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Veteran advice for the rookie football parent

9/22/2015

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New football parents generally have a number of questions or concerns. Here’s a look at some of them and some friendly veteran parental advice.

  • What kind of equipment do we buy? This is a question my wife and I get from new parents every year. Generally, programs provide just about everything a child needs, including helmet, shoulder pads, jersey, pants and mouth piece. We generally suggest that parents go out and purchase a better mouth piece and chinstrap for the helmet. It’s also a good idea to get a good water bottle along with an extra pair of football pants. Your player will need football cleats, too. Cleats and the supplemental equipment won’t cost an arm and a leg. Buying a new helmet for your child is also an option, but that could be pricey. Sports Authority is a good place to begin your search with Riddell helmets being a good choice.
  • Are the rules the same as the NFL? Believe it or not, this is a very common inquiry from rookie parents. The basic concepts are the same – four quarters, 11 players per side and six points for a touchdown – but the rulebook is closer to the high school level, though they begin to change from there when determining extra points, timing for each quarter, formations and defensive schemes. Check your league’s website. It should list the rules for each level of that league.
  • What do we bring to games and practices with us? This is a really good question because there are always cases when a family forgets to bring something. In addition to the necessary equipment, it’s important to bring along some extra bottles of water in case your child needs a refill during practice or a game. It’s also a good idea to pack some snacks. Not all fields have concession stands, and those that do might not have what you’re looking for. The coaches will likely have a first aid kit, but it’s probably smart to bring along some Band-Aids and wipes in case your child gets nicked up. You should also bring some chairs with you as not all fields have bleachers.
  • Is there anything we can do to help out? Absolutely! Youth football teams are always in need of volunteers. Parents can help by painting the field, working on the chain gang, helping out at the snack bar, selling raffle tickets during the games, etc. There are times during a season when the team and program will do fundraising events, so there are numerous ways for a parent to help out.
Being a youth football parent for the first time is both exciting and challenging. There’s no shame in asking veteran parents questions about what is going on.

Don’t be afraid to ask other parents on the team about anything. Even if you know nothing about football, it’s OK to ask someone what just happened, what the score is or even how your child is doing.

Remember: There is no such thing as a stupid question.

Well, that is unless you ask me what number your child is wearing.


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6 tips to stay hydrated during the football season

8/7/2015

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Hot, humid weather greets early football practices in most parts of the United States. 

Heat preparedness has been a key focus at youth and high school football fields across the country as young athletes get acclimated to exercising outside. Those good habits need to continue as the regular season kicks off and the calendar gets deeper into the fall months.

A recent Q&A with Dr. Douglas Casa of the Korey Stringer Institute outlined proper heat preparedness during the summer months. Here are six more things coaches, players and parents can keep in mind this fall to prevent heat illness and dehydration:

  • Continue to encourage water breaks. Even as temperatures drop, build practice schedules to incorporate water breaks every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the weather. The hotter or more humid it is, the more often players should be directed toward re-hydrating. During games, when players come to the sideline between series, make sure the first thing they do is take a drink.
  • Symptoms remain the same. Whether in July or October, the signs and symptoms of dehydration do not fluctuate, so keep an eye out for them: dry mouth, thirst, irritability, headache, dizziness, cramps, excessive fatigue and decreased performance.
  • Never deny water. Water is not a reward, nor is withholding it a proper punishment. Never deny or discourage any athlete from drinking water or fluids to replace moisture lost from sweat.
  • Take rests in the shade. If trees or other shady spots are available around the field, hold your water breaks, halftime talks and post-practice or postgame talks there. Those few degrees provided by a cooler spot can help decrease body temperature.
  • Let them take their helmets off. Wearing a football helmet adds to thermal load and maintains a high internal body temperature. By removing helmets, body temperatures can decrease through evaporation of sweat from the head. Yes, young athletes who take their helmets off can lose them, so have the players hold their helmets on their hips while they wait to re-enter the game.
  • Dehydration also occurs when it’s cold. Even when the temperatures fall toward freezing, players lose water through sweat and breath. It’s important to continue hydrating throughout those late-season games.
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7 mistakes many athletes don’t recognize until they get older

7/24/2015

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Everyone makes mistakes, especially in sports. It’s how athletes respond to those misfires that help them learn and grow.

