619 Sports: Pirates Mount Comeback, Beat Mira Mesa 17-14
The Oceanside football program has been the class of San Diego Section for years. Even in a season filled with youth, and even with their home field under wraps, the Pirates still have the talent and heart to be able to pull out a tough game.
Overcoming three critical turnovers and taking advantage of one very lucky bounce, the 5th ranked Oceanside Pirates (2-1) came from two touchdowns behind to beat the 10th ranked Mira Mesa Marauders 17-14 in our 619 Preps Game of the Week.
With Simcox Field still undergoing renovations, Oceanside’s home game was moved down the road to rival El Camino’s home field, Herb Meyer Stadium.
Postgame video–Oceanside WR Anthony Mount and head coach John Carroll:
After trailing 14-0 late in the second quarter, the Pirates grinded their way to 17 unanswered points using trick plays, a crucial deflected pass for a touchdown, and some late hard rushing yards to seal the deal.
Anthony Mount had 3 catches for 88 yards and a TDSophomore quarterback Tofi Pao Pao’s 31-yard scoring pass to senior wide receiver Anthony Mount with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter put the Pirates ahead for good. Mount sparked the Oceanside offense with a pair of huge catches, the other being a 48-yard completion on a wide receiver option pass. Mount caught three passes overall for 88 yards and a touchdown, and also ran seven times for 52 yards.
Pao Pao, who had a fumble and interception which led directly to Mira Mesa’s 14 points, finished the game completing 12-of-20 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns, with the one pick.
“That sophomore took some big hits, bounced up and made some huge throws,” said Oceanside head coach John Carroll, “We’re excited about him.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Mira Mesa (1-2) took advantage of some huge plays on defense to forge a 14-0 lead. First, senior defensive lineman Gabi Musallam hammered Pao Pao dropping back to pass, who fumbled. Senior tackle Lloyd Gowen scooped up the loose ball and rumbled 31 yards to the Oceanside 2-yard line before being tackled.
From there, senior fullback Tyler Lehrke punched it into the end zone for a 7-0 Marauders lead.
On the following drive, the Pirates’ offense was triggered by a double pass, with senior wide receiver Demario Coleman hooking up with Mount on a 48 yard connection. Four plays later the Pirates were knocking on the door at the Mira Mesa 3-yard line, when Pao Pao attempted a quick flare to senior wideout Brenden Wright.
Mira Mesa senior cornerback Anthony Payne jumped the route and intercepted Pao Pao’s pass, and he was loose down the right sideline for an 88-yard return. Mount wound up wrestling him down at the Oceanside 8, but two plays later Lehrke was back in the end zone with a three-yard scoring run, and it was 14-0 Marauders.
Taking over with less than two minutes to play in the half, the Pirates got a big play on broken coverage, and then a critical lucky break. First, the Marauders failed to account for Coleman on a fly pattern down the right sideline, and he hauled in a 42-yard bomb to get Oceanside into scoring position.
Two plays later, Pao Pao rolled right from the Mira Mesa 22 and tried to fire underneath to Wright. The ball was deflected off his hands, then off the hands of Payne, and ricocheted behind both of them and to the right, into the far corner of the end zone. There was Coleman, who made a diving catch for an improbable 22-yard touchdown.
Gary Blevins’ Marauders have played a fierce schedule so far“That was fortunate for them,” Mira Mesa head coach Gary Blevins dryly noted.
The Marauders switched quarterbacks mid-game with little success. Sophomore Trey Lomax played most of the first half, completing 2-of-8 passes for 31 yards. Junior Dominic Richardson, who had missed the first two weeks with a shoulder sprain, played the entire second half and finished 3-of-10 for 34 yards.
“We’re trying to figure out what we’re going to do (at QB),” said Blevins, “it’s a long season. We’re going to need two quarterbacks to get through it.”
Listen to a postgame interview with Mira Mesa head coach Gary Blevins:
The Oceanside defense held Mira Mesa to 60 yards in the second half, including three straight three-and-out series.
Oceanside coach John Carroll talks to his team after a 17-14 win over Mira Mesa“I’m very proud of the way our defense played,” said Carroll, “we had one or two mistakes but for the most part our defense certainly gave our offense a chance to win the football game.”
After forcing a Marauders punt on the opening series of the third quarter, Oceanside strung together a 13-play, 62-yard drive to close within four points of the lead. Senior kicker Jose Basurto was able to connect on a 32-yard field goal to make it a 14-10 Mira Mesa lead.
