Coaching Management 17.4 by Momentummedia

Coaching Management VOL. XVII NO. 4

F O O T B A L L ■ ■

P R E S E A S O N

E D I T I O N

Improving Vertical Leap From Worst to First

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Coaching high-profile players

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CONTENTS

Coaching Management Football Edition Preseason 2009 Vol. XVII, No. 4

LOCKER ROOM

Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Player deaths lead to policy changes in N.C. … College assistant takes season off to watch daughter play volleyball … Sportsmanship program reduces ejections … NCAA aims to raise APR scores … Testing players for sleep apnea … Military deployment can’t keep coach from helping team.

COVER STORY

Star Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Coaching a high-profile player can be both a blessing and a challenge. Here are ways to make the most out of this rare opportunity.

RECRUITING

In Their Dreams

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By being a great salesman.

STRENGTH TRAINING

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Bill Curry, Georgia State University Guide to Synthetic Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Football Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Strength & Conditioning Aids . . . . . . . . . . . New products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Injury Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coaching Aids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

47 49 52 57 59 62 63

ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 OVERTIME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Reaching New Heights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Building the strength needed to improve vertical leap will also make your players better overall athletes.

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HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

Worst to First

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In three months, an Idaho team went from a 23-game losing streak to a state championship.

On the cover: Bryce Brown, a running back from Wichita (Kan.) East High School, was named co-MVP of the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl after catching two touchdown passes. Read about coaching all-star players beginning on page 16.

Publisher Mark Goldberg Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel Associate Editors Dennis Read, Greg Scholand Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Abigail Funk, Kyle Garratt, Mike Phelps

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano Business Manager Pennie Small Art Director Pamela Crawford Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Circulation Director Dave Dubin Circulation Manager John Callaghan Production Director Maria Bise Prepress Manager Neal Betts Assistant Production Director Jim Harper Production Assistant Natalie Couch Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend

Advertising Sales Associates (607) 257-6970 Diedra Harkenrider, ext. 24 Pat Wertman, ext. 21

The Coaching Management Football edition is pub lished in March and November by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada.

returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852.

Mailing lists for Coaching Management Football are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.

COVER PHOTO: JOHN ALBRIGHT/ICON SMI

Business and Editorial Offices 31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850 (607) 257-6970, Fax (607) 257-7328 info@MomentumMedia.com

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Changes Mulled After Deadly Year Between Aug. 12 and Sept. 20 last year, three North Carolina high school players died from football-related injuries or ailments. It was a profound tragedy, but North Carolina wasn’t alone: Newspapers from around the country reported at least five other deaths related to high school football this past season. Based on figures from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research, 2008 was the deadliest year in recent memory—there were just six deaths nation-

an actual increase, or if something else is going on, like improved reporting channels for catastrophic injury. “Our sports medicine advisory committee will take a close look at the situation this off-season,” he continues. “We’ll figure out if we should do anything differently to minimize risk.” After North Carolina’s third death, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) called an emergency meeting of its sports medicine advisory committee and put several policies in place. First, each school was

fully recovered from an earlier one. “Anytime there is a suspected head injury in football, that player must be removed from activity and cannot return until he’s released to play by a licensed medical doctor,” explains Que Tucker, Deputy Executive Director of the NCHSAA. “We believe that was standard practice at most schools anyway, but we put it in writing to emphasize its importance.” Third, each school must report to the association the current status of its athletic medical coverage. This includes whether it has a full-time athletic trainer,

cerns,” says Tucker. “We need to see where the funding might come from. An unfunded mandate would be a major hardship for some schools.” In the meantime, the NCHSAA is considering other task force recommendations, such as revamping the state’s required pre-participation exam and adding required baseline neurocognitive testing to help guide return-to-play decisions after concussions. These tests, which are typically computerbased, assess an athlete’s reaction time, processing speed, and other basic mental performance factors. After a concussion, the athlete takes the same tests again, and the scores are compared to determine if brain function has returned to normal.

Taking a Season Away for Family For most of Doug Smith’s life, autumn has meant football. First as a player and then as a coach, Smith has spent almost every fall Saturday on the gridiron. But Smith filled the fall of 2008 with volleyball instead. He took a year off from his position as defensive backs coach at Hope College to join his wife and follow their daughter Emily’s final season with the DePauw University volleyball team.

North Carolina high school players, like these from Thomasville and East Bladen high schools, should benefit from changes enacted after the deaths of three players in five weeks last year. One new rule requires players suffering a head injury to be cleared by a doctor before playing again. wide directly related to prep football in 2005, 2006, and 2007 combined.

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Second, the NCHSAA instituted a policy to help prevent second-impact syndrome (SIS), a potentially fatal condition that occurs when someone suffers a second concussion before their brain has

what medical personnel cover sporting events, and any other arrangements for on-site injury treatment and prevention. Beyond those immediate steps, a task force was created to find ways to reduce catastrophic injuries. The group’s primary recommendation is a statewide mandate that each school have a certified athletic trainer. “That idea makes a lot of sense, but there are obvious budget con-

There were downsides, though. After driving four hours each way to Emily’s home games, Smith was often tired when he returned to work as a social

AP PHOTO/Karl B DeBlaker

Has high school football become more dangerous? “We’re still figuring out what these numbers mean,” says Bob Colgate, Assistant Director of the NFHS and liaison to the Football Rules Committee. “We’re obviously concerned— one death is too many. But it’s too early to tell whether this is

ordered to develop an emergency action plan with procedures for a catastrophic injury, heart attack, heat-related illness, and other serious medical situations.

No matter how much Smith missed football, he’s convinced he made the right choice. “It turned out even better than I expected,” says Smith. “Emily was ecstatic about the decision, and we were able to spend every weekend together, which showed how much we care about every part of her life. And traveling around the country was like a second honeymoon for my wife and me.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD Division I or II schools, where teams employ fewer part-time assistant coaches. Though Smith has a lot of catching up to do before rejoining the team this summer, and doesn’t know exactly what role he’ll fill, he strongly advises other coaches to think about making the same choice. “It was a great decision for the family,” says Smith. “Now that my kids are finished playing collegiate sports, I’m excited about returning to football as soon as I can. I’m eager to see what I can do and get back with my buddies.”

Sportsmanship Program Pays Off With the blessing of his head coach, Doug Smith (in blue baseball cap) took a year off from his part-time position as defensive backs coach at Hope College. Smith and his wife spent the fall following their youngest daughter as she played her final season of college volleyball. studies teacher at Jenison (Mich.) Junior High School, where he’s taught for the last 36 years. He had to make do without his usual coaching sti pend, so he began officiating high school basketball and vol leyball games. He also missed the adrenaline rush of game day and the camaraderie with fellow coaches. Hardest of all was asking for time away from the team. Luck ily for Smith, there was a prec edent. In 2002, he skipped the season to watch his older daughter play volleyball. Still, he knew his head coach might not be able to guarantee him a job when he returned this time.

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Smith worked at Hope’s sum mer football camp, but with out a formal role on the team, he stayed away from practic es, meetings, and games. He remained in touch with friends on the coaching staff, whose families attend church togeth er, and often came in contact with football players during his own workouts at Hope. Smith believes Kreps’s sup port was the most important factor in making his absences work, and doubts the arrange ment would succeed at NCAA

The STAR program engages student-athletes through a Web-based interface that includes role-playing activities and quiz questions that cover areas like teamwork, respect, and attitude, as well as a sec tion on steroid education. High school student-athletes can complete the entire pro gram from any computer with Internet access in less than an hour. Similar programs are designed for coaches, parents, and officials. “We just had too many ejec tions,” says Steve Savarese, Executive Director of the AHSAA. “And after looking at some of the language and mannerisms our kids were using, we finally said enough is enough. Winning is important, but the way our players play the game is more important, so

It’s working. The MHSAA reported a 44-percent reduc tion in the number of football players ejected from games in the fall of 2008 compared to 2007, and a 50-percent reduc tion in the number of football coaches ejected. The AHSAA, meanwhile, saw football ejec tions decrease by 55 percent over a three-year period since it first introduced the program on a voluntary basis. STAR is not a pass/fail test—as long as athletes complete all the materials, they are eligible to play. The program’s develop ers recommend that coaches have their athletes complete it over the course of two to four weeks instead of in one sitting. Pricing is customized, based on the size of the school and num ber of athletes participating. “I think the program caters to the student-athletes’ craving for technology,” says Dan Davis, Head Football Coach and Ath letic Director at Brandon (Miss.) High School. “It stimulates their interest while, at the same time, addressing important issues like behavior, self discipline, and attitudes about competing.” There are 10 versions of the STAR program starting with elementary school and con tinuing through grades 11-12. Versions for younger athletes introduce them to different sce narios, such as when a call goes against them, and challenges them to choose the best reac tion. The high school format is similar to a television quiz show, as athletes watch video clips and answer questions. Both the AHSAA and MHSAA require players who have been ejected from a game to complete a separate remediation program, which asks questions to deter mine their “Sportsmanship I.Q.” before returning to play. The coaches’ course consists of about 30 minutes of online

hope college/rob kurtyz

“Basically, I was saying that fam ily is more important to me than football,” he says. “And it was a hard choice because I knew I might have to give up coaching. I explained that I would love to return to football next season if he would have me back, but that this was my last opportuni ty to see my daughter play col legiate volleyball.”

Head Coach Dean Kreps agreed to let Smith take the time off, just as he had six years earlier. Over the next three months, Smith and his wife drove to contests in Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Ten nessee, and flew to tourna ments in Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas. While he was gone, the defensive coordinator took over many of Smith’s respon sibilities, and the team hired a new assistant to help the defense.

After years of excessive player and coach ejections and dis plays of poor sportsmanship, the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) and Mississippi High School Activities Association (MHSAA) decided they had to do some thing about it. So, starting in 2008, both began requiring every high school athlete to complete the STAR sportsman ship program. STAR stands for Stop, Think, Act, and Replay.

we’re using the STAR program to put a statewide emphasis on good sportsmanship.”

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD materials, including tips on spotting steroid users, interacting with parents, and setting a good example for players. It comes with printable materials coaches can bring to player and parent meetings as handouts. “The coaches’ program was very thought provoking in terms of our decision making and our role as leaders of a group,” Davis says. “It made me think. It has made a difference by placing priority on teaching young people good sportsmanship.”

The Mississippi High School Activities Association saw a 44percent reduction in ejections from football games after requiring players to complete an online sportsmanship education program. Above, D’Iberville and Noxubee County high schools compete for the MHSAA Class 4A championship.

Concerned with lagging Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores for Division I football teams, the NCAA is looking for ways to help players improve their academic performance.

Circle No. 103

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In January, the Academic Enhancement Group—which includes head football coaches, university presidents, athletic directors, faculty athletics representatives, and conference commissioners—participated in the Division I issues forum during the NCAA Convention and shared thoughts on the academic problems facing football. Chair Joe Castiglione, Director of Athletics at the University of Oklahoma, says the group’s goal is to create datadriven recommendations for hot-button topics like eligibility, academic preparedness, and transfer rules. It will submit its

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis

Division I Group Tackles APR

The Division I Football Academic Enhancement Group has already floated some possible rules changes, including tighter eligibility requirements for spring football and additional restrictions on transfer students.

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD before becoming eligible, matching the rules in the Football Bowl Subdivision. “Because players are eligible to play immediately after transferring to an FCS school, this has provided incentive for student-athletes to leave their original school instead of working through various challenges,” Castiglione says. “Having that year in residence could also help FCS institutions that have issues with transfers affecting their APR scores.”

The NCAA is considering several changes, including eligibility requirements for spring football, to raise football’s APR scores. Rutgers University was one of six Division I FBS schools to receive an APR Honor Award for 2007, and Jason McCourty was named the school’s 2008 Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. findings to the NCAA Division I Board of Directors in April.

current with their course loads and GPA.

Castiglione says one of football’s biggest APR hurdles is student-athletes remaining eligible. The group is discussing a number of new concepts to improve scores in that area, including adding minimum academic requirements to be eligible for spring football.

Academic preparedness for incoming freshmen and junior college transfers is another area of emphasis. “We’re very concerned about some of the key findings related to transfers from two-year schools,” Castiglione says. “Even those who come into Division I with an associate’s degree aren’t necessarily more prepared for upper-level course work than they were coming out of high school. As a result, the idea of requiring a core-course curriculum for two-year college transfers has been raised.”

