Coaching Management 13.10

Coaching Management VOL. XIII, NO. 10

FOOTBALL

POSTSEASON

EDITION

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2005

TACKLING COMBINES College Recruiters Take A Step Back ■

Nutritional Strategies

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Coaching Management Football Edition Postseason 2005

CONTENTS

Vol. XIII, No. 10

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31

39

LOCKER ROOM

COVER STORY

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Tackling Combines

NCAA targets spearing … Atlanta high school starts season with a sleep over in the gym … Texas launches Internet video magazine … Strike by coaches at Pennsylvania’s state colleges avoided …

Academic progress rules affect recruiting process … Summer scholarship revocations criticized.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Ed Thomas, Head Coach at AplingtonParkersburg (Iowa) High School, has four former players in the NFL, and all four are linemen.

GUIDE TO VIDEO EDITING SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . 54 UNIFORMS & APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 FOOTBALL FACILITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 POWER RACKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64 STRENGTH TRAINING EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . 66 MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 WEB NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Publisher Mark Goldberg Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Art Director Pamela Crawford Photo Research Dina Stander, Signs of Life Studio

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Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editor Dennis Read Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson Kenny Berkowitz Abigail Funk David Hill Greg Scholand Laura Smith

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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College coaches love the information high school combines provide, but worry about the recruiting demands they create. Instead of just talking about the problem, coaches are joining together to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

NUTRITION

Food For Thought

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By teaching team members what to eat and when, coaches can ensure that players always have the energy they need.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING

Stretching To Score

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Players need all the flexibility and core strength they can muster. These partner core stretches can help them develop both during warmup sessions.

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

Hoosier Heroics

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48

Three last-minute comebacks and one gutsy two-point conversion have added up to three straight state titles for Roncalli High School in Indiana.

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Business Manager Pennie Small

Production Manager Kristin Ayers

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

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Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

Prepress Manager Adam Berenstain

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

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The Coaching Management Football edition is published in November and April by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2005 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Coaching Management is printed

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Circle No. 101

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Taking Aim At Spearing Dale Patton, Head Coach at Pekin (Ill.) High School, calls it the most important 60 minutes of the year. It’s a meeting the night before the team’s first preseason practice, and it’s significant because he and his staff present players their first of many warnings about the dangers of spearing.

“In a loud, almost demandingtype voice, we say, ‘If you do

attention during the 2005 college and high school season, which is likely to continue in 2006. To encourage officials to be more vigilant in calling spearing penalties, the NCAA removed the “intent” clause from its rule prohibiting headdown tackling, and the National Federation of State High School Associations says it will look into making the same change.

Shortly after the end of the 2004 season, the National Athletic Trainers’ Association and American Football Coaches

to discern intent in the heat of play. The task force met with the NCAA Football Rules Committee, which removed intent from the rule.

Rule enforcement is only part of a multi-pronged approach to ending this dangerous practice. Much of the focus is on teaching proper technique.

The AFCA also reiterated that allowing spearing is unethical coaching behavior.

A major part of the initiative is explaining why spearing is so

between the suddenly stationary head and still-moving body in a tackle. Dangerous compressive forces can result. Laboratory tests have shown that a fracture or dislocation of the neck can occur with less than 150 foot-pounds of energy, while a college-age player can inflict 1,500 foot-pounds.

According to the NCAA, defensive players are four times more likely to suffer catastrophic cervical-spine injuries than offensive players. Thus the emphasis on proper tackling— though offensive players should also be taught to avoid putting their heads down as they’re about to be tackled. First contact, on offense or defense, should be made with the shoulder while the head is up.

Even at the top level of college play, coaches can’t assume that players know and practice proper technique, so it’s emphasized from day one. “When we bring freshmen in, we tell them, ‘Keep your head up,’” says Kyle Whittingham, Head Coach at the University of Utah and a veteran defensive coordinator. “We don’t assume they understand proper tackling technique and safety.”

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

With his players, Patton acknowledges that head-down play has been part of the game, but says it’s because coaches years ago didn’t know In an effort to reduce the number of helmet-to-helmet hits, such as one that left Georgia’s Reggie better. “We tell our players, Brown motionless on the field for several minutes in 2004, the NCAA revised its spearing rule before ‘See what you block, and see what you tackle.’ If you do the 2005 season. Officials no longer have to determine intent before calling a spearing penalty. that, you’re likely not to have any problems,” he says. “And dangerous to players on both Association (AFCA) formed a this, there’s a strong possibilwhen we get kids who, whethsides of the ball. The task task force to examine headity that you will die,’” Patton er by accident or by design, force and NCAA sent a locker says. “We don’t hedge around down contact and found do lead with the head—even if room poster to all member spearing penalties are rarely it. The freshmen’s eyes get the referees in a game don’t football teams reminding playdoled out. Game officials told really wide when their head catch it—we call the kids in ers to keep their heads up. coach puts it in those terms. It the task force that the rule and tell them they’re going to The NCAA developed a Powdefining spearing as the really hits home.” be suspended if they do it erPoint presentation outlining “intentional use of the helmet again. We talk to their parents, the mechanism behind serious (including the face mask) in an Spearing—and the related and we point it out on film. neck injuries: When the head attempt to punish the oppotechniques of butt blocking I’ve got a young man this year is pointed down, the neck is nent” made the call difficult to and taking a hit with the helwho did it last year, and if he make because it required them straightened and caught met down—received special does it again, he’s going to be disThe NCAA’s presentation on head-down tackling and blocking and proper technique can be downloaded missed from the from the NCAA Web site at: www1.ncaa.org/membership/ed_outreach/health-safety/index.html. team.”

Circle No. 102

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Camping Out In The Gym By the time the 5 a.m. wakeup call made its way around the Therrell High School gym in Atlanta, first-year Head Coach Terry Davis had already been up for 30 minutes. After all, he had to let in the parent and community volunteers who cooked breakfast before he could rouse his team from its school-bound slumber. The early rising team went on a two-mile jog to the local mall and back, showered, had a hot breakfast, and was out on the practice field by 7 a.m.

The morning session was followed by another volunteerprepared meal at lunchtime.

Depending on the day, team meetings and weightlifting sessions, or maybe a quick nap, filled the early afternoons.

A second practice took place in late afternoon, followed by dinner and a team meeting.

There was some free time throughout the day, but lights were out by 11 p.m.

The Therrell football team followed this routine for one week, turning a regular preseason camp into sleepover camp. With the exception of their early-morning jogs, the team never left school property, sleeping on mattresses brought from home and set up on the gym floor. Davis and his assistant coaches slept in the gym as well—Davis either in the middle of the floor or in the doorway. “That way I could keep watch, and if anybody wanted in or out, they had to step over me,” he says.

During Davis’ first coaching job in 1983 as an assistant at Adel (Ga.) High School, he participated in a sleepover camp put together by the head coach. Davis has done the same thing at every school he’s coached at since. “Anywhere I work, until I coach at the college level, we’ll do this in the school gym,” says Davis. “It gives the team a

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

real sense of community and discipline. Plus we were able to get in 24 sessions in one week.

Longhorns Vmag Provides Inside Look For Fans

“We did double and triple sessions, and had meetings in between and at night,” he continues. “The guys get into a routine—then team-building happens faster, and a whole lot of important information is conveyed quicker.”

Would you allow video cameras at all of your practices, in the weightroom during strength training sessions, and even into the locker room before games and during halftime?

through Texas’ football Web site. In five hour-long issues of the video magazine (the first of which is free), subscribers can watch the Texas football program from an insider’s point of view. Features include a day with quarterback Vince Young, tours of Brown’s office and summer retreat, and training sessions with Strength

Going into Davis’ first year at Therrell, he knew things had to change for the team to be successful. “We were coming off a 2-8 season, and I knew I had to do something,” he says. “And the players really bought into it, since they knew they weren’t going home.

Because they knew they were going to be here all night, there was no need to hurry up, no ‘five more minutes to get this done.’”

Before holding the camp, Davis was required to submit management and emergency plans to the principal. “Luckily, the fire station is only about 200 yards away,” Davis says.

“I’m sure that helped to have the plan approved. But every school has a gym, and every school can do this. I don’t see why any principal wouldn’t allow camp—just get your emergency plan in order ahead of time.”

Davis has only heard good things about his newborn tradition at Therrell. Any parent who had time available volunteered, and while some players were skeptical at first, all were fully on board Davis’ program by the end of the week. “We had one player who had a bad attitude, and he knew it,” he says. “He came up to us during the last night and said he was sorry for the way he’d been acting and that he would have a better attitude and be a better person. It was completely out of the blue. I turned to another coach and said, ‘See? Attitudes are changing.’”

Jeff Madden, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the University of Texas, is featured in a segment of a Longhorns video magazine being distributed over the Internet. Fans who sign up for the five hour-long issues get an inside look at Texas football, including a tour of Head Coach Mack Brown’s office and a typical day with quarterback Vince Young.

Mack Brown, Head Coach at the University of Texas, is doing just that. As part of the university’s “Get Hooked” campaign, the Longhorns are being showcased in an Internet-based video magazine that is updated monthly throughout the season.

For an annual subscription fee of $24.95, alumni and fans can access the Longhorns Vmag

and Conditioning Coach Jeff Madden.

Subscribers receive an e-mail when new editions are available for download. The fullscreen television-quality picture can be viewed on most computers. “We’re trying to stay on the cutting edge of technology,” Brown told The NCAA News. “People are interested in the inside story,

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD and we can start telling those stories in a controlled setting.”

stood that these things are a part of life.”

NEWgame Communications, Inc., produces Vmags, and is headed by Kathleen Hessert, also president of Sports Media Challenge, a consulting firm that has worked with Brown for years. Hessert says that while Brown has allowed exclusive access to her camera crews and production team, he hasn’t let them interfere with the way he runs the program.

Of the issues that needed to be hammered out, pay increases topped the list. Under the new contract, coaches receive a three-percent salary increase for the 2005-06 school year and again for 2006-07, with the potential for an additional performance-based raise of up to two and a half percent per year. Full- and part-time coaches with at least 10 consecutive years of experience also received a one-time cash payment of $50 for each year they have coached.

Madden has granted access to his training program and is getting some rare attention.

“One of the reasons Coach Brown is allowing this inside look is because it’s a valuable way to give the right kind of exposure to assistant coaches like Jeff Madden,” Hessert says. “These coaches aren’t on the six o’clock news or the front page of the sports section every day.”

Another Vmag feature is coverage of rookie orientation, an area the public is often not let in on, but is of great interest— especially to the recruits who are expected to view the video magazine. “For recruiting purposes, this is a real edge for Texas,” Hessert says. “Recruits and their parents can watch and understand more about the program. When my son was being recruited to play football, I wanted to know everything I could. This type of information is invaluable to a parent.”

To view a free introductory copy of the Texas Longhorns Vmag, visit: mackbrown-texasfootball. com.

Penn. Coaches’ Strike Averted When Shippensburg University opened its 2005 season with a narrow 10-3 win on Aug. 27, it was the second close call worth celebrating that week for Head Coach Rocky Rees.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

In addition to coaching the Shippensburg University football team, Rocky Rees also serves as chief negotiator for the union that represents coaches in the Pennsylvania state college system.

The two roles collided this summer as a possible coaches’ strike was averted days before the opening of the 2005 football season.

Just days before the game, Rees—who is also chief negotiator for the union that represents coaches in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC)—learned that a new contract agreement had been reached between the union and the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

The deal ended the possibility of a coaches’ strike that threatened to shut down sports in the NCAA Division II conference.

About 360 PSAC coaches— those not under separate faculty contracts at their schools —are represented by the country’s only coaches’ union, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF). Working without a contract since their previous one expired in 2004 and facing unresolved issues including pay raises, health insurance, and performance evaluations, the coaches in June 2005 authorized APSCUF to call a work stoppage. The official strike date was never made public, and coaches reported to preseason prac-

tices as scheduled. But newspaper reports speculated that if a deal were not in place by late August, teams at the 14 PSAC schools would have likely found themselves, at least temporarily, without coaches.

A tentative agreement was announced on Aug. 23, and Rees says players and coaches alike were relieved to learn their seasons would not be interrupted. “I was disappointed from the beginning that the student-athletes had to be put through the anxiety of a potential strike,” he says.

“And as coaches, we were burdened with the thought of having to tell our players that our families had to come first.”

While that burden never materialized, many PSAC coaches were encouraged to find that their athletes not only understood their situation, but also supported them. “I told them if we did go on strike, it would be because it’s the only resource we have left,” Rees explains. “My players said that while they hoped it didn’t happen, they under-

The coaches did not secure the direct link between performance evaluations and contract renewals they originally requested to protect job security. But as part of the new agreement, university presidents have to provide written justification whenever an individual coach’s contract is not renewed. The coaches also agreed to contribute 0.5 percent of their salary to offset the cost of health insurance in 2006, and one percent in 2007.

While the threat of a strike made many uneasy, Rees says the coaches of the PSAC support the concept of unionization, and realize that it gives them critical leverage in collective bargaining. Before joining APSCUF, which also represents 5,500 faculty members at Pennsylvania state schools, virtually all aspects of a coach’s job were controlled by his or her university president.

“Each president handled things his or her own way, but there was nothing to protect our rights,” Rees says. “We had no sick days, so if we were to have a catastrophic illness, we were at the mercy of the president to keep us on during that time. We had no guarantee of job security, either. We were basically on year-to-year contracts even after we had been at the same place for 15 or 20 years.”

Circle No. 104

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Many coaches’ salaries were also very low. The first contract they secured through the union, which took effect in 2002, set salary ranges for fulltime head coaches ($30,000$85,000) and assistant coaches ($25,000-$50,000), as well as minimum salaries for part-time coaches. Before they unionized, Rees knew of some coaches who were eligible for public assistance programs while working full-time for their university.

H.S. Coaches Riled By Pulled Scholarships

The South Carolina Football Coaches’ Association Board of Directors blasted Spurrier’s move in a letter signed by 90 coaches and sent to Spurrier and South Carolina Athletic Director Eric Hyman. The complaints centered on the timing of and reasoning for Spurrier’s decision. “We understand athletic scholarships are a year commitment,” the board’s letter stated. “However, we feel that unless an athlete ‘breaks rules’ or embarrasses the institution, to revoke a scholarship because you feel an athlete cannot play at the level needed to compete in the Southeastern Conference is unethical.”

University of South Carolina Head Coach Steve Spurrier upset some high school coaches in his state when he revoked the scholarships of six players during the summer.

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Circle No. 105

AP/WIDE WORLD PHOTOS

Despite the buzz surrounding the University of South Carolina’s hiring of Head Coach Steve Spurrier, some high school coaches in the state are not enamored with the Gamecocks football program and

its new coach. In a nationally publicized and criticized move, Spurrier revoked the scholarships of six players recruited by his predecessor, drawing the ire of a number of the state’s high school coaches.

Spurrier defended his actions at the Southeastern Conference preseason football gathering. “We had some walk-on players who were actually contributing more,” Spurrier said.

“So some of the high schoolers, they got mad about it. I don’t know what to say, but to me in life you put people on scholarship who deserve it the most and that’s what we tried to do.”

The high school coaches felt that the timing of the decision would make it very difficult for those athletes to transfer and find a scholarship or roster spot at another institution. “If coming out of spring practice you make that decision, that’s one thing,” said Andy Tweito, an Assistant Coach at Daniel High School in Central, S.C., and a member of the board of the South Carolina Football Coaches Association in an interview with The Associated Press. “Now, these kids are

stranded, they have nowhere to go. He’s left the kids high and dry.”

The board’s letter mentioned that the coaches might recommend that the South Carolina High School League find an alternate location for its five state championship games, which are played at South Carolina’s Williams-Brice Stadium.

However, according to SCHSL Executive Director Jerome Singleton, the SCFCA never made a formal change-ofvenue request, and the championship games will be played in Columbia as planned.

But that doesn’t mean the coaches will forget Spurrier’s actions anytime soon. “Our group is sticking together and saying, ‘Look, if this is the way they’re going to treat our kids, then we don’t know that they’ll be welcome when they come recruiting kids in the

future,’” says Keith Richardson, Executive Secretary of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association. “Hopefully our coaches will be sure that their kids who are recruited by South Carolina are aware that if they don’t perform, they could lose their scholarship.”

Possible Sanctions Not Academic College recruiting has always been about what a prospect can contribute to a team.

That’s mostly meant what he can do on the field, with academics a small part of the mix. But at the NCAA Division I level, academic potential and team contributions are linked more closely than ever now that student-athletes can directly help or hurt their teams by their classroom performance.

When the NCAA released the first batch of academic scores this past spring under its Academic Progress Rate (APR) system, 29 percent of football teams had scores that would put them in danger of scholarship losses if the penalties that could be imposed as early as this winter were already in effect. Many more schools didn’t make the cut of 925—a score that the Association says translates into a 50 percent graduation rate—but were within the margin of error being used for the system’s first few years.

The threat of penalties combined with the embarrassment that would accompany failure to meet the academic standard has led to a change in recruiting. “We’re definitely taking fewer chances now,” says Troy Rothenbuhler, Tight Ends Coach and Recruiting Coordinator at Bowling Green

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Circle No. 106 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Circle No. 107

LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD State University. “In the past, you’d take chances on some kids hoping that you could keep them eligible. Now, we’re going to take fewer of those, because down the road, it’s going to catch up to you.”

The numbers made public in March reflect the academic performance of Division I scholarship athletes in all NCAA championship sports during the 2003-04 academic year. When more years of data are available, scores will be based on a rolling four-year tally. Each student-athlete can earn two points per term— one by remaining in school and one by remaining academically eligible for competition. At the end of the school year, points are tallied, divided by the total points that the program could have earned, and multiplied by 1,000 to establish the APR score.

JUSTIN KASE CONDER/FRESNO STATE ATHLETICS

Since the first round of scores came out, the NCAA adjusted some scores to reflect quirks such as incorrectly reported data, incompletes in certain courses for particular athletes, and schools that use term calendars instead of semesters.