The Marauders then picked a particularly bad time to commit their only turnover of the game, as Richardson fumbled on a scramble, giving the Pirates a short field from the Mira Mesa 23 yard line.
While Oceanside retreated seven yards on their first two plays, Pao Pao used a good pocket on 3rd-and-17 to whip a bullet over the right seam into the hands of Mount. The 5′6″ receiver extended for the pass and sped into the end zone, tumbling across the goal line to give Oceanside a 16-14 lead. Fernando Elizarraraz’s extra point accounted for the final margin of victory.
The Pirates then stuffed Mira Mesa on their next two drives and seemingly had the game in hand, but for the third time a major mistake would give the Marauders a golden chance to steal the win. Pao Pao scrambled on a 3rd-and-25 from deep in his own territory and fumbled 10 yards downfield, with Lehrke picking up the loose ball at the Oceanside 30.
Richardson used an 11-yard completion to Marcus Smith and four hard runs by senior tailback Marco Lazaro to gain a first-and-goal from the Oceanside 4-yard line. That was all the Marauders could muster, though, as two Lazaro line bucks were stuffed for a loss, and Richardson threw incomplete on third down.
Senior kicker Louis Salazar had a chip shot 22-yard field goal to tie the game with 4:29 left but hooked it wide left, keeping Oceanside in front by three.
The Pirates never gave Mira Mesa another chance. Keegan and Mount carried four times each on a draining 11-play drive which leeched the final 4:29 off the clock. Mount’s 19 yard carry on 3rd and five from the Oceanside 48 forced Mira Mesa to use their final timeout, essentially icing the game.
“It was all about heart on that third down,” said Mount, “We wanted it more than they did.”
Already having taken on a brutal preseason schedule, things get no easier for Oceanside. They battle the current #1 team in our 619 Preps/NC Times Top-10 poll, Vista, in two weeks.
This story will be updated later with postgame video from the field.
Tips to Excel at Academics Along with Your Athletics
Your academic strength is just as important as your athletic strength. Take time to read the few tips to ensure your academic skills stand out as much as your athletics.
Find the time that works best
Figure out the time that your brain is most awake. We all had those friends rushing to get homework done in homeroom before school started, but for some, mornings may be good time to get work done. Just set aside more time than homeroom alone. If you’re always exhausted and feeling a little brain-dead after school and practice, get to bed early and wake up earlier to give yourself some time to finish assignments, study and research before you even head off to school.
Chip away at big assignments
Procrastination seems like something we all develop in our teen years and have a hard time getting over. It never pays off, but many of us push assignments to the last minute. Instead of ignoring an assignment until the night before, work on it in small doses. This will help for more balance, and help to ease the stress of a big assignment. It will also help you to look at things with fresh eyes and do a better job than if you had crammed all your work into the night before.
Set up study dates
Some of us prefer to work alone, but as you know from sports, things can get done more efficiently with the help of your team. This can also be true for school work. Find someone you know you can work well with, who is also a friend and set up times to work on assignments together. This way you will have something to look forward to come study time and also someone to help you out.
Treat school on the same level, if not higher
At SportsForce, we work hard to highlight your athletic achievements by showcasing your video. But as many of you already know, academics is very important in the recruiting process. It is easy to get in the mindset that your sport deserves all the attention because it is what will get you recruited, but colleges look for academic strength too. Don’t put your schoolwork on the backburner. Think of all the time you devote to athletic training and work to put in equal time towards your academics. Seeing a strong athlete and student is a great selling point for college coaches.
Get extra help when needed
This is a tip that can be applied to college and high school. There is absolutely no shame in going to a teacher or tutor for extra help; that’s what they are there for. In classrooms it’s sometime unavoidable that not everyone is on the same page understanding material. If you feel lost, ask your teacher to meet with you to get extra help. You will absolutely benefit and teachers will appreciate the initiative you put in.
Four Simple Steps To Be A Team Player
Whether you perform in a team sport or an individual sport like track, swimming, or golf, it is important that you be a team player. A team player is defined as a person who can function effectively as part of a group of individuals, sharing information and striving towards a common goal. These qualities are not only shown in your athletic field, but reflected in your day-to-day functions. They play an essential role within your friends, family, jobs, academics, and athletics. Being a team player will help you improve your game, increase positive attitudes with those around you and within yourself, and create great opportunities.