“Some student-athletes finish the fall term having completed only six hours and try to make up the difference during the winter, spring, and summer sessions,” Castiglione says. “Throw in spring practice when they have even more time demands, and many can’t cut it and become ineligible in the fall.” Proponents believe minimum academic requirements for spring football would force student-athletes to stay

The group has also discussed requiring transfers from fouryear schools into a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school to complete an academic year in residence

Castiglione says there has also been talk of recommending institutions be required to offer summer school for underperforming teams or athletes contributing to lower APR scores. “We’re looking at the impact of summer enrollment prior to their first-year term and how much that helps new studentathletes become more acclimated to college,” says Castiglione, emphasizing that these are just concepts at this point in the process. In other NCAA action, the Division I Board of Directors voted in January to begin publishing APR scores for each Division I head coach in all sports. The NCAA will compile a database—available to the public— that will list the coach’s name and his or her team’s APR score for every year he or she has served as a head coach. The Board of Directors is also compiling another database with more extensive information on head coaches, including detailed academic, recruiting, and infractions information. That data would be accessible only through a password-protected Web site. University administrators would then use the site to assist with hiring decisions.

Addressing Sleep Apnea If a player, especially a lineman, is tardy, dozing off in class, and generally lethargic, there might

be more to consider than lack of sleep or a busy schedule. Sleep apnea—a serious and potentially fatal condition in which a person stops breathing while asleep, usually because of airway obstruction—can produce such symptoms. It can affect anyone, but three main risk factors are being male, overweight, and having a large neck circumference, all of which describe most football linemen to a ‘T.’ A 2003 study in the New England Journal of Medicine made headlines when it found that 34 percent of NFL linemen studied suffered from sleep apnea. The following year, 13time all-pro Reggie White died unexpectedly in his sleep, and the medical examiner’s report said apnea may have been a contributing factor, further raising awareness of the condition. When Middle Tennessee State University Athletic Director Chris Massaro suggested that Head Football Coach Rick Stockstill send some of his linemen to participate in a sleep apnea study last year, the coach quickly agreed. “Some of my friends were tested for sleep apnea, so I was familiar with it,” says Stockstill. “I thought it would be a great idea for our bigger guys to get tested.” The Sleep Centers of Middle Tennessee selected 16 MTSU linemen who displayed physical characteristics consistent with elevated sleep apnea risk. After analyzing their breathing during sleep, researchers led by Clinical Director Brian Wind, MD, found that two of the linemen suffered from severe sleep apnea, and 10 others had borderline or mild cases. Sleep apnea causes the neck muscles to relax during sleep, allowing the soft tissue in the back of the throat to collapse and block the airway. This can briefly halt breathing, often causing the sleeper to snore loudly or wake up gasping for breath. These frequent inter-

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LOCKER ROOM BULLETIN BOARD ruptions in sleep can lead to daytime fatigue, morning headaches, and reduced blood oxygen levels. For treatment, the linemen diagnosed with severe sleep apnea were given Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines, which use a mask or nasal tube to force air into the throat to keep the airway open. Wind says mild cases can be treated more simply through weight loss and teaching athletes to avoid sleeping on their backs. “We feel pretty good about being able to step in and help these guys,” says Wind. “The two athletes with severe cases most certainly would have had long-term consequences in both health and quality of life.” Untreated apnea can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and increased risk of stroke, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. “If a kid has

apnea and doesn’t do anything about it, eventually his heart is going to wear out. He can pass a physical and appear to be in great shape, but over time, his heart is just not capable of handling the load it’s given,” says former MTSU Head Athletic Trainer Joe-Joe Petrone, who has since become Director of Sports Medicine at Auburn University. “Fortunately, the two athletes on the [CPAP] machines reported that they felt better during the day, and that they were more alert in the classroom and during lifting and running.” How do you decide who in your program should be tested for sleep apnea? “The two big screening questions are, ‘Do you snore?’ and ‘Are you sleepy during the day?’” explains Wind. “There are other signs as well. If you have a 19- or 20-year-old with high blood pressure, that’s a red flag that they should be checked out.

“By putting players through the screening process, we’re also educating them about sleep apnea,” Wind continues. “I’d be willing to bet that 80 to 90 percent of linemen will have sleep apnea to a severe degree when they are done playing football. By testing them, a seed has been planted so that when symptoms kick in later in life, they will say, ‘I remember learning about what this might mean.’” Stockstill believes sleep apnea testing—which is fairly inexpensive and available at sleep centers and clinics around the country—should become standard practice for athletic programs. “If you deal with bigger guys, you’re crazy if you don’t perform sleep apnea tests,” he says. “It’s not only good for them as athletes, it’s also an opportunity to impact their lives in a positive way. You might even save someone’s life.”

Long-Distance Coaching Coaches debate the benefits of coaching from the sidelines versus a press box perched high above the field. Few, though, can imagine coaching from 3,500 miles away. Yet that’s exactly what Fenumiai “Numi” Ilalio, Jr., an Assistant Coach at Service High School in Anchorage, Alaska, did for seven games this fall. Ilalio arrived at Service before the 2006 season and played a large role in resurrecting a program that won just once in the previous two years. He came to the school after four seasons as an assistant at nearby East Anchorage High School, helping the program to a large school state championship in 2003. Service Head Coach and Athletic Director Jason Caldarera hoped Ilalio could do the same for his Cougars. However, Ilalio is also a member of the Alaska Army National Guard, and after the team’s fourth game, he was deployed to Fort Riley, Kan., for training. The distance couldn’t keep Ilalio from coaching his team, though. He stayed in contact with the Service staff via cell phone during breaks in his training and evaluated game film the team mailed to him.

Linemen from Middle Tennessee State University participated in a sleep apnea study last year and two were found to have severe cases. Their conditions improved after they started wearing masks to help keep their throats open while sleeping. If left untreated, apnea can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. Above, Middle Tennessee competes against Mississippi State University.

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Although Ilalio’s departure left a large void on both the offensive and defensive units, Caldarera formulated a plan with the remainder of his staff to make up the difference. They all took on extra roles, whether it was coaching additional drills during practice or working with positions they were not accustomed to. “I ran the defense and one of my assistants ran the offense,”

AP PHOTOS/ROGELIO V. SOLIS

“He was in contact with us three or four times a week,” Caldarera says. “A lot of his communication served to motivate the team, and some of it was schematic.”

Caldarera says. “Numi had a vision of how he wanted to refine the program when he came here and we stayed with that vision of instilling discipline with very structured drills and schemes.” Although the Cougars lost their first game after Ilalio’s departure, they rebounded and advanced all the way to the large school state final. The night before the title game against Juneau-Douglas High School, Caldarera arranged to have Ilalio address the team over speakerphone. “I told them that I was very proud of the job they had done,” says Ilalio, who is now in the midst of a year-long tour in Afghanistan. “I also talked to the key leaders on each side of the ball and assured them that if they did what they’re capable of, they would be champions.”

And they were. Sparked by a halftime phone call with some tactical adjustments from Ilalio, the Cougars rallied from a 14point deficit to defeat JuneauDouglas, 22-14. With about seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Ilalio’s commander even halted a field combat exercise so he could listen to his wife, Terri, describe the end of the game over the phone. “With less than a minute left, we intercepted a pass to secure the game, and I just broke down crying,” Ilalio said. “My wife said that when the kids came out of the postgame huddle they were yelling, ‘This one’s for you, Coach Numi!’” More than anything, Caldarera hopes his team learned a lesson bigger than any football game. “One of the things we often discussed as a team was

Days before leaving for an Army National Guard deployment, Fenumiai “Numi” Ilalio, Jr., (green shirt and hat) Assistant Coach at Service High School in Anchorage, Alaska, led players through runs while preparing for a game in Las Vegas. that in life, you have to deal with adversity,” he says. “So I would ask the players, ‘How do you respond to it? How are you going to come back the next

day, work that much harder, and improve?’ And this showed them they can handle adversity and reach their goals despite the obstacles they may face.”

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Q&A

Bill Curry

Georgia State University

Bill Curry has been a TV announcer, author, leadership educator, Super Bowl champion, and more. But of all his professional titles, coach still fits him best. That’s why, after spending 10 years as a college football analyst for ESPN, he agreed to be Georgia State University’s first head coach. Curry will lead the new team onto the field for its first game in the fall of 2010. He brings 17 years of head coaching experience at Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama, and the University of Kentucky. In 1985, he led Georgia Tech, his alma mater, to its first bowl victory in 13 years and captured Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year honors. He took over at Alabama in 1987 and two years later, won a Southeastern Conference title and the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award, named after Curry’s college coach and

CM: Why did you take the job at Georgia State? Curry: Coaching is who I am. What I love most is directing a football team and hiring a staff that I can teach ethics and principles to. Football is the greatest team sport because it’s the only one in which everybody needs everybody else on every play. I can’t find that anywhere else, so no matter what age I am, I will want to coach football. Those are the selfish reasons I came back, but I also feel I should share my accumulated wisdom. Coaching gives me another opportunity to do that at a stage in life when a lot of people don’t have that privilege.

mentor, and given to the coach whose program displays on- and off-field qualities. A member of three NFL championship teams and two-time All-Pro center, Curry has been equally recognized for his accomplishments off the gridiron. In 2007, the American Football Coaches Association honored him with the Amos Alonzo Stagg Award for “services that have been outstanding in the advancement of the best interests of football.” Before heading the GSU football program, Curry also taught young people as Director of the Leadership Baylor program at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn. In this interview, he talks about bringing leadership principles from the Baylor School to GSU, coaching at high-profile schools, and hiring a staff.

for a long time. Frankly, I was surprised they were available because they have all been successful at the highest-level programs. I was just as lucky to get three quality young coaches to join us. We have a tremendous blend of diversity in all the ways that you want it. I would coach with this staff at Alabama or Notre Dame right now, and I didn’t expect that. What advice do you have for other coaches who may someday start a program from scratch?

Know who you are hiring. I knew a lot about each coach before I hired him, and I think that’s the single most important thing. The second most important thing is institutional support—we have the support of everybody at Georgia State. You need to know that the long-term base is in place to build a great program. For example, we have 100,000 alumni in the Atlanta area. There are more corporate CEOs and CFOs from Georgia State University in Atlanta than from Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia combined, and that’s huge.

How do you recruit for a program that won’t play a game until 2010? I know Georgia State football is going to be a great success, but I thought the first few years would be incredibly difficult for recruiting. I was wrong. We tell studentathletes, “Wherever you go, you’re probably going to redshirt. You’re either going to be a tackling dummy or hold one. If you come with us, you will still redshirt, but you’re going to get specific, individual coaching for hours a day. Plus, you have a chance to establish what this program is going to be from the first day.” Articulating that message is a big reason why we built a good recruiting class. What were you looking for as you assembled your coaching staff? I needed a blend of experienced guys and young guys. I hired several veteran coaches I have known and respected

On June 10, 2008, Bill Curry was given the task of building the Georgia State University football program as its first head coach. The team will play its inaugural season in 2010.

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Q&A How will your experience with the Leadership Baylor program transfer to your team? The leadership program was based on a set of ethical standards that is accepted worldwide. We used a book called Moral Courage by Rushworth Kidder. The way Kidder put it, “Every mom wants these five principles for her child: fairness, honesty, respect, responsibility, and compassion.” When you have those values, and actually practice them, a sixth ingredient emerges, which is trust. If you study what every great team, church, company, or family has, it’s trust. The leadership program at the Baylor School is predicated on those values, and so is the football program at Georgia State.

learn that, they adopt a standard for life that gives them a very good chance to be leaders, and make a difference beyond their own selfish ends.

were going to have a good practice when a couple of players would come up to me and say, ‘Nobody in the fellowship today, Coach.’

What did you learn from coaching in high-profile positions? To be myself and not mimic Bobby Dodd or Vince Lombardi or Don Shula, which I tried to do early in my career. I had to find my own gifts. The second thing I learned from being under the scrutiny of the media and fans, is that when people talk about you, they don’t define you. They are telling you a lot more about themselves than they are about you. If you allow them to make you miserable, then you’re not ready to be in the public eye.

How do you balance winning and developing your players as people? If you coach at an educational institution, your primary mission is to educate. There are a lot of immature fans and alumni who would laugh at that. But your job is to make the men who come out of your program better husbands, fathers, and contributors to society.

