YSTCollinCountyFebIssue

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Collin County February 2013

SWEETHEART

RUNNERS

Group Inspires Girls to Achieve their Potential Through Running

February Issue, Our 16th Year!

Table of Contents

COVER STORY Girls on the Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14-15 REGULAR FEATURES The Game Plan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Positive Coaching Alliance.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chalk Talk. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Athlete of the Month. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sports Calendar & Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-11 A Team to Watch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Kid’s Korner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Coach Spotlight. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

With so many kids down with the flu, it’s probably a good thing there weren’t a lot of team sports competing last month! Without many teams playing, it leaves little for us to shoot, and I miss getting to freeze so many great moments. Thank goodness for the Winter Games of Texas in Frisco last month!

While we are shooting a game or a class,

inevitably the kids start to notice. Once we’re spotted, the camera smiles abound, and we get the, “Did you catch that?” look after every completion of a movement or a play! I often feel bad about being a distraction, but I have to admit it makes me giggle a little every time I get “the look”!

It doesn’t take long before someone asks me why I’m taking their pictures. When they find out it’s for a magazine they ask, “Am I going to be famous???!!!”. My reply is standard, “You may very well be famous one day”. It’s not a lie, and in fact, I have no doubt I will be watching one of the many athletes I’ve caught in action for many years to come, and quite possibly into adulthood.

You never know what greatness is developing before you. You never know what miraculous and seemingly impossible play is going to unfold, or how a single act of integrity or compassion on the court will impact your day.

The same holds true in every instance when you work with young people. If only we could capture the moments of our day the same way we do with a camera. Sometimes you see the potential and greatness packed inside of a small little body, but what makes me smile is the unexpected... when they don’t know we’re watching.

YSTCollinCounty Department

Contact

Publisher ruthi@youthsportstoday.com

Ruthi Elliott 469-777-8333

Editor john@youthsportstoday.com

John Lee

Contributor

Janet Calltharp

Graphics Dept. winston@youthsportstoday.com

Winston T. Byrd 469-777-8333

Cover story

Tresha Glowacki

Photography

Christopher Baylor

ORJ PUBLISHING, LLC

President/CEO Tresha Glowacki tresha@orjmedia.com www.youthsportstoday.net1 10 W. Sandy Lake Road #110 PMB 154 l Coppell, TX 75019 l 469-767-4542

ContactYouth Sports Today is published monthly by ORJ Publishing, LLC & distributed free of charge through local merchants. Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements do not necessarily reflect that opinion of the publisher. Youth Sports Today is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted without the permission in writing from the publisher. Photographs are welcomed and must be submitted by the 15th of each month prior to publication.

Nick Fogle going up for a shot for his 8th grade team at Wester Middle School.

Working on lateral jumps at Michael Johnson Performance during the holiday training camp.

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Great action caught during the Winter Games of Texas with 6th grade basketball teams. #5 C.J. Thomas of Texas Red Storm and #21 Grant Robertson work to block a shot by Team Texas.

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Halei Hamilton gets “fives� from Coach Taylor at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics after completing her trampoline work perfectly!

Great effort returning a serve during a girls’ volleyball game at Plano Sports Authority.

FASST teammates Ryan Uble and Weston Haggard on the 11-12 medley relay team at the Winter Games of Texas in Frisco.

Plano Baseball Association Registration now open for the following league ages 3, 4 5 6 7, 8 9A 9AA – 14AA 9U – 14U 14 15/16 17/18

BlastBall T-Ball Modified Coach Pitch Coach Pitch Beginning Player Pitch Recreational Competitive 60/90 Junior Varsity Varsity

7th and 8th grade Middle School Convenient Online Registration www.planobaseball.org 972-517-5800

Convenient Online Registration:

www.planobaseball.org for more information 5

Mistake Ritual Keeps Players Ready for Next Play Youth Sports Today proudly presents a new series of tips for youth sports coaches and parents from Positive Coaching Alliance and its local Chapter, PCA-North Texas. This month, we cover the use of a “mistake ritual” as shared in PCA’s live workshops, online courses, books and free resources available at www.PCANorthTexas. org.