Communicate Effectively
Listen to and understand what others have to say. If you have a problem, speak up in a respectable manner. Talk to your teammates to figure out a solution together.
Support Each Other
The support from just one person can make all the difference. Help each other out. Offering compliments and advice will only bring your team closer together. Cheer for your teammates and they will do the same for you.
Be Responsible
If you are expected to do something or be somewhere on time, then do it right. Gain the trust of your teammates. They should be able to rely on you and you should be able to rely on them.
Dedicate Yourself
Show that you are committed to your team, even if that means sacrificing your free time. Let them know that you will try, try, and try again until you reach your goals. Contribute what you can and prove that you are willing to share the workload.
It doesn’t matter if you are the best or worst player on your team; every athlete must work together in order to reach the team’s full potential. Following these four simple steps will bring out the best in you and your teammates. Being a team player will make you a better athlete and a better person, and it shows great character and qualities that college coaches are looking for.
How to Perform Under Pressure Part I
As an athlete, you are guaranteed to experience some kind of sports anxiety, better known as “choking,” that will affect your overall performance. The nervousness usually arises due the mind acknowledging that you are performing in front of an audience and that there are certain expectations you feel you must exceed. Whether it’s during a normal training day or the biggest game of the year, the bottom line is that the feelings are there and should be dealt with. Some people deal with it better than others, but for those that struggle under the conditions, there are methods to reduce, if not eliminate, that anxiety physically and mentally.
Understand that pre-performance butterflies are normal.
Don’t try to fight off these jitters. Instead, accept them and use them to excite yourself. This is a normal feeling of adrenaline that will fade away once the game or race begins.
Don’t rush.
Give yourself plenty of time to prepare for your performance. Arrive early, get a solid warm-up, and stay relaxed.
Visualize.
Mentally prepare yourself. Close your eyes, focus on taking slow, deep breaths, and imagine yourself performing well.
Stay in the moment.
Once the event begins, try not to think about the outcome. Instead, focus on what’s happening in the present. Take the performance one step at a time. Stay focused, positive, and have some fun!
Review the performance.
Once the event is over, acknowledge the overall performance. Notice things that you can improve on but don’t focus on them. Focus on the things you did well. Recognize the thoughts, behaviors, and actions that assisted your performance. Use your overall performance review, including the physical and mental aspects before and during the event, to train for the next race or game.
For athletes who “choke’ during competition, it is important to know that the thoughts you have regarding the event can be controlled with the appropriate mental exercises. It helps to understand why you experience those feelings and what you can do to treat them. Follow these basic tips and remember that it’s not all about performing perfectly. Learn from your experiences, use them to improve your game, and just enjoy your sport!
Alkaline Foods to Keep Your Body Healthy
The single measurement most important to your health is the pH of your blood – how acid or alkaline it is. An overly acid environment is at the root of all sickness and disease.
As you know, the earth and your body are both 70% water. Ideally, your plate should match this as closely as possible – that is, 70% of your food should be water based vegetables, fruits, sprouts, and legumes or otherwise alkalizing foods such as almonds, sunflower seeds, soy, and grains.
That’s right – 70%.
Now it’s easy to see that number and say “70%, come on, that’s not possible for me.” However, my hope is that you will see the importance and close the gap from your current alkaline food percentage (average is about 10-30%) and move towards 70%. When you make even a minor adjustment to your current percentage, the reward is immediate quality of life and physiological benefits and staggering long-term health benefits. An added benefit of this shift is that you will no longer crave foods that make you sick and an alkaline diet promotes effortless weight loss when coupled with consistent, easy, aerobic exercise.
You are not eating the wrong things, you are just not eating enough of the right (alkaline) things! pH level affects every cell in our bodies and over-acidity interferes with life itself. When you consistently consume acidic foods, you are literally living in a plague of “microforms,” including yeasts, fungus, and molds, as well as bacteria and viruses. Microforms thrive in an acid environment and literally eat us alive (bummer). Then, they send their waste products (acids) out into the bloodstream, as well as inside the cells, further polluting the system. This is the reason a lot of people get sick right after the holidays. It’s not “going around,” your body is just too acidic to remain healthy. Luckily, there are simple and profound things that you can do to create a healthy environment.
1. Eat a big salad or vegetable soup with as many meals as possible. When you prepare a salad for dinner, why not prepare another salad in a container for lunch? This saves time and money. Also, make sure you cook soups at a medium temperature (118 degrees or lower) so you don’t destroy all the enzymes. Vegetables are a plentiful source of the enzymes that are needed for just about every one of the thousands of chemical activities in the human body.
