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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (4-19-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Put your phone away.  Have you ever received that advice?  Ever tried putting your phone away for a period of time?

Former Dallas Cowboy QB Tony Romo gave his friend Will Zalatoris that advice before he competed last weekend in his first Master’s golf tournament.  Romo’s advice:  “I said turn off your phone on Friday night, and you can apologize to the people you didn’t respond to later…”.

It worked for the young golfer who finished second on the biggest stage of his young PGA career.

The calls, texts and social media that go along with phones can be overwhelming, time consuming and distracting to your goals.  How do you get focused when you need to prepare for a test or a big game/match? 

Have you ever turned off your phone for a period of time?  Wonder what might happen?  You might be like Zalatoris and see great results! 

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (4-12-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Most parents have good intentions when they offer advice and instruction to their children during any athletic season.  It is only natural for your parents to put you first and offer their thoughts.

So as an athlete, how do you make the separation from your parent’s input to your coach’s expectation of you?

In team sports, the coaches will always put the team first, so it is up to you as a team member to put what your coach wants and deems important ahead of anything else. 

Don’t downplay the advice from your parents, especially when it comes to attitude and effort, but take your coaches instruction to heart and focus on winning as a team!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (4-5-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Tough losses are a part of all sports—especially if it is in a tournament and means you are eliminated.  That final loss of the year is always tough to take. 

UCLA and Coach Mick Cronin suffered one of those tough losses this past weekend in the men’s basketball NCAA semi-final game losing on a shot at the buzzer.

Coach Cronin said after the loss, “I sit in Coach (John) Wooden’s seat, so when you sit in his seat you have to channel the things that he taught.  True greatness is giving your best effort.  What else can I ask from those guys?”

In other words, if you give your best effort you can look at this situation from a positive standpoint.  Maybe you didn’t lose, maybe the other team just won. 

Coaches and teachers, whether they talk about it or not, recognize the effort of student-athletes.  Giving your best effort may not always result in a win but it can help ease the pain in those tough losses!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3-29-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

Does your coach yell and scream at times?  Or Is he/she calm and collected?  Either type of coach can be intimidating from time to time.  Sometimes that message can be rough to hear if the team is not performing well. This is true in all sports and of all ages.

Over your sports career you will likely have a multitude of coaching styles to deal with.  It is important to understand and be aware of the message your coach is sending, and not focus on the way it is delivered, even when it feels like a personal attack. 

Your coach may be trying to teach, motivate, inspire or challenge you and the delivery may be different in each case.  Focus on the message first and foremost, that way you can deliver positive results and what is expected of you!

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IHSAA Student-Athlete Tip of the Week (3-22-21)

“Promoting Education Based Athletics in Indiana”

This past weekend, there were several upsets in the NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament.  Following one of those upsets, Ohio State player EJ Liddell received threatening tweets following their loss.

Liddell was quoted “What did I do to deserve this?  I am human.”  Ohio State lost a basketball game and now people who don’t know anything about this young man are threatening him on social media.

These people know nothing about his character, work ethic or commitment to his sport.  Have you ever felt the criticism from someone who you don’t know?

Words are powerful.  Be careful what you say on social media and cautious about what you read.  It can certainly be a distraction and there are many successful athletes who are not on any type.  Arch Manning (Peyton’s nephew) is the top rated quarterback in the class of 2023 and has no media accounts.

Rely on those who really know you the best for honest feedback and instruction for your game. That would be your family and coaches!

     
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