When those were applied, along with the margin of error, about 26 percent of football teams would have faced penalties, a higher rate than any other sport.

Then in August, the NCAA allowed for circumstances beyond a team’s control to be taken into account. These include athletes turning pro before graduating, a personal or family illness, or the student’s major academic program being canceled. The Committee on Academic Performance, however, also specified that other circumstances would not receive such consideration. Among them are an athlete dropping out because of a coaching change, loss of scholarship, lack of playing time, or academic or disciplinary suspension. The ultimate aim is to help ensure studentathletes graduate, which is the

same goal recruiters want prospects to have, Rothenbuhler says.

Bowling Green’s 929 score is above the cut, but the APR system makes clear that a prospect’s academic potential has to be more closely scrutinized. “We’re evaluating transcripts better and trying to get them sooner so our academic

view school personnel and parents, looking for signs that the student-athlete will be academically motivated in college.

“You have to make sure that they want a degree, and that they want to go to class, not just that they’re a great player and they want to play football,” he says. “You have to know if they’ve got a support

When Hill took the Fresno State job in 1999, he set out to improve the program’s academic performance, which two years earlier USA Today had labeled the worst in the country. Three days a week, Hill and his staff meet with all freshmen and any upperclassmen who have a GPA below 2.2 to go over assignments, grades, and upcoming tests.

The NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate system not only threatens underperforming schools with sanctions including loss of scholarships, it also provides a way for programs to highlight their academic successes. Fresno State, for example, points to its 939 score, fourth among Division I schools in the West, as evidence that its academic programs are working. Fresno State’s Kyle Young is shown above. coordinator can look at them and decide whether these guys are going be able to graduate,” Rothenbuhler says.

system at home that’s going to push them through class, and that education’s important to the kid.”

According to Rothenbuhler, Bowling Green recruiters have already eliminated some prospects who might have been considered in the past. For other prospects, coaches are looking more carefully at their junior year in high school, thinking improved grades signal that the young player will get serious about schoolwork when he realizes he could earn a scholarship. They also inter-

For some Division I programs, the new APR system serves as a way to show the world they’re paying attention to academics. “It hasn’t changed recruiting for us. It’s given us a lot of credibility, though,” says Pat Hill, Head Football Coach at Fresno State. “There aren’t many state schools that have the academic record we do when everyone’s evaluated the same way.”

When the first APR scores came out, Fresno could point to its 939 score as proof of improvement. The Bulldogs ranked second in the Mountain West Conference and fourth among Division I programs in the west, so Hill welcomes a system for showing off the turnaround.

“The APR is all about what you are doing to keep kids on track to graduation,” Hill says.

“It’s accurate. It’s immediate.

There are a lot of people who don’t like the APR because the numbers don’t favor them.”

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Circle No. 108

ED THOMAS Aplington-Parkersburg (Iowa) High School Most small high schools would be thrilled to have just one player reach the NFL. Yet in Iowa, Aplington-Parkersburg High School enrolls just 280 students and is the alma mater of four current NFL players—Casey Wiegmann of the Kansas City Chiefs, Jared DeVries of the Detroit Lions, Brad Meester of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Aaron Kampman of the Green Bay Packers. All four are linemen who played for Head Coach Ed Thomas.

Thomas entered the 2005 season with a record of 257-80 in 33 years, including two state titles (1993, 2001) and four state runner-up finishes. He began his career in 1972 at Northeast Hamilton High School in Blairsburg, Iowa, and moved to Parkersburg High School in 1975. When

Q&A

Parkersburg’s school system merged with neighboring Aplington’s in 1992, he was named head coach of the joint football program.

Thomas has twice been named Iowa Class 1A Coach of the Year and was a finalist for the 2003 NFL High School Coach of the Year award. In 2004, he was honored as Coach of the Year for Leadership by the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association. He has been on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Football Coaches Association (IFCA) for 26 years and served as its president in 1991.

In this interview, Thomas talks about his program’s pro football alumni, developing leadership, and what he looks for in assistant coaches.

CM: What is it like to see four of your players reach the NFL? Thomas: Coming from a small high school in rural Iowa, it’s a great feeling to watch television on Sundays and see our players out there. In a close-knit, small community, everybody knows what’s going on, and it has created a real sense of pride in our school and our football program.

All four NFL players are linemen— what makes that such a strong position in your program?

I’ve always thought football games start up front, both offensively and defensively, so we place a huge emphasis on line play at our school, and our kids take a lot of pride in that. In fact, I would say that three-quarters of our All-State players have been linemen.

I have one friend in town who has five TV sets in his living room and subscribes to NFL Sunday Ticket, so he can watch all four kids at once. During the football season, there are people over at his house all the time to watch them play.

We stress fundamentals from day one to the last game of the year. We run the same drills in the first week of practice as in the last week. We want our kids to get a lot of reps in, so by the time they’re juniors and seniors, they’ve gotten pretty

good at the various techniques we ask them to use.

When those future pros were in your program, what did you notice that set them apart?

They had athletic ability, of course— those kids were all great multi-sport athletes at our school—but they also had an inner drive and a tremendous work ethic.

We’ve had other kids with tremendous work ethics, but those four combined it with a special ability to elevate their game every day. They consistently made themselves better, and even in practice, you could see them progressing to another level.

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What do you hope your athletes will take away from playing in your program?

I’ve always said my job is not to prepare our kids to be college athletes. My job is to make football a learning experience, and there are so many things they can learn from being a part of our team that will help them be successful later in life as a father, member of a church, or member of the community. There are so many intangibles we can teach that they can take with them.

Success begins up front for Ed Thomas, Head Coach at Aplington-Parkersburg (Iowa) High School. The Falcons have won two state titles and produced four NFL linemen.

How do you instill character and leadership skills in your players?

I don’t have captains anymore—I went to a system of senior leaders. Around the end of February, I go over our senior leadership program with all of the next year’s senior football players and ask if they want to be involved. For seven weeks, I teach a morning leadership class to those who do. They are then responsible for the other players—whether it’s behavior, succeeding in the classroom, or

COACHING MANAGEMENT

15

working in the weightroom, they provide leadership for our program.

I decided to teach leadership because I think it’s something that isn’t present in kids as often as it used to be. We have to show kids how to be leaders today.

What specific lessons do athletes learn in the leadership class?

I talk about leaders setting an example, the responsibility of being a leader, and

the idea of being a servant and a giver.

I talk about standing up to do what is right when nobody else will, and letting other players know when they’re doing something wrong. I also explain the importance of being a role model—that leaders have to set the tone for other players to follow. I talk about the respect that they have to gain with other young people. I tell them that everyone might not always like you, but you should act in such a way that they respect you.

You’re a member of the IFCA ethics committee. How do you define ethics as it relates to coaching?

Ethics is doing what’s right. It’s following the rules, and teaching football the way it ought to be played. Ethics is teaching young people about sportsmanship and how to conduct themselves in a first-class fashion regardless of whether they win or lose. I tell our kids that we’re going to go out and play hard, and we want to win as much as anybody. But when the game

“I want [assistant coaches] who are enthusiastic, positive, and good teachers. To me, coaching is teaching. I want people who care about kids and want to help them be the very best they can, not only as football players but also as young men.“

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is over, we’re going to line up, shake hands, and be gentlemen, knowing that we did the very best we could. To me, that’s all part of ethics.

What are some ethical problems you see among coaches today?

I think sportsmanship is definitely one problem area. Young people should know how to conduct themselves on the field, in the community, and at school, and coaches need to set a consistent example. I think there are some programs that win but don’t know how to win in a first-class way. Some schools try to cheat during the off-season, ignoring what is not allowed by the state association to try to get an edge. Usually when people cheat, it’s going to catch up to them.

And what kind of message are we sending to our young people if we bend the rules?

Do coaches have a responsibility to act if they see other programs being unethical, or should each coach focus on his own program?

First, you’d better make sure your own house is clean. But I think when you see things not being done ethically, you need to report that. On my football team, if we have kids doing what’s not right, that’s a reflection on our whole program.

And if we have coaches doing what’s not right, that reflects on the coaching profession. I also think athletic directors don’t always take the time to go over

Q&A ethical guidelines with their coaches— especially young coaches coming out of college who might not fully understand the difference between the collegiate and high school levels.

What do you look for in assistant coaches?

I want people who are enthusiastic, positive, and good teachers. To me, coaching is teaching. I want people who care about kids and want to help them be the very best they can, not only as football players but also as young men. I don’t really care how much football knowledge they have—I can teach them what I want them to teach the players, so I want positive role models and great motivators.

What do you wish you had known when you started out as a coach?

When I started coaching, I didn’t know anything. I have grown as a coach in the teaching aspect and understanding the importance of having a sequence to what you teach. We have a progression for things, like how we teach our offensive linemen to block, and how our defensive players should play their positions. When I started, I didn’t have a concept of that like I do today.

Another area is learning. I read books to find new ways to inject motivation into our program. If I were just starting out now, I would go look at successful coaches around the state. I would talk to those people and pick their brains about what they’re doing. Of all the things we do here, I don’t think there’s much that’s original. I’ve taken and borrowed from other programs and places. Young coaches should be out there observing and talking to winning coaches and learning why they’re successful.

Is it a bad thing that athletes are specializing in one sport at a younger age?

Without question it’s a problem in high school athletics today, and it really does a disservice to young people. Parents and AAU people tell kids they’ve got to specialize if they’re going to get scholarships. But it’s not my job as a head coach to turn out scholarship athletes. If they’re good enough, that opportunity will come, but every program in a high school needs the good athletes to play.

Maybe basketball is a kid’s first love, and if that’s the case, of course he’s going to

“When I started coaching, I didn’t know anything. I have grown as a coach in the teaching aspect and understanding the importance of having a sequence to what you teach. We have a progression for things, like how we teach our linemen to block.“ spend a little more time in that program, but he can still play football or run track.

I want our football players to be threeor four-sport athletes, and our most successful players have been multi-sport athletes. I think sometimes young coaches can be kind of selfish, wanting the best athletes to themselves. I’ve learned over the years that it’s more important to get the kids into other programs, because competing is more important than anything else.

Circle No. 110 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Every year hundreds of high school football players … with the desire and the ability to participate at the collegiate level are overlooked by college and university coaching staffs.

Often athletes go unnoticed because they are members of a team which did not achieve a winning record, the athletes attend smaller, lower profile high schools and/or the athletes fail to effectively market their talents to the proper audience.

Thus begins the Web site for a football combine aimed at high school players in the Midwest. With an admonition like that, it’s no wonder that such events are growing in popularity among high school football players nationwide. Student-athletes enamored with the possibility of continuing their football careers are increasingly turning to the combine as a central part of their self-promotion strategy.

For college coaches, though, combines are a double-edged sword. The information they provide about high school prospects can be invaluable, but they have also added a new facet to recruiting—one with the potential to place a major strain on time and resources.

As combines continue to proliferate across the country, some coaches feel they are reaching a critical mass where the costs are starting to outweigh the benefits. The NCAA is considering a proposal that would prohibit Division I coaches from attending combines and ban the events from Division I campuses. The idea is to keep coaches from feeling they have to be on the road every weekend watching one combine or another, and it has support among many coaches, who agree it’s time for the association to step in.

However, these new rules won’t close down combines. Players will still run every sprint they can in hopes of getting noticed, and coaches will still want to know their times. So, why would college coaches seemingly want to bite the hand that feeds them? Should high school coaches promote specialized combine training to players? And how can high school coaches help their athletes navigate the maze of options that combines present?

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TACKLING

College coaches love the information high school combines provide, but worry about the recruiting demands they create.

COVER STORY

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/TOM DAHLIN

BY GREG SCHOLAND

COMBINES Instead of just talking about the problem, coaches are joining together to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

Rules of Engagement In some ways the growth of combines is a chicken-and-egg scenario. Players feel the need to attend to be seen by the coaches they want to play for. Coaches feel the need to attend to be seen by the players they’re recruiting. Regardless of who started looking at whom first, some coaches believe this cycle is getting to be too much.

“If some programs show up and others don’t, that can be noticed by athletes who want to know what schools are interested in them,” explains Grant Teaff, Executive Director of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). “And certain combines will say to a coaching staff, ‘You’d better be there, because soand-so’s staff is going to be there.’ And they’ll tell players, ‘You need to come to our combine, because all these coaching staffs are going to be watching.’”

Out of concern that this pressure will only get worse, the Big Ten submitted a proposal this summer that aims to take coaches out of the picture. NCAA Proposal 2005-151, which has the support of the Football Issues Committee, would prohibit Division I coaches from attending “any scholastic or nonscholastic activities devoted to agility, flexibility, speed, and strength tests for football prospective student-athletes” during the spring evaluation period.

In its rationale, the Big Ten points to coaches and prospects feeling compelled “to participate/attend for the sake of impressing each other.” It also notes that by removing the pressure to attend combines, coaches can spend more time on campus with the studentathletes already in their program.

Another major motivation is protecting coaches’ quality of life. “We’d like to give coaches a little breathing room from recruiting—it’s as simple as that,” says Mark Rudner, Big Ten Associate Commissioner and staff liaison to the conference’s football coaches. “The coaches feel like if they accept going to combines, then it is probably something they’ll eventually have to do every week.”

Continued on page 22 Greg Scholand is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: gs@MomentumMedia.com.

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COVER STORY

Purdue University Head Coach Joe Tiller, chairman of the Big Ten’s football committee, says the conference’s coaches believe that any advantage they gain from attending combines is far outweighed by the toll—in time, money, and energy—that it takes on coaching staffs. “Our assistant coaches tell us it’s another reason they’re forced to be away from their families, especially because most combines are held over the weekend,” he says. “And you can still get the information from a combine even if you aren’t there.”

Tiller believes that a rule barring coaches from combines could slow their expansion in general, relieving some pressure in the recruiting race for college programs and high school athletes alike. “The Big Ten coaches feel the events will be somewhat devalued if college coaches aren’t there,” he says. “We can’t tell anyone who wants to start up a combine that they can’t do it. But if we say that no coaches are ever going to be there, some of them might be more likely to think twice.”

The proposal would also prohibit Division I institutions from hosting combines. There’s already an obvious promotional advantage for a school that welcomes a combine to its campus, and it would likely be heightened if no other schools were represented. It’s a benefit that

Jeff Jellison, President and Coordinator of the Indiana-based Hoosier Gridiron combine, acknowledges.

“When I conduct my combine at a college, I’m bringing in a couple hundred kids to see the athletic facilities and the whole campus,” he says. “It might not even benefit the football program. Maybe a kid has never been there before, and when he attends the event and spends time on the campus he may decide he wants to go to school there.”

Not surprisingly, combine operators like Jellison see potential negative impact from the new rules. “I think kids will be hurt more than college coaches if the college coaches can’t be there,” he says.

“If it’s a reputable combine, the coaches are going to get the data either way. But the kids would miss out on a chance to make a really big impression on coaches who might be interested in them.”

Nonetheless, the proposal has the unanimous support of Big Ten coaches and is also backed by the AFCA, which found in a poll of its members that about 90 percent favor the prohibitions. The NCAA Academics/Eligibility/ Compliance cabinet agrees with the motivation behind the proposal, but wants its scope expanded to all parts of the recruiting year. The Management Council will formally consider the measure in January, and if it successfully

passes through the NCAA legislative process, the new rules could take effect as early as Aug. 1, 2006.

Being There So how much are coaches really giving up if they can’t go to combines?

Or, more broadly, what is the upside of attending them? Answers vary from one coach to another.

Some feel there is a strong benefit to attending combines to see prospects for themselves. This can be especially true outside of Division I-A, where recruiting is typically more regional and often based as much on potential as on existing abilities. At Division III Carthage College, Head Coach Tim Rucks says combines aren’t a central focus of his recruiting—he goes to only one or two a year—but part of the value for him is observing things that don’t show up in a letter or a stats summary.

“A good recruiter, especially at the D-III level, has to look ahead, and seeing a kid in person can really tell you a lot,” Rucks says. “For one thing, you can look at the size of a player’s frame and see how he’s going to fill out. For example, when our starting right tackle was a senior in high school, he was just 200 pounds. If you just looked at the numbers, you wouldn’t say that anyone should recruit the guy. But we saw that

DRILLS AND MORE Combines serve a specific function in the evaluation of football athletes. For assessing performance in a set of basic skills, they are in essence a great equalizer—the SAT of athletics. In a sport where everyone’s success depends in part on somebody else, they offer a chance for an athlete to distinguish himself in individual tests of strength, speed, and agility.

For that reason, while combines have sprung up independently throughout the country, their core activities and assessments are usually very similar. Most include the 40-yard dash as the basic speed test, and a vertical jump or broad jump is also standard. Agility and quickness are usually assessed with a timed cone drill, four-corner run, or shuttle run.

For strength, athletes typically bench

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

press as many repetitions as possible at a given weight, with 185 pounds being the most common. Coaches viewing combine results typically see the outcomes of all these tests, along with each athlete’s age, height, and weight. Some combines also provide academic information.

While most combines are built around the same core activities, that doesn’t mean they are identical. As they compete against each other for players and coaches, many have devised ways to distinguish themselves, and in so doing, offer more to their participants and interested recruiters.

“We select the top 200 kids from our Junior Combine and invite them back to attend an elite combine the following month, where we put them through a number of football activities,” says Joe

Russo, President of the Maryland High School Football Coaches Association.

“They’ll do passing and catching, oneon-one drills, run zone and man-to-man defenses, and other things that allow them to display their football abilities. We put it on digital video, and make it available to college programs.”

The Indiana-based Hoosier Gridiron combine takes sport simulation a step further, with seven-on-seven scrimmages.

“It gives the players another opportunity to demonstrate what they’ve got,” says Jeff Jellison, President and Coordinator.

“Some kids can go into an event and test very well, but for some their real athleticism and skills show on the football field, not in a timed agility drill. The kids also really enjoy it—when the final whistle blows, they always ask to keep playing.”

Circle No. 112

COVER STORY

he had room to grow, and he’s now playing at 265 pounds for us as a junior.”