Also, the most alkalizing fruits are avocado (delicious!), grapefruit, lemon, lemon juice, and tomato so include them as much as possible.
2. Juice or eat more fresh vegetables. Wheat grass gets my vote for the best food you can possibly consume. It is able to absorb 92 of the 102 minerals available in the soil (such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium) and contains large amounts of Vitamin A, B, C and E.
Additionally, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, sprouts, celery, green pepper, green beans, asparagus, or any other green vegetable that appeals to you is wonderful. Instead of cooking vegetables in oil – steam them lightly and then add olive oil to them.
4. Eat less red meat. Getting meat out of your diet is painless when you go gradually. Beef, pork and lamb should be phased out of your diet first and then (if you choose) you can shoot for chicken and then turkey. There is plenty of protein in vegetables. How do you think gorillas and elephants get so strong? For occasional animal protein, I recommend trout or salmon as they are relatively safe, and they are rich in Omega-3 oils, which are essential fatty acids.
5. Phase out or otherwise minimize sugar, sugary cereals, desserts and acid addictions like coffee ,soda, and gas station energy drinks. Green tea is a wonderful, alkalizing alternative to coffee .
6. Drink at least 50 ounces of water daily (ideally with lemon juice in it) and take a pharmaceutical grade multi-vitamin. High-quality supplements will help you achieve and maintain pH balance.
7. Cook and prepare your own food more frequently. Who is going to create a healthier meal for you – you or a corporation? Again, it is easy to say “you have no idea, I don’t have the time.” I believe we make time for the things we love – so do not hesitate to make a little more time for something that is very important to your life – your body!
The power of alkalinity is yours when you go green and consciously choose and prepare your foods. While it may be different than what you see advertised on TV, it is possible to eat a salad or vegetable soup with every meal – or at a minimum – SOMETHING green. When you go to the grocery store, sometimes you should go to the vegetable section…and that’s it! If you get this right, and just a couple other things – like essential fatty acids and aerobic exercise – your health will likely be amazing for your entire life and people will ask YOU why you have so much energy and feel so great all the time! Salad anyone?
http://www.energiseforlife.com/list_of_alkaline_foods.php
The single measurement most important to your health is the pH of your blood – how acid or alkaline it is. An overly acid environment is at the root of ALL sickness and disease.
As you know, the earth and your body are both 70% water. Ideally, your plate should match this as closely as possible – that is, 70% of your food should be water based vegetables, fruits, sprouts, and legumes or otherwise alkalizing foods such as almonds, sunflower seeds, soy, and grains.
That’s right – 70%.
Now it’s easy to see that number and say “70%, come on, that’s not possible for me.” However, my hope is that you will see the importance and close the gap from your current alkaline food percentage (average is about 10-30%) and move towards 70%. When you make even a minor adjustment to your current percentage, the reward is immediate quality of life and physiological benefits and staggering long-term health benefits. An added benefit of this shift is that you will no longer crave foods that make you sick and an alkaline diet promotes effortless weight loss when coupled with consistent, easy, aerobic exercise.
You are not eating the wrong things, you are just not eating enough of the right (alkaline) things! pH level affects every cell in our bodies and over-acidity interferes with life itself. When you consistently consume acidic foods, you are literally living in a plague of “microforms,” including yeasts, fungus, and molds, as well as bacteria and viruses. Microforms thrive in an acid environment and literally eat us alive (bummer). Then, they send their waste products (acids) out into the bloodstream, as well as inside the cells, further polluting the system. This is the reason a lot of people get sick right after the holidays. It’s not “going around,” your body is just too acidic to remain healthy. Luckily, there are simple and profound things that you can do to create a healthy environment.
1. Eat a big salad or vegetable soup with as many meals as possible. When you prepare a salad for dinner, why not prepare another salad in a container for lunch? This saves time and money. Also, make sure you cook soups at a medium temperature (118 degrees or lower) so you don’t destroy all the enzymes. Vegetables are a plentiful source of the enzymes that are needed for just about every one of the thousands of chemical activities in the human body.
Also, the most alkalizing fruits are avocado (delicious!), grapefruit, lemon, lemon juice, and tomato so include them as much as possible.