One section of PCA workshops and courses focuses on the importance of players getting over their mistakes and ready for the most important play of any game—the next play. Too often, a coach pulls a player immediately after a mistake, sending a message that the coach: n Has no confidence the player can play through the mistake n Will not give players a chance to learn an important life lesson of how to think on their feet after a miscue n Will pull anyone else who makes a mistake.

Now there are nervous players in the game, which means they are more likely to make a mistake (and join the nervous players on the bench…except for the one nervous player who has to move from the bench into the game, where he or she also will more likely make a mistake).

Fear of making mistakes can negatively impact performance.

If the repercussions for mistakes scare players so much that they hesitate to take a big shot or to gamble appropriately on defense, then you as a coach are hurting your team’s performance. You’re also keeping individual players from reach-

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ing their potential and possibly even creating an environment in which players no longer want to compete.

Granted, there are some cases where repeated mistakes cannot be so easily endured.

But removing a player right after a mistake should not be a knee-jerk reaction. And anything humiliating, such as calling timeout to bench the player, is harmful to the morale of the player and teammates.

Instead, try using a team mistake ritual, a physical act that coaches, players and even fans can perform to acknowledge a mistake, while still reminding everyone to get past it and be ready for the next play. ExamThese girls weren’t letting the ball hit the ground in their game at Plano Sports ples include: Authority! n Using the “no sweat” motion of pretending to flick sweat off your brow n A toilet flushing motion that helps “flush” the mistake n A motion like dusting off a jersey that reminds players to “brush it off” n Writing “re-set” on one hand and clapping when in need of a re-set after a mistake (and, for a positive twist, writing “replay” on the other hand and clapping after a good play that you would want repeated).

Often after a mistake, players look to the bench to see how coach and teammates are reacting. Some players also look into the stands, wondering how their friends or family will respond. It helps to see coaches, teammates, friends and family make their mistake ritual motion, so that the player who has just made a mistake is unafraid to step up and make the next play.

To bring PCA to your school or youth sports organization, phone PCA-North Texas Executive Director Scott Secules at 972-7894100 or e-mail Scott_Secules@ PositiveCoach.org.

Alex Waweru gets control of the ball during the Texas Red Storm’s game against Team Texas.

FASST teammates placed 2nd in the girls 9-10, 100 Free Relay during the Winter Games of Texas.

Pictured left to right are Keely Perry, Hannah Hammons, Elizabeth Dock, Mary Debes.

The Winter Games of Texas held in Frisco last month was attended by over 3,700 athletes including 85 teams in basketball, 49 flag football teams and 35 soccer teams. 828 swimmers and 490 gymnasts marked the largest amount of participants. Weightlifting saw the largest growth in numbers as they doubled the number of lifters from last year’s Texas State Weightlifting Championships. The weather was beautiful and the competition was fierce! Overall it was a very successful event!

Gold medalist in the Rock Climbing event, Laney Muench of Frisco on left and Rachel Loetzer of Frisco. Both girls competed in the beginner division and are students at Rogers Elementary. For more photos, go to page 19.

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We’d like to believe all kids show up for games and practice, ready to play, focused on the tasks at hand, hungry, and leaning forward in anticipation for every piece of wisdom we impart.

Yeah. Dream on, coach. This is the real world.

Even the most enthusiastic kids are going to have off days, and it’s tough to find 12 kids that are all engaged and in the right emotional and mental place to behave.

Most require only a simple verbal reminder, but what do you do when a player is goofing off, not paying attention, or cheating on drills to take the path of least resistance? Asking the kid to refocus is obviously the first step . . . and some coaches have perfected the “parental stare.” If that doesn’t work, what’s next?

Step 1: Pull Jimmy aside, explain how his behavior isn’t appropriate, and reinforce what

behavior/attitude you need from him.

