Coaching for the Love of the Game...

Coaches coach for the love of the game and to impact the lives of their players. In my 20+ years coaching and leading high school athletics, I've never met a coach that coaches for any other reason. I've met good coaches, struggling coaches, and championship coaches, but none cared any less or any more about the human beings they were coaching than another. However, despite this equitable display of care and concern, I have watched how dramatically different they have been treated by players, parents, and community members, as well as opposing players, coaches, and spectators; most often as a direct result of their success. I've seen teams that were 0-15 much more succesfull than teams that were 15-0, simply because of the way they carried themselves and their coach led them, not because of how many points they put on the board or W's they notched in the win column.

Coaches are human. Like you and I, like all people, they are prone to the occasional mistake and even have minor lapses of the "perfection standard" they are held to. However, despite the media hype of coaches going awry, most instituitions have outstanding role models whose only goal is to do what's best for kids, both the individual student-athlete and the team. Never will every spectator agree with all decisions that a coach makes, and often times even when the coach makes a good (or great) decision, it isn't executed by the players on the field; this is not a cop-out on the player's efforts, rather it reinforces the perspective that we all need to step back and consider---who is it that's competing? Young men and women, not professional athletes, but kids putting their best effort forward, not individuals being paid to entertain with their skill. Instead, they are a reprsentation of their school and community, and of the coach that has put in tireless hours preparing them for success. More and more newspaper headlines call into question whether society is losing perspective on what educational athletics, competition at the high school-level, is supposed to represent and the lessons its supposed to teach. I'm certain that disrespect of the game, teammates, fans, communities, and the like isn't the standard for educational athletics, regardless of what you may see at the collegiate and professional level. That is not what we are about, that is not our standard.

We need to continue to work toward a more wide-ranging acceptance of what high school athletic competition is supposed to be, and while I disagree with the lack of sportsmanship evident during professional and collegiate competition, athletes that have advanced to that level of play have done so because of extra-ordinary skill. Nearly ever single one of our student-athletes will go on to be successful in something other than their favorite sport; that's what educational athletics will prepare them for.

Let the players play, and let the coaches coach!

For an interesting and current perspective resource, right here in Michigan...see the link below:

http://athleticbusiness.com/articles/lexisnexis.aspx?lnarticleid=1578855642&lntopicid=136030023

Choices...

It's been too long since my last post, I can do better and will. I have a choice to do a better job, or I can post something occasionally that might get read by a few, but if I choose to post more often, it may lead to more readership and ultimately a greater sharing of information. So, I'll make the choice to do a better job, that choice starts today.

The subject of today's post is, well...choices. Again, most everything we do is by conscious decision making, most everything is within our control. What isn't in our control is the actions and behaviors of others, we cannot choose for them, they must choose for themselves. And, one should be careful not to follow the choices of those who cannot make good choices. One area that is directly affected by choice in the athletic arena is sportsmanship, including appropriate fan behavior. High school sports are a balancing act on a slippery slope when it comes to sportsmanship and fan behavior. Adults and students have witnessed the negative behavior transcend from the professional arena, to the college game, and now it threatens to affect educational athletics at the high school level. We, as fans, must remember that young men and women, who are coached by self-sacrificing individuals, are pouring out the best that they have and leave nothing behind...at the end, someone is going to win, and someone is going to lose, no one deserves to be ridiculed or disrespected for giving their best, on either team's bench. Please remember that the playing field is an extension of the classroom, the same expectations for the learning environment in the classroom, should be afforded to the competition on the field. Our fans should champion our team, not battle against the other team, that's the job of the team you are supposed to be supporting. Be a good sport, be positive...never forget what  the game is about...kids having fun, playing a game they love.

Catching Up...

Just like students, adults fall behind as well from time to time. I had planned on being on top of this blog out of the gate, and I was; but, as of late, not so much. Just like students, sometimes adults have to do things to get caught up as well. Its nearing the end of the 1ST Marking Period already and a good time to check-up on progress in our daily work. Regardless of where you are at in life's wheel, keep working hard and try to stay ahead of the curve. Inevitably, the bumps will find there way along the path, being ahead will keep you from falling behind when you get knocked down every now and then.

This quarter school-year marker also brings about the end of the fall athletic season and the upstart of what looks to be an exciting winter for the Saints. Just like that and we've nearly closed the books on a very successful fall. Before long the snow will fly and many of our student-athletes will tansition into yet another season of athletic participation, another opportunity for growth, and a continued life lesson in the demanding balance of priorities. With the start of any sports season there is optimistic anticipation that "this will be the year," and sometimes it is, and other times it isn't. Then, its over...and those wise, take time to reflect on the good...and the bad, and all the little things in-between. For some the observations are simple, easy and straight-forward, yet for others, what seems so obvious to some remains a battle of will to better understand...its here that one can find growth, within ourselves and everything around us. Its almost cliche, but don't lose perspective of the big picture, want for something more, stand for something more, be something more...lead, don't follow....and if you follow, believe...it is the only thing that will truly get you where you want to go.

Off to the Races...

