 The Law of the Chain: The Strength of the Team Is Impacted by Its Weakest Link

 The Law of the Catalyst: Winning Teams Have Players Who Make Things Happen

 The Law of the Vision ("Compass"): Vision Gives Team Members Direction and Confidence

 The Law of the Bad Apple: Rotten Attitudes Ruin a Team

 The Law of Countability: Teammates Must Be Able to Count on Each Other When It Counts

 The Law of the Price Tag: The Team Fails to Reach Its Potential When It Fails to Pay the Price

 The Law of the Scoreboard: The Team Can Make Adjustments When It Knows Where It Stands

 The Law of the Bench: Great Teams Have Great Depth

 The Law of Identity: Shared Values Define the Team

 The Law of Communication: Interaction Fuels Action

 The Law of the Edge: The Difference Between Two Equally Talented Teams Is Leadership

 The Law of High Morale: When You're Winning, Nothing Hurts

 The Law of Dividends: Investing in the Team Compounds Over Time

Only Those With the Right ATTITUDE Need Apply

To every other school...we are known as the Covenant Lions. So why do we have the Jumpgirl on our gear instead of a lion?

The Jumpgirl represents more than just a logo on a hoodie or a uniform. It is a reminder of our continuing goal to rise above being average. It's about ATTITUDE.

It is a symbol that embodies who we are and what we stand for. It symbolizes the discipline it takes to achieve excellence on the court, and it also represents a commitment of sacrificing personal goals for the goals of the team.

It means we expect to be physically tougher and mentally stronger than our opponents. It means if we are knocked down, we will get back up...every time! We train to fight and we fight to win.
We expect victory.

Our success depends on our commitment to each other and always having the right attitude.

4:13

The Big Picture

Found a great article this morning about Pistons guard Aaron Afflalo, a former UCLA player who played about 13 minutes per game last season for DET.

His minutes decreased significantly in the postseason as the bench shortened and Rip Hamilton was on the floor more.

But Afflalo is one of those players who is able to see "the big picture."

Says Detroit Pistons General Manager Joe Dumars:

"[Afflalo is] one of those players that you don't have to talk to about trying to get better. If you watch him play and watch how he prepares himself on a day-in, day-out basis, his work ethic is exactly what you want and need on your team. Arron's best quality isn't in his scoring, defense or anything like that. He's a competitor; he does whatever has to be done to help his team win. Guys like that find a way to get it done, and that's what you want when you're a team like us that every year is seriously talking about winning a championship."

Piston's head coach Michael Curry, a Detroit assistant last season, has "stressed an important message to Detroit's backups: always be ready to play, because there's no telling when an opportunity to get on the floor will come."

Afflalo contends it's not about minutes, but about winning:

"I think I'll be playing more this year, but there's no guarantee of that. That's why you have to stay on top of your game, keep trying to get better so that when you do get an opportunity to play, you'll make the most of it. My whole thing last year, and it's the same way this year, is winning. That's the only thing I care about -- just helping this team win a championship."

What a great role model for young players.

4:13

Character Is Far More Valuable Than Talent

Came across a good article in USA Today that vindicates one of my long held beliefs…I would rather have an athlete with great character over an athlete with great talent.

- By Andy Gardiner, USA TODAY
The college football season is only a month old but Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Northwestern — the smallest schools by enrollment in their conferences — are matching academic success with victories on the football field.

Vanderbilt (4-0) and Wake Forest (3-0) are unbeaten in conference play and have victories over ranked teams. The Demon Deacons are 15th and Vandy 25th in this week's USA TODAY coaches' poll. Northwestern is 4-0 for the first time since 1962.

It might not be very "sexy," but according to coaches at three smaller colleges, each with high academic standards, one reason they're a combined 11-0 this season despite playing in major conferences has less to do with amazing athletes and more to do with concepts like consistency and stability.

"We're not looking for the best players we can find. We're looking for the best kids we can find. That means kids with character, kids that want a college degree - they don't have to be the top student in the class, but they have to be a college-bound kid that wants a college degree.

"Our thought at Wake Forest is: can we be the best football team without necessarily having the best talent? One of our goals is to make sure that we're doing the right things as coaches and our players are doing the right things so that we can actually have a good football team without necessarily walking [onto the field] with the most talented players."

4:13

Learn to LISTEN to Your Body!

By now, I’m sure most of you have heard about Lea’s injury and I wanted to take this unfortunate situation and make sure each of you can learn from it.