Step 2: Correct the behavior in front of team, perhaps with pushups as consequence.

“Jimmy, you’re still talking while I’m talking. Drop and give me 10 while I finish explaining this to the team.”

Step 3: Pull the kid aside again. Reinforce your expectations and firmly express disappointment that they aren’t being met. Have Jimmy sit and watch the next drill. Discuss the situation with Jimmy’s parent after practice. “I just wanted to make you aware that Jimmy was unfocused and disruptive today – I

hope we’ve handled it. It’s not like him – is anything going on at home or school that might be causing the behavior?”

Step 4: In front of the team ask Jimmy why he is goofing off.

Ask the other kids if they think it is fair for Jimmy to waste their time. Confronting the behavior this way can change the dynamic from player-coach to player-player.

Step 5: Involve the other players by having them exert a little peer pressure: “Okay, everyone drop and give me 10 pushups thanks to Jimmy. We all need to be paying attention and doing the drills correctly.

Anyone think it okay for Jimmy to not be paying attention?”

Step 6: As a final step, suspend Jimmy for a game/ practice or until the behavior changes. Discuss this with the parents first and explain what steps have been taken and why this is necessary.

Some steps might not be appropriate or necessary given the age, maturity, and competitive level of the kids. Some might need to be repeated or the order might need to be shuffled.

Of course all of this assumes the coach has made the drills and activities engaging for the kids in the first place . . . if the kids are bored, the coach needs to look in the mirror before blaming the kids!

Coach Dan Clemens is the author of A Perfect Season: A Coach’s Journey to Learning, Competing, and Having Fun in Youth Baseball. A leadership and communications consultant, he’s coached youth baseball, football, soccer and basketball for 10 years and is a high school coach. You can email him at Dan@CoachClemens.com.

Speeding down the indoor soccer field at Plano Sports Authority.

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INSIDE

Calendar Pullout Your source for area events, registration dates, clinics, tournaments & more

Student Athlete of the Month Jarret Perino, 10 years, 5th grader at Leadership Prep School in Frisco PRESENTS THE

How old were you when you started playing sports? I was 5 when I played my first sport.

What sport did you start playing first?

The first sport I played was soccer.

Do you continue to play multiple sports, and if yes, which do you play? I played Baseball and Hockey my first 2 years, now I devote all my time to Hockey.

Which sport is your favorite and why?

Hockey Goalie is my favorite sport, I love to get hit by the puck.

Who is your sports role model and why?

Ryan Miller because he came out of nowhere and look at him now…NHL

Goalie for the Sabers.

What do you like to do when you’re not playing sports? I like to do tons of things: play video games, snowmobile, I really like to travel, I like to use my imagination, hang out with my family & friends.

What is your favorite subject in school? I really like Social Studies.

What would you like to do for a profession when you graduate? Well, I really want to be a Goalie for the Maple Leafs, but my back-up plan is a lawyer.

What is your favorite thing about playing sports? My favorite thing about playing sports are my teammates, and traveling with my team and getting to stay in hotels.

What has been your biggest challenge while playing sports? Learning new technical moves.

Who is your favorite sports team? My favorite team is the Toronto Maple Leafs, of course.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and what have they taught you?

All my coaches, they believe in me and show me I can do things I did not know I could do.

What is your favorite moment during a game so far? When we got our winning Goal during the last tournament, and getting our medals and trophy.

What accomplishment are you most proud of? Making it on the Texas Aces Travel Team and getting into Leadership Prep School.

If you were able to give a younger athlete advice, what would it be? My advice to the young kids is to never give up, no matter what gets in your way.

What’s one thing about you that most people don’t know? Boy this is a tuff one, I am an open book, I do love to eat Sushi and could eat it every day!

Do you know what college you would like to attend and what you would like to major in? I am going to choose a college with an excellent hockey team so I can get drafted into the NHL, and since I have to major in something I will go with Pre-Law.