How do you develop leadership in your players? A coach has a responsibility to help each young person locate his or her own unique gift, develop it, and give it with all their heart to something larger than themselves. Coaches have to help players understand the classroom is important, and each teammate is important—no matter what color his skin, where he goes to church, or how he votes. When they

I also learned about a group I call the fellowship of the miserable. They don’t want to see you succeed, because if you do, you might point out the tepid nature of their lives, and the fact that they have accepted mediocrity and you have not. The way you deal with them is to love them, pray for them, and stay away from them, even if they are in your family—and by all means, you don’t allow them on your staff or your team. I always knew we

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Certainly, part of that is winning. You should never say, “We’re serious about academics—it’s okay if we lose.” It’s not. We want to win as much as anyone else. But we understand that by sacrificing a young person’s education or value system to win, you have not won anything. I never want to have a guy come back and say, “Coach, I played for you 25 years ago. You’re the only male role model I ever had in my life, and you taught me it was okay to cheat a little bit. Next week I’m meeting with the IRS and they’re going to take my house.” That’s my worst nightmare.

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STARPOWER Ranked as one of the nation’s top running backs, Bryce Brown (5) of Wichita (Kan.) East H.S. was co-MVP of the 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. PHOTO BY JOHN ALBRIGHT/ICON SMI

COVER STORY

K.C. Keeler recognizes his good fortune. The University of Delaware Head Coach is fully aware he was blessed to coach Joe Flacco, a quarterback who acted the right way, said the right things, and was the consummate teammate—all while emerging as a superstar player and first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. In terms of managing a budding star, Keeler couldn’t have asked for an easier subject. Flacco didn’t require much work or guidance to keep in line, just minor periodic maintenance.

BY MIKE PHELPS

Coaches at the top level of college football may have depth charts loaded with all-state high school players. But for others, these special players don’t come along every day. While the skills these players bring to a team are welcome, coaching a star player isn’t always easy. Between managing increased media attention, meshing stars with the rest of the team, and keeping the focus on wins instead of stats, a high-profile star can create a lot of stress for a coach. But by learning to manage the situation correctly, your next season with a star could end with you holding a trophy over your head, instead of having a head case on your hands. No “I” In Team By their very nature, high-profile players often become the face of a program. As a result, those players or their teammates may forget their true roles within the team. That’s why it’s important for everyone on your team to know

that it’s still exactly that—a team, not a one-man show. Brian Byers, Head Coach at Wichita (Kan.) East High School, learned this lesson in the past two years. Arthur Brown, now a middle linebacker at the University of Miami, was a senior during Byers’s first season at Wichita East and his younger brother, Bryce, was a senior on the team this past season. Bryce is widely considered the top high school running back in the country. The two had undeniable talent, but it cut both ways. While they were responsible for many spectacular plays, Byers says all too often, the rest of the team would simply wait around for Arthur or Bryce to take over. “It was hard to get the other players to understand that they were just as important as Arthur and Bryce, and that they needed to make plays, too,” Byers says. “In one game, our offensive line came off the snap, made their initial blocks, then stopped and turned around to watch Bryce run.” To divert the attention off the individual and back on the team, Byers made a conscious effort during practices and film sessions to point out good Mike Phelps is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: mp@MomentumMedia.com.

Having a high-profile player on your team can be both a blessing and a challenge. Here’s how to make the most out of this rare opportunity. CoachingManagementOnline.com

COVER STORY

plays by other members of the squad. “If Bryce had a great run, we made it a point to talk about a player who made a great block,” he says. “We weren’t trying to overlook Bryce’s contribution, we simply wanted to emphasize that the block was just as important, because it sprung him to make that great run. “Two years ago, we had two really great players, but there were still 20 other players out there with them,” Byers continues. “If those other guys don’t do what they’re supposed to do, you’re not going to win many games—no matter how good your stars are.” When the outside world puts star players a step above the rest, it’s up to the coaches to practice what they preach about everyone being equally important. Reid Kahl, Head Coach at Wheat Ridge (Colo.) High School, won the 2008 4A state title with running back/safety Parker Orms, who rushed for more than 2,800 yards last season and is slated to continue his career at the University of Colorado. Despite their successes, Kahl says Orms and other star players receive their fair share of constructive criticism in the film room. “Kids are smart,” he says. “If you treat a star any differently than you treat an average player, they’ll

know what you’re doing right away.” Bob Toledo, Head Coach at Tulane University, agrees. “Stars have to do everything just like everyone else does,” he says. “Sure, they’re the premier players, but you can’t afford them special privileges. If you treat them the same as you treat the last guy on your bench, you won’t have any problems.” At Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Fla., Head Coach Jerry Pollard begins stressing the importance of team play and downplaying individual talent the minute his players hit high school. To keep future stars from getting a big head, he constantly talks to his young players about keeping up with their academics, following team rules, and participating in off-season workouts as a team. Pollard has coached many great players, including current University of Alabama offensive lineman Mike Johnson and University of South Florida defensive lineman George Selvie, and says his high-profile players have always been humble teammates. “By implementing those ideals in ninth grade, each player learns the importance of the team concept before the hype and attention begin,” Pollard says. “In some programs, if a player is a bit better than the rest, they don’t work

ringing a talented player up through your program is one thing. Having a high-profile player join your team as a junior or senior is another. Both high school and college coaches sometimes have to find a way to accommodate transfer student-athletes talented enough to step into a starring role right away, often with great hype and expectations. That’s why, at the University of Delaware, Head Coach K.C. Keeler teaches an unofficial class that he’s dubbed Transfer 101. The Blue Hens frequently accept transfer players from Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Recent high-profile alums include quarterback Joe Flacco, who transferred from the University of Pittsburgh, and defensive lineman Shawn Johnson, who was first team all-conference at Duke University,

out with the team during the summer and do their own thing instead. Here, everything is a group effort, and we stress that every day.” Media Moguls Getting every player to buy into the team concept can be difficult. Getting the media to treat everyone the same is impossible. Columnists and reporters are interested in the story they’re trying to tell, not your efforts to build a team. For example, Byers arrived at Wichita East two seasons ago and was greeted with a surprise: his new team’s schedule included a game that would be broadcasted nationally on ESPN. While Byers stressed the importance of the team as a whole, everyone knew the Browns were a big part of the reason ESPN was interested. Dealing with the hype surrounding the game itself was no easy task, either. “It put a lot of pressure on all of our kids,” Byers says. “We tried to stay laid back and not really talk about the fact that the game was going to be on ESPN. We tried to keep all the media activity in the background so it didn’t interfere with preparing for the game.” When coaching high-profile players,

and led the Atlantic Coast Conference in sacks as a senior before transferring to Delaware as a graduate student. “I told Shawn he would have to come in as a backup and work to earn the starting job here,” Keeler says. “He said, ‘Coach, I was first team All-ACC. Why would you bring me in as a backup?’ I told him that if I anointed him the starter without him earning it, he would have immediately lost 90 friends, because no one else was given that opportunity. “I also remind transfers that nobody wants to hear their stories from Ohio State, Purdue, Pitt, or Notre Dame,” Keeler continues. “Their new teammates are more interested in how they will help Delaware win a championship. It isn’t what you could’ve been somewhere else; it’s what you’re going to be at Delaware. Don’t live your life in the past.”

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COVER STORY

one of the most trying tasks can be managing media attention. This was especially tough for Byers’s team, which was unaccustomed to the limelight. “When it’s time to practice, it’s time to practice,”

to the type of national media attention Woodhead generated. But O’Boyle was able to enlist his school’s sports information department to keep the distractions at practice to a minimum.

as a mediator between the media and his high-profile players. This past season, Bryce received a steady stream of interview requests, and Byers had to regularly say “no.”

“It got to the point where I had to tell reporters, ‘We’ve got other players on this team.’ If they were doing something specific on Arthur or Bryce, they could talk to them, but if it was something about the team or an upcoming game, I encouraged them to seek out new faces and voices.” Byers says. “We always kept the media stuff separate from practice. There would be times that a television station would come in to shoot video, but we wouldn’t make a big production out of it.” Bill O’Boyle, Head Coach at Chadron State University, experienced a similar situation in 2007 with running back Danny Woodhead, who held the NCAA’s career rushing record until it was broken this past season. As a Division II school, O’Boyle says Chadron State wasn’t used

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“That really alleviated a lot of the problems,” O’Boyle says. “At first, we had media people going directly to Danny, trying to pull him out of practice for interviews and photo shoots. It became a distraction, and I could tell it was bothering him. Having everything go through the sports information department first really helped relieve some of Danny’s stress.” With no sports information director at his disposal, Byers tried to serve

“Bryce is extremely picky about who he’ll talk to, and knowing what types of publications he’s interested in speaking to, I could act as a front door for him,” he says. “If it was a national outlet, or somebody local, we would usually oblige, but we turned away a lot of the fan sites that called.” At the same time, Byers also made efforts to get recognition for other members of his team, so Bryce and Arthur weren’t its only voices. “It got to the point

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where I had to tell reporters, ‘We’ve got other players on this team,’” he says. “If they were doing something specific on Arthur or Bryce, they could talk to them, but if it was something about the team or an upcoming game, I encouraged them to seek out new faces and voices.”

“The first thing he’d talk about when he was interviewed was his teammates.” At some point, though, the spotlight will illuminate its target, and you’ll want your star players to perform as well off the field as they do on it. At Delaware, a specific coach grabs the players after each

recorded and analyzed. “It was important that he understood that the things he said were going to be repeated over and over,” Keeler says. “I’d remind him that he couldn’t be flippant with his remarks, because it could be misunderstood and then all of a sudden it’s out there for

Kahl refuses to discuss individual statistics such as yards gained or touchdowns around his team. Instead, he focuses on team numbers, like forced turnovers, points allowed, or points scored. One year, HE went as far as removing three of his best seniors from the team early in the season because they were too caught up in their own numbers. Kahl employed a similar tactic at Wheat Ridge, constantly mentioning other players during press conferences to emphasize that they were more than a one-man team. It also helped that his star bought into the idea. “Parker refused to allow all the attention to be drawn to himself,” Kahl says.

game before they do speak to the media and reminds them to talk about their teammates and that it’s an honor to represent the university. The coach also tells the players to give the opponent credit and never talk about officiating. These lessons took on extra significance for Flacco, whose every word was

the world to see and judge. People only know what they see on TV, and that’s not always who the person really is.” Substance Over Statistics In the first game of the 2007 season, Delaware running back Omar Cuff scored seven touchdowns. During the

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2006 season, Pine Forest had four players each rush for more than 1,400 yards. At Wheat Ridge, Orms racked up more than 400 all-purpose yards and scored five times in the 2008 Colorado Class 4A state championship. Impressive individual performances, sure, but the coaches on those teams were concerned with the end result—the win or the loss—not the individual. When working with a high-profile player, de-emphasizing statistics becomes more important than ever, because they can put up gaudy numbers that generate a lot of attention. That’s why Kahl refuses to even discuss individual statistics such as yards gained or touchdowns around his team. Instead, he focuses on team numbers, like forced turnovers, points allowed, or points scored. One year, Kahl went as far as removing three of his best seniors from the team early in the season because they were too caught up in their own numbers. “Their concern for their individual statistics showed in their approach to the game,” he says. “I met with them about it, but it continued, so I decided to boot them off the team. “I wanted to make the point that I didn’t care about statistics,” Kahl adds. “I tell my players that if you have a successful year as a team, the statistics will take care of themselves.” Toledo keeps players from concentrating on statistics by reminding them who controls the touches. “My players know I’m the one who’s calling the play—if I want them to get the ball, they will, and if I don’t, then they won’t,” he says. “If a player is willing to play for the team and not himself, then I’ll put him in position to get the ball more.” Pollard, meanwhile, takes a slightly different approach. Pine Forest runs a triple option offense, so he explains to his team that on any given play, three players could carry the ball and the opposing defense decides who that will be. “I can’t determine if a player carries the ball 30 times or three times on a given night,” Pollard says. “We’ve had some players who have been a little selfish in wanting more carries, but they either buy in to our system or they don’t play. Players need to understand that in order for the team to have success, we can’t have an individual complaining about not having enough personal success.”

Eyes On The Prize High-profile players often have their sights set on the next level, whether it’s a high school player looking towards college, or a college player gazing towards the NFL. But when Keeler is recruiting a player, he doesn’t try to sell the athlete on the chance to one day play professionally. After all, players who come into a program with stars in their eyes have a hard time seeing the big picture.