Rucks says a good eye at a combine can also spot someone whose raw numbers belie greater potential. “A lot of high school kids don’t know how to do some of these tests, like a shuttle run, properly,” he says. “So their times are not always going to reflect their true abilities. You can watch them run a certain 40 time and say, well he’s really faster than that, he just has bad form.”

Rucks also uses combines as an opportunity to assess intangibles—the character traits and attitude that make a great learner and a great teammate.

Everything from how much an athlete hustles between stations to how he reacts after a particularly good or bad performance can offer clues. “How much

courses that help high school students look their best for admissions offices, a cottage industry of performance centers and personal trainers is helping student-athletes improve their 40 times and increase agility-drill proficiency.

But is it a wise investment?

“There are usually more than 100 kids at our combine who have gone to a personal trainer to improve their score,” says Joe Russo, President of the Maryland High School Football Coaches Association. The MHSFCA Junior Combine is billed as the largest high school combine in the country—more than 800 players attended last year. According to Russo, so many athletes invest in personal combine prep because they feel the event is one of their best chances to get noticed by

“When we started the Junior Combine in 1990, 11 football players in Maryland earned NCAA Division I scholarships ... Last year 132 kids received some kind of money for college, and 52 earned Division I scholarships.”

do they interact with other guys? How well do they interact with the coaches?

Those things give you an idea of their personality,” Rucks explains. “Seeing their overall presence in a group situation can be really important.”

At Purdue, Tiller and his staff use combines to learn more about athletes from far away, players they would otherwise have few, if any, opportunities to evaluate. “A combine can give you a chance to eyeball someone who you’re not otherwise going to be able to know as much about,” he says. “People know where the best kids are, but you’re going to know less about someone who’s far away, and combines can change that.”

Training in Vain?

Even if the NCAA rules are enacted, high school players will continue to invest time, money, and effort into preparation for the events. Just like the hundreds of SAT tutors and prep 24

COACHING MANAGEMENT

coaches at the next level.

“When we started the Junior Combine in 1990, 11 football players in Maryland earned NCAA Division I scholarships,” he says. “We have run it every year since then, and last year 132 kids received some kind of money for college, and 52 earned Division I scholarships.”

Tony Soika, Owner and Operator of Sports Performance Advancement, a private training facility based in Appleton, Wis., has also noticed the trend. He estimates that 75 percent of the football players who train at his facility are looking to improve their combine numbers. As a result, a large part of his work with them focuses on the drills that have become standard combine fare.

“Sometimes it’s a matter of teaching simple mechanics,” Soika explains. “In the 40-yard dash, for instance, a lot of football players aren’t used to starting

in a down position. So when they start their run, the first three or four steps feel awkward to them. Other kids won’t know the proper stance, so they will get into position with the wrong arm cocked back. It will take a split second to correct their mechanics once they begin running, but an eye blink is a quarter of a second.”

Soika says it’s not uncommon for someone who does combine training to add several inches to their vertical, trim two or more tenths off their 40 time, and make dramatic bench press improvements. But, he points out, those gains don’t necessarily create better football players. And the athletes usually know it.

“A lot of the players I work with see combines almost as a necessary evil—they want to train for them, and then they want their training to be completely different as soon as they’re over,” Soika says. “If I’m training someone to be a wide receiver, we work on things like mechanics, route running, core strength, and change of direction.

When I have to stop that in order to improve their bench press, that does little to help them at their position.”

Soika finds that in addition to being a distraction, too much focus on combines can sometimes interfere with football development. “I’ve got a serious I-AA prospect, and his dad recently asked me to train him to do better at an upcoming combine,” he says. “That means taking time out of his training as a quarterback, but it also means I’m building him up to do more reps on the bench. If a quarterback suddenly develops a bulked-up, muscular upper body, that can affect his throwing mechanics.

“The more I turn him into a body builder, it’s almost like we’ll have to do damage control later on,” Soika continues. “When I’m training an athlete for a combine, I will make it clear to him and his family that my real goal is to make him a better football player. The day after the combine is over, we’ll forget all about it and train for his sport.”

Combine Coaching While coaches and others may debate the value of specialized combine training, there is no doubt that many high school players boost their college football prospects through combine participation. But for a student-athlete

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COVER STORY

who is taking a first look at the combine scene, knowing where and how to begin can be difficult.

Among an athlete’s first priorities should be identifying which events are right for him, and this is an area where high school coaches should be ready to offer some guidance. Some combines welcome players from all over

the talent spectrum, while others are geared only toward elite athletes. If a player’s best shot for college football is at the Division III level, he may be best served attending several combines in his region—or the region where he would like to go to school—where Division III coaches will be. If he is a serious Division I prospect and already

has the attention of recruiters, he might only need to attend one elite combine to verify what scouts already know about his physical abilities and skills. If he’s somewhere in between, he might consider going both routes.

Economics is another consideration.

Teaff says that as combines continue to proliferate, some coaches are concerned

STANDARD MEASURES

O

ne major reason for the growth of combines has been the demand by college coaches for objective data.

To help ensure that coaches have a trustworthy, standardized profile of athletes from anywhere in the country, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) launched a set of uniform testing protocols in January called the National Athletic Testing System (NATS).

Six state football coaches’ associations have partnered with NATS for their association-run combines. Combine officials are trained

by NATS staff members to ensure that all tests are performed and measured according to the same standards, and all the

information from sanctioned events is fed into a nationwide database.

“Our board of trustees wanted to standardize the testing of student-athletes so that a coach anywhere in the country could get credible, accurate information—whether it came from the East Coast, the Midwest, or the West Coast,” says Grant Teaff, Executive Director of the AFCA and Executive Advisor to the NATS Board of Review. “We sensed that there is an increasing number of combines out there, and not all of them are operating in a standard, reliable way that gives coaches what they really need.”

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CyberQuestLive and CyberMail have made the whole process completely streamlined. Downloading and synching in questionnaires eliminates the work of data entry, and CyberMail gives us a unique and interactive way to communicate with both prospects and coaches.

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Circle No. 115

COVER STORY

about the potential for athletes to be exploited financially, spending a great deal of money to attend some events that offer little in return. Some combines cost less than $30 per entrant, while others charge more than twice that. There is no rule of thumb on how much is too much, so the best advice is simply to find out about a combine’s reputation and what it has to offer before signing up.

“It’s a good idea to find out how long a combine has been around—whether it has established itself or whether it could be here today and gone tomorrow,” says Jellison. “Some combines don’t have an office or a number to call to reach someone who can answer questions.

Just as importantly, they don’t have a number that college coaches can call to learn about the event.”

Most critical is finding out how far a combine goes to make its results available to college programs. Ultimately, the ones that work hardest to put information in the hands of college recruiters are offering the most bang for a player’s buck.

Many combines, for instance, post their results on the Internet. National Athletic Testing System combines (see “Standard Measures” on page 26), go even further, feeding their results into a searchable nationwide database that can be accessed by any college program. Other combines have mailing lists of hundreds of college coaches who receive information about the combine beforehand and a complete packet of results afterward.

In Perspective While combines have clearly changed the recruiting game, many veteran coaches agree that placing too much focus on them can be detrimental to an athlete’s overall development. It’s true that a great combine performance can make an athlete stand out to a college program, but it is important to view these events, and their relative value, in perspective.

“My feeling has always been that a football program wants to recruit football athletes—not sprinters or weightlifters,” says Jim Collins, Head Coach at

Circle No. 116

28

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Capital University, a Division III school whose conference’s recruiting rules prohibit coaches from attending combines. “There are some really key skills, like body control, hand-eye coordination, and game sense, that no combine could ever really show you.

“Rather than spending time with a personal trainer, lifting for two hours, and then working on speed drills for another hour, I would rather have a well-rounded, multi-sport athlete who really knows how to compete,” he continues. “As for the skills you develop getting ready for a combine, I say we can always develop those things after we’ve got them in our program.”

“Combines aren’t so important that an athlete should ever give up another sport to get ready for them,” agrees Rucks. “What can really get lost if you focus on raw numbers is the importance of being able to compete and be part of a team. I like people to play other sports. I like it because they’re getting coached every day, and I don’t think you can replace that.” ■

Circle No. 117

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Circle No. 118

NUTRITION

Coaches and players are constantly looking for ways to maximize onfield performance. Extra sets in the weightroom and extra reps on the practice field have long been standard fare for helping players perform better. Now, specialized dinner menus and breakfast plans are being used the same way.

Although often overlooked by teens who would rather stuff their faces with pizza and two-liter bottles of soda pop, proper nutrition is very important for football players and can help them in numerous ways, big and small. Because of the short bursts of energy required for football, eating enough carbohydrates is critical. Players who need to put on weight must learn to take in more calories than they burn, but they must be the right calories. And with only 10 to 12 games per season, each pregame meal takes on great importance.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT GETTY IMAGES (FOOTBALL IMAGE)

BY LESLIE BONCI

Even the best practice schedule or game plan can be sabotaged when players aren’t properly fueled for the rigors of football. By making sure team members know the right foods—and amounts— to eat throughout the week, coaches can ensure players always have the energy they need.

Emphasize Performance As a dietitian who has worked with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the past 12 years, several NCAA Division I and Division III teams, and high school athletes, I have found that the best way to talk to football players about this topic is to emphasize performance benefits over nutritional requirements. Whenever I provide advice or information, I talk about the edge that eating confers—its specific impact on strength, speed, stamina, and recovery. This resonates with athletes much more than talking about calorie counting or healthy eating.

I also talk about taking responsibility for optimal body fueling. A player who comes to practice without having eaten breakfast or lunch, or skimps on fluid intake during a hot summer practice, is not going to reach his full potential— which ultimately affects the team.

Leslie Bonci is Director of Sports Nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and serves as a consultant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, University of Pittsburgh athletics, and several area high schools.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

31

NUTRITION

However, at the same time, I also stress individual needs. Each player will have differing nutrient requirements based on body size, position, and individual food preferences. What works for

And I always link the suggestions to performance. I’ll say, “If you don’t eat breakfast, you will not have the energy to make the most of practice,” or “If you forego that second helping at dinner,

Each meal should look like a peace sign, with onethird of the plate as protein (red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, dried beans, nuts, soy products), one-third as a starch (rice, pasta, potato) and one-third as fruits and vegetables. one player may not be the best strategy for someone else.

Therefore, the trick is to give players guidelines that are clear, but not overly specific. I don’t insist they eat any one food. I give them a range of possible choices to fit their likes and lifestyles.

When excess body fat seems to be hindering their speed and quickness, I start with simple advice: Decrease portions, but do not skip meals. Cut back on fats, not carbohydrates.

you will soon lose that excess weight and be able to move more quickly to make a tackle.”

Carbs Are Key Football is a stop-and-go sport with short bursts of intense effort followed by rest. Therefore, the primary fuel for football is carbohydrate. Yet many players don’t get nearly enough carbohydrates. I’ve found the typical football player consumes a diet that is 43 per-

cent carbohydrate, 40 percent fat, and 17 percent protein. Most recently, with the low-carb phenomenon, players are eating even fewer carbs.

The biggest problem is that most football players eat too much fat. If their weight is fine, most don’t think much about what they eat as long as the food is enjoyable. The problem is that fat does not supply the fuel needed to build muscles. It can also cause stomach cramping and indigestion.

An ideal diet for football players derives 55 to 60 percent of its daily caloric intake from carbohydrates, 15 percent from protein, and 30 percent from fat. The way I translate these numbers to football players is that each meal should be two-thirds carbs and onethird protein, with an eye toward moderate fat. Each meal should look like a peace sign, with one-third of the plate as protein (red meat, poultry, fish, eggs, cheese, milk, yogurt, dried beans, nuts, soy products), one-third as a starch (rice, pasta, potato) and one-third as fruits and vegetables.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

NUTRITION

I emphasize carbohydrate-containing foods with lower fat content: bagels over doughnuts, mashed potatoes over fries, grilled chicken over fried, frozen yogurt over ice cream. I explain that raising the amount of carbohydrate in their diet will provide them with more available energy during practices and games. And eating fewer fried foods often decreases the chance of an upset stomach that can hinder performance.

In many cases, it’s the lifestyle of high school and college-age athletes that wreaks havoc on their diets. To combat this, I provide some simple suggestions for trading their empty-calorie foods for performance-enhancing ones.

Replace a cupcake with a piece of fruit.

Forego the chicken wings for a piece of grilled fish. Snack on nuts instead of cheese curls (but do put them in a small bowl to avoid overeating).

Alcohol consumption can be another problem in football players’ diets.

When I talk to athletes about this, I simply present the facts. Alcohol can slow reaction time, increase the risk of dehy-

dration, cause an upset stomach, and delay recovery if consumed prior to replenishing fluid and carbohydrates.

I also talk to players about postgame snacks. Many have heard that they need to consume a protein-carbohydrate mix for best recovery, but they’re unclear on what this means. So I give them specific food choices to ensure that they are getting the right proportions—which is six grams of protein and 35 grams of carbohydrates. Suggestions include peanut butter crackers, trail mix, yogurt with cereal, a bagel with cream cheese or peanut butter, or a sports bar containing the right mix of protein and carbs. I also explain that this snack should be consumed within 30 minutes after practice or a game for optimal benefit.

Two-A-Day Time The most grueling and intensive training for football players takes place during preseason two-a-day practices. At this point, calorie needs may exceed 10,000 a day per player. Getting enough carbohydrates is key for optimal perfor-

mance and recovery. Hydration is critical for both performance and warding off heat-related illness.

My recommendation is that football players begin working on hydration and fueling one month prior to training camp. Just like players need to get their muscles in shape for two-a-days, they also need to get their digestive tract in shape one month before training camp.

This will help the body adjust more quickly to the demands of preseason, which will minimize injuries and maximize performance.

To accomplish this, athletes should schedule beverages with every meal, as well as before, during, and after exercise. They should also practice drinking larger volumes before and during exercise—gulps instead of sips.

In addition, athletes should get into the habit of regular eating, by having three meals a day plus a snack pre- and post-exercise. Have them aim to dedicate two-thirds of the plate to carbohydrates, and choose foods with higher water content such as fruits and vegetables.

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33

NUTRITION

Once two-a-days start, players should consume at least three meals per day with snacks in between. Skipping breakfast is not an option, especially when a player has an early morning practice or lifting session. For the athlete who is not overly hungry in the morning, a smoothie, yogurt, cereal and fruit, or even a sports drink and sports bar can be a lighter alternative.

Adequate caloric intake is very important. Supporting a large, hard-exercising body can mean consuming a lot of food.

That is okay. Players should not be trying to lose weight during this time.

Carbohydrates must be the main fuel source. Players will not recover in time for the next practice unless they consume enough carbohydrate and

How do you make sure fluid intake is adequate? Begin by stressing the importance of drinking. Players should start their day with 16 ounces of fluid and make it a point to drink at every meal and before, during, and after practices.

Explain that drinking fluids not only prevents heat-related illnesses but also helps them sustain performance. When practice is grueling, being fully hydrated will help them get through it.

Here are some specifics for them to follow: ■ Drink 16 ounces of a sports drink one hour before exercise, as it takes one hour for one liter of fluid to leave the gut.

■ Drink 20 to 40 ounces of fluid (sports drink/water) per hour of practice.

■ Drink 24 ounces of fluid (based on

PREGAME MEAL MAKEOVER How do you turn a traditional pregame meal into something to enhance your players’ game performance? Consider this meal makeover: INSTEAD OF:

SERVE:

Big T-bone steaks

Filet or chicken

Prime rib

Flank steak

Tater tots or French fries

Oven-baked wedges/mashed potatoes

Fettuccine alfredo

Pasta marinara with parmesan cheese

Brownies/ice cream

Soft serve or parfaits

Milk/juice

Low-fat milk/sports drinks

Biscuits

Rolls

Whole pieces of fruit

Cut up fruit

watch their protein intake. Excess protein will be stored as fat and may dehydrate the body.

Sodium intake may need to be increased, especially for athletes with abnormally salty perspiration, to prevent cramping. “Salty sweaters” typically feel gritty or have white residue on their skin or uniform after exercise. Ask these players about their sodium intake, encourage sports drink consumption in addition to water, and recommend adding salt and condiments, such as Worcestershire or soy sauce, to foods on their plate.

For the training camp rookie, it is important to remind him to eat and drink, even when he would rather nap.

In addition, try to push a little more food at every meal.

34

COACHING MANAGEMENT

recent studies) for every pound of body weight lost during exercise, immediately post exercise.

■ During practice, coaches must implement scheduled fluid breaks and make sure every athlete stops to rehydrate.

Ideally, players should weigh themselves before and after practice and drink enough fluid to replace the lost weight. That is, 150 percent of the lost water weight should be consumed. For example, a player who loses five pounds (80 ounces) during a practice would need to drink 120 ounces of fluid to replace the water weight loss.

Are sports drinks better than water?

During two-a-days, sports drinks most likely provide an edge over water. Sports drinks provide necessary fluid, fuel, and

electrolytes during exercise, so they provide a great package deal.

Gametime Meals Pregame meals have long been a bonding tradition for many football teams, but they should also be thought of as an important fueling component before a game. The best strategy is to choose lower-fat foods. Fats take longer to digest, so high-fat meals can leave the athlete with a full, heavy stomach and not enough energy to perform at his best.

For example, when planning pregame breakfast meals, minimize higher fat items such as fried meats, fried potatoes, bacon, and sausage in favor of leaner proteins and carbohydrates such as bread, cereal, and toast. For afternoon pregame meals, choose grilled, baked, or broiled meats, tomato instead of cream sauce, low-fat milk, and baked or boiled instead of fried potatoes.

I always encourage my players to stick with foods familiar to them for pregame meals. Experimenting with the way certain foods sit in the body should be done during the off-season.

Some examples of good pregame meals include: ■ Turkey or ham subs, fruit salad, frozen yogurt ■ Eggs, waffles, ham, fruit ■ Pasta with red meat sauce, grilled chicken, salad, and fruit ■ Smoothie, cereal, fruit ■ For those who want steak, offer 8ounce cuts with plenty of carbohydrates on the side ■ For beverages, serve sports drinks, juices, and water.