ATHLETES IN UNIFORM,

BUY A BUFFET

GET ONE FREE ANY DAY - ANY TIME JUST BRING THE TEAM AFTER THE GAME IN THEIR UNIFORM

·

PLANO: 2220 Coit Road, (972) 964-0061 832 W Spring Creek Pkwy, (972) 509-5522

·

FRISCO: 5580 N Preston Road, (214) 436-4529 15962 Eldorado Pkwy, (214) 544-8002 MURPHY: 104 N Murphy Road, (214) 501-2546

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Calendar

Your guide to area events, registrations, games and tournaments. If you would like your listing to appear here, call Ruthi Elliott at 469-777-8333

Volleyball

Directory

❑ Lonestar Volleyball Club Spring Registratio, ends 2/28/13

❑ Prosper Youth Sports Association Spring Registration, ends 2/17/13

❑ Allen Sports Association Spring Registration, ends 2/15/13

❑ McKinney YMCA Spring Registration, ends 2/19/13

❑ McKinney Sports ends 2/28/13

❑ Celina Youth Sports, www.celina-tx.gov ❑ Frisco Amateur Summer Swim Team, www.swimfasst.info, 214-335-8081 ❑ Frisco Baseball/ Softball Assoc., www. fbsa.org, 214-537-3272

❑ Plano Sports Authority Spring Registration, ends 2/17/13

❑ Frisco Flag Football, www.flagfootball4fun.com

❑ The Colony Spring Registration, ends 2/23/13

❑ Frisco Football League, www. friscofootballleague.com ❑ Frisco Ice Hockey, www.friscoicehockey.net

Basketball ❑ Plano Sports Authority, Spring Registration, ends 2/24/13 ❑ Prosper Youth Sports Association, Spring Registration, ends 2/18/13 ❑ Plano YMCA, Small Fry, ends 3/17/13 ❑ Plano YMCA, Kinder thru 6th, ends 3/17/13 ❑ Frisco YMCA, Spring Registration, season begins 3/21/13 ❑ McKinney YMCA, Spring Registration, ends 2/19/13

Flag Football ❑ McKinney Sports, Spring Registration, ends 2/28/13

❑ McKinney YMCA, Spring Registration, ends 2/19/13

❑ Allen Sports Association, Spring Registration, ends 2/22/13

❑ Frisco YMCA, Spring Registration, Season begins 3/23/13

❑ Little Elm Area Youth Sports Association, Spring Registration, ends 3/23/13

❑ Frisco, Registration, ends 3/10/13, www.flagfootball4fun.com

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❑ Frisco Lacrosse Association, www. friscolacrosse.com, 214407-9373 ❑ Frisco Soccer Association, www. friscosoccer.org, 972-712-4625 ❑ Frisco YMCA, www.ymcadallas.org/ locations/frisco/sports, 214-297-9622 ❑ Little Elm Area youth Sports Association, leyaysa.com ❑ Lonestar Volleyball, www. lonestarvolleyball.net, 214-334-3105

❑ A m 5

❑ S w 2

❑ w c

❑ w lo m

❑ A p 5

P w 9

❑ y ru 7

❑ S 9

❑ L p

❑ A p

❑ McKinney Baseball Association, www. mbatx.org

❑ F w

❑ McKinney Football, www. mckinneysports connection.org

❑ S w 9

❑ McKinney Lacrosse, www. mckinneylacrosse.com

❑ fu re 9

games, tournaments, events, camps

Baseball

❑ McKinney Soccer Association, www. mckinneysoccer.org, 972569-6808

❑ McKinney Sports, Spring Registration, ends 2/15/13

❑ McKinney Little League, Spring Registration, ends 2/19/13

❑ McKinney Softball Association, www.mckinneygsa.com, 214-622-1668

❑ Allen Sports Association, Spring Registration, Opens January, TBD ❑ Plano Baseball Association, Spring Registration, Open!