2. Juice or eat more fresh vegetables. Wheat grass gets my vote for the best food you can possibly consume. It is able to absorb 92 of the 102 minerals available in the soil (such as calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium) and contains large amounts of Vitamin A, B, C and E.
Additionally, cucumber, broccoli, spinach, sprouts, celery, green pepper, green beans, asparagus, or any other green vegetable that appeals to you is wonderful. Instead of cooking vegetables in oil – steam them lightly and THEN add Olive Oil or Udo’s Oil (a wonderful product) to them.
4. Eat less red meat. Getting meat out of your diet is painless when you go gradually. Beef, pork and lamb should be phased out of your diet first and then (if you choose) you can shoot for chicken and then turkey. There is plenty of protein in vegetables. How do you think gorillas and elephants get so strong? For occasional animal protein, I recommend trout or salmon as they are relatively safe, and they are rich in Omega-3 oils, which are essential fatty acids.
5. Phase out or otherwise minimize sugar, sugary cereals, desserts and acid addictions like coffee ,soda, and gas station energy drinks. Green tea is a wonderful, alkalizing alternative to coffee .
6. Drink at least 50 ounces of water daily (ideally with lemon juice in it) and take a pharmaceutical grade multi-vitamin. High-quality supplements will help you achieve and maintain pH balance.
7. Cook and prepare your own food more frequently. Who is going to create a healthier meal for you – you or a corporation? Again, it is easy to say “you have no idea, I don’t have the time.” I believe we make time for the things we love – so do not hesitate to make a little more time for something that is very important to your life – your body!
The power of alkalinity is yours when you go green and consciously choose and prepare your foods. While it may be different than what you see advertised on TV, it is possible to eat a salad or vegetable soup with every meal – or at a minimum – SOMETHING green. When you go to the grocery store, sometimes you should go to the vegetable section…and that’s it! If you get this right, and just a couple other things – like essential fatty acids and aerobic exercise – your health will likely be amazing for your entire life and people will ask YOU why you have so much energy and feel so great all the time! Salad anyone?
~ Kevin Bowes 8/9/10
http://www.energiseforlife.com/list_of_alkaline_foods.php
How to Combine Athletics and Academics for Success
In today’s field of competition, having a solid game plan for athletics and academics is required for high school student-athletes to take their game to the next level. College recruiters are looking for skill both on and off the field. Fortunately, what may appear as two completely different categories actually can allow student-athletes to focus more effectively and perform well in both.
Athletics Improve Academics
Studies have proven that athletics improve academics. Physical activity advances brain function, concentration levels, behavior, self-esteem, and energy levels. Also, playing sports shows us the significance of commitment, cooperation, and can help reduce stress levels developed within the classroom. Everything you learn from athletics is applicable towards becoming a better student. In the area of college recruitment, you can use all of this to your advantage to stand out from the crowd.
Accomplish More Than You Think You Can
A great athlete has the potential to be a great student, and vice versa. Focus, discipline, and motivation are all essentials in the foundation of a strong athlete and student, and success does not exist without one of the three. If these qualities are already present within you, it is important that you apply these attributes to your entire life. You will achieve more than you’ve already achieved. Everyone possesses the ability to accomplish more than what he or she thinks is possible.
Enhance Your Future
Only a small percentage of high school athletes will actually find a career in professional sports. Regardless of this fact, all athletes can use the skills they learn in school to become successful for whatever their future holds. For example, thinking logically and quickly are abilities gained from the classroom that support a professional athletics career, as well as any career.
Success is a gift earned by those who strive for it. Use everything you learn from the books and from your athletic experiences to always improve who you are. Always remember, you carry the potential for greatness.
“Don’t wait until everything is just right. It will never be perfect. There will always be challenges, obstacles and less than perfect conditions. So what. Get started now. With each step you take, you will grow stronger and stronger, more and more skilled, more and more self-confident and more and more successful.” – Mark Victor Hansen
Choosing Organic to Sustain Your Mind, Your Body and Your Planet
As more and more people realize the tremendous benefits of incorporating fresh, healthy, whole foods into their diets, organic produce and food choices have become a staple within the “Enlightened American Diet.” As you know, organic produce and other ingredients are grown without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers.
Some of the most important fruits and vegetables to buy organically are strawberries, peaches, celery, apples, blueberries, spinach, bell peppers, cherries, cantaloupes, green beans, grapes, nectarines, carrots, pears, and tomatoes. You should buy organic when you shop for these 15 delicious foods and especially the first 5 listed as they typically have the highest pesticide residue.