Not all failures happen on the field, though, and young athletes – especially those who shine during competition – have a difficult time identifying their flaws until much later in life when it is too late.       

Strongerteam.com recently offered seven mistakes that young athletes can make though they don’t realize them until their playing careers are over.

  • Only doing the minimum. Talent will win the day at the youngest levels, and many good athletes failed to become great because they didn’t work hard all the time at practice. As players get older and the talent evens out, this becomes even more apparent.
  • Taking downs off. Some wide receivers don’t block or finish their routes if the play is going to the other side of the field. Some running backs don’t execute their fakes if they aren’t getting the ball. This can’t happen. Teams find their most success only when all 11 players do their jobs.
  • Focusing on numbers. There’s only one statistic that truly matters – wins. But there are athletes at every level who get caught up in personal numbers, even to the detriment of the team.
  • Trying to control everything. Whether yelling at referees or micromanaging teammates, athletes need to focus on their own play and leave the rest to the coaches.
  • Taking gambles. Whether it’s quarterbacks going for the home run over a check down, running backs losing yards by bouncing outside or linebackers missing tackles for the big hit, players who make smart decisions best help their teams and find that success comes more often.
  • Pride. Players need confidence, but they also must be coachable. When the play calls for someone to zig, they can’t zag or the whole thing blows up.
  • Lack of commitment. We all need a life outside of football, but once an athlete signs up for the season, he or she must be all in for practice and games. 
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Hydrate and Dominate! Why Athletes NEED Water

7/15/2015

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Want a dominant performance out of your youth football athletes?  Then teach your kids the importance of proper hydration; specifically the benefits of drinking WATER before/during/after practice and game days. Also, look to hydrate with fruits rich in water, such as watermelon strawberries and grapefruit.

Why do we hydrate with water?

Simply put- water helps provide energy to our muscles and helps transport nutrients within our bodies. Want to avoid cramps? Bodybuilding.com tells us that water helps to build muscle by assisting in the formation of proteins.  Water is the super fuel necessary to perform at the most optimal level.

Forget all of the beverage commercials featuring paid athletes drinking neon colored drinks that you’ve ever seen everywhere (tv, billboards, internet advertising). Sport drink marketers have a sole mission and that is to generate profit for their corporations. Truth: sugar is highly addictive. Sugary beverage consumption contributes to childhood obesity, diabetes and heart disease. The popular sports drinks have artificial colors, and ingredients that make you scratch your head with confusion. Let’s avoid what is unnecessary.

Soda- why do we drink it?

Often times I am amazed when I see a mom, dad and child each sipping from large cups of soda purchased from a local fast food restaurant. Is there a set rule that when you go out to eat you must drink a soda? Parents you have the power to change this, chances are he’s learning this habit from his parents. .  When a kid sees poor dietary habits, he will pick them up as well.

Want to mix it up? Infuse water with fruit (cut up pieces of your favorite fruit and drop them in a pitcher of water).

The real ultimate thirst quencher isn’t that sugary neon green liquid. It’s water. Eliminate the junk and your kids will be optimally fit to dominate.


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Dealing with parents 

6/29/2015

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Surveys show that dealing with parents is one of the top most time consuming and frustrating tasks that coaches deal with on a regular basis. 
Having coached for 15 years from youth through Division I, I've spent countless hours researching best practices on dealing with parents. I've read books and blogs, listened to audio podcasts and talked with dozens of coaches about it. Here's what I've found: it all boils down to communication and education. 
While these are simple concepts here are some practical solutions that you can use right away. 
  1. Let Them Talk: Many parents just want to be heard and by letting them talk without interruption you satisfy that need. Acknowledge that you've heard them and will consider their point of view and move on with your day. 
  2. Admit When You're Wrong: We all make mistakes. When we see a public figure make a mistake and try to explain it away or cover it up, we lose respect and end up talking poorly about them and even trying to undermine their authority. When they apologize and face the issue head-on, we are far more willing to give them slack and a second chance. It's the same with you. 
  3. How to Be a Sports Parent: Parents react with emotion instead of logic because they never took a class on how to be a good sports parents. It's your job to teach them things like how to be supportive at home, what kind of nutrition they should be providing and what kind of feedback is actually helpful for you. It will not only minimize the issues you have to deal with but also maximize the performance of your athletes.  
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