❑ McKinney Volleyball, www.mckinneysports connection.org ❑ McKinney YMCA, www.ymcadallas.org/ locations/ mckinney, 972 529 2559 ❑ Plano Baseball Association, www. planobaseball.org, 972517-5800 Plano Sports Authority, www.psaplano.org, 972.208.KIDS (5437) ❑ Plano YMCA, www. ymcadallas.org/locations/ russell_creek_ymca, 214 705 9459 ❑ Plano Youth Soccer, www.pysa.org, 972-422-7972 ext 302 ❑ Prosper Little League Baseball prosperlittleleague.org ❑ Prosper Youth Sports Association, www. prospertx-sports.org ❑ The Colony Youth Football Association, www.tcyfa.com ❑ The Colony Youth Soccer Association, www.tcysa.net, 972.370.3091 ❑ Upwards Sports - FUMC Allen, www. fumcallen.org/ recreation.php, 972-727-8261

❑ Plano Sports Authority, Spring Registration, ends 2/25/13 ❑ Little Elm Area Youth Sports Association, Spring Registration, ends 2/2/13

Cheer

❑ Plano YMCA, Spring Registration, ends 4/14/13

❑ Prosper Youth Sports Association, Fall Registration, Coming March 2013 ❑ Cheerleading Frisco YMCA, Spring Registration, Season begins 3/23/13

Softball

❑ Allen Sports Association, Spring Registration, ends 2/18/13

❑ Cheerleading McKinney YMCA, Spring Registration, ends 2/19/13

❑ The Colony Softball Association, Spring Registration, Now Open!

❑ Cheerleading McKinney Sports, Spring Registration, ends 2/28/13

❑ McKinney Sports, Spring Registration, 2/16/13

Cycling

❑ Plano Pacers’ Bead Bash, Feb. 23 5K/15K, Bob Woodruff Park, Plano, 15K/5K/1K, planoracers.ort

Running

❑ Plano Pacers’ Bead Bash, Feb. 23, 5K/15K, Bob Woodruff Park, Plano, 15K/5K/1K, planoracers.ort ❑ Cupid’s Couple McKinney, Feb. 10, 5K, stonebridgeracers.com ❑ Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon & 5K, Feb. 16, McKinney, 13.1M/5K, playtri.com ❑ Rooster Run, Feb. 23, McKinney, 5K, getmeregistered.com

❑ Plano Pacers’ Prediction Run, Feb. 12, Schimelpfenig Library, Plano, 5K, planopacers.org

Swimming

❑ FASST Stroke Clinics at Frisco ISD Natatorium on Mondays & Wednesdays thru May 2013

Activities ❑ Frisco Trick-A-Trout Kid Fish, Feb. 9 at Frisco Commons friscofun.org

❑ Frisco Daddy Daughter Dance

❑ Kurt Thomas Invitational,

March 1-3, Frisco Conference Center ktinvitational.com

❑ GattiTown Father Daughter

Dance, Feb. 8, gattitownfrisco.com

❑ Daddy’s Little Sweetheart Dance, Feb. 9, Plano Centre, Planoparks.org

❑ Very Special Arts Festival, Feb, 10, Plano Centre

❑ McKinney Daddy Daughter

Dance, Feb. 8, McKinney Community Center

❑ McKinney Trout Derby, Feb. 23, Towne Lake, McKinneytexas.org

❑ Daddy & Daughter Dance, Feb. 2, The Colony, visitthecolonytx.com

Feb. 2, friscofun.org

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A Team to Watch Our Team to Watch this month is a newly formed tournament team located in Frisco.

Four of the players are from Roach Middle School, a few from Fowler MS, and the rest from other schools in the area. While a few of the members know each other from former teams or school, the majority are playing together for the first time.

Even as a new team, these guys came together and did some amazing work out on the court during the Winter Games of Texas! Initially losing their first game, they went on to win the next two consecutive games to take second place overall.

This team came together as a result of one of the players previous experience with a team that had inconsistent teammates. His father wanted to help start a team that would play together, stay together, and create a bond. After all, that’s where many of the benefits come from while playing team sports.