Additionally, while I believe that meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products should be consumed in moderation, it is also important that you choose organically so that the animals that produce these foods are not given antibiotics or growth hormones.
Here are some of the numerous benefits of implementing organic food choices into your everyday diet:
1. For Better Taste
In my experience, the difference in taste and crispness of an organic apple for example is profound. Organic farming begins with the nourishment of the soil, which leads to the nourishment of the plant and, ultimately, a better product is created without the use of pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Ask the many chefs who prefer the quality of organic foods.
2. To Keep Chemicals Off Your Plate
Pesticides and herbicides are poisons created to kill living organisms and can also harm humans. In addition to cancer, pesticides are implicated in birth defects, nerve damage and genetic manipulations. Chances are very good that organic food, on the whole, is more nutritious than chemically grown food. But, regardless of whether or not your organic apple has more potassium than it’s non-organic brother, it definitely does NOT have the same load of poisons.
3. To Promote Biodiversity
Conventional farmers use large plots of land for the same crop year after year. This approach leaves the crops more susceptible to pests and the soil severely depleted of natural minerals and nutrients, which have to be replaced by chemical fertilizers in increasing amounts. Converting land to organic status is a three-year process and builds up the fertility of the land and organic farmers practice crop rotation to add even more health and energy to the soil.
4. To Support a True Economy
If the hidden environmental and social costs of chemically-produced conventional produce were added to that produce, it would be more than double the price of organic food. Also, every time you go to the store you are voting with your dollars. As the demand for organics continues to grow, the cost will continue to come down.
5. To Protect Future Generations
We are borrowing the earth from our children and grandchildren. Pesticides and other chemicals widely contaminate ground water and rivers and pollute our primary source of drinking water. When our soil is free of chemicals, the creatures in the river are safer and the creatures that eat them are safer.
Organic food presents consumers with a perceived and tangible set of attributes that align food production with environmentally acceptable and renewable production techniques that minimize the risk of contamination from pesticides, and also delivers food that is wholesome and nutritious.
On a larger scale, when we understand the impact that we collectively have on the earth, it makes a lot of sense to spread the word so that the system, from plant to soil, from river to fish, will be returned to what is natural and healthy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37396355/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/?gt1=43001
What Every Student-Athlete Needs to Know About Social Networking
What Every Student-Athlete Needs to Know About Social Networking
As we all know by now, social networking sites are considered to be a part of the daily routine of most peoples’ lives. When anything good, bad, exciting, or sad happens, our first thought is to write about it on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog. But before being too hasty and writing anything that may be on our mind, everyone should consider the pros and cons of social networking. For student-athletes, especially, social media sites can either make you or break you when moving forward.
Everything You Say and Do Can Be Seen
Nowadays on social networking sites, there are tons of different privacy settings that you can play with. You can choose to show every little thing on your profile to anyone that stumbles across it, or you can choose to hide everything so only friends can see. But just because you hide everything doesn’t mean that people still can’t see what you are saying and doing. Things that you share with friends, like pictures and comments, can be seen on your friends’ pages if they do not have everything hidden. Also, there are many companies, professional and college teams that admit to making fake profiles and befriending potential prospects so they can get a feel of what you are like off the field. This is why you should always be cautious with what you are putting on the internet, because you never know who may see it.
Learn From Others’ Mistakes
Unfortunately, there have too many times that student-athletes have gotten in trouble for things they had said and done on social networking sites. One example is former University of Texas center, Buck Burnette. After Barack Obama had been elected president, Burnette wrote a status that consisted of racist vocabulary. The next day, Coach Mack Brown released him from the team. Even things you say that may not sound offensive at all can potentially get you in trouble. Ask former San Diego Chargers cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, who made a comment on Twitter about the training camp food, and was then fined for it. These are examples of why you need to be careful about the things you put on your social networking sites. One wrong statement or picture could affect your whole entire career.
Use These Sites For What the Name Comes From: Networking
With the popularity of social networking sites, college recruits are now using them to get in contact with and get a better idea of what a prospect is all about. Social networking profiles are great tools for coaches to find athletes they are interested in and get to know them. It’s also a great way to talk to current athletes that play at schools you are interested in and get their input on the program.
Social networking sites need to be used with caution by student-athletes. Use it for the purposes it was made for: to connect with friends and network. Remember that the internet is available to all the public, so let your social networking sites be a positive representation of you.
