IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-22-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

While advancing to the semi-finals of the Women’s Australian Open, Jessica Pegula beat a top-10 ranked player for the first time in her ten year professional career. Pegula’s father owns the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and she credited a shift in her mentality and her inspiration from watching Bill’s quarterback Josh Allen among the driving forces that have allowed her to reach new heights in her career.

Pegula stated that watching Allen grow through tough times opened her eyes. She was quoted saying “I like this kid (Allen). I love his competitive spirit. He is a gamer. He just wanted to win and that is something you love to see. It is cool watching them (Buffalo) and channeling that energy back into what I am doing. “

Who/what drives and inspires you?  Find something or someone that fuels your desire.  Maybe it is a player, maybe it is a coach, maybe it is someone outside your sport. Whatever it is—use that inspiration when you are uncertain or doubting yourself and put it to use!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

Three hundred ninety-nine (399) teams were drawn today and placed into brackets for the 111th Annual IHSAA Boys Basketball State Tournament presented by the Indiana Pacers
and Indiana Fever.

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-15-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Do you have trouble putting a bad game or sub par performance behind you?  It’s easy to move on after good games because you are usually in a better frame of mind.

So how can you bury the negative thoughts when you know you could have played better?  How can you move on to the next game?

You cannot dwell on mistakes you have made and expect to improve.

Remember-games are just an extension of your practices and preparation. You will find that over time the carry over from practice to games will improve and start to show as the season goes on.

While you may have played a game you were not pleased with, you can always find something that you did well. Each game is a building block.

Athletes who focus on the rear view mirror instead of looking ahead to their next game may never reach their potential!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

Religious headwear will now be permitted without state association approval in high school soccer, effective with the 2021-22 season.

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (2-8-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Winston Churchill once said “The positive thinker sees the invisible, feels the intangible and achieves the impossible.”

Most students like being in a classroom with a teacher who is positive and most athletes enjoy being around coaches who are positive.  Are you lucky enough to have that in your school?  Have you realized a positive outcome from a teacher or coach who shows that attitude?

How do you react when you find yourself in the opposite situation?  Do you succumb to being negative or do you continue to try and lift up your classmates and teammates by looking at the bright side of things?

Your attitude and positive thinking will take you a long way in life. In tough times it can be a difference maker when you might want to quit or give up.   While most of us may never achieve the impossible, we can all achieve success and significant victories along the way by being a positive person!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

The rule regarding blocking below the waist in the free-blocking zone in high school football has been revised for the upcoming 2021 season.