Playing with a deep thigh bruise or a taped up sprained ankle has come to be expected in sports…it’s called playing hurt. Most every athlete has done it before. They are then branded as “warriors” and there is a certain badge of honor associated with doing so. However, there is a major difference between “playing hurt” and “playing injured.” Lea participated in Monday's soccer practice with what she thought was a pulled a muscle in her calf. It was bad enough to cause her to have a pronounced limp when I saw her on Sunday afternoon.

I recently read about a college runner whose Olympic hopes were crushed by a broken foot. The young woman competed with the injury for two months before it was finally diagnosed. It was a heroic effort that drew the following praise from her coaches: “Only the real special ones can do this kind of thing.” There's that badge of honor thing.

Both the runner’s toughness and the applause it won reinforces that the new breed of female athlete has caught up with their male counterpart in receiving proper respect for athletic ability…but the downside is that we often demand too much from our athletes, particularly our girls. It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of the wounded warrior playing through the pain. I know first-hand, because I’ve allowed Liz to do it on more than one occasion.

This new breed of female athlete doesn’t think anything of “gutting it out” and playing through the pain, which is probably what Lea was doing.

Another example to help illustrate this dilemma is Amy Steadman’s story. Amy is a former member of the University of North Carolina’s powerhouse women’s soccer team. Over two years, Steadman, a fearless competitor nicknamed “the Killer” by teammates, ruptured the ACL in her right knee three times. After each surgery, she returned to the field as quickly as she could, forgoing the rest and strength training that might have protected her knee. When her ACL ruptured for the third time, the surgeon told her there was “nothing in there left to fix.” Her playing career is now over. Steadman suffers chronic pain and only in her early 20s, moves “like an old woman.”

Where am I going with all of this?

Don’t push yourself physically beyond what your body is telling you. LISTEN to your body. It's better to skip a practice (or game) and rest an injury than to risk a far greater injury as a result of pushing yourself.

Please keep Lea in your prayers.

4:13

Can We Talk?

For the past few weeks, a handful of us have spent a few hours each Saturday and Sunday afternoon working on shooting and ball handling in the gym in preparation for the upcoming season.

Sunday's workout was a little different than usual. We spent 95% of the practice sitting around in a circle just talking. It was a nice change of pace for all that were there and I think most were also in agreement...they can't for the season to get started!

4:13

Determining Value

With only four weekends left before our season starts (tryouts), I can’t help but note that this will be the first time in two years that we actually have a Senior on the court (technically, Liz only played 13 minutes of her senior year). That’s 50+ games without senior leadership - which many coaches feel is a “must have” in order to be successful.

Looking at the relative success we have had without the experience and leadership that upper-classmen usually bring to a team, I can only attribute it to the hand of God (4:13) and to the unselfish nature of our athletes.

I feel that unselfishness and leadership go hand-in-hand and has little to do with age (or grade), instead it is exhibited through actions and by example. We’ve been working out over the Summer and over the past few weekends and with the exception of one senior, the younger athletes have been the ones “setting the pace” for the team and “preparing” for the upcoming season. They’ve been “leading the way” and exhibiting the attributes we’ve come to expect from our athletes.

When the younger athletes learn to see themselves as I see them, they'll understand their true worth to this team.

HOORA!
4:13

Q: What do you have to do to become the best?

A: Successful athletes do things differently from those players who stagnate or never really get any better. They have different practice habits. Elite performers engage in "deliberate practice." They focus their efforts on improving an individual target area rather than just practicing for the sake of practicing without any real goal in mind.

Anybody can go to the gym and just shoot around. But the athlete that spends that same amount of time focusing their attention on improving a specific area of their game will be the athlete that succeeds.

To be successful, you must decide exactly what you want to accomplish, then resolve to pay the price to get it. No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself.

4:13

How To Handle It...A Lesson On Maturity

One of the most difficult decisions a coach has to make is to cut a player. No one likes being told that they need more work to make the team. The second-most difficult decision a coach has to make is to reduce the playing time of one athlete and give those same minutes to another in order to put the five players on the floor that fit best together.

Players that end up with fewer minutes rarely understand that the coach is just trying to put together the combination of talent that gives the team the best chance of success for the offensive or defensive system being used. Instead of understanding, the athlete often takes it personally and they begin to use excuses such as “the coach doesn’t like me” or “he won’t give me a chance.” When an athlete spends time dwelling on these type of negative emotions, it doesn’t do a single thing to improve the athlete’s skill set which is what is needed to earn more minutes on the court.

