News

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (10-18-21)

"Promoting Education-Based Athletics in Indiana"

There is honor in sports.  While we depend on officials most of the time, there are sports where you, the athlete, make the call.  

How honorable are you when it comes to making the call?  In cross country or track do you stay on course or in your lanes?  In tennis are you making the correct line calls?  In golf do you bend the rules to your advantage or go by the rule book?

In sports, as in life, there will be times when you have to make a rules decision.  Your character and integrity are on the line.  How will you react?  

If you are participating in individual sports that require you to make the call, always be honest with yourself and your opponents.  Winning by taking advantage of the rules has no place in high school sports.  Sports is just a game.  Your character and integrity are more important than any questionable call!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (10-11-21)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

How do you stay engaged with your team if you miss a few weeks of play with an injury?  Do you still attend practices?  Are you encouraging and helping the player who is taking your place?  Are you following the recommendations of your trainer and/or doctor?

Injuries are a part of any sports participation.  While it is tough to sit and watch when you are used to playing, you can still contribute to your team at practices and games--guiding younger players, motivating teammates and cheering on the sidelines. 

We have all watched or attended events where a key player is in street clothes rather than being in uniform.  Even though they are not participating, their spirit on the sidelines can become contagious to their team and give them the mental edge to carry on to victory!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (10-4-21)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

How good are you at controlling your emotions during practices and games?  Can you take constructive criticism from your coaches?  How do you react if a coach calls you out?

A few weeks ago during a college football game a coach removed a player from a game and the player became irate on the sidelines.  He was eventually sent to the locker room.  Instead of composing himself, he grabbed his phone and started tweeting negative comments about his coach and school.  Needless to say, he was dismissed from the team the following week.

All players go through tough and challenging times.  It might be in practice or it could be during a game.  Regardless, don't act out in a way that puts you in jeopardy with your school or coach.  

You will not always agree with a decision a coach might make, but don't multiply your displeasure by displaying a bad attitude and saying things you can never take back!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (9-27-21)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

Coaches will tell you that they learn more about their team after a loss rather than a win.  While no one enjoys defeat, learning from your mistakes is what coaches want you to build from for future success. 

What do you learn about yourself and your team after a loss?  Are you able to put aside your emotions and evaluate your play?

Ask yourself these questions:   Was I ready to play?  Did I follow through on the game plan?  Did I make excuses when I failed?  Do I know where I can improve and do better? 

Very few teams go undefeated.  Losses are not fun to accept, but they happen.  How you react in practices and games that follow will determine how committed you are to improvement and overcoming past mistakes.

All teams go through tough times.  It is the teams that continue to learn from their mistakes and miscues that will be playing the best at the end of the season!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports

IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (9-20-21)

"Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana"

High school athletes can get discouraged for a variety of reasons.  They may be undersized, lacking in speed, or not fully developed physically.  

Never give up because of one of these deficiencies.  Most high school athletes are not fully developed and can change significantly while in high school and/or college.

In a recent article by Dr. Bob Rotella, he mentioned that three of the greatest athletes of this modern era--Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady-- only one was destined to be dominant in his sport at an early age.  That was Tiger.  Jordan started developing his junior year in high school and Brady was a good high school athlete with few scholarship offers, and got little field time his first two years in college.

Keep working hard as your mind and body continue to develop during your high school years.  You may not be where you want to be today (very few high school athletes are), but don't give up on where you want to end up tomorrow!

All content property of Billy Shepherd Sports