Below is an article that comes recommended by ATA CEO Jack Newman. The article, published on FastCompany.com, is titled Why Your Next Employee Should Be a Student Athlete.
“athletes have most likely failed more than they’ve won, but they always get up and keep going. In the workplace, this trait creates an employee who will find a way to win.”
The 2015 USTA National Spring Team Championships unfolded last week, with two ATA players coming home with hardware. ATA teammates Caroline Wernli and Abigail Chiu stayed aligned in Alabama as they competed together to bring home a highly cherished Bronze ball.
“This week in Mobile was something I’ve never experience in junior tennis,” said Abigail. “The team aspect and energy was so special to be apart of, and I’m so happy to have earned third place with our team, the Diamondbacks. I am very excited to bring home a bronze ball, not only for myself, but along side my ATA teammate Caroline.”
Abigail, pictured second from left, and Caroline, fourth from left, pose with their teammates. The tournament brings together 256 of the best juniors from around the country with 32 boys and 32 girls representing each age division – 12s, 14s, 16s and 18s. Players are then assigned to 32 teams that include 16 boys and 16 girls and one team coach selected by the USTA.
The event begins with two days of training and education, followed by four days of competition. The Spring Team Championships is a National Level 1 Ranking Tournament – the pinnacle of USTA National competition.
Abigail and Caroline pictured third and second from the right.Congratulations to all of the players who made it to this prestigious event, and good luck in the upcoming tournaments!
If you are going to make a difference in the world, you will soon learn that you can’t follow the herd.
In order to lead, one must possess a strong sense of direction. One must have a purpose and understand the meaning behind his or her action. One must also be able to communicate this so that others may follow.
To educate means to ‘lead out’. Our world’s greatest political and spiritual leaders have dedicated their lives to educating and leading… as have parents, teachers, coaches and mentors.
As such, parents sometimes can become more concerned with how little Johnny is performing when compared to others instead of as compared to his unique progress. Sometimes we can lose sight of the larger, more important factors of learning in lieu of just getting the grade. However, if a student is encouraged to understand “how” she learns, and “why” something can be exciting, and then be inspired to satisfy the curiosity… it can make all the difference between her success and her failure.
This is the primary difference between a linear, one-size-fits-all education which can create followers – regurgitating back what is given, and an individualized education which can create leaders – sparking interests that bring about change. One takes the same ingredients of structured content and attempts to produce a standardized outcome, and then order each one in numerical order. The other attempts to structure time in order to teach a student to think, to learn ‘how’ to learn, and to discover ‘why’ this adds interest and value to his or her life… in other words to lead out and to feed the curiosity that is within and develop one who can gain mastery of himself.
At CP, students are encouraged to focus on the HOW and WHY of learning. Through identifying their own learning styles and learning about varying ways brains process information, they are learning to use their unique strengths to gain knowledge, problem solve and consciously create their future.
So, projecting forward, which one will more likely stand out in the stacks of resumes and college applications? Which one will be more likely to further the vision of an idea… of a company… of the world? Number 5 out of 789 or this ONE who masters pieces of his or her Self? Hopefully… both.
Remind YOUR child that he or she is a unique ONE… regardless of where he or she may be in line.
~Carol
Growing Champions for Life Newsletter from David Benzel
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Your Villain Becomes Your Child’s Villain
One of the more memorable sport movies of the last few years is “42” – the true story of Jackie Robinson’s first season in Major League Baseball as the first African American allowed to play in “the Show”, as it is often called. There is one particular scene in the movie that haunts me, and I hope it haunts you as well. I’m referring to the game when Robinson and the Dodgers play Philadelphia and take the field in front of a very hostile crowd. As Robinson runs out to his position in the first inning, a young boy sitting next to his father watches intently as his father yells racist remarks at Robinson for
his mere existence on the field of baseball. Within moments, this young boy who appears to have been caught off
guard by his father’s ranting, decides that he too should join in the degrading of the “villain” on the field; it seems like the thing to do.