To learn more about the internet and your sports career, visit our blog post “Google Yourself Before You Get Googled” HERE.
To get more advanced recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and sign up for our complimentary SportsForce College Recruiting Guide and updates below.
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The SportsForce team, which is comprised of former college and professional athletes and coaches, is relentlessly committed to providing an ongoing education to help you best navigate your journey as a student-athlete, parent or coach to reach your potential.
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Concussions: The Risks and Precautions to Know About
In the National Football League, the most critical and talked about issue right now is concussions. Too often in the NFL, concussions are not being reported or players are going back on the field without sufficient amount of time to recover. But concussions aren’t only a problem in professional football; they are a problem in all sports. This is why I have listed below important information for every athlete to know about concussions.
What is a Concussion?
A concussion is a brain injury that occurs when there is an impact to the head. Concussions are temporary and usually take about 3-4 weeks to fully heal, but there are some incidents of prolonged effects after suffering a concussion. There are various symptoms associated with concussions. Some of the most common symptoms are:
-Nausea -Memory loss -Dizziness
-Headaches -Confusion -Loss of Consciousness
The Risks of Playing With a Concussion
Playing any given sport with a concussion poses very serious risk to your safety and health. It can prolong the amount of time you have the concussion and cause more frequent and intense symptoms. Also, playing with a concussion can cause long-term and even permanent brain damage. This is why it is so critical to allow yourself enough time to full recover from a concussion.
Take the Necessary Precautions
The only known cure to a concussion is rest. It is up to you to determine whether or not you are better and ready to play again. It’s very important to check up with a doctor and have him or her clear you to play again. It’s also crucial that coaches don’t push an athlete to perform when they are not better yet. This is one case where it is especially essential to listen to your body and not push yourself to the extreme.
The most important thing to remember when it comes to concussions is that you can never be too cautious. Athletes, parents, coaches and teammates must all do their part to make sure that proper care and recovery is taken and no one is being pushed to perform when they shouldn’t.
For the latest news about concussions and more information, visit http://www.sportsconcussions.org/
Avoiding Burnout for Today’s Student Athlete
Working towards a goal or a dream can be incredibly taxing. We understand our clients are working towards the goal of playing their sport in college. Early practices, late practices, double sessions, weight training and more, plus academics, work and a social life are a lot to fit in for the student athlete. Many athletes do an excellent job of creating a balance of the many demands in their life. But sometimes, becoming burnt-out may seem unavoidable. Below you’ll find some tips to avoid the burn out and keep that balance going in your life.
Check In With Yourself
Only you can know if you’re headed for a burnout. Every now and then, do a mental check-in to make sure your head is still in the game and you’re still on the path you want. Are you overtired? Are you stressed out? Is your schedule out of control? Take some time to do inventory of your day to day life and ensure you are happy and still working towards a goal without overworking yourself.
Continue Playing All the Sports You Love
There is much debate on specializing within the world of student athletes. Essentially, there are two schools of thought. Some may argue that only focusing on one sport is the best way to ensure a college roster spot, while others say playing multiple sports looks best to coaches. Many, however, will agree that playing multiple sports helps to avoid the burnout. If you like soccer and baseball, play both if possible. The switch between sports can help to avoid a burnout and shows coaches dedication on another level as well as an ability to balance. To learn more about the importance of multiple sports, click here.
Take a Break
While there is the opportunity to play your sport year round between club teams, camps and high school, it is important to take some time off. Take a few days or even a week to rest your body and mind. When you get back to your sport and training you will feel that much more energized!
Reassess ad Reorganize
Sometimes you don’t just need a break, but you need to shake things up completely. Would getting your workouts in in the morning free up more time for homework at night? Is it really necessary to stay out really late on Friday night to be dragging for Saturday morning practice? Along with checking in with yourself, sometimes you need to reorganize and prioritize things in your training plan. This can range from checking how you are fueling your body to what time makes the most sense for you to squeeze in a weight training session so you still have a social life. See what works for you!
Enjoy
It’s pretty hard to burn out on fun. As long as you are enjoying the journey as a student athlete, keep working hard. Some athletes may never feel burnt out. As long as you’re still enjoying yourself and training the best you can, keep moving towards your goals!
Additional Resources
If you are feeling stressed about the College Sports Preparation process then contact us for advice and sign up for our free guide HERE to learn more about the process and action items to take