“It’s not like we don’t understand the importance of the NFL for our players, but if you make that the focal point, players are there for the wrong reasons,” Keeler says. “If you have that mindset, you get your players thinking individually and it becomes more about them than the team. The process of working with your star players means building a team atmosphere that starts the very first time you meet a player and carries through their whole career.” n

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RECRUITING

IN THEIR DREAMS

O CHRIS GASH

ne of the most challenging aspects of being a coach today is that you have to be good at so many different things. You need to be upto-date on the latest training techniques, able to communicate well, organized, in tune with kids, and full of new ideas. If you’re a college

How do you make high school prospects picture you in their future plans? By being a great salesman. BY Dan Tudor coach, you also need to be a first-rate salesperson. A salesperson? Yes. To effectively recruit the student-athletes you want in your program, you must learn the art of selling. Your first thought is probably, “No way! Sales is the last profession I’d enter.” But I’m not talking about becoming the

pushy car salesman who sold you your Ford Focus. I’m talking about understanding how to sell a Cadillac to even a reluctant buyer. You may not like to think of recruiting as selling, but it is. You are trying to convince a young person to choose your school over others. You are promoting yourself as a great coach and parent fig-

Dan Tudor is the founder of Selling for Coaches, a program designed to help coaches improve their recruiting, marketing, and communication skills. He conducts personalized on-campus workshops for colleges across the country and can be reached at: www.SellingForCoaches.com.

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RECRUITING

ure. If you don’t use effective sales techniques, you are entering the recruiting game without a gameplan. Buyer’s Market Business author and sales guru Jeffrey Gitomer has a saying: “People hate to be sold, but they love to buy.” That’s a great thing to remember when you’re recruiting student-athletes. Ask yourself this question: What is it you’re selling, and is that what they really want to “buy” from you? A common answer to the first question is “a scholarship” or “my college” or “our program’s successful history.” While those are all adequate answers

(and answers most of your competition would give), they aren’t the best answers. It’s a little like asking a car salesperson what they’re selling. If I heard them answer, “I’m selling a car” or “I sell Fords” I would guess that they’re a mediocre salesperson. On the other hand, professional, successful salespeople will answer the same question by saying, “I’m selling the dream of owning a new Ford Mustang convertible” or “With gas prices going through the roof, I’m selling my customers on great-looking cars that get fantastic gas mileage, which saves them lots of money.” As a college coach, you’re selling a lot more than a scholarship or a college.

You’re selling the dream of competing at the college level. Or the dream of having college paid for and getting a great start to a successful life. Or the dream of being wanted and appreciated for all of their hard work and sacrifices. A key to signing recruits is finding out what your prospect’s dream is. If you can discover what they want to buy, you can offer it for sale. When it comes to approaching individual prospects, I find that today’s college coaches tend to have one standard approach, which doesn’t vary much from athlete to athlete. But every recruit— just like every customer in the business world—is different. They have different

BE S T QU E S TIONS When trying to connect with a prospect, the more they tell you about themselves, the closer you get to really knowing how to recruit them. How do you get them talking? The key is asking open-ended questions that will provide more than a yes or no response. Here are some suggestions: What prompted you to consider our program?

How they answer allows you to find out what they’re thinking and why they’re thinking it. You can then use that information to further the recruiting process. It’s a great question to begin to understand their dreams, and can easily lead to lots of good follow-up questions. Listen to their answers carefully, and find ways to point out why their interest is justified.

What are your expectations of our program?

You’re looking for a “to-do” list here. From this question, prospects may tell you exactly how to recruit them, and exactly what would cause them to choose you as their college coach.

What thought process will you go through to determine how you’re going to choose a college?

What challenges does the recruiting process create for you and your family? This is what I call a wildcard question. It might yield very little information, or you might get a wealth of insight into the family dynamics associated with the stressful recruiting process. It’s also a question that will frame you, the questioner, as someone who is concerned about the entire family.

What are the best parts of the recruiting process?

Their answer to this might be an important key in uncovering your prospect’s “hot buttons.” Once they tell you the best things about the process, make sure your recruiting efforts touch on those positive aspects.

What other items should we discuss?

You may have to press your prospect on this one, since they probably haven’t verbalized it to anyone before. You’re trying to see who else is involved in the decision, how serious they are about assessing different options, and specific things they will be looking for in a program.

Let your prospects bring up anything that is on their mind. This is a great question to prompt them to talk about any concerns so that you can address them as soon as possible.

What are your thoughts right now in terms of where you want to continue your athletic career?

Make sure they give you specifics. Ask follow-up questions to their first answer. You can simply say, “And then what?” over and over again until you get to the real source of their decision—a school’s major, the coach, their parents’ input, their coach’s input, or even what kind of uniforms you have. The bottom line is that you’ll know what their decision rests on.

Okay, this one takes a little guts, but can yield a gold mine of information. It’s important to note that you aren’t asking them for a commitment. You’re just asking for their “thoughts” at that moment. That’s a big dif-

ference, and should give your prospect enough wiggle room to feel comfortable answering honestly.

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How will you make your final decision?

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RECRUITING

needs and motivations. In sales, these are called “hot buttons”—the things that get a customer’s attention and cause them to buy. Coaches who don’t take personalized approaches with athletes, and don’t take the time to understand why an athlete would choose their school, are probably

Compare that to professional, successful car salespeople. They ask questions right off the bat. They spend time getting to know their customers—their needs, wants, and how the car is going to be used day to day. They then mold their sales approach to the customer. Coaches who struggle at recruiting are often too busy rattling off facts and figures. Instead, they should be doing more listening than talking. When I work one-on-one with coaches to help them develop winning recruiting strategies, I recommend they try to talk only 20 percent of the time when they are engaging a prospect over the phone or during a visit. (See “Best Questions” on page 26 for examples of how to get prospects talking.) Of course, the questions shouldn’t only be for the prospect. Coaches actually need to make multiple sales pitches when recruiting a player. Not only do you have to connect with the athlete, you have to connect with the athlete’s parents. Furthermore, you’re probably going to need to sell to the athlete’s high school coach, too.

Getting To Know Them For coaches to make the most of their time with a prospect (whether it’s an hour with an entire family or 10 minutes over the phone), they usually talk. A lot. They talk about their college. Their team. Themselves. They spew facts, figures, sta-

Connecting with a prospect may be as simple as taking note of the trophy in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Ask them about the game where they won it. going to be unsuccessful when it comes to consistent recruiting success. Don’t get me wrong—you’ll still sign recruits. Probably even enough to fill your roster and be competitive year in and year out. However, you will never really understand why one athlete responds to your message and another doesn’t. And odds are, the one who doesn’t respond will be the one you really, really want.

tistics, winning percentages, and more. Going back to the car example, an average car salesperson would make the most of their time by quoting engine size, horsepower, stereo features, and on and on and on. If I’ve jogged a memory or two of a past agonizing car buying experience, good. Remember how you felt? If you’re like me, you probably just wished the guy would stop talking long enough for you to look at the car.

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RECRUITING

Along with asking questions, you can get to know your prospect by looking for clues around them. The first thing good salespeople do when they walk into a new client’s office is take a mental inventory of the surroundings. They notice any pictures on the wall, whether the desk is messy or organized, and if a hobby is evident. Connecting with a prospect may be

clues to help you tailor your approach, as can their economic situation. For example, a prospect with a single mom living in a two-room apartment will probably have a different motivation for deciding which school to attend—and why—than a prospect living in a six-bedroom house. Along with asking questions and noticing clues, you have to find out

Addressing nine out of 10 concerns isn’t good enough. Every objection has to be answered, and you need your prospect’s assurance that it has been answered well. as simple as noticing a picture and asking them about it. Or taking note of the trophy that sits prominently in the living room. But don’t just say, “Beautiful trophy.” Ask them about where they won it. What was the game like and how did their team perform? Observing how the student-athlete interacts with his family can also provide

what the prospect’s hesitations might be. Every athlete has some objection to what you’re offering, from “I don’t think you throw the ball enough,” to “Your school is too far away.” If you don’t ask recruits what their reservations are, you’ll be clueless about why they don’t sign with you. If you do ask, you can address their concerns. Even if

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you can’t change the fact that your school is far away from their hometown, you can talk about how your team is a family itself and how your current athletes stay in touch with their families. Think back to a prospect you lost to a competitor last year. Do you know why they didn’t sign with you? I do. You left an objection unanswered. Addressing nine out of 10 concerns isn’t good enough. Every objection has to be answered, and you need your prospect’s assurance that it has been answered well. Asking questions and noticing their surroundings not only helps you build a personal sales approach, it tells the prospect you care about them. And the two need to constantly be intertwined. In Your Court Even though you want to tailor your approach to each individual prospect and let them do most of the talking, that doesn’t mean you give up control of the recruiting/selling process. In fact, the opposite is true. It’s important that as the coach, you

RECRUITING

guide the prospect through an orderly, planned, systematic process. That begins with getting to know each other, then talking about why your program is best suited to their needs and goals. You can also use what are called “trial close” techniques throughout the sales process. That means asking questions like, “When you sign with us, do you have any requests for a specific dorm or roommate?” Controlling the process means gently directing the conversation toward the outcome you desire. A key to the whole formula, of course, is then “asking for the sale.” However, many coaches neglect to do this very simple thing. In my opinion, once you find an athlete who you know you want for your team, it’s never too early to ask if they are ready to commit to your program. If you’ve built trust, gained an understanding of the athlete’s needs, and successfully addressed any objections, the next logical step is to ask for the sale. You’ll be surprised how often and how early you get a positive response from your recruits. One tactic that usually backfires, however, is using threats to get their commitment. When you say, “We’ll need you to give us a yes or no by Wednesday or the scholarship is off the table,” you’ve come on too strong for today’s athlete. It’s also poor form to use further threats—or any negative response—if the prospect’s answer is, “No thanks.” I recently read an article that detailed the story of a very well-known sports program that black-balled a local high school coach when a prized recruit chose an outof-state school instead of the local university. All this did was build a bad name with people the college coach should be counting on for “sales leads.” Instead, what if the coach sent a letter of congratulations to that athlete and their family (and high school coach), wishing them best of luck in the future and thanking them for the chance to speak with them? That leaves the kind of impression that will help a coach have future sales success. Plus, if the athlete ever thinks of transferring to a different school down the road, the coach who congratulated them will be the one they remember. Act like the professional you are, and lose with grace. Good salespeople do it all the time. It will pay off for you later, and more than that, it’s the right thing to do.

Be Natural By now, I hope I’ve convinced you to embrace the strategies of the best salespeople in your recruiting gameplan. But you may wonder: Can these ideas mesh with who I am? Definitely. Coaches need a firm understanding of their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to recruiting, and must approach their prospects in a manner that seems genuine. Being “real” with a prospect is the key to connecting, and

the best way to do that is to be aware of your own unique sales personality and how it is viewed by prospects. This approach is not about changing your style or your personality. It’s about recruiting that leads to the best results. It’s about finding your own natural sales approach and letting it flourish. n A version of this article is appearing in other sport-specific editions of Coaching Management.

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UNC ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS

STRENGTH TRAINING

Reaching new Heights

Building the foundational strength needed to improve vertical leap will do more than help your players jump higher. It will also make them better overall athletes.

s Santonio Holmes showed when he leapt high in the air to snare the winning touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLIII, a good vertical jump can be an asset on the football field. However, athletes who develop their vertical power can do far more than simply jump high. The feet-way-above-the-ground leaps that wow fans and make the covers of magazines are awesome, but they are

By Jeff Connors just the icing on the cake. Developing vertical jump means an athlete has a powerful single- and double-leg triple extension, which is a vital component of many high-level athletic activities. Effectively training this area will result in increased force application into the ground. As a result, the athlete also develops the ability to overcome inertia out of a static position, improve the acceleration and maximum velocity phases of a sprint, and increase leg driving power against resistance. Improvement in tests

such as the broad jump, vertical jump, and linear acceleration will occur, but they are just the by-product of a comprehensive explosive strength-training program. Jeff Connors is Assistant Athletic Director for Strength and Conditioning at the University of North Carolina. He served as Director of Strength and Conditioning at East Carolina University for 10 years and at Bucknell University for four years. He can be reached at: jconnors@uncaa.unc.edu.