A father can be a powerful influence on a child. A parent’s values become a child’s values. A parent’s words become a child’s words. A parent’s behaviors become a child’s behaviors. And it stands
to reason that a parent’s villains become a child’s villains. What a sobering thought!
Perhaps it’s time to ask, “Who have you cast as villain in your world, and do you want your child to see and treat these people as villains – bad guys, undeserving of respect, targets of personal attacks, ridicule and blame? There are few things as destructive as racism; the movie scene demonstrates a father’s influence on a young mind. But it
doesn’t have to be about the color of one’s skin for it to be damaging.
For instance, is it possible that our children learn disrespect for referees by overhearing our repeated disgust over an official’s call? Can we really expect our children to take responsibility for their performances when we constantly blame the judges or umpires for calling it as they see it? How can we possibly ask our children to listen to their coaches
when they frequently hear us criticizing the coach’s decision making?
In truth, parents can be respect-killers for every authority figure in a child’s life by attacking, ridiculing, criticizing, condemning and complaining about referees, umpires, judges, officials, coaches,
and sport administrators. When we “villainize” someone, whether it’s
during a competition, during the car ride home after a practice, or in front of children while talking to other adults, we
should not be surprised when our children demonstrate disrespectful behaviors towards those same people. They
didn’t learn it from a stranger.
We have a huge responsibility to teach tolerance and respect for those who volunteer their time (or are paid very
little) to officiate or coach our children. If we hope to maintain the services of our officials, as well as teach our children respectfulness, we must first learn to control our emotions and our reactions on the sidelines of competition. Many organizations are finding it increasingly difficult to retain officials due to the verbal abuse they suffer at the hands of parents! Yet those same parents expect their children to control themselves.
If youth sports is truly a laboratory for learning life lessons; if its purpose is to help our children develop physically, mentally, and emotionally – then it stands to reason that parents cannot temporarily suspend such virtues as respect and self-control during the minutes of a game. If you recognize the tendency to get emotionally hijacked by your emotions during competitions here are some suggestions:
Give these strategies a try. They will go a long way in helping you set a good example for your children and make it safe
for our referees, umpires, and officials to continue doing the task they enjoy.
A Resource to Tap:
Rich on Paper, Poor on Life
by Philip
McKernan
We live in a world that works tirelessly to assimilate us to be “normal”. This collective pressure has the ability to dampen our spirit and give up the dreams we have in our souls in search of what we are told is success and happiness. We often find ourselves chasing the things we think will make us
happy and when we get there, feeling an eery emptiness.
The real life stories in this book will inspire you to find the courage and clarity within to take back your life and challenge the very essence of the things you think will make you happy. Stop living the life others want for you and begin the quest for meaning in every area of your life. If you feel you are settling in life and wonder if there is more, then this book is for you.
GCFL Promotion:
Sport Parent
Quiz
Discover Your Sport Parent Style!
The sport parent quiz is designed to help you discover how you behave as a sport parent and what effect it is having on your child. Sport parents come in 4 FLAVORS…Manager, Agent, Sponsor, Hero. However, through the challenges and
emotions of sports we sometimes become the sport parent we NEVER intended to be. By answering the following questions honestly, your point total will indicate which of the four flavors fits you best.
Highlights:
Meet a GCFL True Hero Track Partner:
T Bar M Racquet Club
T Bar M Tennis Academy is located in Dallas Texas and offers comprehensive tennis
training to children from 3 years old to highly ranked collegiate athletes and
professionals. Our system of development is based on five areas of focus. Comprehensive
Technical, Tactical, Mental/Emotional, Physical and Character Development are all incorporated
into every workout at every age. For decades our program has produced not only
great players, but most importantly great people.
Quote of the Day
“Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires
less energy to go faster and farther
when
the wheels
are in perfect alignment, you perform
better when your
thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals,
and
values are in balance.
“
– Brian
Tracy, Personal development
author
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