Being a good player means being a good player at the end of the game as well as at the beginning. In order to do this, you will need to be in good shape and not let things distract you during the game. Don’t wait for the coach to tell you how to improve in these areas. Set your own goals and work toward them.

“If a man can beat you, walk him.”

Satchel Paige

Tom Brady, quarterback of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, didn’t play organized football until his freshman year of high school though he was active in many other youth sports before then.

What's Ahead
Parents:
When Lifes Deals You a Bad Season
Coaches:
Turning Around a Problem Parent
Players:
Problem Parent Have You Talked with the Coach Today?

Maine Youth Sports
www.maineyouthsports.com
P.O. Box 442
Cumberland, ME 04021
inquiry@maineyouthsports.com
(207) 415-6321

Please feel free to forward this issue to friends and associates. Anyone can subscribe for free:
Just click on the email link below, and make sure you add your first name. You will receive a return email verifying your subscription.

To unsubscribe from this list:
please send an email to: unsubsribe@maineyouthsports.com.

We'd love to get your thoughts on our recent articles.

If there is a topic that you either agree or disagree with, feel free to drop us a line by clicking below:

Email us

www.maineyouthsports.com

Should Coaches Be Committed?

The start of a new season often means a new coach. Over time, the different backgrounds and styles of each coach will work to benefit a child’s abilities by providing fresh insights and approaches. Parents need to help the coach make the most of the limited time to create the best experience possible for their child. Parents also need to make sure that the coach is someone they want to instruct their child. There are 10 commitments that parents should expect out of a coach. Coaches should be committed to:

1. Safety - Putting player safety first. This means everything from refusing to play an injured player to forfeiting a game that has become unsafe.
2. Fun - Showing an understanding that a player’s effort is often determined by the amount of fun involved.
3. Maturity - Positively handling the emotions of competitive play.
4. Sportsmanship - Demonstrating the right way to lose as well as to win.
5. Goals - Setting expectations for their players and for their team
6. Education - Helping kids better understand and play the sport.
7. Preparation - Spending the time to create organized and productive practices.
8. Communication - Explaining the details of player progress, skills, plays or games to players and parents alike.
9. Players - Demonstrating concern about players as individuals as well as about the team as a whole.
10. Passion - Generating a positive passion for the sport and for fair competition.

Most coaches will meet these commitment tests with flying colors. However, there may be occasions when coaches don’t measure up. Then, parents must resolve the situation. Next week’s newsletter will provide some thoughts on this issue.

Should Parents Be Committed?

Parents are an integral part of any youth team. Not only do they provide equipment, transportation and funding for the team, parents also spend much more time with the players than the coaches do. For teams to work well, there are 10 commitments that coaches should expect out of parents. Parents should be committed to:

1. Patience - Giving kids the time and space to develop the necessary skills and passion for the game. Too much pressure to succeed immediately only makes it harder for coaches to teach fundamentals.
2. Fun - Working to create a season of great memories for the future.
3. Maturity – Helping kids handle the emotions of competitive play.
4. Support - Working with the coach to help kids acquire the physical development skills necessary.
5. Communication - Letting the coach know about any family or life issues affecting the players.
6. Praise - Providing the positive motivation that players need to continue working hard.
7. Preparation - Getting their kids ready for games and practices with the right equipment, rest and nutrition.
8. Punctuality - Showing up on time for practices and games.
9. Sportsmanship – Being positive role models for handling losses and wins.
10. Team - Demonstrating concern for the needs of the team as well as for the needs of their own child.

Most coaches can run their season without having to confront a lack of parental commitment. When this does become a problem, coaches may occasionally be forced to resolve the situation for the benefit of a player or the team. The next newsletter will provide some thoughts on how to deal with this issue.

You Can Count on Me

Athletic ability is not judged by doing something well one time, but by doing something well many times. Consistency is critical to an athlete’s success. Teams depend on the consistency of their players to put together a winning game or season.