Postgame meals are also an important time for some teams. However, before the team sits down for the meal, they should begin refueling with fluids and carbohydrates immediately following the contest, in the form of sports drinks, pretzels, sports bars, or fruit.

The postgame meal may have a higherfat option, such as fried chicken, steak, or a cheesesteak hoagie. This is usually the hungriest time for the players, especially those who don’t eat much before games. Some good options include: ■ Steak kebabs and rice ■ Salmon, green beans, and corn ■ Roast beef, mashed potatoes, and salad ■ Hamburgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, fries, and juice.

NUTRITION

Weight Issues If players need to lose or gain weight, they should not try to do so during the season. The focus of preseason and inseason training is to get ready for upcoming games. Attempting to lose or gain weight during this time takes energy away from in-season preparation.

Losing or gaining weight should be a long-term project, takeing place over six months. Meet with players looking to change body composition during the off-season to set realistic goals, and, if possible, connect those players with a sports nutritionist who can help them develop a nutrition plan.

It is essential to understand a player’s on-field goals before altering his diet. If a player needs to lose weight, focus on losing weight to move more quickly. If a player needs to gain weight, focus on gaining weight to be stronger.

Some tips for weight loss in football players: â– Do not restrict carbs. â– Do not skip meals, but do decrease portion size. (It is usually not the pasta

that is the problem, but the size of the portion!) A little off the top at each meal works very well. For example, eat 12 chicken wings instead of 24, drink a 12ounce glass of juice instead of 20, or eat a 12-ounce steak instead of a 24-ouncer. â– Trim calories by cutting down on condiments and snacks. â– Many find it easier to lose weight by eating smaller, more frequent meals that are more evenly divided throughout the day, instead of three meals a day. â– Decrease calories from beverages by diluting juices, choosing diet soda or iced tea, and using smaller glasses. â– Include filling foods such as protein and food that need more chewing: vegetables, baked potato, meat, fruits. â– When eating fast food, choose regular instead of super-sized meals. â– Put snacks into a bowl instead of sitting down with the whole bag.

For the player desiring to gain weight, the most important point is to be consistent, eating more calories every day.

Some tips: â– Start a meal with food, not liquids, so

have the sandwich first, then the shake. â– Replace low- or no-calorie beverages with juice, lemonade, milk, and replace water with sports drinks. â– Try to eat one-quarter more at every meal and snack. â– Keep snacks around to nibble on. â– Add higher calorie foods to every meal: granola instead of sugared cereal. â– Add nuts to cereal or snacks. â– Eat bagels instead of bread. â– Add more protein, but only four ounces more a day, through food, not supplements. Choose cheese, low-fat lunch meats, an extra piece of chicken or fish, milk, and yogurt.

To make the most of football players’ talents, encourage them to make nutrition a priority. Explain how nutritional suggestions lead to success on the field, and they will soon be analyzing their meals as diligently as they analyze game film! ■A version of this article previously appeared in Coaching Management’s sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

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Circle No. 124

STRENGTH TRAINING

BY GRAY COOK, HEATH HYLTON, & DAVID LEE

STRETCHING TO SCORE JIMMY DEFLIPPO/US PRESSWIRE

T

hey’re a staple of almost every team’s practice routine. But it can be easy to overlook the opportunities presented by warmup periods. Rather than simply being a time for players to do some calisthenics and loosen up, this chunk of precious practice time can be used as an integral part of an effective strength program.

When a matter of inches means a difference of six points, players need all the flexibility and core strength they can muster. Consider using these partner core stretches during warmup sessions to reach every goal.

Recently, we were asked to create a series of exercises for a high school football team that could be accomplished during warmup and would make the most effective use of that limited time. In response, we created a group of core training partner exercises that can be done on the field with limited supervision.

The focus of the exercises is on

strengthening the core, a key area for football players. A strong core enables both mobility and stability of the body and helps prevent injuries and muscle imbalance. Because core training is so important for football players, it must be continued throughout the season. Making these exercises a consistent part of the warmup maintains core strength through the very last game of the season.

Gray Cook is Clinic Director, Heath Hylton is Clinic Coordinator, and David Lee is Exercise Physiologist at Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, Dunn, Cook, and Associates, in Danville, Va. Cook is also the author of Athletic Body in Balance, published by Human Kinetics.

A special thanks to the Pittsylvania County (Va.) high school coaches for their continual support of and feedback on our programs.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

39

STRENGTH TRAINING

It was also critical to design exercises based on functional movement patterns, not isolated muscle training. Football players will sometimes be skeptical about exercises that don’t involve weights, so it is important to explain to them that simply becoming stronger will not yield a better movement pattern. They must develop a combination of strength, stability, joint mobility, and muscular flexibility, which happens through functional drills.

Why are core training partner exercises an effective use of time? First of all, by making them part of the warmup, we accomplish two goals at once. Often, time is wasted during the warmup as players loosen up and get ready for practice in a haphazard way. But this is valuable time that can contribute to the overall development of the athlete. This program gives structure and meaning to the first 10 to 15 minutes of on-field warmup activity.

They are also time-efficient because they use a partner system, which occupies all individuals on the field. While half of the players are doing the exercise, the other half are learning more about the exercise by helping their partner. This reduces distractions and cuts down on the level of supervision needed, as coaches only need to watch half the number of athletes performing a specific move.

Partnering also provides a necessary break for the individual not performing the exercise. This is not to say that the other player is completely inactive. It is an active rest period where he must watch, participate, and pay close attention to detail.

It is important for the non-stretching player to take an active role by supporting his active teammate and providing full attention and effort when supplying resistance. As a partner, he essentially assumes the role of assistant coach and should always be looking for opportu-

nities to provide feedback and technique modification. You should make it clear to the players that if a bad set is observed, it is the fault of the partner as much as the exercising athlete. It is important that both individuals feel ownership of the drill even though one will be working his muscles harder.

In the following text, we describe several exercises that we developed for this program—all of which can be performed at varying degrees of difficulty. They are based on what we call the Functional Movement Screen™ and focus on movement patterns like the squat, hurdle step, lunge, push-up, and active straight-leg raise. These are the movements we feel help athletes most effectively elongate muscles and activate the core.

One thing to note is the importance of matching players with partners of equal size, strength, and flexibility.

This creates a fair level of competition and provides more consistent feedback between partners.

A) DEEP SQUAT SHOULDER STRETCH

A

Purpose: To improve deep squat and shoulder mobility movement patterns.

Instructions: The deep squat shoulder stretch incorporates the mobility maneuver needed in the lower extremities to execute a deep squat with the heels flat. Since athletes have varying degrees of ability with a full deep squat, the partner stands with one leg supporting the low back and buttocks region and encourages the squatting athlete to lean forward as much as possible and then to erect the spine in an upright tall spine position. This will engage the core.

Once a complete deep squat has been executed, the squatting athlete is cued to press the knees outward using his elbows to create an adductor stretch. He is told to hold the knees in this position and maintain this abducted position of the hips while reaching upward, first with the right arm and then with the left.

The partner gives an upward pull or traction stretch and the athlete performing the stretch is encouraged not to let the knee cave in on the side of the stretching arm.

Note: The arm is not pulled backward. It is pulled upward, thus creating a safe shoulder stretch for the lats and pecs.

B

B) HIP LIFT WITH PLYO LEG RAISE Purpose: To improve hurdle step and active straight-leg raise movement patterns.

Instructions: The first athlete lies on his back with his head between the feet of his partner and holds the lower ankle and heel on each side. The athlete on the ground performs a bridge by lifting his buttocks with the knees in a 90 degree flexed position. He then extends one leg and lifts it in a straight-leg position coming backward toward the standing partner. As soon as the leg reaches its full range of motion, the partner pushes the leg downward in a brisk, shoving motion with one arm. The athlete slows down the lower extremity, changes direction, and brings it back upward again. This is done on each side. While performing this exercise, the athlete on the ground is instructed to maintain a hip lift position and not lose hip extension during the leg cycle lift activity.

40

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Circle No. 125

STRENGTH TRAINING

C) HALF-KNEELING ROTATION MOBILITY AND STABILITY

C

Purpose: To improve lunge, rotary stability, and shoulder mobility movement patterns.

Instructions: Both athletes get into a half-kneeling position with the left knee up.

One person puts his arms in a “T” position with shoulders abducted 90 degrees.

The partner then performs a mobility assist by rotating the first person’s shoulders left and right to 90 degrees while the athlete is instructed not to allow any rotation at the hips or pelvis. They are cued to stay as tall as possible and keep the hip of the back leg extended as much as possible throughout the stretch. The sequence is reversed and the other partner then performs the same stretch. Once both athletes have stretched in a left and right direction, the knee position is reversed.

Next, the athletes get into a push-hands position in the center of their bodies and execute an isometric rotation into each other while stabilizing their hip and shoulder position and keeping the spine as tall as possible. They are told to push as hard as possible without losing balance and then to perform the same movement with the opposite hands. The half-kneeling position is then switched to the opposite knee.

D) STABILITY STRIDE Purpose: To improve hurdle step and trunk stability push-up movement patterns.

Instructions: The athletes assume a wheelbarrow position where one athlete is in the push-up position and the other holds the partner’s ankles at the level of his hips with a slight knee bend. The supporting athlete can take a stride position to narrow his base and allow for easy cycling action of the legs. The athlete in pushup position cycles each leg, one at a time, toward his chest and back. He must maintain a flat back and a stable core with a head-up position and tuck the right hip as the supporter releases the ankle of the right leg. The athlete is instructed to bring his hip as close to his chest as possible followed by extending it back to the start position and quickly pulling the left leg into the same position.

D

The goal is smooth, quick leg speed while maintaining a stable trunk. The supporter is encouraged to use quick hand action to alternate supporting each leg as the active athlete goes through this stride position.

Modifications: The athlete exercising can widen or narrow his hand position to change the level of difficulty or go to a prone-on-elbows position to reduce upper-body stress.

E) PLANK POSITION CRUNCH

E

Purpose: To improve trunk stability and push-up shoulder mobility movement patterns. This exercise serves to demonstrate to athletes that the spine has both stabilizing and mobilizing roles. The muscles of the spine can either hold the trunk stable or create a curl or twist action.

Instructions: . One athlete assumes a push-up position (plank position) with the other athlete lying across his back perpendicularly. The athlete on top is instructed to do crunches in the same fashion he would do over a stability ball (full flexion and extension).

Modifications: The athlete in the support position holding his push-up position can modify his position if he becomes weak by going to a quadruped position.

F

F) EXTENSION PRESS Purpose: To improve rotary stability and shoulder mobility movement patterns.

Instructions: One athlete sits with his arms supporting him from behind and lifts the legs so that the supporting athlete can hold both the ankles in a quarter-squat position. The athlete on the ground is instructed to press the hips upward until the spine is as straight as possible and to keep the chest up and shoulders back.

Modifications: The athlete doing the press can go to an “on elbows” position to reduce arm and shoulder stress.

42

COACHING MANAGEMENT

The Only Sled You Must Drive Before Leveraging Fit–Drive–Extension–Finish

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Whether on offense or defense, the player utilizing the power of leverage realizes success.

Master the skill of reversing the momentum of the opponent prior to rolling the hips and lifting him. Hit the pad and overcome its resistance. Only after the spring is compressed six inches or more, does the Rogers Lev Sled unlock. Then roll the hips and lift the pad.

To practice drive and shoulder blocking, lock the top in the down position (no tools are required). You can drill both leverage blocking and drive blocking during the same practice.

Call for pricing, free catalog and our latest free Training DVD. (800) 248-0270. Visit us on the web at www.rogersathletic.com

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Circle No. 126

STRENGTH TRAINING

G) SIDE BEND SHOULDER STABILITY

G

Purpose: To improve rotary stability, shoulder mobility, and trunk stability push-up movement patterns.

Instructions: The athlete performing the exercise assumes a side-lying position on the elbow with the forearm flat and palm down. The partner assumes a quarter-squat position holding the ankles. The athlete on the ground is instructed to elevate the hips up and through until an erect and straight spine can be observed. This move is performed both on the left and right sides.

Modifications: The athlete doing the side bend can stabilize with the top arm by gripping the wrist on the ground. This will reduce the natural shoulder twist that occurs with the move.

H

H) TRUNK STABILITY SHOULDER PRESS Purpose: To improve stability push-up, rotary stability, shoulder mobility, and deep squat movement patterns. This also provides a double quadriceps stretch for the partner.

Instructions: One athlete holds a push-up position while his partner places that athlete’s ankles on his shoulders while in a tall kneeling position. The supporting athlete keeps the hips as far forward as possible, getting a slight anterior thigh stretch, and then performs a shoulder press holding the ankles of the athlete in push-up position. The athlete in push-up position is instructed to keep a straight and erect spine throughout the entire movement. â–

A version of this article previously appeared in Coaching Management’s sister publication, Training & Conditioning. For more information on the Functional Movement Screen™, go to our Web site at: www.AthleticSearch.com and type “weak linksâ€? in the search window.

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44

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Focus on In-Season Football Training With Joe Juraszek Strength and Conditioning Coach Dallas Cowboys What are the priorities of your team’s in-season workouts?

We try to target the shoulders, the neck area, and the legs. The contact in football is so violent that many times our guys come into the gym and their shoulders are too sore to do some of the major weightlifting movements we’d like them to do, like cleans and squats with progressively heavier weight loads. So when they first come in, we do some targeted exercises to warm up the joints and allow them to progress to normal weightlifting movements.

What kinds of exercises do you use?

We have them utilize bands for flexion pulling movements and upright rows. They do push and pull movements so we get both eccentric and concentric movement. We also have them use the Hammer Strength Jammer for single-arm work, using a rotation similar to the throwing motion for a shot put.

We do the flexion pulling movements first, followed by a push, to stabilize the back and the shoulders. One big key is that our equipment can be used bilaterally or unilaterally. When one side of an athlete’s body is sore, we utilize unilateral movement to isolate that area and get it moving to establish range of motion. For instance, the low row, performed with an overhand grip, is great for the pulling, and the bench press with inside levers on its handles, angles, and grips lets the athlete do an extensor movement while he’s in a supine position lying down.

Why is unilateral isolation so important?

When the work is being performed by both legs or both arms at the same time, the athlete can end up compensating, or cheating during the movement to favor one side. When we isolate, we can eliminate that.

We’ll often work the unaffected side first, to establish proper range of motion, stroke, and tempo, and then have them try to mimic that same range, stroke, and tempo with the other side.

Sometimes it starts with partial movement on the injured side and slowly progresses to full range of motion. This creates blood flow to the muscles and

joints of the affected area, and hopefully gets the athlete prepared to return to a normal routine.

What other elements of the training regimen are different in-season?

One thing we have done is focus on dumbbell work instead of barbell work. It creates a lot more flexibility and freedom of motion where the athlete can adjust the elbow or shoulder movement as necessary to work his way back into the normal lifting routine. If you’re limited to having the bar in a 180-degree plane, sometimes you can’t get the type of movement you need.

How do you know what level of training a player can handle if he is experiencing soreness or coming back from an injury?

It’s very important for us to have great communication with our team athletic trainers. They’ll tell us about what an individual athlete’s status is and we’ll use that information to decide what type of work he should be doing. If you don’t have open lines of communication between the athletic trainers, the strength coaches, and the athletes, it really works against you.

Can you share a success story of your in-season training?

It’s really phenomenal how a guy can come in and do a series of specific movements and then progress to the major weightlifting. Sometimes players can hardly lift their arms to their chest when they walk into the weightroom, and when they finish their flexibility work they can complete the rest of the workout and be back on track for the next game.

One of our most high profile players last year was running back Julius Jones. He had a broken scapula, so the range of motion they tried to create in the athletic training room would have been hindered if we didn’t have unilateral equipment. Julius could work each side at its own rate to get his shoulders back into shape as the scapula healed. His ability to create movement and range of motion throughout his shoulders and upper back enhanced the healing process and maintained his flexibility.

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Circle No. 129

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

HOOSIER HEROICS Three last-minute comebacks and one gutsy two-point conversion have added up to three straight Indiana state titles for Roncalli High School.

BY DAVID HILL 48

COACHING MANAGEMENT

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS Every championship season has one moment that symbolizes the entire year. It might be a shortyardage fourth down attempt, a brilliant special teams execution, or a standout player taking the game into his own hands. For Roncalli High School in Indianapolis, the play of the 2004 season came midway through the Indiana state tournament, against rival Cathedral High School. In one play, Roncalli showed what it’s made of, and why the team has won three straight state titles.

MIKE DELANEY (p. 50); KORY MARKS (p. 51)

During its run to consecutive state titles in 2002 and 2003, Roncalli had become known as a power team, relying on strength and ball control. But this was a different group of Roncalli Rebels. They had lost their top running back to an ACL injury in the season’s fourth game. In the previous week, their top lineman broke his arm. His replacement was a capable player, but at just 195 pounds, the change left Roncalli’s line outsized by Cathedral’s, which sported defensive ends at 265 and 250 pounds. “Size-wise, we didn’t match up very well with Cathedral up front,” Head Coach Bruce Scifres says.

“That’s why we went to a little hocuspocus there, I guess.”

The hocus-pocus came after Roncalli scored a touchdown with about two minutes left to cut Cathedral’s lead to 16-15. With the momentum flowing the Rebels’ way, Scifres called for a two-point conversion to take the lead. For the first time all season, star receiver Jason Werner—Mr. Indiana Football 2004—lined up as quarterback in the shotgun formation. He ran a counter keeper and got the two points. An interception by Werner ended Cathedral’s comeback try, and the Rebels advanced.

In each of the next two weeks of the state tournament, Roncalli would take the lead in the final two minutes and hold on to win, never succumbing to season-on-the-line pressure. It was this ability to hold up emotionally and continue executing plays that made its third consecutive title run stand out.

It didn’t happen by chance, Scifres believes, but instead reflects the way his approach to coaching has evolved.