I came across the following article in the Seattle Times that shows an athlete with some uncommon maturity about being benched…

Vikings bench Jackson, turn to Frerotte
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — With the passing offense sputtering in two losses to open the season, Minnesota coach Brad Childress decided the Vikings can no longer afford to let Tarvaris Jackson learn on the job.

"I'm just not seeing right now the aggressiveness from Tarvaris that I saw throughout the off-season, training camp, the two preseason games that he played in," Childress said. Jackson completed just 51 percent of his passes this season. He threw a game-ending interception at Green Bay that sealed the Packers victory and was partly responsible for the offense sputtering and settling for five field goals and scoring no touchdowns in an 18-15 loss to the Colts.

When interviewed, Jackson responded the right way to being benched after two games in favor of another player, here it is:

"I could easily hold my head low, keep my head down, you know, be a cancer to the team. I'm still frustrated and mad about the situation, but I'm going to use that as motivation to try to get better and just better myself for the future and be ready for my next opportunity."

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson didn't just say the right thing, he nailed it. He was honest ("I'm frustrated and mad..."), but he was professional and put the team's well-being first. No drama. No whining. Fully accountable.

It's also incredibly rare.

4:13

Another Game Added

The AD for Providence Christian out of Dothan, AL called me this morning asking if we would come to their Christmas tourney. Unfortunately, we’re already committed to the Lakeside tournament. However, I did get her to agree to a game this season on Thursday December 11th in our gym. One open date filled...one to go.

Providence (1A) used to have a great girl’s team (which went 29-0 in 2004) and I loved their team slogan "Kickin’ butt in the name of Jesus”. Based on last season's scores, they were either young or just aren't as deep as they used to be. They lost to Abbeville Christian (Abbeville, AL) which was about as good as Maranatha. They better wear some thick shorts...because we're going to do some kickin' of our own when they get here!

This should be a great game.

The Real Hammy

There's been a new addition to the Farris family...well at least for another day or two anyway. I found this baby squirrel after the tree he was living in was cut down. He's about five weeks old and reminds me so much of Rebecca (he loves to sleep all day).

4:13

Sad News

Came across this on another Blog this morning.

It's from an obituary . . .

The man who wrote one of the world’s most famous songs -- “the Hokey Pokey” -- died recently.

What was most distressing for his family and friends who attended his funeral was that they had trouble keeping his body in the casket.

They put his left leg in . . . and then all the trouble started.

Saturday's Shootaround

It was good to see a few of our Volleyball & Soccer athletes (Hillirat, Heather, Julie, Rebecca and Rachel) in the gym this afternoon for an informal shootaround. I saw a lot of great stuff from each of them, including a few them mastering the reverse layup. It was a lot of fun until everybody beat me at "32"! What ever happened to being nice to old folks???

The next shootaround is scheduled for Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00.

4:13

On Preparation

 Athletes who have a relaxed approach to skill improvement are seldom recognized as great players.

 It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference.

 The secret of success is to be ready for your opportunity when it comes.

 Talent alone won't make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is: 'Are you ready?'

 Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success.

 Today’s preparation determines tomorrow's achievement.

4:13

Anything You Can Do...I Can Do Better!

Congratulations to Olivia Dew for being the first girl at Covenant to score a goal!!!

Nationals Update

"The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and that we miss it, but that we aim too low and we reach it."
- Michelangelo

I received firm confirmation today that we will indeed be playing in the Division-III tournament at Nationals (March 10-14).

The following information will likely be confusing, but bear with me…
Covenant is currently in Division-IV based on enrollment. However, the D-IV tournament happens to be the same weekend as our JV Final Four and the All Star Games. So rather than skip the All Star Game which recognizes outstanding players (which we have many of), we decided to play up one Division the following week in the Division-III tournament.

The folks at the NACA generously offered to allow us to play down one division in the Division-V tournament the same week, but we declined. Although we could probably kick everybody’s butt in the D-V tournament and bring home a National Championship banner, it would be a hollow and empty championship because we are actually a strong D-IV team.

So in a nutshell, what we can or cannot do, what we consider possible or impossible, isn’t a function of our true capability. It is more likely a function of our beliefs about who we are and what we are capable of achieving. High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.

4:13

Six Characteristics of Greatness

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the better players on any team (in any sport) are usually the better decision-makers on the court.