Consistency is made up of several elements that work together including:

• Physical conditioning - Will a player’s body be able to perform on the 10th time like it did on the first time?
• Mental conditioning - Can a player stay focused no matter what the score or time remaining?
• Skill development - Does a player practice enough to turn occasional luck into a regular expectation?

Actual games do little to improve a player’s consistency. More benefit comes from working away from games through exercise and practice. If players want to become someone their team can count on, they need to take responsibility for developing their consistency.

The Top 5 Most Effective Strength Training Exercises

We surveyed personal trainers all over the U.S. and asked them:
"If you only had five exercises for your clients, which ones would they be?" Here is the answer:

1. Squats.

   Most trainers agree that squats are one of the best exercises you can do. Squats work your glutes, quads, hamstrings and calves all at once. Stand with feet hip-width apart, toes facing straight ahead or angled slightly outward. Slowly bend the knees and lower hips towards the floor, keeping your torso straight and abs pulled in tight. Keep your knees behind your toes; make sure everything's pointing in the same direction. Do not go lower than 90 degrees. Do this 2-3 non-consecutive days a week for 12-16 reps. You can increase the effectiveness if you do them with Jumpsoles on.
   
   

2. Push Ups.

   Push ups, like squats, are compound movements using almost all the muscles of your body. You'll work your chest, shoulders, triceps, back and abs. Position yourself face down on the floor, balancing on your toes/knees and hands. Your hands should be wider than shoulders, body in a straight line from head to toe. Don't sag in the middle and don't stick your butt up in the air. Slowly bend your arms and lower your body to the floor, stopping when your elbows are at 90 degrees. Exhale and push back up. Variations include incline, decline, wall pushups or, for masochists, one-armed pushups. Do this 2-3 non-consecutive days a week and add a rep each time you do the exercise.
   
   

3. Lunges.

   Like squats, lunges work most of the muscles in your legs including your quads, hamstrings, glutes and calves. Stand in a split-stance (one leg forward, one leg back). Bend knees and lower body into a lungeposition, keeping the front knee and back knee at 90 degree angles. Keeping the weight in your heels, push back up (slowly!) to starting position. Never lock your knees at the top and don't let your knee bend past your toes. Variations: front lunges, back lunges and side lunges. Do this exercise 2-3 times per week for 12 to 16 reps.
   
   

4. The Plank.

   The plank (or hover) is an isolation move used in Pilates and Yoga and works the abs, back, arms and legs. The plank also targets your internal abdominal muscles. Lie face down on mat with elbows resting on floor next to chest. Push your body off the floor in a pushup position with body resting on elbows or hands. Contract the abs and keep the body in a straight line from head to toes. Hold for 30-60 seconds and repeat as many times as you can. For beginners, do this move on your knees and gradually work your way up to balancing on your toes.
   
   

5. Lat Pulldown.

   The lat pulldown works on the major muscles of your back (the latissmus dorsi), which helps you burn calories and, of course, strengthen your back. Sit on the lat pulldown machine and hold the bar with palms out and wider than shoulders. Pull your abs in and lean back slightly. Bend your elbows and pull the bar down towards your chin, contracting the outer muscles of your back. Do this exercise 2-3 times a week using enough weight to complete 12-16 repetitions.

If you have a busy schedule, incorporating these five moves 2 or 3 times a week will help strengthen your muscles and bones, as well as burn more calories. Don't forget to do some cardio exercise as well!

info from Waehner, exercise.about.com

ATTENTION: You are receiving this newsletter because you have expressed an interest in maintaining and improving the quality of youth sports, or are currently affiliated with Maine Youth Sports, through your childs club or league.

If you'd like to remove yourself from this mailing list, please send an email to: unsubsribe@maineyouthsports.com.

Our subscriber list is NOT made available to other companies or individuals. We value every subscriber and respect your privacy.