LESAProject

Mark your calendars this Sunday (July 18th) at 8:00 a.m. as "important radio show" so you can listen in on-line to Coach Tony as he discusses "No-Cut" policies as an absolute in school sports. Here's your chance to call in and express your views on this hot topic. Should all teams at all schools be required to keep everyone who tries out? Should the same rules that apply to high school also apply to Jr. High and grade school athletes? Should cutting just be part of the life lessons kids need to learn? Should this be left solely up to the coach of the ...

Yes, skirmishes between adults do occur at prestigious events like the World Cup. However, ever hear of a fist fight breaking out at a youth sporting event? Well, that is exactly what happened this past weekend at a girls youth soccer game. When parental emotions run high during competitive events involving their own kids, volatile situations can result—especially when a situation occurs where one parent sees unfair play that he or she feels puts his or her own child at risk. Now I don't want to add too much of my own flavor to this since it is such a hot topic ...

Well it's official. CBC Sports of Canada reported that HGH does help athletes according to an Australian study that proves HGH (Human Growth Hormone) does enhance an athlete's performance in sports. Yep, that was a big surprise, right? Bet you had no clue that was coming! What I find most interesting is that there were actually individuals, maybe there still are (people can be stubborn), who thought that there was no tie between an improvement in athletic performance and the use of HGH. Just a little common sense would suggest the opposite, otherwise why would any Olympic, professional, or ...

I set my Google account to alert me to breaking stories and news dealing with sports and youth sports issues. On opening up my email this morning, I received an alert on my tag "athletic code." As I pursued the titles and short briefs available, I key in on one specific title, Maine Family Sues Over High School Honor Code   from The Boston Globe at Boston.com . It should be no surprise to anyone who has read my last two posts (Current High School Athletic Codes: Are You Aware They Have Changed? ...

In keeping in line with my recent piece, Current High School Athletic Codes: Are You Aware They Have Changed? , I would like you to try something for me. Using your Internet browser, pull up Google and type in High School Athletes Suspended for Drinking . Now click search and peruse what comes up. Take a good look at the number of articles indicating suspensions for underage consumption of alcohol by athletes. Not too much from 2010, not yet anyway, but a good number from 2009 and earlier. Sure seems like a fairly large number of suspensions, right? That's even ...

I am not sure about all of you, but back in my high school athletic days, I remember our athletic code focusing on a few basic points. You know, passing a certain number of classes, not smoking, drinking, and/or using drugs, showing good sportsmanship, etc. Basically, not engaging in behavior that was unbecoming an athlete— vague, yet understandable. And all of it centered on the athlete themselves not participating in said activities. Were there some that did? Of course, and it is probably misleading to use that word "some," since that would indicate a small number. Back during the 70's when I ...

National champion gymnast Keeley Kmieciak interview chat on The Athlete’s Sports Experience blog is tonight, Tuesday, June 30 at 7 p.m. CST. Hope to see you there. (Note: Don’t Forget 8th-round MLB draft pick interview coming soon) Link:   The Athlete’s Sports Experience

In perusing the internet, talking to colleagues, and sharing information from within the teaching and coaching profession, I come across interesting bits and pieces of information that force reflection. One such piece was recently emailed to me by a colleague, and it is one I have seen circulate on the Internet from several different sources. It is claimed by some to be a piece from a speech Bill Gates gave to a group of high school students. However, it actually comes from the teachings of Charles J. Sykes, author of “Dumbing Down our Kids” and “50 Rules Kids Won’t Learn in School.” ...

In perusing the internet, talking to colleagues, and sharing information from within the teaching and coaching profession, I come across interesting bits and pieces of information that force reflection. One such piece was recently emailed to me by a colleague, and it is one I have seen circulate on the Internet from several different sources. It is claimed by some to be a piece from a speech Bill Gates gave to a group of high school students. However, it actually comes from the teachings of Charles J. Sykes, author of “Dumbing Down our Kids” and “50 Rules Kids Won’t Learn in School.” ...