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STRENGTH TRAINING

Foundational Strength The starting point for developing all these attributes is foundational strength. Traditional slow velocity multi-joint exercises are employed in most programs to meet this objective. They might include the back squat, single-leg squat, step up,

Monday n

Submaximal tempo runs Lower-body foundational strength training (maximum effort) Foundational upper-body training Olympic lift teaching day with medium resistance Bench press and block clean

lunge, front squat, split squat, Romanian dead lift, and overhead squat. In our program, we emphasize the back squat and back squat variations, barbell step ups, tri-planar lunges, and a number of exercises that target the hamstrings and glutes. We also focus on

Tuesday

(Absolute Speed) n

Dynamic warmup

Neural drills

Wednesday n

Resistance modalities

Full-speed maximal effort sprints or drills

Submaximal tempo runs Component upper-body lifts High velocity lower-body lifts Component Olympic movements Box squat

WEEKLY SCHEDULE

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strengthening the hip flexors and the remaining areas of the core. Why is foundational strength so important? A reasonable number of studies have concluded that this particular type of strength development improves hip rotary power as measured by vertical

Thursday

(Absolute Speed)

Friday

(No run day)

Dynamic warmup

Neural drills

Bounding

Resistance or assistance modalities Sand pit strength training

Heavy Olympic lifts High-velocity upper-body lifts Component lower-body lifts High -volume plyometrics Bench press

North Carolina uses the above schedule to facilitate power development during the offseason.

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STRENGTH TRAINING

jump. Through years of experience, we have found that the back squat and back squat variations are key to foundational strength. Even though most of our athletes were heavily recruited high school stars, it will take them at least a couple years to develop the foundational strength needed to affect vertical jump. Many college athletes played multiple sports in high school and were not involved in a consistent strength program that was intense or frequent enough. Our goal is for each athlete to get to the point where foundational strength is highly developed so we can work on more specific, intense plyometrics. But we never progress until the athlete is ready. For example, we had a linebacker who could not significantly improve his lower-body strength due to a number of injuries. But when he was able to complete a full year of training, he improved his back squat weight by 100 pounds. He also established a new team record for linebackers with a vertical jump of 40 inches. The measurable improvement he demonstrated was due in part to being able to finally establish a foundation of strength. Our Recipe The recipe for foundational strength in our program includes the back squat as the primary movement. The back squat has obvious specificity to rotary hip movement, and it works the major muscle groups that originate athletic movement. In addition, subtle changes in stance can conveniently target different muscle groupsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for example, the high bar squat is specifically executed out of a vertical jump stance. Finally, the squat is a great exercise for hypertrophy. We use six-week training cycles in the off-season and threeweek mini cycles in-season. Athletes perform five reps or fewer to target fast-twitch muscle recruitment, straining through heavy weight and striving toward a new max-effort triple once a week. Our second day is a maximum velocity training day using 55 to 76 percent of single-rep max with no more than three reps and short rest intervals. We also use band tension with accommodating resistance off a box, with the speed of the bar ranging from .7 to .8 on a tendo unit. Monitoring foundational strength by straining through heavy weight and then moving to lighter weight for maximum bar speed with accommodating resistance has been another key to our program. Athletes with a few training years under their belts might spend the first year alternating their workouts on the second day between high velocity and hypertrophy. Many young athletes will need to continue training in a developmental fashion aimed at basic strength before shifting to more high velocity training. In addition, the importance of training the posterior leg cannot be overemphasized. Our favorite exercises for the hamstrings and glutes include Romanian dead lifts, glute-ham raises, reverse hyperextensions, negative accentuated leg curls, and resisted movement drills such as a low pedal in a sand pit or straight-leg bounds with a sled. One of our favorite choices for developing the total leg is the plate-loaded Power Runner. Our athletes perform anywhere from 20 to 40 reps in a set with heavy weight. This exercise is also used explosively to reiterate force application during the acceleration phase of sprinting. We also use this exercise, together with barbell step ups, to train each

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STRENGTH TRAINING

leg independently. And we’ll combine it with a back squat in a superset when working on hypertrophy. This combination of exercises and schedule has given us the best results. Several all-time vertical jump and broad jump records were set this past year, and sprint times were also favorable under this routine. Lots To Consider When moving our athletes to more high velocity training, there are some additional issues to consider. A major one is how to counteract inhibitory deceleration—that is, how to limit or account for the slowdown at the peak of the lift. The use of accommodating resistance in our program has been a trial-and-error process. We have found that exercises such as the resisted squat jump have value because full extension is expressed without the inhibitory factor. Using the Vertimax power training system, a weighted vest, or medicine ball routines also work well, as they require acceleration

and facilitate maximal effort hip extension. The Smith Machine, with a braking device to enable safe return to the starting position, is most productive when used with 30 percent of single-rep max. This is notable because it would be quite difficult to wear a 150- to 200-pound weighted vest or perform jumps with a 150- to 200-pound medicine ball. Olympic lifts are also key to enabling athletes to accelerate the bar to its highest point with maximum force and full extension at the ankle, knee, and hip joints. We have experimented with every primary and component Olympic lift over a 25-year period and have found that the block clean with the use of a tendo unit to measure velocity is most effective. It especially helps develop the second pull and eventually an improved single-rep max power clean. We have also established a specific speed-to-intensity ratio for this lift so that our athletes get the most out of it. We block clean with 70 percent of singlerep max at 2.0 meters per second, and decrease the velocity by .2 meters per

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second for every three-percent increase in training weight. For example, if we are using 82 percent of single-rep max, our speed expectation would be 1.2 meters per second. Obviously, to develop a higher level of power output, we want to increase the speed of the bar with the same weight, increase the weight with the same speed, or do a combination of both. It is important to note that these exercises require coaching every single repetition to facilitate maximal vertical force production. When it comes to training with the intent to be as fast as possible, specific feedback is critical. Since one of our goals with this exercise is for the athlete to increase acceleration of the lift, we also need to consider how to limit the eccentric stretch. We want to force the athlete to work harder to initiate acceleration of the bar. That’s why we prefer moving weight from a static position in some of our component exercises both in the rack and on the platform. When our athletes squat off a box, we instruct them to relax very

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STRENGTH TRAINING

briefly and then accelerate with maximum speed, intending to “rattle the plates” at the top. I prefer the block clean to the hang clean for the same reasons. It challenges the stretch reflex of the athletes by forcing them to move from a paused position. This also helps the athlete to become more explosive out of a normal stretch reflex. The final part of our program includes some speed and plyometric work. We emphasize single-leg bounding, power bounding, and speed bounding. We use these exercises with mini-hurdles to increase stride length, and we also use a weighted vest to enhance the stimulus. In addition, we blend the speed bounds into turnover drills to increase stride frequency. In the weightroom, we use vertical/ lateral plyometric drills. Our favorite drills include a single-leg thrust off of a box, box jumps, side lateral jumps, skis with a medicine ball twist, continuous Bear machine jumps, and various combinations on the Vertimax.

Into A Schedule Another important consideration is the volume and scheduling of training. The choice and frequency of exercises is very important to avoiding overtraining and ensuring proper recovery. Neural fatigue is a primary reason that athletes stop making gains. One training program that facilitates recovery but allows for an adequate level of training is a three-day lift and four-day run schedule. (See “Weekly Schedule” on page 34.) With this schedule, Tuesday and Thursday are absolute speed training days and include an extensive dynamic warmup, neural drills, bounding, full-speed resistance running, and sand training. Athletes also run on Monday and Wednesday before lifting, but they are tempo runs (75 to 90 percent of max effort). Friday is a lift day with high-volume plyometrics and no running. We measure our total volume of bounding and plyometric training to ensure we do not overtrain. Total volume includes the reps performed as part of the speed

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training on Tuesday and Thursday and the heavy plyometrics in the weightroom on Friday. These concepts are also adaptable to a four-day split routine. Helping athletes reach new heights, both literally and figuratively, starts with an emphasis on the foundation. From there, the considerations of inhibitory deceleration, eccentric strength, and recovery must all be balanced in order to develop an effective jump training program. n A version of this article appeared in our sister magazine, Training & Conditioning. To access more articles from T&C, please visit: www.Training-Conditioning.com.

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Circle No. 130

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E

Performance Points

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Focus on Olympic Lifting With Jason Loscalzo, CSCS, SCCC, USAW-1, SPN, Director of Football Strength and Conditioning, Boston College Why are Olympic lifts a priority in your football strength program? We do some type of Olympic movements every day we lift, and the reason is simple: Power is the ultimate physical attribute we’re trying to achieve in our athletes. Raw strength is important, but if you can’t apply that strength quickly, it’s useless to you on the field. The Olympic lifts develop power by teaching the body to apply strength as efficiently as possible. Football speed is not about your 40 time. It’s about your reaction strength, how fast you can change direction and get to top speed, and how quickly you can apply the maximum strength load you have. Why is Olympic lifting the best way to develop those attributes? The majority of our Olympic lifts start from the floor, which forces the players to accelerate the bar using football-specific movement patterns. For instance, in a clean from the floor, the athlete is crunched into a down position, and when he picks up the bar, he’s engaging the hamstrings and glutes in a way that translates directly to the field. No other lifts in the world can develop explosive power, especially in the hips, better than the Olympic lifts. They also require a lot of coordination, concentration, and focus on proper technique. We’re very careful to make sure all our athletes perform the lifts correctly. Do most football players need to be coached on proper lifting technique? Yes. You can’t just tell an athlete to do some Olympic lifts and expect him to perform them perfectly on his own. You have to teach the lifts and provide consistent coaching and supervision, because there are so many elements to doing the lifts properly: Where is the bar positioned? What is his stance, and where is his grip? Is he exploding at the right time? Is the timing of the lift correct? Some players come from high school teams that emphasized strength training, and they enter our program with good technique. Others have barely set foot in a weightroom when they first arrive. Either way, we want each athlete to perform the lifts with the best possible technique, so we start them all from

square one and teach each lift from the ground up. What common flaws do you see among athletes who are new to Olympic lifting? Often, younger guys don’t understand how to pick a bar up off the floor correctly. There are several things to look at: Are the bar and the hips coming up at the same time? Are the hips rising faster than the bar? Is he exploding at the right time? Just picking up the bar properly is one of the main points we emphasize from the start. Another common flaw is a lack of flexibility. Some guys won’t catch the bar with their elbows out because they don’t have adequate flexibility in the forearms, elbows, wrists, or shoulders. In the hips, some guys have trouble squatting to depth, with the hip joint going below the knee joint. To correct these problems, we use a progression of front squats, back squats, flexibility exercises, and core strength work. In the first two or three days after the players arrive, it’s my job to identify who needs individualized work in any of those areas. I’ll watch them lift with an empty bar at first, because that’s the best way to analyze technique and identify any weaknesses. What other unique benefits do Olympic lifts offer football teams? Football is about doing the little things right—if you concentrate on those, the big things will take care of themselves. I think Olympic lifting trains our players to focus on the details, and that carries over to the field. The more precise we can be with teaching lift technique and getting our players to focus on that in the weightroom, the more they’ll concentrate on all the minute details that make successful football players.

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HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

WORST TO FIRST After snapping a 23-game losing streak, this Idaho high school and its new head coach reeled off 11 consecutive victories to win an unlikely state championship.

BY ABIGAIL FUNK

CoachingManagementOnline.com

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

post register/nate chute (top & RIGHT); DAVID POTTER PHOTOGRAPHY (BOTTOM)

Entering the 2008 season, Head Coach Darin Owens had modest hopes for his new team at Hillcrest High School in Ammon, Idaho. He wanted his team to snap a 22-game losing streak and finish with a winning record. What Owens got, however, was something he never even dreamed of: a state championship.