“Coaching to me now is more about teaching my players how to live

their lives and be the kind of people they were created to be,” he says.

“I’ve grown to understand and appreciate that more now. It seems like the time they spend with us is a lot more meaningful to them, and when the game’s on the line, they’re able to make things happen.”

Even though the school, which has about 1,000 students, was founded only 36 years ago, tradition plays a big role in Roncalli’s football program. In fact, five of the eight assistant coaches are Roncalli alumni. “Most of the guys who come through here had brothers and dads and uncles and cousins, and for some of them grandpas, who played here,” says Scifres. “There’s a very strong sense of tradition and legacy here.”

Though he’s not an alumnus, Scifres is in his 16th year as head coach.

After playing running back at Butler University and spending a year there as a graduate assistant, Scifres came to Roncalli in 1980 as head track and field coach and an assistant in football.

He left in 1983, spending seven years in the same positions at Lawrence Central High School before returning to Roncalli. The public school experience was a positive one, Scifres says, but he came to appreciate the parochial-school atmosphere of Roncalli, which he believes better lends itself to character development, discipline, and building a family environment.

The mental toughness that helped Roncalli win its state titles came, ironically enough, after Scifres stopped judging success solely by wins and losses. “Early on, my priorities had to do with championships and win-loss records, and I was more caught up in being named coach of the year,” he says. “Now that what’s important to me in coaching has evolved, it seems like other things have fallen into place.

Every coach likes to strategize, and that’s certainly a big part of coaching, but I’ve grown to believe real success as a coach comes from the way you influence young men.”

Given the way 2004 ended, it’s hard to argue. With expectations running high off two straight state championships, there was certainly some pressure on the team. They were tested by injuries and two heartbreaking lastminute regular-season losses, includ-

School: Roncalli High School Location: Indianapolis Head Coach: Bruce Scifres State Titles: Eight, the state record among all classes; six under Scifres, including three consecutive, 2002-04.

Varsity Coaching Staff: Jerre McManama, running backs and linebackers; Ray Shelburn, linemen and inside linebackers; Make Sahm, tight ends and outside linebackers; Chris Belch, lines and offensive coordinator; Chris Strykowski, wide receivers, defensive backs, special teams; Brian Lauck, defensive backs, quarterbacks; Tim Puntarelli, quarterbacks, secondary; Eddie Keller, offensive and defensive lines.

Notes: Roncalli has had one alumnus play in the NFL, Nate Lawrie, a tight end who is now with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ... 2004 standout Jason Werner played defensive back, wide receiver, and running back, and is listed as free safety as a freshman at Purdue University this year.

ing one to Cathedral on a field goal with three seconds left.

The week after avenging its loss to Cathedral, Roncalli faced Mooresville High School, who’d beaten the Rebels in overtime during the regular season. Roncalli scored a touchdown in the last minute to win, 20-16, with another late interception by Werner salting the game away. The deja vu continued in the state semifinal game against Columbus North High School, with Roncalli driving and scoring to take the lead with a minute-and-a-half left, and, for the third time, Werner’s pick stopping a drive with 30 seconds on the clock. The state title game the next week in the RCA Dome was almost anticlimactic—a 35-10 victory over Wawasee High School.

David Hill is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

49

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP SOLUTIONS

Oakwood High School, Dayton, Ohio State Playoff Qualifier: 2001, 2003, 2004 Need: Head Football Coach Mark Hughes needed to protect the track circling Oakwood’s field from cleat damage both at the overlapping bench area and at the cross-over area.

Pflugerville Connally High School, Texas Class 4A Division II Regional Champion

Xenia High School, Xenia, Ohio Back to Back Conference Champions

Need: An efficient way for Connally coaches to view roster depth. Head Coach Matt Monzingo also wanted a way to display team and individual football records.

Need: The coaching staff was looking for a way to give Xenia’s linemen more agility and stamina.

Solution: Coach Hughes was the first to use Aer-Flo’s new Cross-Over Zone™ Track Protectors. “We put them down in August and leave them in place through football and soccer seasons. The built-in chainweighting units keep it down in winds, so we don’t need to use stakes anymore.

They’re great protectors,” Hughes says.

Solution: Coach Monzingo credits Austin Plastics’ depth boards and record boards as the solution for both needs. Using computers, coaches can quickly change and update names and records with the Austin Plastics printer program. The record boards are great goal-setters for current athletes as well as an excellent way for alumni to see their high school accomplishments immortalized.

Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 FAX: 941-747-2489 WWW.AERFLO.COM Circle No. 500

Austin Plastics and Supply 800-290-1025 FAX: 512-832-0952 WWW.ATHLETICRECORDBOARDS.COM Circle No. 501

Circle No. 130

50

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Solution: Gear 2000 Z-Cool shoulder pads met and exceeded the program’s expectations. The combination of moisture-management technology and a 35-percent lighter construction offered athletes advantages in agility and staying power.

The improved performance of the team’s linemen proved the value of the new equipment.

Gear 2000, Ltd. 785-625-6060 FAX: 785-625-9036 WWW.GEAR2000.COM Circle No. 502

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP SOLUTIONS

Gering High School, Neb. Undefeated in District and Conference Play Need: Although Gering High School’s football players were okay size-wise, the coaching staff was concerned about its athletes’ speed, and searched for a functional speed trainer that would produce results during competition.

Solution: Head Football Coach Tom O’Boyle heard about a VertiMax being used in the area. On his own time, he observed the VertiMax in use. After that one session, O’Boyle decided that was what he and his staff were looking for to improve their players’ speed. “It’s the best thing for athletes that I’ve seen in 24 years as a teacher and coach,” says O’Boyle.

Genetic Potential 800-699-5867 FAX: 813-600-4040 WWW.VERTIMAX.COM Circle No. 503

Circle No. 131

Susquehannock H.S., Pa. 2004 YAIAA-DII Champions Need: Athletic Trainer Glen Johnson was looking for a durable treatment table that would be easy to carry and set up for use on the sidelines during football games.

Solution: Johnson chose the Boss treatment table from Oakworks. This lightweight but sturdy table has independently adjustable legs for uneven surfaces and features removable field feet that keep the legs from sinking into the ground.The Boss is easily transportable in its protective carrying case, so it’s perfect for athletic trainers who need to work on the sidelines checking injuries or taping athletes.

Oakworks 800-916-4603 FAX: 717-235-6798 WWW.OAKWORKSPT.COM Circle No. 504

West Des Moines Valley High School, Iowa 2002 & 2003 4-A Football Champions; 2003 & 2004 Iowa All-Sports Champions Need: Gary Swenson, Head Football Coach and Fitness Center Director, was looking to redesign his free weight area with spacesaving equipment that was ideal for both athletics and physical education classes.

Solution: Coach Swenson chose Power Lift’s 9’ Power Racks with lever-action benches. “I visited multiple facilities where Power Lift equipment was being used, and I knew this was the solution for us,” he says. “By incorporating the bench press, incline press, military press, and squat station into one space-saving rack, we were able to create more usable space in our facility.”

Power Lift 800-872-1543 FAX: 515-386-3220 WWW.POWER-LIFT.COM Circle No. 505

Circle No. 132 COACHING MANAGEMENT

51

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP SOLUTIONS

Colerain High School, Cincinnati, Ohio 2004 Division I State Champions; 2005 USA Today Ranking #18 Need: Colerain High School Head Football Coach Kerry Coombs wanted a software system to help improve film study and gain knowledge of opponent’s strategies.

Solution: “I have found that the Proscout system meets our needs explicitly. Prior to any budgetar y expenditure in our program, I always ask myself this question, ‘Will this improve our on-field per formance?’ The answer in the case of the Proscout Video system was an emphatic ‘Yes.’ I look for ward to expanding our use of the system in the future, and I would not hesitate to purchase it again,” says Coach Coombs.

Proscout Video 877-PROSCOUT FAX: 330-781-1500 WWW.PROSCOUTVIDEO.COM Circle No. 506

Rockford High School, Mich.

2004 Division I State Champions Need: Head Football Coach Ralph Munger needed a safe and efficient way to train championship-caliber blockers and tacklers.

Solution: Munger’s players train with a Seven-Man Mod Sled, 20’ Trap Chute with Boards, One-Man Pop-Up Tackle Sled, Scout Pop-Up Dummies, an Open-Field Tackle Machine, and lots of agiles and stand-up dummies, all from Rogers Athletic. “Rogers Athletic products reinforce proper techniques in areas like footwork and placement of the head and shoulders,” Munger says.

“The quality is outstanding, and the design is well-researched and very user-friendly.

Also, Rogers’ service is phenomenal—if you have any problem whatsoever, the company takes care of it immediately.”

Rogers Athletic Co. 800-248-0270 FAX: 888-549-9659 WWW.ROGERSATHLETIC.COM Circle No. 507

Crenshaw High School, Los Angeles, Calif.

Undefeated in League Play, Ranked #21 in California Need: Green Bay Packer Defensive Line Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila contacted Samson Equipment to outfit his alma matter with custom weight-training equipment built to the specifications of both himself and Head Football Coach Robert Garrett.

Solution: By working with Gbaja-Biamila and Coach Garrett, Samson Equipment provided custom Power Stations with the school’s colors and logo and custom-made Olympic plate storage unit, dumbbell racks, and glute-ham benches that were unique in color and design.

All parties worked on the layout of the weight room, including the color selection, placement of the logo, and the custom-designing of equipment, to produce a first-class facility that athletes at Crenshaw High School will be proud of for years to come.

Samson Equipment, Inc. 800-472-6766 FAX: 505-523-2100 WWW.SAMSONEQUIPMENT.COM Circle No. 508

www.wizardsports.com 1UALITY 3PORTS %QUIPMENT +ICKING .ETS &IELD %QUIPMENT 'OAL 0OSTS +ICKING 3HOES #USTOM &OOTBALL "AGS &OOTBALLS

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1-888-964-5425 Circle No. 133

52

COACHING MANAGEMENT

Circle No. 134

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP SOLUTIONS

Southlake Carroll High School, Southlake, Texas 2004 Texas Class 5A State Champions, 2004 USA Today National Champions Need: Southlake Carroll High School Head Football Coach Todd Dodge was looking for the latest advancement in football helmet technology to provide his players with the best fit and protection available, along with the comfort that the players want.

Solution: Coach Dodge chose the DNA™ helmet from Schutt® Sports. The military-proven SKYDEX® cushioning system provided the protection his players needed, and the SUREFIT™ airliner system offered the unsurpassed comfort his players wanted. “The Schutt DNA gives our players the best opportunity to achieve success on the football field,” Dodge says.

Schutt Sports 866-4 SCHUTT FAX: 217-324-2855 WWW.SCHUTTSPORTS.COM Circle No. 509

Hays High School, Hays, Kans.

Western Athletic Conference Playoff Contenders Need: Head Football Coach Kent Teeter needed a better-fitting girdle for his team—one that eliminated the need to insert pads and prevented athletes from losing pads.

Solution: “We bought Stromgren products because they offered the best product for the money,” says Teeter. “This was the first year for us to use the Permalite Football Girdle. Our players loved the girdle. It’s not as bulky or loose as our old girdles, plus the pads are sewn-in and completely eliminate a missing pad. We need to credit the 1551HTP also for eliminating injury. Since we have used them, our injuries have all but been eliminated.”

Stromgren Supports 800-527-1988 FAX: 785-625-9036 WWW.STROMGREN.COM Circle No. 510

Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies

Wayzata High School, Wayzata, Minn.

2004 Section 2AA Champions and State Runners-Up Need: The high school needed an organized storage solution for its athletic equipment that would also maximize the functionality of limited spaces.

Solution: The school chose Wenger’s New GearBoss™ storage system because its unique design fit Wayzata’s specific athletic equipment storage needs. GearBoss improved Wayzata’s inventory-management system and security and reduced its storage needs by at least one-half compared with traditional shelving. This modular, high-density system consists of rolling carts that are flexible and easy to configure for a variety of equipment, such as helmets, shoulder pads, baseball bats, jerseys, balls, and other athletic equipment.

Wenger Corporation 800-4-WENGER FAX: 507-455-4258 WWW.WENGERCORP.COM Circle No. 511

Aliso Niguel High School, Calif.

10-2, 2nd in Sea View League, All-League Kicker Need: Coach Brad Bohn needed a kicking net, footballs, tees, holders, and blocks.

Solution: “The kicking net from Wizard Sports Equipment is top of the line,” says Coach Bohn. “It’s easy to set up and transport, and the carrying case is convenient for taking it along on road games.

The advantage of Wizard products is that you always get quality athletic equipment at good prices, and the service is great.”

Wizard Sports Equipment 888-964-5425 FAX: 714-974-1852 WWW.WIZARDSPORTS.COM Circle No. 512 Circle No. 135 COACHING MANAGEMENT

53

Video Editing & Stat Software Guide

APEX Sports Software 888-770-2739 WWW.APEXFOOTBALL.COM AFCA Booth No. DBL-436 See ad on page 50

CompuSports 800-691-4555 WWW.COMPUSPORTS.COM

Primary Advantages: APEX is the first and only editing system to offer voice recognition, a unique, time-saving feature for coaches. Simply speak and APEX automatically enters the play data while computing the down, distance, and yardline for each play.

Easy-Scout XP and Easy-Recruiter are both published and distributed by CompuSports. The company also offers a wide range of playbook, statistics, and practice-planning products from industryleading publishers.

With our exclusive storage, APEX gives you the ability to fit multiple seasons right on your PC. No need for costly external hard drives ever y year, with APEX you can save a game to an inexpensive CD or an entire season onto one DVD. APEX’s tendencies are completely programmable, giving you the precise information you want when game planning for your opponents. Pulling up any scenario is as simple as clicking a button. Ever y tendency chart, graph and report is printable for easy on the field access.

Upgrade Availability: APEX is continuously being updated, putting to work the suggestions and feedback from coaches nationwide. Updates are easily accessible and downloadable via APEX’s Web site.

Support Services: APEX offers 24/7 support during the football season and resumes normal business-hour support during the off-season.

Customer Quote: “APEX Sports Software gives us a competitive edge over our opponents that is displayed on the scoreboard at the end of the game.”

Tom Henderson Burrell High School Lower Burrell, Pa.

Background: APEX Sports Software was formed by a group of coaches frustrated with early-market video-editing systems. They created a video-editing software program that would allow them to focus more on their game plans than editing game tape.

APEX Sports Software Circle No. 513

54

COACHING MANAGEMENT

See ad on page 52

Primary Advantages: The company’s products are affordable, easy to use, and well-established. As a multi-vendor distributor, CompuSports is able to offer “bestof-breed” products to its customers.

Support Services: CompuSports offers a helpful technical support Web site. E-mail and instant messaging support are also available for all products. Telephone support is provided for scouting, recruiting, and playbook products.

Upgrade Availability: Upgrades are available at significantly-reduced prices.

Customer Quote: “I’ve been using computer scouting programs for 15 years and have found CompuSports Easy-Scout to be user-friendly, very efficient, and by far the best at producing reports. Any time I have had a question, I’ve always received a clear answer, often on the same day. I strongly recommend CompuSports and its EasyScout program for coaches at any level.”

Steve Ellison Petaluma High School, Calif.

“Your Easy-Scout XP product is great. The program is extremely user-friendly and enables us to present information to our players in a clear and concise manner.

We combine this information with edited video clips and our players look forward to our presentation each week.”

Scott Kramer Verona Area High School, Wis. Background: CompuSports, Inc., based in Frederick, Md., was founded in 1984, when it introduced the Easy-Scout line of football scouting software. The company has evolved into a publisher and multi-vendor distributor of coaching software and information through its CompuSports network of Web sites and 24/7 telesales center. The CompuSports network includes Footballcoachingsites. com, the Web’s first and only directory of football coaching Web sites.

CompuSports Circle No. 514

Proscout Video, LLC 877-PROSCOUT WWW.PROSCOUTVIDEO.COM See ad on page 9 Primary Advantages: Proscout Video provides an easy-to-use editing and scouting software package that has the power of a collegiate tool but is designed for the high school budget. Its ease-of-use, unlimited installations (site-license only), full-functionality, cost, reporting capabilities, and Internet film exchange are highlights of this software package.

Support Services: Proscout Video offers technical support from morning to midnight during the work week year-round, extending service to 24/7 support during the football season.

Upgrade Availability: Upgrades are available for all Proscout Video applications.

Contact the company for more information.

Customer Quote: “This has been our first season with Proscout video system.

I have tried many other film breakdowns and scouting systems in the past and have returned them after their trial periods. I have found the Proscout system meets our needs explicitly. Prior to any budgetary expenditure in our program, I always ask myself this question, ‘Will this improve our on-field performance?’ The answer in the case of the Proscout video system was an emphatic ‘Yes.’ We have improved our film study, and our knowledge of opponents’ strategies. I look forward to expanding our use of this system and I would not hesitate to purchase it again.”

Kerry Coombs Colerain High School Cincinnati, Ohio

Background: Since 2000, Proscout Video has been developing stateof-the-art video indexing software for athletic teams. Over 4,500 high school football programs across the country currently use Proscout Video’s software. The company’s immediate focus is on its football application programs.

Proscout Video, LLC Circle No. 515

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Game Plan 402-436-2312 WWW.GOGAMEPLAN.COM AFCA Booth No. 141 See ad on page 16 Primary Advantages: Game Plan videoediting systems offer a variety of services that meet coaches needs: Live Game Breakdown™ provides staff real-time intercutting and video-editing capabilities during games; RemotePlayer™ is a coaching-station software program; and PerfectPractice™ is motion-analysis software that allows coaches to break down plays after the games. Game Plan’s “Turnkey Solution”—hardware, software, installation, and service—provides allaround customer care.

Support Services: Customer service and technical support are available 24/7 and are provided on-site, by phone, and on the Web. Software upgrades are included with support packages.

Upgrade Availability: Each editing system can be purchased as a stand-alone or scaled up over time into a complete networked solution with both editing and coaching-station software.