These characteristics are common in both good decision-makers and in great players:

1. Deliver when it matters the most: Great players are able to elevate their game when the game is on the line, they take their game to another level. That’s what separates great teams and individuals from the average ones.

2. Constant desire to improve: Great players seek to improve their game - period. They show up early for practice, they work hard and continually seek to get better. It almost borders on an obsession.

3. An intense work ethic: Great players don’t view practices or drills like work. They pour everything they have into it and it becomes a labor of love. They’re usually the first one in and the last one to leave. This is where their effort defines the player that they are.

4. Smarts and mental toughness: Great players recognize and understand the little nuances of the game. They not only know their teammates strengths and weaknesses, but they pay attention to their opponents strengths and weaknesses and seek to take advantage of them at every opportunity.

5. A high-level of preparation: Great players always appear calm, cool and collected. They have a quiet confidence that comes from their preparation. They trust in what they can do and they don’t let the little things freak them out.

6. The ability to make good decisions: Great players understand the game and they know the most important weapon they have on the court isn’t their shooting ability or defense, but instead it’s their ability to make smart decisions. Smart decisions lead to victories.

4:13

I couldn’t help but notice Saturday’s embarrassing headline regarding our “favorite” cross-town rival.
......................................
PCCS Falls Hard Again
August 29, 2008
News Herald Staff
PANAMA CITY - Nate Smith scored the only touchdown for Panama City Christian School in the first quarter, which narrowed the Tuscaloosa lead to 7-6, but the Crusaders could not score again in their 53-6 loss to Tuscaloosa Christian.

The loss dropped PCCS to 0-2 in its first season of eight-man football. The Crusaders are at home next Friday against Millbrook, Ala.
............................................

By the way, for those that are wondering about the picture. It's what some of the PCCS players wrote on Covenant's sidewalk (in front of the gym) following the infamous "cancelled" softball game.

Anyone care to predict the headline for the News Herald's December 3rd edition...the day after we beat them in basketball???

Secret to Having a Great Day...Everyday

If you want to win an election, you have to get more votes than your opponents. If you want to win a basketball game, your team has to score more than the other team. If you want to lose weight, you have to burn off more calories than you take in.

But what if you want to have a great day . . .everyday . . .

Here are 21 suggestions . . .

You have to listen more than you talk.

You have to give more than you get.

You have to smile more than you frown.

You have to think “we” more than you think “me.”

You have to agree more than you disagree.

You have to compliment more than you criticize.

You have to laugh more than you cry.

You have to clean up more than you mess up.

You have to be positive more than you’re negative.

You have to be fascinated more than you’re frustrated.

You have to “walk the walk” more than you “talk the talk.”

You have to be accepting more than rejecting.”

You have to see the cup “half-full” more than see it “half-empty.”

You have to help more than you hinder.

You have to believe in yourself more than you doubt yourself.

You have to work more than you whine.

You have to do more than you don’t.

You have to act more than you react.

You have to save more than you squander.

You have to care more than you ever have.

You have to love more than you ever have.

Being IN vs. INTO

I came across a great article this morning by Professor Rob Gilberts that pretty much sums up a major key to success in whatever it is that you are doing.

..........................
You’ve heard the old saying, “You only get out of something what you put into it.”
As a professor, I see the truth of this statement every day.

Every person on my class roster is “in” school. This means they’ve registered for courses and they’ve paid their tuition. But the sad fact is that even though all of them are “in” school, very few of them are “into” school. Most of them are “in” a major, but very few of them are “into” their major. Many of them are “in” clubs, student government, and sports, but very few of them are “into” these activities.
The difference between success and failure in school or in anything else is the difference between these two words:

IN vs. INTO

“In” means you show up physically.
“Into” means that you’re totally absorbed -- physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The following quote describes the “into” quality best . . .
Painters paint with their hands.
Artists paint with their hands and minds.
But masters paint with their hands and minds
through their hearts.

Just because you go to class does not necessarily mean that you’re a student.
Just because you can sing a song does not necessarily mean that you’re a singer.
Just because you sell something does not necessarily mean that you’re a salesperson.
Just because you’re IN a profession does not necessarily mean that you’re a professional.

Successful students, singers, salespeople and other professionals have developed the skill of being absorbed physically, mentally, and emotionally. Being IN something doesn’t mean you’ll get anything OUT OF it. The only way you’ll ever get anything OUT OF it is if you are totally INTO it.

4:13