“This team completely broke all the rules,” Owens says. “It was supposed to take a few years of weight training and rebuilding before we were going to have much success. This was like a real Hollywood story, and honestly, it was very humbling for me as a coach.” Owens has a history of turning programs around. Earlier in his career, he guided three other high school teams from one-win or no-win seasons to winning records and the state playoffs in his first year on the job. Hillcrest was hoping for similar results, so at Owens’s first preseason meeting, players and parents were all ears. “What I’ve learned at each place I’ve coached is that turning a team around starts with changing the mentality,” Owens says. “So the very first thing I did was have all the players take their heads and turn them all the way to the right, then all the way to left, then back to me, and I said, ‘That is the last time this football program is going to look back. From now on, we’re keeping our eyes focused straight ahead on the future.’” Owens’s approach was tested after Hillcrest’s first game, which ended in a loss. While the players were disappointed, Owens used the game as an evaluation tool. Though the team didn’t play well, he saw some things he liked and continued to work on the team’s psyche. “After that rough note, we really drove home three points the staff established as the theme for the season: ‘Expect to win. Prepare to win. Believe.’” Owens says. “We put that phrase on everything—handouts, their spirit packs, all over the locker room. It was constantly drilled into them.” The repetition seemed to work. The following week, the Knights turned things around and won for the first time in more than two years. At the time, few imagined the game would

also mark the start of a new streak, but the team swept through the rest of the regular season. Hillcrest proceeded to knock off favored teams in the first three playoff rounds, including the number-one seed. And before they knew it, the Knights were in the championship game against Jerome High School. The Hillcrest players weren’t the only ones who bought into Owens’s mantra of “Expect to win. Prepare to win. Believe.” Restaurants and gas stations all over town put signs with the word “Believe” in their windows, and Owens received some 700 e-mails from supporters across the country. “All of a sudden, these kids had become household names around town,” Owens says. “We had a huge following, and as a coach, it was pretty neat to see this sport have that kind of impact on the community.” Because Hillcrest’s story was such a draw, the team received media attention it wasn’t used to. “Our first win was a big enough story to draw some reporters,” he says. “So after that, I talked to players about how to conduct themselves with the media. I told them to always be humble, and they were really great about that all year.” Championship game day was like any other for the Knights—except they rode a nicer bus for the 40-minute trip to Idaho State University’s Holt Arena. In an attempt to ease the players’ jitters, Owens held a practice there two days before the championship. “We practiced in the early morning when it was very quiet,” he says. “It was neat to watch the kids’ faces when we walked in. They were just awestruck. I think the practice helped them get comfortable, because on Friday they were very confident and focused—quiet, even. That’s what I had hoped for.” The game itself was a shoot out. Hillcrest liked to run, Jerome threw the ball every chance it got, and both offenses were firing on all cylinders. The halftime score was 21-21, and the third quarter ended with Hillcrest up by a touchdown. Hillcrest extended its lead to 40-28 early in the fourth quarter, but Jerome scored a touchdown to creep within five. With about seven minutes left in the game, Hillcrest delivered another touchdown and two-point conver-

sion to pull away. The Knights scored one more time and its defense shut down Jerome for the rest of the game, cementing a 55-35 win. “There was a point in the fourth quarter when you could tell their defense was getting frustrated,” Owens says. “That’s when I thought, ‘Okay, as long as we don’t fumble, we’re going to take the championship.’ It was crazy when the game was over— we just couldn’t believe it.”

School: Hillcrest High School, Ammon, Idaho Head Coach: Darin Owens 2008 Season: 11-1, Idaho High School Activities Association Class 4A Champions Notes: This was the school's first state championship in any sport ... Junior running back Devin Droghei broke the state championship game scoring record with 26 points ... Hillcrest broke the record for total yards in a state championship game with 574 ...The Idaho Falls Post Register named Owens its 2008 Football Coach of the Year.

Assistant Coaches: Jason Anderson, Larry Belnap, Bryan Johnston, C.B. Nelson, Scott Peterson, Ty Salisbery, Tim Tapp The team bus got a surprise police escort down the freeway and through town back to school. Though it was after midnight when the team arrived home, the school parking lot was packed. “It gave me goose bumps,” Owens says. “The coaches looked at each other and one of the assistants who had been here the previous year said, ‘You’ve got to be kidding. I can’t believe this is happening.’” Abigail Funk is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. She can be reached at: afunk@MomentumMedia.com.

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Circle No. 132

02/09

Guide to Synthetic TurF Systems

Harsh weather and overuse can destroy a natural grass field. ProGrass field surfaces allow excellent drainage and offer consistent G-Max ratings. This can reduce the number of rotational injuries and concussions. ProGrass provides a turnkey operation and will assist customers in designing the most eye-pleasing and cost-efficient field possible. The company has a special team that produces logos for installation. Background: ProGrass is a relationship-driven company specializing in the design, manufacture, installation, and service of synthetic turf systems. Recent Installations: University of Louisiana-Lafayette Southwest Minnesota State Kimberly High School, WI College of Idaho Willamette High School, OR Aurora High School, OH

NORDOT® outdoor turf adhesive has a high green strength (“grab”) to prevent unwanted movement during installation. Its wide working window means long open time in hot or cold weather. NORDOT adhesive is one part urethane—not two parts mixing/ premature gel waster. It can be used in any weather—windy, hot, cold, wet, or dry conditions. NORDOT adhesives have a long history of successful worldwide outdoor use. This photo shows NORDOT adhesive being sprayed onto a permeable elastic layer before a permeable turf is unrolled onto it. NORDOT adhesives are used worldwide more than any other adhesive for both the total glue-down and the seaming of synthetic turf. With their key handling properties—such as high green strength, a wide working window, and compatibility with any outdoor working conditions—and their 30-year reputation for successful outdoor installations, it’s no wonder professionals use NORDOT adhesives. Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. also offers two NORDOT adhesives for indoor turf installations, where adhesive odor during installation is unacceptable. Background: Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. is a 36-year-old company that specializes in adhesives for installing artificial turf, sports flooring, and other recreational surfaces.

FieldTurf fields are designed to closely replicate a perfect natural grass playing surface in any climate and weather condition. With tufted lines, logos, and end zone letters, customers get a professional-looking surface without the hours of maintenance. FieldTurf Tarkett’s top priority has always been safety toward the environment and the athlete. A long-term, ongoing testing program has proven that FieldTurf is safer than any other turf system and equal to, if not better than, natural grass in most critical areas of player safety. Contact the company for details. Background: FieldTurf Tarkett is the largest entity in the sports surfacing industry, with a range of products that includes the FieldTurf and Prestige brands of artificial turf, Performance hardwood, and Beynon track systems. FieldTurf Tarkett also manufactures high-quality synthetic golf, playground, and landscaping surfaces to meet today’s safety and environmental needs. Recent Installations: Indianapolis Colts-Lucas Oil Stadium University of Texas New England RevolutionGillette Stadium, FIFA 2-Star Recommended Ohio State University University of Oregon

ProGrass, LLC www.prograssturf.com 866-270-6003 See ad on page 23 Circle No. 500

Synthetic Surfaces, Inc. www.nordot.com 908-233-6803 See ad on page 46 Circle No. 501

FieldTurf Tarkett www.fieldturf.com 800-724-2969 See ad inside front cover Circle No. 502

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Guide to Synthetic TurF Systems

Mondoturf Ecofill® Star artificial turf is made with a polyolefin-based resilient granule—not reground rubber tires (crumb rubber)—that meets the highest standard of playability. It does not contaminate natural resources, cause adverse health effects, or contain potentially harmful substances. Mondo’s new generation of fibers improves the aesthetic properties of the field while greatly increasing the durability of the fiber. The fiber looks and feels like natural grass without compromising the turf bind. Background: A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo’s global headquarters are in Italy. Mondo is a global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. More than 1,100 Mondo tracks and 800 Mondo artificial turf fields are installed worldwide. Recent Installations: West Liberty State College Midland High School, TX University of Sioux Falls Prospect High School, CA Loyola Academy High School, IL Northern Illinois University

Mondo www.mondousa.com 800-361-3747 See ad on page 27 Circle No. 503

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Polytan strictly follows the philosophy of processing only monofilament PE fibers. The company’s research and development department engineers these fibers to provide beautiful aesthetics and optimal player comfort and safety. Polytan synthetic turf combines smooth, soft fibers with outstanding resilience and some of the highest durability values in the industry. The specialized Polytan energy pad offers defined biochemical values over the complete lifetime of the field and beyond. Background: Polytan has been laying sports surfaces all over the world for 40 years. The company follows the highest standards for quality of materials, product technology, and sports physiology. All Polytan products are produced in-house and installed by Polytan’s own installation crews, and are tailored to the specific requirements of each sport. Recent Installations: Boston College Amherst College Austin Peay State University Brigham Young University Walter Payton Center, IL

Polytan-USA www.polytan-usa.com 877-POLYTAN See ad on page 15 Circle No. 504

Sprinturf offers field customization to all customers, with an extensive selection of fiber choices and color options. With a G-Max rating mirroring that of a pristine natural grass surface, Sprinturf ’s state-of-the-art system is designed to protect athletes from injury without compromising performance. The fibers are all certified heavy-metal free and all infill materials have been tested and proven safe for use by athletes of all ages. Background: Sprinturf is a leading U.S. manufacturer and installer of synthetic sports fields and play areas. A firm commitment to performance, safety, and service are the drivers in all facets of Sprinturf’s business. From consultation to design to installation and beyond, the Sprinturf team works to ensure the absolute satisfaction of all customers. Recent Installations: Kansas City Chiefs Fulton County Public Schools Forsyth County Schools Howard University Sacred Heart University University of New Haven Oakdale High School Mt. Carmel High School, IL Radnor High School

Sprinturf www.sprinturf.com 877-686-8873 See ad on page 55 Circle No. 505

Gridiron Greatness

football facilit y

Guard Your Investment

Recognizing Excellence

Equipped for Anything

All Options Open

The Cross-Over Zone™ track protector prevents damage to costly track surfaces due to teams, people, and equipment. It’s constructed of thick, tough geotextile fabric with vinyl edging and steel chain inserted all around, providing ballast to keep the protector down even in high winds. Steel-tipped cleats cannot puncture it, but rain drains through. The Cross-Over Zone is easy to install and remove. The protector is black with edging in your choice of gold, white, or a custom color, and multi-color imprinting is available. Aer-Flo, Inc. • 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com • Circle No. 506 The GearBoss® storage system maximizes available space and functionality. It improves inventory management and security while reducing storage needs as compared to traditional shelving. Modular, high-density rolling carts are flexible and easy to configure for a variety of equipment. Team Carts make equipment readily available at the game or practice site. X-Carts roll along a fixed track, allowing easy access and creating a space-saving, movable aisle. Wenger Corp. • 800-4-WENGER www.wengercorp.com • Circle No. 507

Athletic record boards are effective tools for motivating your athletes to do their best. Visit Austin Plastics’ Web site to view examples of football-related boards, such as off-season strength and conditioning record boards, player-of-the-week boards, goal boards, and football record boards. Engraved record nameplates are available, or you can print your own using perforated card stock supplied by the company. Custom boards are also available. Austin Plastics & Supply • 800-290-1025 www.athleticrecordboards.com Circle No. 508 Outdoor full-matrix scoreboards from FairPlay are an ideal choice for facilities that entertain multiple sports or host a number of home teams in one sport, such as football or soccer. Different from traditional scoreboards, fullmatrix models offer the versatility of a message display with virtually unlimited scoring and timing options. Display digital advertising signage with the touch of a button, and incorporate team and sponsor logos, text, graphics, and animations on the same scoreboard. FairPlay Scoreboards • 800-247-0265 www.fair-play.com • Circle No. 509

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football facilit y

Gridiron Greatness

It’s About Time

Fair-Play has answered the call with MiTime—the company’s latest handheld control for operating football field timers. On playing fields across the country, game officials are taking more control of time operation and Fair-Play has put that control in the palms of their hands. MiTime controls feature two user-programmable reset times that can be used for 25- or 40-second time-outs and have an operating range of 450 feet. Operating a field timer has never been this easy. Fair-Play Scoreboards • 800-247-0265 www.fair-play.com • Circle No. 510

Custom Protection

A thletic R ecoRd B oARds . com

Landing Zone ballasted pit covers keep pit materials from blowing away and provide protection from weather, animals, and children. Chain in the edge provides ballast to keep the covers down even in high winds. Easy to install, remove, and store, these covers are available in your choice of solid vinyl for rain protection or Vipol Matrix mesh to eliminate pooling. They can be imprinted in permanent multi-colors, and cus-

Bright Ideas

Qualite sports lighting systems incorporate some of the most efficient field lighting designs in the industry. The fixtures are pre-set to provide optimum uniform light with superb spill light control. The patented reflector design is engineered for efficiency, beam spread, and control to fit any application. A patented Maintenance Diagnostic System (MDS) reduces lifetime maintenance costs and allows ground-level testing. Take advantage of low-cost installation and the best 10-25 year warranty in the business. Qualite Sports Lighting, Inc. 800-933-9741 • www.qualite.com Circle No. 512

Motivate Your athletes use athletic record Boards to help your athletes perform at their very best

Learn from one of the NFL’s best Huddle up with one of the greatest players in football history as he shares the techniques, strategies, and secrets of kicking and punting. In Football Kicking and Punting, Hall of Famer and NFL 75th Anniversary Team member Ray Guy joins veteran kicking coach Rick Sang to provide aspiring kickers and punters with expert instruction found nowhere else. From the fundamentals to advanced strategies, it’s all here.