Customer Quote: “Technology and successful communications are an important part of the Bobcats’ strategy of helping student-athletes on the field and in the classroom. We determined that Game Plan’s technology was the most constructive step we could take. The support and training we’ve received thus far from Game Plan is second to none.”

www.athleticsearch.com Coaching Management has teamed up with its two sister publications, Athletic Management and Training & Conditioning, to produce a Web site chock full of great ideas and advice.

Coaching Managem ent

B A S E B A L L P O S T S E A Time for S O N Coachin a New g Challen ge?

■ Bui ld Agile Athletes ■

VOL .

XIII, NO. 7

E D I T I O N

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Motivate Your Football Players Use Athletic Recognition Boards to help your players perform at their very best

Frank Solich Head Football Coach Ohio University Athens, Ohio

Background: Game Plan began providing digital video analysis systems for football. Today the company provides digital video solutions for all sports programs at schools across the nation.

Advanced Imaging Solutions, Inc. Circle No. 516

We offer boards for: • Depth Charts • Players of the Week • Offensive & Defensive Goals • Strength & Training Records • Team Award Winners Austin Plastics & Supply, Inc. (800) 290-1025 www.athleticrecordboards.com Circle No. 142 COACHING MANAGEMENT

55

Uniforms & Apparel Fergo Athletics 888-OK-FERGO WWW.FERGOONLINE.COM Fergo Athletics is an apparel manufacturer that passes huge savings directly to teams. It customdesigns athletic apparel for high schools, colleges, clubs, and recreational leagues in every sport. As part of its dedication to schools, Fergo will meet any quote or bid in price, quality, and style and then write your team, school, or club a 10-percent royalty check on the total order. Call the company for more details about this offer and to find out more about all Fergo products.

Circle No. 517

Fergo Athletics offers high schools, colleges, and park/recreation teams and clubs some of the industry’s lowest prices on custom-made athletic apparel, guaranteed. Services include imprinting, sublimation, and embroidery work on any type of apparel.

Teams can have custom-designed uniforms, T-shirts, practice wear, warm-ups, caps, bags, team jackets and fleeces, and even banners.

Call Fergo Athletics for more details about these services and find out how the company can help your team meet its needs.

Circle No. 518

Russell Athletic WWW.RUSSELLATHLETIC.COM The latest innovations in football uniform design from Russell Athletic will be featured at the 2005 Bayou Classic, November 26 in Houston, Texas. These uniforms are made of Dri-Power Stretch Mesh and include a moisturemanagement system that transports sweat away from athletes’ bodies, keeping them dry, comfortable, and performing at their best.

The new uniforms are made with a nylon-spandex fabric that features unique athletic piping. Contact your local Russell Athletic dealer to learn more.

Circle No. 519

Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

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5 3 !RMY !LL !MERICAN "OWL #OACHES # 5 3 OACHES #ONVENTION TION *ANUAR *ANUARY TH 3 Y TH 3AN !NTONIO ONIO 4EXAS 10/31/05, 3:31:51 PM VI60005CoachingTHalfpg.ind 1 LEASE CON ONTAC TACT TSANFR TSANFRATELLO ELLO ALLAMERICANGAMES COM

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Uniforms & Apparel Stromgren Supports 800-572-1988 WWW.STROMGREN.COM

Under Armour 410-468-2512 WWW.UNDERARMOUR.COM

WSI Sports 651-994-9945 WWW.WSISPORTS.COM

Stromgren Supports’ new Permalite™ Upper-Body Protection Shirt Model 1291 is a performance apparel shirt that combines compression and moisture management with perforated Permalite EVA foam padding.

This lightweight and comfortable shirt provides athletes additional torso, clavicle, and shoulder protection. The Upper-Body Protection Shirt is also available in youth sizes.

Call Stromgren Supports today, or visit online.

Circle No. 520

A decade ago, Under Armour started with one great T-shirt that wouldn’t absorb moisture.

The company has evolved to offer the latest in fabric technology for the team athlete.

UA’s Metal HeatGear® offers superior push/pull moisture transport and utilizes a ventilated back to release heat.

Visit Under Armour online for more information.

Circle No. 521

WSI Sports’ new Wikmax Heatr generates heat while wicking away moisture.

This revolutionary shirt keeps muscles warm and encourages recovery time for injured areas.

The Wikmax Heatr is ideal for quarterbacks. It’s patent-pending and made in the U.S.A. Circle No. 522

Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Faculty Recognition and $10,000 for your school

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National Scholastic Products “the absolute best” 800-276-7212 call today!

Circle No. 136

2006

• Instructional Opportunities from Beginner to All-Pro • Private Instruction • Recruiting, Scholarship and Professional Opportunities

www.prokicker.com

270.843.8393

Circle No. 137 COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Team Equipment Adams USA 800-251-6857 WWW.ADAMSUSA.COM

Cho-Pat 800-221-1601 WWW.CHO-PAT.COM

New for the 2006 season is the 655Adams Wear Five-Pocket Girdle with sewn-in hip and spine pads. The moisture-wicking materials of Lycra® and polyester make these girdles cool and comfortable.

The pads are made of 10-pound EVAcompound breathable foam that allows air to flow through the pads.

With an elastic waist and five pockets, the 655 girdle is the perfect companion for protective football padding. These girdles are machine-washable and dryersafe. They’re available in adult sizes XS to XXL, and made in the U.S.A. Circle No. 523

Cho-Pat’s patented Dual Action Knee Strap® provides an extra level of relief for painful and weakened knees. It applies pressure to the tendon below the knee to reduce patellar subluxation and improve tracking and elevation. It also puts pressure on the tendon above the knee to provide added support and stability. The Dual Action Knee Strap allows full mobility.

Circle No. 526

Adams USA introduces the SP-1570Adams Wear Five-Piece Pad Body Shirt for the 2006 season. Its moisturewicking material is tight-fitting, comfortably hugging the body and keeping it cool. The sewn-in pads are made of 10-pound EVA-compound breathable foam that allows air to flow through the pads. The Body Shirt is machinewashable and dryer-safe. It’s available in black only and in adult sizes XS to XXXL, and made in the U.S.A. Circle No. 524 American Football Specialists 270-843-8393 WWW.PROKICKER.COM The Square Toe Kicking Shoe from American Football Specialists is the company’s “original style,” made of leather and featuring detachable cleats. Half and full sizes are available in your choice of black or white.

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Cutters Gloves 800-821-0231 WWW.CUTTERSGLOVES.COM Cutters Gloves® is the innovator behind C-TACK™ performance-grip material.

Other gloves may look the same, but

Cutters’ exclusive C-TACK material is the only one in which the grip is part of the material. Independent research has demonstrated C-TACK’s superiority over other brands that may have attempted to replicate the technology.

Researchers tested the grips of leading football gloves, and the results were clear: Cutters out-performed all the other gloves in both dry and wet conditions. Because the grip is part of the material, there is no material or residue transfer. C-TACK meets NFHS and NCAA specifications.

Circle No. 527 Cutters’ newest protective glove, the 017GP Gauntlet, incorporates the performance excellence of its paddedglove line with added wrist protection.

The Gauntlet features a streamlineddesign with back-of-the-hand padding

and exclusive C-TACK™ material for the glove’s palm patch and fingertips. Multi-layered inserts increase wrist stability and minimize wrist hyperextension.

This glove provides the ultimate protection and a strong grip to hold onto balls, letting you play like a warrior.

Circle No. 528 Gear 2000, Ltd. 785-625-6060 WWW.GEAR2000.COM Z-Cool football girdles have permanently sewn-in hip and tail pads that are strategically placed to protect the Iliac Crest (top of pelvis) and do not shift out of place.

These hip and tail pads are made from a porous material that allows moisture to go through without trapping. The girdles are constructed from a Lycra® fabric, wicking moisture away from the body for better cooling. The squeeze factor of the fabric reduces large muscle group vibration, which reduces fatigue, and according to scientific studies, enhances athletic performance by as much as 12 percent.

Circle No. 529 Z-Cool from Gear 2000 offers shoulder pads that are 35-percent lighter, cool the body better, and provide greater impact absorption—all of which helps to enhance athletic performance.

Less perspiration build-up occurs in Z-Cool pads with its Moisture Management technology, and these pads are constructed with another quality feature: non-rusting stainless steel hardware. Z-Cool pads are worn by NFL All-Pro players and players at Top 25 college programs for all positions of play.

Circle No. 530

Team Equipment Impact Innovative Products 724-864-8440 WWW.ZOOMBANG.COM Make an impact on the field, not on your body, with Zoombang™ Conformal Impact Gear™. Impact Innovative Products has created this line of gear using the company’s advanced polymer called reAsorb, a fluid-like material that behaves as a solid upon impact. Zoombang compression-fit shirts have reAsorb pads strategically located on the shoulders, ribs, or a combination of both. They permit a totally free range of motion, yet react proportionally when force is applied.

Circle No. 531 The Zoombang™ Conformal Impact Gear™ line of protective apparel from Impact Innovative Products includes gloves. These confidencebuilding gloves incorporate the advanced reAsorb polymer, a fluid-like material that behaves as a solid upon impact. The gloves are designed for comfort and protection for the hand. The reAsorb substance is strategically located on the back of the hand or the palm area, and custom gloves can be made to your unique specifications.

Circle No. 532 M.A.S.A., Inc. 800-264-4519 WWW.MASA.COM The Wrist Coach from M.A.S.A. is an invaluable tool for today’s complex offensive and defensive schemes. The Wrist Coach is specially-designed with a comfortable wristband and vinyl covering. Game plan compartments let players and coaches communi-

cate without timeouts. The Wrist Coach absorbs sweat to improve grip. It is available in adult one-size-fits-all and in black only. Call M.A.S.A., or visit online, for more information.

Circle No. 533 Oakworks 800-916-4603 WWW.OAKWORKSPT.COM The Boss™ is the strongest and most durable portable table on the market, and its exceptional qualities get athletes back into the game sooner. The Boss is made for sideline treatments, evaluations, and other on-site interventions. Tufflex™ upholstery with sealed seams and a water-resistant undercoating make The Boss a solid performer—even under harsh outdoor conditions. Independently-adjustable legs stabilize The Boss on any uneven surface or rugged terrain without a problem. With all these portability features, The Boss lets you take control by allowing you to take your own equipment to away games and events. It’s like home-field advantage, to goSM. Circle No. 534 With a 500-pound dynamic load weight rating, the Portable Taping Table® from Oakworks is the strongest and most durable taping table on the market. The Portable Taping Table is fully-portable, so it provides an ideal sideline evaluation and taping station both at home and on the road. With independently-adjustable legs and unique Field Feet® casters that provide stability, the Portable Taping Table can handle any uneven surface or rugged terrain without a problem. Take control by using your own equipment at away games and events, because when you’re on the road, you never know what you’re going to get. Take Control, Take OakworksSM. Circle No. 535

Riddell Sports 440-366-8225 WWW.RIDDELL.COM Riddell Sports, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of football helmets, introduces its Sideline Response System (SRS) with Head Impact Telemetry (HIT).

Used in conjunction with the Sideline Assistant PDA, accelerometers located inside the helmet measure the location, magnitude, duration, and direction of acceleration of an athlete’s head during play. When the system detects a sudden suspect-impact profile, a pager alerts the staff, who is then prompted by the PDA of the proper sideline assessment. The SRS also logs data for later analysis.

Circle No. 536 Rogers Athletic Co. 800-248-0270 WWW.ROGERSATHLETIC.COM Teach quick footwork on both sides of the ball with the Rogers Athletic Zone Reactor. The combination of the exclusive Lev-Sled verticalaction head and the horizontal pad movement along a five-foot track creates incredible realism to team drills.

Defensive players develop independent quick hand and lateral movements at the same time. Offensive players develop step-and-strike skills and the ability to squeeze defensive linemen down the line of scrimmage. Call Rogers Athletic for more information.

Circle No. 537

Need help fundraising for your team?

Check out the new source for fundraising tips, support, and suppliers:

www.fundraisingforsports.com

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130. . .

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105 . .

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115 . . .

132 . . .

140. . .

120. . .

117 . . .

109 . .

101. . .

123. . .

129. . .

141 . . .

121 . . .

136. . .

Adams USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Airfield Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Antibody (BodyGuards) . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 APEX Sports Software. . . . . . . . . . . 50 Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . 55 Challenger Industries . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 CompuSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Cutters Sport Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . BC CyberSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 EZ Change Sport Boards. . . . . . . . . 33 Fergo Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Gatorade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Gear 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36-37 Hammer Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 National Scholastic Products . . . . . 57

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528 . .

527 . .

547 . .

578. . .

581. . .

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518 . . .

516 . . .

580 . .

579 . .

502 . .

529 . .

530 . .

562 . .

532 . .

531. . .

561 . . .

552 . .

533 . .

544 . .

564 . .

563 . .

504 . .

535 . .

534 . .

554 . .

553 . .

565 . .

505 . .

566 . .

Adams USA (Body Shirt) . . . . . . . . . . .

Adams USA (Five-Pocket Girdle) . . . . .

Aer-Flo (championship solution) . . . . . .

Aer-Flo (Track Protector) . . . . . . . . . . .

American Football (goal posts) . . . . .

American Football (kicking shoe) . . . .

APEX Sports Software. . . . . . . . . . .

Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . .

Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

CompuSports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cutters Gloves (017GP Gauntlet) . . . . .

Cutters Gloves (C-TACK) . . . . . . . . . .

Earth & Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

EZ Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Fergo Sports (athletic apparel) . . . . . .

Fergo Sports (custom-made apparel) . .

Game Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gatorade (Endurance Formula) . . . . . .

Gatorade (Nutrition Shake) . . . . . . . . .

Gear 2000 (championship solution) . . . .

Gear 2000 (football girdles) . . . . . . . . .

Gear 2000 (Z-Cool) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hammer Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Impact Innovative (gloves) . . . . . . . . .

Impact Innovative (Zoombang Gear) . .

Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Life Fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . .

National Scholastic Products . . . . .

NSCA (Agility) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

NSCA (Explosive Lifts) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Oakworks (championship solution) . . . .

Oakworks (Portable Taping Table) . . . . .

Oakworks (The Boss) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Lift (9’ Combo Power Rack). . . . .

Power Lift (9’ Power Rack) . . . . . . . . . .

Power Lift (Belt Squat) . . . . . . . . . . . .

Power Lift (championship solution) . . . .

Power Lift (Leg Press) . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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NSCA (Sport Specific Conference) . . . . . 28 Oakworks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Power Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC-1 ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Proscout Video. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Ray Guy Kicking Academy . . . . . . . 57 Rogers Athletic Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Russell Athletic. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Samson Weight Equipment . . . . . . . 17 Schutt Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Seating Services, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Sport Chalet Team Sales . . . . . . 20-21 Stromgren Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Turface Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 VertiMax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 WaterBoy Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Wenger Corp. (GearBoss). . . . . . . . . . . 5 Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 WSI Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Zoombang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

PRODUCTS DIRECTORY

Cho-Pat’s Original Knee Strap is designed to alleviate certain knee discomforts due to overuse syndromes, arthritis, and other forms of degeneration. Nearly two million sold!

Sizes: XS - XXL • Colors: Black and Tan

Dual Action Knee Strap Patented device offers an extra level of pain relief and protection from knee degeneration and overuse syndromes.

Stabilizes and strengthens the joint while allowing full mobility.

Sizes: Sm - XL

Achilles Tendon Strap This patented device will reduce stress upon the Achilles Tendon and provide effective relief from pain and discomfort associated with Achilles Tendonitis. Sizes: Sm - Med - Lrg

www.cho-pat.com 1-800-221-1601 Circle No. 138

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ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY

Great Ideas For Athletes...

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Power Systems (Medicine Balls). . . . . .

Power Systems (Power Sled) . . . . . . . .

Power Systems (Pro Multi Station) . . . .

Power Systems (Pro Power Rack) . . . . .

PowerLung . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Powernetics (Bulldog/Attacker) . . . . . .

Powernetics (Power Trainer) . . . . . . . .

Profile Products (Soil Amendments) . .

Profile Products (Turface MVP®) . . . . .

Proscout Video (championship solution) .

Proscout Video (software) . . . . . . . . .

Riddell Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Rogers Athletic (Brute Full Rack) . . . . .

Rogers Athletic (Brute Rack System) . .

Rogers Athletic (championship solution) .

Rogers Athletic (Lev-Sled) . . . . . . . . .

Rogers Athletic (Zone Reactor) . . . . . .

Russell Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Samson (102HHIBP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Samson (907RHP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Samson (championship solution) . . . . . .

Samson (Double Power Station). . . . . . .

Samson (Triple Power Station) . . . . . . . .

Schutt Sports (championship solution) .

Schutt Sports (Field Pack). . . . . . . . . .

Schutt Sports (shoulder pads) . . . . . . .

Seating Services, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . .

Stromgren (190SP Knee Protector) . . . .

Stromgren (championship solution) . . . .

Stromgren (Permalite shirt) . . . . . . . . .

Under Armour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VertiMax (championship solution) . . . . .

VertiMax (V4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

VertiMax (V6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wenger (championship solution) . . . . . .

Wenger (GearBoss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wizard Sports (championship solution) .

Wizard Sports (kicking/punting shoe) . .

WSI Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Xvest (Don Chu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Xvest (Fire Fighter model) . . . . . . . . . . .

66 66 65 64 66 67 67 62 63 52 54 59 65 65 52 61 59 56 67 67 52 65 65 53 61 61 63 61 53 57 57 51 67 67 53 63 53 61 57 67 67

Team Equipment Rogers Athletic Co. 800-248-0270 WWW.ROGERSATHLETIC.COM Rogers Athletic’s Seven-Man Lev-Sled allows coaches their choices of drill formations because it easily converts to a five-man, a two-man, or any-combi-

nation sled desired. The Lev-Sled is the only sled in which players must drive before leveraging to reverse an opponent’s momentum. Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Line Coach Paul Alexander explains, “Engage with a flat back and keep your hands inside, then arch the back. Lift and extend while maintaining a base, balance, and leg-drive to break the stalemate. The Lev-Sled is without question the best teaching aid for blocking that I have ever used.”