...and just like that, we're already three weeks into the school year! Students are starting to get back into the groove of school and our first student-athlete eligibilty check occurred this week; this is a good time for everyone to remember that excellence in the classroom is an even greater priority than excellence on the field. The field of play is an extension of the educational classroom, many life lessons are supported through involvement with athletics, but perhaps none more important than the ability to prioritize goals. The most important goal for any of our student-athletes is their academic focus and work ethic to be the best student they are capable of being. At SCHS our athletic program has a rich championship tradition; but more important, we are focused on academic achievement. In 2010-11, just over 70% of all student-athletes at SCHS received ALL-MAC Academic Honors. This week I received notice of a recent article by a columnist in the Washington Post that provides staggering statistical evidence in support of the role of athletics in the lives of high school students; I have provided a link here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/how-high-school-sports-save-our-schools/2011/09/14/gIQAzgHKdK_story.html?wpisrc=emailtoafriend

A couple of quick congratulations for some outstanding performances over the past week for the Saints...the Varsity Boys Cross-Country Team dominated the prestigious Holly Invitational last weekend, winning the Team Championship for the first time. The Varsity Volleyball Team continued their quest for a second straight MAC Gold Championship, with a hard-fought victory last night against school-district rival Marine City, coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win the match 3-2 in 5 sets. The Varsity Football team improved to 4-0 after a tough matchup with Mt. Clemens and travels to Marysville tonight for local bragging rights against the Vikings (3-1)...a win tonight will draw the Saints 1 game away from a guaranteed MHSAA playoff berth and push their undefeated record to 5-0. Good Luck to all of our teams this weekend, GO SAINTS!

Big Weekend For The Saints' Faithful...

St. Clair Saints fans will have plenty of opportunity to get out and support our teams and athletic program this weekend, including the 3RD Annual "Preserve the Tradition" Golf Outing sponsored by the St. Clair Booster Club at the St. Clair River Country Club. Weekend festivities kickoff with the Saints Varsity Football Team heading to Fraser to take on the Ramblers as they work toward a 3-0 start tackling their first road game of the season. Saturday morning the early risers can make their way north and head for Cros-Lex High School to catch the Lady Saints Varsity Volleyball team in action on the hardcourt. Also off to an early start on Saturday, just west in Romeo, the Boys Varsity Tennis Team will see action at the Romeo Invite. With a slightly later, 10:00 AM start, the Boys & Girls Saints Cross-Country Team will work to defend their annual reputation as the teams to beat at the Algonac Classic. Good Luck to all of our teams this weekend!

As a final reminder, the St. Clair Booster Club's golf outing hosted at St. Clair River Country Club kicks off at 1:00 PM. Final registrations are being taken, please follow the link on the SCHS Website Main Page and consider enjoying the afternoon out on the course. For those of you that will be busy at sporting events, or just need the day to recover from the start of the school year, you are encouraged to join the golf outing after-party, all are invited (even if you didn't golf, c'mon out around 7:00) to the BIG SCREEN EVENT! Attendees will watch the "First Night Game At The Big House" when our Wolverines take on the Fighitng Irish of Notre Dame in a historic game in Ann Arbor during the Booster Club's TAILGATE PARTY inside the SCRCC while the game plays on the big screen. GO BLUE!

Moving Forward...

After an unbelievable 2010-11 school year, our Saints are off to another great start this fall. Multiple tournament and invitational championships for the Boys Tennis and Boys Cross-Country teams...a convincing win by the Saints last Friday night on the gridiron, as well as strong starts from our Volleyball and Girls Cross-Country, and Boys Soccer teams. In the next week, the Girls Swim team will begin action and fall sports will certainly be in full swing. Congratulations on a great start Saints! Keep up the pace!

Its hard to believe that we're already a quarter of the way through our fall sports season and our students aren't even back in the classroom yet; however, that will soon change as well. School starts Tuesday, September, 6TH, and with it more priorities to manage for our student-athletes. The start of the school year can be overwhelming for some students, especially those that will be attending SCHS for the first time. It is important to remember to get off to a great start by being prepared for the first weeks of school to better ensure success out of the gate. All students, especially those involved in co-curricular activities like school sports, will experience greater fatigue the first few weeks of school as their bodies "readjust" to school hours and the yearly school calendar. During this time please make an effort to get a bit more sleep, it will help the body adjust to the busier school year schedule. Also, take the time to organize the next day's tasks the night before, review assignments and complete homework from the day; also, complete a task list for the next day...organize yourself to be readily prepared, stay ahead of the curve! Arrive to school early and don't let tardies become a habit, this leads to attendance issues and poor life-skill habits, BE EARLY! I can still remember Tony Monte saying..."if you're on time you're late!" In other words, work ahead, stay ahead, and you won't have to catch up. Here's to a great year Saints!

A Look Back...

In a few more days the rings will arrive, another cause for celebration...this winter surely another opportunity to celebrate will come and go when the state championship banner is raised in the gymnasium...and again, in the spring, another symbolic rememberance of an unbelievable season will make its way out to the Saints' baseball diamond...and nearly a year will have passed...and the luster of a state title, a championship parade, and months of celebration will not have faded, at least not at the corner of Clinton and Cox. What an amazing team, what an amazing championship! Congratulations to the 2011 Division II MHSAA Baseball State Champions.

However, beyond the list-topper above, our Saints had one of the best athletic program performances in recent history...a perennial state playoff berth for the boys tennis team and another MHSAA Regional Champioship along the way; Regional Championships and State Finals trips in cross-country for the boys and girls, a first for the girls and a naming to the State's All-Decade team for the boys program; the most girls at the Swim State Finals in a decade...and that was just the fall! In the winter the Lady Saints brought home a Volleyball MAC Championship, and the boys basketball team took their fans to a most-exciting, first-ever Class A District Final; the Saints' boys swimmers also sent numerous candidates to the Finals...oh, and wrestling returned to SCHS with a thunder as the matmen brought home a MAC Championship in their first season in over 20 years. That brings us to last spring, where the Lady Saints domintated the courts on their way to another Regional Title and Top 10 State Finals finish, while the boys and girls track teams took care of business on the speedy oval, sending mulitple participants to the MHSAA State Championships...and finally, the St. Clair Saints completed some unfinished business on diamond...and the "dogpile" ensued! Proud to be a Saint! What an amazing year!