Available June ~ Pre-order your copy today! To order visit http://Football.HumanKinetics.com or

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The Premier Publisher for Sports & Fitness

800-290-1025

www.athleticrecordboards.com Circle No. 135

tom colors are available. This product is custom-sized to fit exactly. It’s used at major colleges, including Oklahoma and Texas. Aer-Flo, Inc. 800-823-7356 www.aerflo.com • Circle No. 511

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Gridiron Greatness Sanitary and Organized

Grid lockers from GearBoss® strengthen team pride with distinctive features and rugged durability to enhance team room functionality and aesthetics. The open-grid design promotes airflow, sanitation, and visual inspection. The integrated, hinged seat saves valuable floor space and is lockable over a security box and footlocker. This is one of the only lockers on the market that allows you to clean and sanitize under and around the unit. A variety of colors and finish choices are available, from school colors to wood grain laminates. Wenger Corp. • 800-4-WENGER www.wengercorp.com • Circle No. 513

For Any Budget

M.A.S.A. carries a large selection of economical sideline turf protectors that come in two grades of durability to meet any budget. All of the company’s protectors are constructed using a durable, breathable polypropylene that will stand up to cleat traffic and protect your turf. All tarps are light gray in color and feature brass grommets every three feet

football facilit y

along the edges. They’re now available with optional lettering and logos to make your field stand out. Custom sizes and shapes are available. For more information, call today or visit the company online. M.A.S.A., Inc. • 800-264-4519 www.masa.com • Circle No. 514

A Coach’s Favorite

Finally, a new generation of motivational boards. Whether you need a records board, strength and conditioning, a depth chart, team goals, or a schedule board, School Pride has the board for you. As seen at the NFHS and AFCA trade shows, School Pride makes versatile, easy-to-update, high-quality boards for any application. Let School Pride’s team of designers work to create a board tailored for your program, combining professional graphics with quality and functionality. See the School Pride difference online today, or call for more information. School Pride • 866-336-5386 www.britewhiteboard.com Circle No. 515

Ever wonder where the pro teams get those GIANT rubber bands they use for stretching?

Look no further! Jump Stretch has been supplying the large continuous-loop FlexBands® to high school, college, and pro teams since 1980. We have a total of seven sizes, but most teams use either the Light or Average bands for stretching. For more information, visit our website at www.jumpstretch.com or call 1-800-344-3539.

Jump Stretch, Inc.

1230 N. Meridian Rd. Youngstown, OH 44509 www.jumpstretch.com 1-800-344-3539 Fax: 1-330-793-8719 Circle No. 137 jumpstretch62v0v3.indd 1

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strength & Conditioning aids Explosive Improvement

VertiMax develops sport-specific explosive power that makes a difference in competition. Studies have shown that VertiMax’s ability to allow high-speed training with light loads, using sport-specific movements, provides power development results that are superior to traditional plyometrics. Unique on-and-off platform training exercises simultaneously load the leg drive and pulling phases of the running motion to dramatically improve vertical jump, first-step quickness, and 40 times. Genetic Potential 888-789-5424 • www.vertimax09.com Circle No. 524

The Title Says It All

Bigger Faster Stronger (second edition) provides a complete conditioning system used by thousands of high schools, colleges, and professional sports franchises. Complete with the most current strength training techniques and exercise variations, program implementation guidelines for any athlete or sport, and a complete tracking system, this book helps establish the solid foundation athletes need to compete and advance successfully in any sport. Human Kinetics • 800-747-4457 www.humankinetics.com • Circle No. 525

Empower Your Linemen

The Strong Fireout Station provides 50 to 500 pounds of resistance and is ideal for helping linemen learn to play lower, longer. This station, which is excellent for improving players’ first two steps off the line, consists of two rows of four Strong Bands that connect across the shoulders using Jump Stretch’s adhesive strap. Undo the strap and you’ve got two Strong Shuffle Stations to perform regular quickfeet running drills. For details, call Jump Stretch today. Jump Stretch, Inc. 800344-3539 • www.jumpstretch.com Circle No. 526

Circuits and Intervals

The Lebert Equalizer trains athletes for strength, agility, plyometrics, and so much more. Originally developed for portable body weight compound strength training exercises, this product has many outstanding functions. For instance, when used in cardiovascular training, the Equalizer works great for circuits and interval training. In a circuit, the participants can move from one of 75 different strength training and cardio exercises to another to get their heart rate way up. In an interval setting, a coach can have athletes break in two groups, with 52

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Building Better Athletes one doing Equalizer pull-ups and the other doing jumping jacks or Equalizer agility drills. Lebert Fitness, Inc. • 905-7850626 • www.lebertequalizer.com Circle No. 527

Optimal Movement

The Hammer Strength Linear Leg Press was developed through years of collaboration with athletes and coaches to simulate the most natural, ergonomically correct paths of motion. The machine’s longlasting linear bearings create a smooth feel, and the intuitive flip-in, flip-out weight racking mechanism is easy to use. Maximize your athletes’ performance with this durable and reliable machine. Hammer Strength • 800-634-8637 www.hammerstrength.com • Circle No. 528

Work Hard, Train Smart

The C-PRO91305-W Calf & Squat features heavy-duty steel deck plates and deluxe padding, along with 3” x 3”, 11-gauge tube construction and one-inch solid steel pins. The weight arm is mounted on two heavy-duty pillow block bearings, making it great for “gripless” shoulder shrugs and for focusing on the trapezius. The unit can load up to 1,000 pounds, and the standard size is 58” x 48” x 60”. It is protected by a lifetime warranty. New York Barbell of Elmira, Inc. • 800-4461833 • www.newyorkbarbells.com Circle No. 529

Cords Get Results

The TurfCordz Safety Super Bungie was created for the extreme demands of highlevel athletic training. It is made from high-strength, large-diameter bungie cord with industrial-strength steel snaps, and has been tested and proven by professional athletes worldwide. The TurfCordz Safety Super Bungie meets the daily demands of stringent high-end training. The patented line of products provides three progressive resistance levels, from 75 pounds up to 200 pounds of pull. Combining more than one bungie provides even greater resistance. The TurfCordz line includes a wide range of accessories, including a trainer’s handle, waist belt, harness, ankle strap, and thigh strap. Request your free catalog today. NZ Mfg. • 800-886-6621 www.turfcordz.com • Circle No. 530

Power Meets Versatility

Power Lift’s Free Standing Squat Stand can be used for all major lifts, including squats, push presses, bench presses, and the

Building Better Athletes Olympic movements. It is ideal for facilities with minimal space or for those looking to combine a rack with an existing Olympic platform. The Free Standing Squat Stand features 10 different bar positions, and wheels for easy movement. When combined with a Collegiate Series bench and the optional chin-up handle, a space-saving lifting station can be created. The bases are constructed from 2” x 3” seven-gauge steel and the uprights are constructed from 2” x 3” 11-gauge steel. Power Lift • 800-872-1543 www.power-lift.com • Circle No. 531

Block Party

Improve speed, agility, and quickness with a unique new set of training blocks from Power Systems. S.A.Q. Training Blocks add versatility to countless drills. Use them as hurdles, agility markers, and steps, or perform high-steps, hops, and shuffles with them. Made of durable, high-density foam and covered with vinyl for moisture protection, these indoor-outdoor blocks include a built-in handle for easy transport. They are sold as a set of three. Power Systems • 800321-6975 • www.power-systems.com Circle No. 532

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strength & Conditioning a ids Sport-Specific Hip Training

The Hip Thrust Sled is the ultimate offseason strength and conditioning machine for developing strength and power in the hips. The unique design allows athletes to start with the hips behind them in a “drive” position or with the hips under the shoulders in a “power” position. The pendulum post comes off the sled at a 45-degree angle, and the dual hand grips have a narrow downward pitch to promote the concept of “inside hands.” This sled offers 100-percent carryover from the workout to the football field. Gilman Gear • 800-243-0398 www.gilmangear.com • Circle No. 533

Treading Ahead

The TredSled is the latest in weightroom automation, improving blocking, tackling, sprint acceleration, and power. It combines a one-man sled and tethered-sled pulling with interactive treadmill technology. The TredSled transforms workouts into competitions, challenging athletes to outperform themselves and their teammates. Rogers Athletic Co. • 888-7824302 • www.rogersathletic.com Circle No. 534

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strength & Conditioning aids A Unique Workout

The new Samson Belt Squat is yet another way Samson Equipment is leading the way in custom, heavy-duty weight training equipment. The brand new design limits the amount of floor space needed for this unique piece, and it’s easy for athletes of all different sizes to use. It features adjustable handles, a unique load release that brings the athlete’s hands closer together while performing the exercise, an adjustable yoke that allows each athlete’s hips to stay in their natural range of motion, and an adjustable chain with three belts of different sizes. Samson Equipment • 800-4726766 • www.samsonequipment.com Circle No. 535

Lifelike and High-Tech

This off-season, while your opponents are lifting, you will be putting the intensity of football into your workouts. MAXX provides a lifelike dummy and a durable weight machine with state-of-the-art computer technology. The LED board gives your players instant feedback on their speed off the ball and the power of their punch while they work to increase strength and perfect football technique. MAXX Football • 800-294-4654 www.maxxfootball.com • Circle No. 536

Plyometrics Made Safer

UCS Strength and Speed’s fully padded Elite Plyo-Safe boxes offer the ultimate combination of durability, stability, and safety, providing protection from common plyo box injuries. The understructure is made of 3/4-inch oak covered in a dense foam and upholstered in tough 38-ounce vinyl. A raised lip on all the boxes allows for stacking and locking of the lids. The 24-inch box is bottomed with 3/4-inch high-density rubber for stability. UCS, Inc. • 800-526-4856 • www.ucsspirit.com Circle No. 537

Functional and Versatile

Lebert Fitness, a leader in innovative strength training tools, has just launched the Lebert Buddy System, which provides hundreds of functional exercises plus many unique unilateral exercises unheard of in a tool this portable. The Lebert Equalizer was developed four years ago and has been used by many pro sports teams, gyms, boot camps, and personal trainers. What looks like a set of bright yellow hurdles just happens to be one of the most versatile tools in the fitness market. You can go from countless body weight exercises into plyometrics and agility drills, all with one tool. Lebert Fitness, Inc. • 905-785-0626 www.lebertequalizer.com • Circle No. 538

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Building Better Athletes Stronger and Stronger

Hammer Strength Heavy-Duty Power Racks are ideal for athletic facilities looking to take strength training to the next level. The racks come in eight- and nine-foot systems, constructed of sturdy 3” x 3”, nine-gauge steel tubing that’s pre-treated against rust for long-lasting durability. HD Power Rack systems also feature the Dock ‘N Lock bench-locking system that helps properly align the bench in relation to the rack so athletes can perform at their highest levels. Hammer Strength • 800-634-8637 www.hammerstrength.com • Circle No. 539

Lots of Options

New York Barbell of Elmira offers power racks with standard chin-up bars, straight pull-up bars, and combo pull-up/chin-up units. There are also iron cross adjustable pull-up handles, along with two sets of Posi Lock jumbo hooks and two sets of Posi Lock jumbo catches. In addition, units feature four brackets for bar storage, and 2” x 4” weight storage beams with five pegs each. Bars and weights cost extra. Visit the company’s Web site today to learn more. New York Barbell of Elmira, Inc. • 800446-1833 • www.newyorkbarbells.com Circle No. 540

Increase Weightroom Versatility

The Power Lift Collegiate Series Dumbbell Bench is designed to be used as a bench in the supplemental lift area or inside any of the Power Lift racks to create a multi-functional lifting station. Unique features of the Collegiate Series Dumbbell Bench include seven adjustable lifting angles of the back and seat (-10, 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 80 degrees), “thermo cushion” rubber rear wheels that allow the bench to be wheeled among different stations, a no-tip feature (when being used in supplemental areas), and two rubber floor bumpers on the front to protect all types of floor surfaces. Power Lift • 800-872-1543 www.power-lift.com • Circle No. 541

Updating a Classic

The kettlebell is one of the most versatile tools for all-around athletic development, and competitive athletes everywhere are incorporating them into today’s training programs. Because kettlebell training requires whole-body engagement, the Ultra Kettlebell from Power Systems can help increase power production and improve sport performance. This newstyle kettlebell features a smooth, solid steel handle for a comfortable grip and a cast iron bell with a rubber-plated bottom to protect floors. Power Systems • 800321-6975 • www.power-systems.com Circle No. 542

Building Better Athletes More Than “Tug of War”

The Exercise Rope can be used in many exercises that strengthen muscle groups in the upper back, biceps, and forearms. It’s also excellent for developing finger and hand strength. Use it as a station in your functional training circuit, or for hand-overhand weighted sled pulls from a standing or seated position. Made from top-grade two-inch manila rope with a metal ring attachment at one end, it’s available in five different lengths from 15 to 100 feet. The 100-foot rope is perfect for tug of war competitions and much more. Gilman Gear 800-243-0398 • www.gilmangear.com Circle No. 543