Circle No. 538 Schutt Sports 866-4 SCHUTT WWW.SCHUTTSPORTS.COM The Equipment Manager’s Field Pack from Schutt Sports® comes loaded with useful items for practice and game day.

Add your own field essentials to create a personalized field kit that sits on your hip. Each Field Pack includes Schutt’s Faceguard Removal Tool, T-Nut Wrench, and Helmet Pump, as well as a screwdriver. There are multiple pockets to carry T-nuts, screws, snaps, loop straps, buckles, cleats, T-hooks, laces, and any other item you may need for on-field equipment repairs.

Circle No. 539 Schutt Sports® introduces its Typhoon™ shoulder pads. These pads incorporate Smart Fabric Technology™

by Outlast®—a Schutt exclusive—to help control players’ body temperature

in any climate. Typhoon pads provide the protection you demand. Its dense foam padding system is multi-layered. The outside layer protects against impacts while the inside layer provides soft-comfort cushioning next to the body. The shoulder pads are available in position-specific arch styles that provide the flexibility, mobility, and comfort players need to perform at their best.

Circle No. 540 Stromgren Supports 800-527-1988 WWW.STROMGREN.COM For 20 years, the 190SP Knee Protector from Stromgren Supports has been helping professional and major college football teams reduce injuries to the MCL ligament. It absorbs and dissipates blows to the lateral side of the knee complex, helping to reduce lateral pressure to the MCL. The slotted pivot points allow a full range of motion for lateral movements, and the Lycra® straps secure the brace, so there is no downward migration. The knee protector weighs seven ounces and fits either the left or right leg. Call Stromgren Supports for more information, or visit the company online.

Circle No. 541 Wizard Sports Equipment 888-964-5425 WWW.WIZARDSPORTS.COM Since 1984, Wizard Kicking has been manufacturing and designing quality football kicking products, including football holders, tees, kicking nets, snapping targets, and much more.

Make sure to check out the newly-designed Wizard Kicking’s

football kicking/punting shoe: the 5+ No Lace Kicking Shoe. The new 5+ Kicking Shoe gives your kicker or punter that extra level of confidence. Wizard Kicking also stocks the popular Spotbilt square toe-kicking shoe.

Circle No. 542 Cramer Products, Inc. 800-345-2231 WWW.CRAMERSPORTSMED.COM Do you want professional fit and maximum protection? ProShox’s unique professional fitting system provides the same fit and protection from oral head injuries as a dentistdesigned mouth guard.

The ProShox professional fitting system uses a dental tray to ensure proper fit and ultimate comfort. It also works as a protective carrying case. The mouth guard is constructed of a DuPont shock-absorbing material that helps prevent jaw-related concussions, TMJ dislocation, and dental trauma.

Circle No. 543 National Scholastic Products 800-276-7212 WWW.NATIONALQP.COM The ultimate team deserves the ultimate ring. The custom-ring design capabilities of National Quality Products re-create the championship fire that teams displayed during their proudest moments.

The company’s commitment to providing superior quality, outstanding service, and custom-design work will distinguish your team as a true champion. National Quality Products’ rings provide enduring value and memories for years to come.

Circle No. 544

COACHING MANAGEMENT

61

Football Facilities quality, and safety at an affordable price.

All of the company’s goalposts meet NFHS and NCAA specifications. Give your field a professional look and an added measure of safety with the finest in permanent goal posts.

Circle No. 546

Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 WWW.AERFLO.COM Aer-Flo’s Cross-Over Zone™ Track Protector is a breathable gray polypropylene fabric that allows rain to drain through while protecting modern track surfaces from crossing traffic, resisting and cushioning against steel-tipped cleats. A steel chain inserted along the edges keeps the Protector in place without the use of stakes or staples.

The entire edge and chain are wrapped in gold vinyl for durability and safety.

Sizes: 15’W x 25’, 30’, 40’, or 50’L. Custom sizes are also available.

Circle No. 545 American Football Specialists 270-843-8393 WWW.PROKICKER.COM American Football Specialists offers football goalposts in the latest style,

Earth & Turf Products, LLC 888-693-2638 WWW.EARTHANDTURF.COM Linear aeration can reduce sports injuries by softening turf on athletic fields and arenas. The one-pass design of the Earth & Turf Linear Aerator ensures maximum modification of athletic field turfs.

The Linear Aerator conditions

58-inch swaths of turf, cutting grooves in the turf 3”D x 1”W x 3-1/2” apart.

Aggressive, reverse-spiral-mounted teeth bring both soil and topdressing material up over the rotor, brushing it back into the grooves by steel fingers on a filler bar and reciprocating it side to side.

Circle No. 547 Profile Products, LLC 800-207-6457 WWW.TURFACE.COM When constructing or renovating sand or native-soil football fields, adding Profile™ Soil Amendments to the fields’ root zones can significantly improve the health and growth of turf grass.

Made of a natural blend of kiln-fired porous ceramic chips, Profile helps to improve drainage by adding much-needed air space, retaining the

Boy

Inc. Spor ts,

Inc Spor ts,

Circle No. 139

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

.

Circle No. 140

Football Facilities soil’s added nutrients, and keeping just the right amount of moisture in the soil so it’s loose enough to work year after year.

Circle No. 548 Turface® MVP stands up to intense athletic traffic, providing solid, safe footing throughout the football season.

It’s ideal for nativesoil fields, because it absorbs excess water to prevent muddy, torn-up turf, conditions the soil so it can resist compaction, and adds permanent water and air-holding space to prevent turf damage and aid in turf recovery. Turface MVP also works for topdressing/maintenance and as an amendment to poor-draining soils during construction.

Circle No. 549

Seating Services 800-552-9470 WWW.SEATINGSERVICES.COM

Wenger Corp.

800-4-WENGER WWW.WENGERCORP.COM

Seating Services, manufacturer of quality stadium chairs, offers the Cardinal Model Series 3500 gravity tip-up chair for use in settings with narrow row spacing—as narrow as 27 inches. Because they have no springs or pins, the chairs are less expensive to manufacture, install, and maintain. They are designed for installation on concrete or steel/aluminum grandstands. Seat widths can range from 18-22 inches. Many available colors and options make these an excellent way to seat more fans in a limited space.

Circle No. 550

The new GearBoss™ sports storage system is designed for the unique needs of athletic equipment storage.

It’s a modular, highdensity system that maximizes space and functionality while improving inventory management and security.

Carts can be customized with team colors—a variety of grill colors and finish laminates are available for closure panels. For more information, please contact Wenger tollfree, or visit online.

Circle No. 551

Check out www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

Do you have ENOUGH BANDS for your team?

WVU does! Shown here is just one of three rubber-band rooms at West Virginia University.

For information on setting up a band room in your facility, call us at 1-800-344-3539.

Stay ahead of your competition with Flex Bands...the best-kept secret in pro sports! Used by the Giants, Jaguars, Raiders, Ravens, Angels, Padres, Red Sox, and many more, Flex Bands have been improving athletic performance since 1980!

Jump Stretch, Inc. 1230 N. Meridian Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509 www.jumpstretch.com 1-800-344-3539 Fax: 1-330-793-8719 Circle No. 141 COACHING MANAGEMENT JumpStretchAdForTC1505v3.indd 1

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Power Racks There are plenty of reasons why power racks are a great choice for a strength-training facility. Their versatility means that athletes can perform a wide variety of exercises on one apparatus. Their efficient use of space makes them ideal for smaller weightrooms. And their ease of use means that even inexperienced lifters can quickly learn how to train effectively.

But perhaps the greatest advantage of power racks is safety. Used properly, full racks, half-racks, and multi-racks provide a training environment that protects the lifter and everyone else nearby. “Power racks are the safest way to train, because they have only a couple of moving parts,” says Boyd Epley, MEd, CSCS, Associate Athletic Director at the University of Nebraska. “The bar catch, which supports the weight until it is lifted, can be moved up or down to adjust to the height of each individual lifter. That makes a power rack safer than machines that have a fixed height, or ones that require special attachments to make an adjustment.”

The safety level is another important feature that protects lifters from injury. “During a squat, when the bar is behind the athlete’s neck, there’s always a possibility that he or she won’t be able to come back up,” Epley explains. “A safety level will be there to catch the weight, and that level is adjustable, too.”

Epley says that because power racks—particularly full racks and multi-racks—surround the lifter with posts on four sides, they create a ver y stable (and therefore safe) lifting area. But some people prefer the half-rack because it feels less restrictive, with only two posts that the lifter stands in front of. Epley says that for some lifts, such as the hang clean, the half-rack is best because it allows the lifter more freedom of movement.

There are also optional features that can give a power rack added safety. One of the most practical is called a technique tray, a device that protects the athlete’s hands during difficult lifts. “If someone were to rest the bar on a safety level and their fingers were in the wrong place, they could get pinched,” Epley says. “The technique tray catches the weights themselves instead of the bar, giving the lifter nine or 10 inches of clearance—their hands don’t come anywhere near the safety device. It’s a great idea, and another thing that makes racks a very safe training option.”

Life Fitness 800-634-8637 WWW.LIFEFITNESS.COM The Hammer Strength 8’ Olympic Heavy-Duty Power Rack is ideal for athletic fitness facilities. The adjustment rack, which supports the bar catches and bar supports, is numbered for quick and easy position identification.

Special Features: This rack has a non-slip spotter’s stand, multiple pull-up and chinup grip positions, and a Dock ‘N Lock bench-locking system which lets the adjustable bench lock into place quickly ensuring proper alignment relative to the rack.

Circle No. 552 Power Lift 800-872-1543 WWW.POWER-LIFT.COM The 9’ Power Rack is a full-cage lifting rack that allows users to perform the bench press, incline press, shoulder

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

press, squat, hang clean, push press, and other overhead lifts in a full enclosure.

Special Features: Dual grip chin-up bar.

Optional features include dip attachments, Olympic lifting platforms, and other training accessories.

Circle No. 553 The 9’ Combo Power Rack from Power Lift combines two lifting stations into one space-saving rack. Dip attachments, Olympic lifting platforms, and other training accessories are available.

Special Features: This rack has two dual grip chin-up bars, two pairs of safety spot bars, two pairs of “rhino hook” bar catches, weight storage, adjustable bumper plate storage, and bar storage.

Circle No. 554

Power Systems 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM Adjustable bar hooks and solid steel safety catches can accommodate athletes of all sizes on Power Systems’ Pro Power Rack. This durable strengthtraining unit is constructed from 21/2-inch-square, 11gauge steel tubing.

Special Features: The Pro Power Rack allows the right amount of room for serious lifting with an inside cage measuring 44”L x 24”W, and 17 height adjustments spaced every four inches from 14-78 inches.

Bumpers are attached at the base to protect the rack from scrapes. A wide lat bar is mounted on top of the frame as a chinning station, and cross pieces bolt on in minutes. The Pro Power Rack is shipped freight, and assembly is required.

Circle No. 555

Power Racks The Power Systems’ Pro Multi Station power cage system maximizes floor space and offers a variety of movement options in one unit. Complete with an adjustable incline bench, the Pro Multi Station has 13 height adjustment options, spaced at four-inch increments each.

Six built-in weight plate storage posts keep work areas organized and safe.

Special Features: The Pro Multi Station frame is available in six colors and its upholstery in four colors at no additional cost.

Circle No. 556 Rogers Athletic Co. 800-248-0270 WWW.ROGERSATHLETIC.COM Rogers Athletic, known for football training equipment, is applying its years of expertise in athletic skills training to strength and conditioning equipment by introducing the Brute Rack System. The Brute Rack System, equipped with Monster Arms, provides your athletes with a closed-chain, freeweight training experience.

Special Features: The Brute Dual Rack workstation enables athletes to perform multiple exercises that typically require four to six exercise-specific machines. Call Rogers Athletic toll-free for information.

Circle No. 557 The Brute Full Rack from Rogers Athletic provides the benefit of both power racks and exercise-specific machines in one system.

The company’s patent-pending Monster Arms™ feature omnidirectional movement to develop specific muscle groups.

Special Features: All accessories lock into place on the uprights, such as the Monster Arms, chin-up bar, “lock-andload” hooks, and technique trays. The Docking Synchro Bench also adds diversity to athletes’ exercise programs with its two locking positions and 27 inches of travel adjustment.

Circle No. 558 Samson Equipment 800-4 SAMSON WWW.SAMSONEQUIPMENT.COM Samson’s Triple Power Station features an adjustable bench and a triple rack. It accommodates three lifters simultaneously, performing upper-body,

lower-body, and Olympic movements.

Samson custom builds to your needs.

Special Features: The Triple Power Station’s platform uses steel as thick as any in the industry, and includes a hickory platform that features a custom logo and basketball finish. A chin-up bar, plate storage, and spotter’s bars are included. The bench adjusts from 0-90 degrees.

Circle No. 559 The Double Power Station from Samson Equipment features an adjustable bench and a double-rack. It accommodates two lifters simultaneously, performing upper-body, lowerbody, and Olympic movements.

Special Features: The platform of the Double Power Station uses steel as thick as any in the industry, and includes a hickory platform that features a custom logo and basketball finish. A chin-up bar, plate storage, and spotter’s bars are included. The bench adjusts from 0-90 degrees.

Circle No. 560

Power Racks Specifications Company

Rack

Height x Width x Depth/Length

Tubing Size

Warranty

Chin-Up Bar

Plate Storage

Adjustable Bench

Life Fitness

Heavy-Duty 8’ Rack

97.5” x 65.5” x 73” D

3” x 3”, 9 ga.

10 yrs. Frame

✔

✔

✽

Power Lift

9’ Combo

108” x 86” x 72” D

4” x 3”, 7 ga.

Frame life

✔

✔

Power Lift

9’ Power Rack

108” x 71” x 72” D

4” x 3”, 7 ga.

Frame life

✔

✔

Power Systems

Pro Multi Station

73” x 66” x 45” L

2.5” x 2.5”, 11 ga.

Frame life

Power Systems

Pro Power Rack

92” x 48” x 43” L

2.5” x 2.5”, 11 ga.

Frame life

✔

Rogers Athletic Co.

Brute Dual Rack

114” x 98” x 84” D

3/16” thick, 11 ga.

10 years

Rogers Athletic Co.

Brute Full Rack

114” x 71” x 76” D

3/16” thick, 11 ga.

Samson Equipment

Triple Power Station

105” x 44” x 96” D

Samson Equipment

Double Power Station

105” x 44” x 96” D

✔

✔

✽

✔

✽

10 years

✽

✔

✽

3” x 3”, 3/16” thick

Frame life

✔

✔

✔

3” x 3”, 3/16” thick

Frame life

✔

✔

✔

✽ Denotes accessories sold separately, or as available options. Please contact the company for more information.

COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Strength Training Jump Stretch, Inc. 800-344-3539 WWW.JUMPSTRETCH.COM Partner Run Stations are designed to be two-person resistance-training tools, consisting of two pairs of FlexBands (four bands total) with one pair slipknotted through the second pair. After positioning one pair of bands around each runner’s waist, the lead runner runs out from his or her partner while the partner pulls back to provide resistance. Since neither person is stationary, each develops ham, quad, glute, and lower-body strength more efficiently. After a set distance or time period is reached, partners switch positions.

Circle No. 561 Hammer Strength 800-634-8637 WWW.HAMMERSTRENGTH.COM Hammer Strength’s Olympic HeavyDuty Line, including the new Combo Rack and 6’ x 8’ platform with wood inserts, offers facilities a comprehensive selection of performanceenhancing training products.

Tough and rugged, the spaceefficient Combo Rack lets two athletes train simultaneously.

The high-quality lifting platform features full sub-floor framing, a finished oak surface, and rubber impact mats. When you combine the new Combo Rack, platform, and inserts, few brands have a lineup this deep. Call Hammer Strength toll-free, or visit online.

Circle No. 562 National Strength and Conditioning Association 800-815-6826 WWW.NSCA-LIFT.ORG Richard Borden’s The Explosive Lifts teaches the basics of explosive lifts. This video features hands-on instructions and explanations of proper grips, body mechanics, and exercise techniques

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involved in the following lifts: the Romanian dead lift, the squat (progressions and variations), the Olympic-style pull, the power snatch, and the power clean. Videos are available to NSCA members for $30 and non-members for $35. Visit the NSCA’s online store for videos and much more.

Circle No. 563 Drills and Exercises To Improve Agility,

by Jay Dawes, teaches why agility—the ability to start, stop, and change direction rapidly and efficiently—is a critical factor in the athletic arena. This video provides fitness professionals with the basic framework for incorporating agility training into developmental programs for athletes and non-athletes alike. Videos are available to NSCA members for $30 and non-members for $35. Visit the NSCA’s online store for videos and much more.

Circle No. 564 Power Lift 800-872-1543 WWW.POWER-LIFT.COM The Power Lift® Belt Squat is a great tool for training hamstrings, glutes, quadriceps, and hips while eliminating spinal compression.

From a standing position, athletes disengage the work arm to start the exercise. The squat belt attaches to the work arms on each side over an athlete’s hips.

The force is evenly distributed through the athlete’s heels, emphasizing the muscles in the hips, glutes, and hamstrings. The machine is ideal for teaching the squat, one-legged squats, and lunges, as well as rehabbing injuries.

Weight storage and three custom belts are standard.

Circle No. 565 Power Lift’s new Uni-Lateral Linear Leg Press is an independent leg-training system capable of locking together to create a bilateral training system. Its heavy-duty steel frame allows linear-movement carriages to glide on 16

high-grade polyurethane wheels and holds 18- to 45-pound plates, with optional holders available. The straightlegged starting position features two back pad positions and adjustable stops so it fits a wide range of users.

Standard floor bumpers, weight storage, and a 40-degree angle seat are included. A Bi-Lateral Leg Press is also available.

Circle No. 566 Power Systems, Inc. 800-321-6975 WWW.POWER-SYSTEMS.COM Drive home the power and develop explosive lower-body strength with Power Systems’ Power Sled. Utilize the body harness to target stride length and acceleration, or use the handles to push the sled to develop powerful hip and leg drives. The waist belt can be used for backward, forward, and lateral running drills, adjusting easily to any body type. Add weights to increase difficulty and challenge acceleration. A Power Sled instructional manual, VHS tape, and DVD are also available.