The coaches emphasize teamwork while helping the boys improve their skills and learn all the positions of the game. School work is a priority, and if their grades aren’t up, they don’t play.

We were present to watch their first game at the Winter Games of Texas, which was their first game together as a

Texas Red Storm

Texas Red Storm 6th Grade Boys after their first game as a competitive team. Standing Left to Right: Asst.

Coach Earl Thompson, Nolan Matthews, C.J. Nelson, Connor FungAFat, Ian Ayuk, Nick Stanton & Head Coach Huey Mercadel Kneeling Left to Right: Zy McDaniel, Grant Robertson, C.J. Thomas, Alex Waweru & Colby Neidhart

competitive team.

It was a tough loss, however, you wouldn’t know it by the smiles on their faces in the photo that was taken just after the game above. That is due largely in part to the positive and encouraging

coaching we witnessed throughout the game.

Positive coaching and a healthy, competitive spirit is what makes the Texas Red Storm team this month’s Team to Watch!

trations Spring League Regis

2013 Registration

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Soccer: January 18-February 9

Basketball: May 26-June 23

Baseball: January 28-March 22

Soccer: June 29-July 27

Bowling: April 20-May 18

Baseball: July 8-August 23

Victoria Petruska swims the 8 and under 25 breast stroke, taking 1st place at the Winter Games of Texas for her FASST Swim Team.

Game Day Fuel

Fiorella Acocella works on the trampoline at Kurt Thomas Gymnastics in Frisco while Halei Hamilton watches on.

No Bake Granola Bars Ingredients: 1 & 3/4 C rolled oats

You don’t have to be “Super Mom” to pull off this nutrition-packed, homerun tasting, NO BAKE granola bar! Make these on Sunday and keep them on hand for practices, games, or any hectic day of shuttling around in the car after school. Packed full of complex carbs and loads of fiber, these will hold over troops until dinner time!

1 C crisp puffed brown rice cereal 1/4 C pumpkin seeds 1/4 C sunflower seeds 1/4 C chia seeds (optional) 1/4 C unsweetened coconut (optional) 1/8 C finely ground flaxseed (optional) 1/2 C brown rice syrup 1/3 C creamy peanut butter 1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional) Instructions: 1) Add all the dry ingredients to a large bowl. Mix them together.

Nutritional Stats 12 bars Calories 189 Total Carbohydrates 24.6g Dietary Fiber 4.4g Sugars 9.3g Protein 6.0g

2) In a separate (microwave safe) bowl, mix together the wet ingredients, then microwave them for about 20 to 30 seconds. This will make it easier to mix and add to the dry ingredients since it’s really sticky!

3) Pour wet ingredients into the dry and keep mixing until the wet binding ingredients are as well distributed as possible.

4) Put the mixture into a shallow pan and flatten it down.

DONE! Now store in the fridge until set.

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Girl Power Girls On The Run Inspires Girls to Achieve their Potential Through Running Mission

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Vision We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.

Teen and pre-teen girls face peer pressure, cultural stereotypes and difficult choices every day that can have a dramatic impact on their futures. That is why former Ironman triathlete Molly Barker founded Girls on the Run, a non-profit prevention program that prepares girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Girls on the Run-DFW is providing invaluable opportunities for young girls and women to learn about the complex reality of being a woman. Studies have shown that girls experience a distinct shift in sense of self around the age of fifth grade — when appearance begins to matter more than internal beauty and individuality, and a greater value is placed on the opinions of others than on remaining true to our authentic selves.

Factors influencing this shift are shaped in large part by social and cultural stereotypes, creating unhealthy guiding principles for girls and women as they seek to discover what it is that makes them unique and worthy. The innovative program combines training for a 5k event with life-changing, confidence-boosting lessons that enhance the social, physical and mental health of eight to twelve year old girls.

There are more than 30 Girls on the Run sites across the metroplex.

How do we do it?

We use a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. The games and activities first help 3rd through 8th grade girls get a better understanding

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of who they are and what’s important to them. Then we look at the role of teams and healthy relationships. And, finally, we explore how girls can positively connect with and shape the world.

And remember, we believe that life-changing experiences can be fun too—for everyone—the girls, coaches, families and other volunteers. Don’t be surprised when you hear laughter along with self-reflection, and see beaming smiles across the radiant faces of our girls.

Me + Relationships + Community Meeting twice a week for 10 weeks in small teams of 8-15 girls, we teach life skills through dynamic, conversation-based lessons and running games. The 20-lesson curriculum is delivered by certified Girls on the Run® coaches and includes three parts: understanding ourselves, valuing teamwork and understanding how we connect with and shape the world at large.

Power through Service Acknowledging that accomplishment has many flavors, each team creates and executes a local community service project. This experience demonstrates to girls the unimaginable strength that comes from helping others.

Up and Running At Girls on the Run, running is not just a metaphor. We use this activity to inspire and motivate girls, encourage lifelong health and fitness, and build confidence through accomplishment. At each season’s conclusion, the girls and their adult running buddies, complete a 5k running event. In some cities

this is a huge community-wide event and in others, it’s an intimate and inspiring gathering of friends and family. The results are the same—making the seemingly impossible, possible.

Not just for the young ones - SoleMates Fundraising Program In May 2009, Girls on the Run launched SoleMates, an adult charity running program where female and male athletes who run 5K, half marathon, marathon, or other events, raise money for local Girls on the Run councils. SoleMates participants agree to raise a minimum of $360 in conjunction with their event to donate to the Girls on the Run council of their choice.

How Girls on the Run Began “I came up with the concept of Girls on the Run to provide girls with the tools to embrace their own unique gifts and talents.

Girls today face a tremendous amount of pressure to conform to certain social and cultural stereotypes,” said Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker.

“Running is a shared experience. It provides an incredible sense of accomplishment and joy when crossing the finish line, but even more so, it encourages personal awareness of the mental strength we possess as we train and work to reach our goal,” said Barker Molly Barker began running at the age of 15, when she found herself stuck in the “girl box,” the imaginary place girls go around fifth grade where the pressure to conform to cultural and stereotypical standards inter-

feres with their healthy social, emotional and physical development.

Molly kept running, and during an emotional sunset run in 1993, she found the inspiration that grew into Girls on the Run. In 1996, she developed the first program with just 13 participants, and in 2000, Girls on the Run International, a 501c-3 organization, was born. Girls on the Run now serves over 100,000 girls each year across the United States.

SoleMates Fundraising Program In May 2009, Girls on the Run launched SoleMates, an adult charity running program where female and male athletes who run 5K, half marathon, marathon, or other events, raise money for local Girls on the Run councils. SoleMates participants agree to raise a minimum of $360 in conjunction with their event to donate to the Girls on the Run council of their choice. Girls on the Run is a non-profit program that relies on the support of these generous fundraisers as well as, sponsors and donors

Spring 2013 The Spring season will kick off the week of February 11, 2013 in many areas across the metroplex. There are many volunteer opportunities such as coaching, committees, race day or one time activities to support.

The Girls on the Run 5K will be a celebration of the accomplishments of all girls and their families participating in the program.

The event will be held in Carrollton at McInnish Park – see the website for more details.

To learn more about Girls on a Run, becoming a SoleMate, volunteer opportunities or to find a class near you, visit www.gotrdfw.org.

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While you’re waiting for the spring season to get started, see how many words you can find! Make it harder by using a timer to see how long it takes you!