Circle No. 567 Enhance athletic performances and pump up routine medicine ball workouts using the new, exclusively-designed Power Systems Medicine Balls. Use these perfectly-balanced, textured med balls to perform squats, lunges, explosive tosses, abdominal crunches, and a variety of other exercises. The all-rubber med balls are durable, weatherresistant, and retain their shape. They’re color-coded by weight, from two to 12 pounds in two-pound increments, 15, 18, 20, 25 and 30 pounds with diameters between eight and 11 inches. An instructional manual, VHS tape, and DVD are also available.

Circle No. 568 PowerLung, Inc. 800-903-3087 WWW.POWERLUNG.COM “The PowerLung program allows our athletes to compete at their highest level,” says Johnny Long, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach of the University of Tennessee. Why? Because under-

Strength Training trained breathing muscles restrict an athlete’s performance. Stronger breathing muscles mean stronger core-body muscles for greater hitting power, passing, endurance, and faster recovery. Use PowerLung to improve your athletes’ training, competition, and recovery. Contact PowerLung now for a free copy of “The Importance of Respiratory Muscle Training for Inspiratory and Expiratory Muscles” white paper and a PowerLung Specialized Training Program.

Circle No. 569 Powernetics 800-829-2928 WWW.POWERNETICS.COM Powernetics offers many products for the strength-training needs of your players, including the Bulldog and the Attacker.

The Bulldog isolates the hamstrings and glutes without putting stress on the knees and back.

It also offers an explosive hack jump exercise that develops power in the hamstrings, glutes, and quads—all from one exercise. The Attacker allows the athlete to fire and roll his hips while moving up and out into a full-hand separation. Because of the intense movement, power is developed from the feet through the hands.

Circle No. 570 Powernetics offers the Power Trainer, which for more than 10 years has made the power clean a safe exercise for athletes from junior high to the collegiate level.

The Power Trainer enables an athlete to not only do cleans safely, but also to reverse the clean. The unit can be used to perform seven different exercises: the clean, reverse clean, dead lift, lift jump, high row, bench press, and shoulder press. The Power Trainer has proven over the years to be among the safest and most effective tools used to perform the power clean.

Circle No. 571

Samson Equipment 800-4 SAMSON WWW.SAMSONEQUIPMENT.COM Samson Equipment’s 907RHP Reverse Hyperextension continues to be one of the best in its class. Quality construction is the key to its design, which features 1630-DS precision-ground, sealed ball bearings for unbelievably smooth action. Like all Samson equipment, this power bench is produced with .188-inch steel square tubing. All of this, combined with easily adjustable handles and a roll pad for ankle placement, makes the Reverse Hyperextension the smoothest, most durable power bench you will ever find.

Circle No. 572 Samson Equipment’s 102HHIBP is quite simply one of the best ways to incorporate multiple exercises into one unit.

Athletes can perform bench presses, inclines, and shoulder presses from multiple positions thanks to an easily-adjustable bench coinciding with a smooth sliding rack.

The rack slides on Samson-standard Rockwell 70 case hardened rods with 16 lineal ball bearings for a smooth action that must be seen to be believed.

Circle No. 573 VertiMax 800-699-5867 WWW.VERTIMAX.COM The VertiMax V4 has long been the “go to” device for building lower-body reactive power. No training system will do more to increase an athlete’s vertical jump, first-step-quickness, and competitive moves.

It is the world’s most advanced light-load velocity-specific training system, providing maximum transfer to the field of play.

Please go to VertiMax’s streaming video Web site for all the details on this and its new V6 series.

Circle No. 574

The new VertiMax V6 is a revolutionary advance in functional, sports-specific total-body training. It is the only training system capable of applying a synchronous loading to the arms and shoulders while athletes perform explosive lowerbody training. The V6 is strongly endorsed by many NFL, NBA, and Division I head coaches. Visit VertiMax’s Web site for more details and satisfied customer testimonials.

Circle No. 575 Xvest 800-697-5658 WWW.THEXVEST.COM “I have found the Xvest to be an excellent tool for providing overloads in plyometric, strength training, conditioning, and rehabilitation programs. The fit and adaptability are excellent.

The Xvest allows freedom of movement and doesn’t interfere with any of the agility, bounding, or running programs that I write for a wide variety of athletes; collegiate and professional. The Xvest has proven itself in my programs. Thank you for all your efforts and help in improving my capability as a strength and conditioning specialist.”

—Donald A. Chu, Ph.D., PT, ATC, CSCS, author of Jumping Into Plyometrics Circle No. 576 Xvest has a new weight configuration, and it’s heavy: 84 pounds of heavy. The new Xvest, known as the Fire Fighter model, was developed especially for fire fighters and their rigorous training. It has the same basic design as the original Xvest, but internally it has a new weight configuration that allows for 84 pounds of weight. Because of its ability to adjust weight like the original Xvest, everyone from body builders to military personnel is buying them.

For more information on all the Xvest models, call the company or visit its Web site.

Circle No. 577

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Sprinturf Softens Field’s Hard Reputation

The St. John’s University Johnnies in Collegeville, Minn., have won 25 conference titles under Head Coach John Gagliardi, the winningest active coach in college football history.

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Sprinturf 1200 LIBERTY RIDGE DR., STE. 100 WAYNE, PA 19087 877-686-8873 INFO@SPRINTURF.COM WWW.SPRINTURF.COM

Testimonial

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Customer Praises Technical Support “Second to None”

“Personal Trainer of the Year” Recommends The Boss™

LRSSports® video-editing systems deliver cutting-edge features without wrecking athletic departments’ budgets. LRSSports offers entry-level stand-alone editing software, mid-level networked systems, and top-level multiuser networks.

“Several years ago I was performing a sports massage on a table from another massage table company when it literally broke in half with a $20 million NFL athlete aboard.

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“During my years of doing video work, I have used several different editing systems and watched the process of editing move from analog videotape to digital video. I have been an LRS customer for seven years. We just expanded our LRS editing system. We added a networked-video system to our existing equipment. If you are in the process of evaluating different editing systems for your football team, I would strongly urge you to consider LRSSports. LRS is a great company with very ample resources to ensure their future will always be strong. Technical support from LRSSports is second to none.”

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“I first started using Oakworks over 10 years ago. As owner of Fitness Quest 10, a human-performance center voted the 2005 ‘Best Place to Receive a Sports Massage in the U.S.’ by Men’s Health, I have made sure we use nothing but Oakworks tables because of their superior quality, comfort, durability, and performance. When it comes to servicing our hundreds of professional and elite athletes, as well as our everyday clients, I recommend going with the brand that is the best. Oakworks is allpro in my book.”

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LRSSports 2401 W. MONROE ST. SPRINGFIELD, IL 62704 888-LRS-0001 LRSSPORTS@LRS.COM WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM

Oakworks® 923 E. WELLSPRING RD. NEW FREEDOM, PA 17349 800-916-4603 WWW.OAKWORKSPT.COM COACHING MANAGEMENT

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More Products eFundraising.com 866-825-2921 WWW.MAGFUNDRAISING.COM Earn more profits with less effort with eFundraising’s Online Magazine Fundraising Program. Get all the tools you need to run a successful fundraising campaign online, including your free personalized Web site, complete with magazine store.

Supporters from coast to coast can purchase magazine subscriptions online—they’ll save up to 85 percent off the newsstand prices on over 650 magazine titles while your group earns 40percent profit. For more information, call eFundraising toll-free or visit it online.

Circle No. 578 The Gatorade Co. 800-88-GATOR WWW.GATORADE.COM Gatorade Nutrition Shake is a balanced nutritional supplement that’s ideal for

use as a high-energy meal replacement, or as a pre-event or between-meal snack. Gatorade Nutrition Shake contains vitamin C, calcium, and iron, so it’s great for athletes who want to perform at their best and need to supplement their diet with a convenient, balanced, and nutritious product.

Gatorade Nutrition Shake is available in two flavors: chocolate and vanilla.

Circle No. 579 After years of extensive research, scientists at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute have developed Gatorade Endurance Formula for athletes’ longer, more intense workouts and competitions.

Gatorade Endurance Formula is a specialized sports drink with a five-electrolyte blend containing nearly twice the sodium (200mg) and three times the potassium (90mg) of Gatorade Thirst Quencher to more fully replace what athletes lose in sweat when fluid and electrolyte losses become substantial.

Circle No. 580

EZ Change 800-941-6716 WWW.CDI-CORP.COM EZ Change Goal and Strength Record Boards offer tremendous opportunities to highlight athletic accomplish-

ments. They’re durable, look great, offer unique customization, and can be updated easily and inexpensively.

Contact EZ Change toll-free, or visit online. It’s that EZ. Circle No. 581

Check out

www.AthleticBid.com to contact these companies.

A Comprehensive Guide to Managing Your School’s Athletic Equipment

AT H L E

C ATHLETI ENT EQUIPM ERS MANAG

UIP TIC EQ

The AEMA Certification Manual, the official instructional guide for the Athletic Equipment Managers Association, is an excellent reference tool for your coaches and equipment management staff.

MENT MANA GERS C E RT I F I C AT ANU ION M

tion Certifica l a Manu

AL

The manual includes: • Tips on extending the life of your equipment • Recommendations for making smart purchases • Proper fitting techniques to help prevent injuries • Advice for running an efficient equipment room

This 170 page reference book is only $35 plus $6 for shipping and handling.

ORDER THE AEMA MANUAL FOR YOUR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT TODAY! __Yes! I would like to order the AEMA Manual: ____ copies at $35 ea. = $_________ + $6 s/h = $_________Total Last Name___________________________________________ First Name______________________________________________ MI__________ Mailing Address____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________ State_____________________________________ Zip Code__________________________ Daytime Telephone________________________________________ E-Mail Address__________________________________________________ PAYMENT INFORMATION ____ Check or money order (U.S. Funds only) payable to: Training & Conditioning ____Visa ____Mastercard ____Discover ____American0Express Account Number_____________________________________________________ Expiration Date_______________________________________ Name on Card___________________________________________Signature_________________________________________________________ SEND TO: MOMENTUMMEDIA Sports Publishing, 2488 North Triphammer Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 • Fax:607-257-7328 • Phone: 607-257-6970

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Web News Wind Weighted Rain Covers Featured on Aer-Flo Site Aer-Flo’s redesigned Web site includes pictures, user stories, specifications, and prices for the company’s line of unique, patents-pending sports covers. Self-ballasted Wind Weighted® Baseball Tarps stay put in winds up to 65 mph without stakes or sandbags. Bunt Zone™ Infield Protectors save turf and have color-coded targetareas built-in for bunting and batting visualization training. Bench Zone Sideline Turf Protectors reduce cleat damage while allowing rain to drain through. More revolutionary sports products will be introduced in the coming months, all of which are made in the U.S.A.

www.aerflo.com Sports Equipment Blueprints Available Online AAE is making play more convenient with its online drawings. These “blueprints” feature product specifications, assembly and installation instructions, parts lists, and calculation worksheets. They are easy to download and are precise in detail.

To further customer satisfaction, AAE offers downloadable print ads and discounted equipment through its online store. Click on the “Timeline of Innovation” section and follow the company’s sports technology trends throughout its 55-year history.

When you select one of the products featured in the timeline, its specification page appears. AAE understands your athletic equipment needs and is proud of the service its Web site provides to meet this need.

www.aaesports.com Browse Lockers Online at DeBourgh.com DeBourgh Mfg. Co. has been building high-quality, dependable, secure lockers since 1931. Visit the company’s Web site to learn more about its history. The All-American lockers are known for being among the longest-lasting, most secure lockers in the industry. Visitors can browse the online catalog and download CSIformatted specifications for all DeBourgh products. The site also features a section about DeBourgh’s manufacturing processes and the awards and recognition it has received. As an added convenience, you can request a quote online. Finally, on the “Events” page, you can review upcoming trade shows and other industry events.

DeBourgh Mfg. Co.—Pride, Quality, and Commitment.®

www.debourgh.com LRSSports’ Web Site Features New Video-Editing System Demo Check out the free Gamer™EZ Web demo to see how easy this digital video-editing system really is to use. Up to five different teams can share a single GamerEZ license installed on a single desktop or laptop computer. GamerEZ is flexible enough to meet the diverse needs of team sports like football, as well as individual sports. It’s so easy to use that coaches will be capturing video and analyzing clips in no time.

www.lrssports.com Discover More About Synthetic Turf at Sprinturf Discover why Sprinturf is a smart choice for synthetic turf systems, by visiting its Web site. Visitors can view its photo gallery, a time-lapse evolution of a field, learn about products, and read both recent news articles and customer testimonials.

Testing information and comparisons are also highlights on the Web site, as well as links to Sprinturf’s Specialty Products Division for home and residential synthetic turf applications and the Ultrablade™ drill test, which proves Sprinturf’s fibers are one of the finest on the market. Click today to find out more.

Testimonial

Gamer™ Systems Helps Coach Take Care of Coaching Gamer™ video-editing systems from LRSSports software helps coaches take care of coaching by customizing the data fields to match their technologies and attaching all the game data to video clips.

Coaches can assemble cut-ups for analysis the way they like to study footage—by formation, play, down and distance, or any other combination. They can then distribute cut-ups to staff members and players for studying either on tape, DVD, or over networks.

“I made a promise to my team: If they do not get out-hustled, we will not be out-coached. Our motivational techniques take care of the hustle aspect, and the LRSSports system helps us take care of the coaching aspect. Our success is greatly dependent on this system.

“With a DVD burner, I produced the best highlight video the school has ever seen. We sold 50 DVDs at our banquet and made over $1,000 for our program.

“I have been a customer of LRSSports since 1999. We use this system to its maximum capacity. It’s like having the same technology as the D-I and pro teams.”

Edward L. Arledge Head Football Coach Clear Brook High School Friendswood, Texas Contact LRSSports today to learn how a Gamer system can help you and your staff’s coaching needs and to find out about the exciting features the company is introducing at the AFCA Annual Conference.

www.sprinturf.com Site Features Sports Storage System Overview Wenger’s Web site features an overview of the GearBoss™ sports storage system for athletic equipment. Dramatic before-and-after photos show the system’s impact.

GearBoss components are detailed, including X-Carts, which glide along a fixed aluminum track, and Team Carts, which roll from storage rooms to practice locations.

Available accessories are pictured and described, such as shoulder pad hangers and stackers, helmet hangers, wire shelves, garment bars, security panels and doors, and storage attics that help maximize vertical storage potential. Product literature can be ordered or downloaded, and the site also features detailed specifications.

www.wengercorp.com

LRSSports 2401 W. MONROE ST. SPRINGFIELD, IL 62704 888-LRS-0001 LRSSPORTS@LRS.COM WWW.LRSSPORTS.COM COACHING MANAGEMENT

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Company Q & A

Storage Solutions with Wenger’s Gregg Nelson Gregg Nelson is the Athletics Market Manager for Wenger Corp., which makes the new GearBoss™ sports storage system. GearBoss is a modular, high-density system of rolling carts that are flexible and easy to configure for a variety of equipment.

Before

How was the GearBoss system developed?

Our winning formula relied on cooperation between a great team of designers at Wenger and athletic directors, coaches, and equipment managers from all levels—secondary schools, colleges and universities, and professional teams. The Wenger team visited athletic facilities across the country, immersing itself in the market while meeting many terrific people. They ‘took us to school’ about their needs, challenges, and frustrations with athletic equipment storage. These discussions ranged from informal site visits to more organized focus group sessions.

We learned that equipment rooms often become disorganized dumping grounds for odds and ends. Along with wasting time and money, such a haphazard arrangement reflects poorly on the athletic program and undermines the discipline and excellence needed to field winning teams.

After

Our goal was to help create functional, good-looking equipment rooms that would make our customers proud, while improving inventory management, sanitation, and security.

What is unique about the GearBoss system?

Its high-density storage maximizes available space. Compared with traditional shelving, we’ve reduced storage needs by at least one-half.

Wenger Corporation 555 PARK DRIVE OWATONNA, MN 55060-0448 800-4-WENGER WWW.WENGERCORP.COM

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COACHING MANAGEMENT

Inventory management improves dramatically, saving money by protecting equipment from damage, theft, and unsanitary conditions. We help our customers save time by organizing equipment efficiently.

Our system offers maximum flexibility— it can be customized for any facility and athletic program with our electronic layout tool and virtual room configurator.

To allow easy access and to minimize wasted aisle space, GearBoss X-Carts roll along a fixed aluminum track in the floor.

Logistics are streamlined because GearBoss Team Carts can easily be rolled off the track, providing mobility and accessibility at the point of use.

With our system, an equipment room becomes a source of pride, rather than a source of embarrassment. Carts can be customized with team colors and logos.

What have been customers’ reactions?

The feedback has been overwhelminglypositive. Customers say we’ve helped them finally end the “Gear Chase” that wasted their time and failed to adequately protect their equipment investment. Also, schools are finding other uses for the space they are saving with the GearBoss system. Examples include turning the freed-up area into a team room, phys ed classroom, or coaches’ meeting area.

How are schools justifying the investment in a GearBoss system?

School budgets are tight almost everywhere, and any expenditure is heavily scrutinized. However, when schools consider the thousands of dollars they’ve already invested in athletic equipment—equipment that is often unprotected and poorly organized—our GearBoss solution makes a lot of sense.

Because the system is modular, schools are able to purchase carts incrementally, as funds become available. Some athletic booster groups have held successful fundraisers to help buy carts.

For more information about the GearBoss system, please visit online or call Wenger Corp.

GAMES ARE WON OFF THE FIELD.

Fields may have boundar ies.

Commitment and dedication don’t.

Athletes who know that are Russell Material. Just like the 500 NCAA® Division I teams we outfit every day.

Visit us at www.russellathletic.com.

©2005 Russell Athletic, a division of Russell Corporation.

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Circle No. 144