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baseball baseball basketball basketball baseball bat bat cheer basketball cheer dribble bat dribble

cheer dribble

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rrr qqq eeedddcc css sll mmm ttt rrrzzzxx xll lcc aaa iii fffpppaa aee ejj bbb bbb aaabbbtt tyy ypp nnn sss tttrrrii ikk kee ggg eee tttnnnnn nss suu kk tt ss aa nn mm yy k t s a n m rr vv ff dd yy ll uu r v f d y l ii zz gg oo ll uu ee uui ccz hhgddooo lww unn ggu rrc hhhmmdnn ott wee hhg kkr eehbbmbb nkk tbb hhh bbk aaemmbtt bmm knn ffh ggb ccappmoo tff mnn bbf wwg rrckkpzz ohh fhh

field field football football field goal goal gymnast football gymnast hockey goal hockey

gymnast hockey

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gb g ka k os o re r eb e qa q ll l ff l yy yf y yi y ve v xl x xd x ll

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x v d e p d e j y e k c o h t l g v homerun homerun karate karate homerun rink rink strike karate strike touchdown rink touchdown

strike touchdown

Coach Carlton Malone at Michael Johnson Performance working with athletes on reaction and acceleration drills during the hoiday performance camp.

FC Dallas Midfielder, Brek Shea, made a surprise appearance at the Michael Johnson Performance Holiday Camp!

McClure Pediatric Dentistry 5100 Eldorado Pkwy Suite 108 McKinney, TX 75070 972-549-4036 drjonmcclure.com

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Nominations for the Student Athlete of the Month and the Coach’s Spotlight. If you know a coach that has a bit of magic or an athlete that’s a great role model, nominate them and give them an opportunity to shine in our next issue! If you catch your athlete in action, we also accept submissions for photos of games, tournaments, awards and accomplishments!

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Coach Spotlight It takes a special coach to make our Coach Spotlight each month and Martin Salinas is no exception. Since appearing in our 2012 May issue, Martin was inducted into the UT Dallas Hall of Fame for the basketball legacy he established before he graduated. Martin’s true gift, however, is coaching youth athletes on the court. Read the original article below to get to know this coach, and the first Youth Sports Today of Collin County’s Hall of Fame inductee, a lot better!

REPRINTED FROM MAY 2012: Walk into Plano Sports Authority on any given weekend and you will find yourself amongst Panthers! That’s because Panther Pack Athletics founder and coach, Martin Salinas, has amassed such a following in the past four years, the teams are filling

The 2012 Coach of the Year and first inductee into our Coaching Hall of Fame is Panther Pack Athletics founder Martin Salinas!

up the courts! Is it because he’s a marketing genius and recruits around the clock?

No, it’s because once a player has been exposed to his passion, and has become a member of “The Pack”, he has no desire to play for anyone else.

Coach Martin graduated from UT Dallas in 2007 and continues to hold 17 records, including “All-Time leading scorer”. Although his abilities continue to impress on the courts when he plays with the ABA’s North Dallas Vandals, it’s not Coach Martin’s playing skills that puts him in the spotlight anymore. Instead, it’s his gift and love of coaching.

Panther Pack Athletics was born out of the passion to empower kids and to develop well-rounded athletes. Martin began coaching recreational basketball as a volunteer at Plano Sports Authority in 2007.

A year later he was holding tryouts and carefully forming teams by placing players who worked well with each other together.

Coach Martin believes that every player has the potential to be great once given that opportunity.

Surely enough, within two years, he was coaching over 10 teams! When they grew to an appropriate size, Coach Matt Salinas, who is fiery and dedicated to the development of players, joined the Pack.

Once there, Coach Justin Salinas quickly made his impact coaching with passion and a true love for the game. This unique combination of fire, passion and love is what make the Panther Pack Basketball Program what it is today.

In the words of the Salinas coaches themselves, “Don’t Follow the Crowd...Lead With the Pack!”

The level 7 team from Kurt Thomas Gymnastics in Frisco, which is currently undefeated for the season. Standing left to right are Anhely Chavez, Gabrielle Smith, Alicea Kubena, Paulina Lopez, Emily Buffington, Alexandra Rutenis, Mallory Kalka, Madison Martin, Grace Nelson, Gabriella Vespi.

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