Quickness and Stamina

The Drive Sled from Rogers Athletic is the only drive sled that puts the athlete’s hands in the correct inside position for training stamina, quickness, and power. Work out by dragging the sled with the optional harness, and train quickness by drilling two athletes at a time—one up front and the other pushing on the back. Rogers Athletic Co. • 888-782-4302 www.rogersathletic.com • Circle No. 544

strength & Conditioning a ids Safety That Lasts

UCS Strength and Speed’s Plyo-Safe G2 boxes provide a lightweight, safe, and sturdy option for your plyometric routines. An extra-large landing surface (30” x 36”) is covered in durable 21-ounce vinyl. The 100-percent foam core will not break down, delaminate, or soften over time. Handles allow for quick repositioning. Each box has three two-inch strips of Velcro™ to enable stacking and prevent slipping during use. UCS, Inc. 800-526-4856 • www.ucsspirit.com Circle No. 545

A Benchmark Bench

The Samson Combo/Decline bench (100CD) is the newest and most comprehensive utility bench on the market today. This revolutionary new addition to Samson’s bench line gives your athletes the ability to perform a decline press by making a few simple adjustments. Perform the bench press, incline, military, decline, and even sit-ups all from the same bench. Optimize your weightroom with the best in quality and design from Samson Equipment. Samson Equipment • 800472-6766 • www.samsonequipment.com Circle No. 546

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110. . . Active Ankle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 118. . . Adams USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 111. . . Aer-Flo (Tuffy windscreen) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 127. . . Aer-Flo (turf/track protectors) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 135. . . Austin Plastics & Supply. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 133. . . California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . 49 142. . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 115. . . Cramer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 106. . . Fair-Play Scoreboards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 100. . . FieldTurf Tarkett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC 139. . . GameTime Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 148. . . Gear 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 107. . . GearBoss by Wenger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 146. . . Gilman Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BC 131. . . Hammer Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 125. . . HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 103. . . HME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 136. . . Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 137. . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 145. . . K&K Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC 113. . . Lebert Fitness. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 134. . . M.A.S.A./Osborne. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 119. . . MAXX Football. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 116. . . Mondo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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101. . . Mueller Sports Medicine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 130. . . New York Barbell of Elmira . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 109. . . Polytan-USA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 121. . . Power Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 120. . . Power Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 138. . . Prep Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53 114. . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 108. . . Qualite Sports Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 112. . . Rogers Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 126. . . Samson Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 129. . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 144. . . School Pride. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 123. . . Shuttle Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 104. . . Sports Attack. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 140. . . Sprinturf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 117. . . Stromgren Athletics (compression girdle). . . . . . . 28 147. . . Stromgren Athletics (hamstring support). . . . . . . . 8 132. . . Synthetic Surfaces, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 128. . . TurfCordz/NZ Mfg.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 124. . . UCS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 122. . . VertiMax (Genetic Potential) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 143. . . Wizard Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61 102. . . Xenith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Products Directory

556. . . Active Ankle (Power Lacer) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 547. . . Active Ankle (Volt ankle brace). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 554. . . Adams USA (A4 Elite II helmet shell). . . . . . . . . . 565. . . Adams USA (Gripper II) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 506. . . Aer-Flo (Cross-Over Zone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 511. . . Aer-Flo (Landing Zone). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 508. . . Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520. . . Bison . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 571. . . California University of Pennsylvania . . . . . 555. . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 548. . . Cramer (AS1 ankle brace) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 560. . . Cramer (portable hydration units) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521. . . Fair-Play (MiScore) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 510. . . Fair-Play (MiTime). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 509. . . Fair-Play (outdoor full-matrix). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 502. . . FieldTurf Tarkett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 564. . . GameTime Athletics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 507. . . GearBoss by Wenger (carts). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 513. . . GearBoss by Wenger (lockers) . . . . . . . . . . . . 543. . . Gilman Gear (Exercise Rope). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 533. . . Gilman Gear (Hip Thrust Sled). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 539. . . Hammer Strength (Heavy-Duty Power Racks). . . . . 528. . . Hammer Strength (Linear Leg Press). . . . . . . . . 570. . . HighSchoolSports.net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 572. . . HME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525. . . Human Kinetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 526. . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 549. . . K&K Insurance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 522. . . Kromer Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 538. . . Lebert Fitness (Buddy System) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527. . . Lebert Fitness (training). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 514. . . M.A.S.A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 536. . . MAXX Football . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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503. . . Mondo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561. . . Mueller (No Glare Premium strips) . . . . . . . . . . . . 550. . . Mueller (TapeWrap) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 529. . . New York Barbell (C-PRO91305-W). . . . . . . . . . 540. . . New York Barbell (power racks) . . . . . . . . . . . . 504. . . Polytan-USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 541. . . Power Lift (Dumbbell Bench). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 531. . . Power Lift (Free Standing Squat Stand) . . . . . . . . . 532. . . Power Systems (S.A.Q. Training Blocks) . . . . . . . . 542. . . Power Systems (Ultra Kettlebell). . . . . . . . . . . . 562. . . Prep Gear. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 500. . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 523. . . ProMera Health (new product). . . . . . . . . . . . . 512. . . Qualite Sports Lighting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 544. . . Rogers Athletic (Drive Sled). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 534. . . Rogers Athletic (TredSled) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 546. . . Samson (Combo/Decline Bench) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 535. . . Samson Equipment (Belt Squat). . . . . . . . . . . . 553. . . Save-A-Tooth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573. . . Schedule Star . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 515. . . School Pride. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575. . . Sports Attack (remote control). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 574. . . Sports Attack (Snap Attack). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505. . . Sprinturf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 557. . . Stromgren (1541HTP Compression Girdle). . . . . . . 551. . . Stromgren (1551HTP Compression Girdle). . . . . . . 501. . . Synthetic Surfaces, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 530. . . TurfCordz/NZ Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 537. . . UCS (Elite Plyo-Safe boxes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 545. . . UCS (Plyo-Safe G2 boxes). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524. . . VertiMax (Genetic Potential) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 563. . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 552. . . Xenith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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New ProductS

MiScore Wireless Scoreboard Controls Unique features: • Handheld sport-specific control for basketball, football, and baseball • Designed for facilities of all sizes, from small recreational venues to large complexes

Big B Portable Football Team Benches

Benefits for the user: • More control options in a smaller package • Equipped with Fair-Play’s revolutionary frequencyhopping technology that wards against radio interference

Unique features: • Heavy-duty two-inch square tubular steel structure and 20-inch-deep seat planks • 15-foot extruded aluminum planks available in clear anodized aluminum, royal, scarlet, black, white, navy, or forest green; steel structure as galvanized, black, or white • Lifetime limited warranty Benefits for the user: • Provide sideline seating for the largest players on the team

Fair-Play Scoreboards www.fair-play.com 800-247-0265 Circle No. 521

Bison Inc. www.bisoninc.com 800-247-7668 Circle No. 520

N e w

P r o d u c t s

CON-CRET Kromer Synthetic Field Maintainer Unique features: • The only synthetic field maintainer that grooms, conditions, removes field markings, paints, sprays, and can remove a line and paint a new one at the same time

Unique features: • Highly concentrated creatine with no additives or stimulants • Complies with all amateur and professional drug testing • Delivers superior uptake to fuel ATP with no loading phase or the need to cycle off

Benefits for the user: • Eliminates the need for multiple machines or for hooking and unhooking other pieces of equipment—one machine and one operator can do it all

Benefits for the user: • The CON-CRET molecule potency is equivalent to five to 10 grams of monohydrate, and an athlete’s dose is 1/4 teaspoon or one capsule per 100 pounds of body weight, one hour prior to a workout or competition, safely creating dramatic endurance and recovery with no side effects.

Kromer Co. www.kromerco.com 800-373-0337 Circle No. 522

ProMera Health, LLC www.con-cret.com 888-878-9058 Circle No. 523

CoachingManagementOnline.com

READ THIS! Lose Weight Now! Join Our Success Stories!

What’s the best way to use our Liquid Egg Whites? Imagine a protein drink that you can make taste like anything you want, any time you want. Chocolate, Vanilla, Ice Coffee, or just Orange Juice. You name it! You are only limited by your own imagination. Our All Natural, 100% Pure Liquid Egg Whites are pasteurized, Salmonella tested, USDA & Kosher approved. Best of all, they are double filtered to have the smooth consistency of milk. You can literally take one cup of our egg whites, and make the fluffiest omelet you have ever had. OR, take one cup of our liquid egg whites, and add some sugar free chocolate syrup, and you would not know it’s not chocolate milk. YES REALLY! One 8-ounce cup of our liquid egg whites supplies 26 grams of Pure protein, with only 2 carbs., No Fat, No Cholesterol, and only 120 calories. The worlds best protein for losing or managing weight, and for building muscle. It’s also a great protein for kids and adults with health issues who don’t get enough protein. NOTE that this is not a supplement, it’s a Real, All Natural FOOD. How much protein should you consume in a day? The average “Active” person requires approximately 1 gram of protein per pound of lean body weight per day. Protein is the building block for muscle growth as well as helping in the battle against body fat. Liquid Egg Whites are the perfect source of protein, for Gastric bypass patients, athletes, World Class Bodybuilders and everyone in between! How often do you use our Liquid Egg Whites? We recommend a minimum of

t w i c e a d a y. I d e a l l y, a s soon as you get up in the morning, and just before bedtime. For optimal results keep an extra bottle of Liquid Egg Whites at work to enjoy their beneﬁts throughout the day! Why take Liquid Egg Whites before bedtime? Fitness enthusiasts have known for decades that if you don’t put protein into your body before you go to bed, your body will run out of protein in the middle of the night. Once your body digests all of its available proteins, your body thinks it is starving itself. To protect you, your body shuts down and starts storing your own fat cells. Your blood sugar still needs protein to keep you going, so it starts consuming the only protein source available at 3 am, your own muscle mass. Basically, you are storing fat and eating muscle. By drinking a high protein drink with Pure Liquid Egg Whites just before you go to bed, the egg protein will support muscle growth for up to 4 to 5 hours. Now the process is reversed for most of your sleep time. Rather than storing fat and eating muscle, the protein from the Liquid Egg Whites, is allowing your body to burn the fat at its normal rate while building on the muscle. You will get better nights sleep, and wake up more alert and refreshed, and not as hungry in the morning.

100 % Guaranteed Will stay good refrigerated for 90 to 120 days, and can be frozen indeﬁnitely.

Chris LaCascia accomplished his amazing transformation of losing 130lbs in only 9 months by drinking Liquid Egg White Protein Shakes for 3 of his 6 daily meals.

PPump Pu u Fits Both Half-Gallon Annd Gallon Bottle! And For A Perfect Measurement 1 Pump Equals: 1 Ounce 1 Whole Egg 1.25 Egg Whites 3.25g of Protein

WWW.EGGWHITESINT.COM Circle No. 149

877-EGG-WHITES

Your First Priority Smooth Moves

The Volt ankle brace is engineered to include the latest carbon-fiber technology. The polypropylene shell is reinforced with carbon fiber—the same high-performance material used in racing cars and bicycles. It also features a molded bearing-design performance hinge for smoother range of motion, strengthening ribs for a thinner profile, and fabric-backed EVA foam pads for durability and comfort. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. 800-800-2896 • www.activeankle.com Circle No. 547

Comfort and Feel

Cramer’s AS1 ankle brace combines the support of a heel-lock strapping system with excellent value when compared to other ankle braces. The brace is constructed with an 840D nylon shell, with a soft neoprene liner for comfort and feel. Non-stretch straps lock the heel in place, and steel spring stays on each side of the brace provide additional support. Cramer Products, Inc. • 800-345-2231 www.cramersportsmed.com Circle No. 548

Insure Your Success

Protect your organization with K&K’s insurance programs for sports camps, clinics, teams, leagues, associations, instructors, and events. Coverages include general liability including participant legal liability, participant accident medical, equipment and contents coverage, and more. Sign up with the leader in sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance today—K&K’s credit card plan makes payment easy. Visit the company’s Web site for more information. K&K Insurance • 800-426-2889 www.kandkinsurance.com • Circle No. 549

A Better Alternative

Mueller TapeWrap is the cohesive, breathable, sweat-resistant alternative to pre-wrap. TapeWrap doesn’t trap moisture so it won’t slip. Your tape job stays tight, and that means more support. Cohesive TapeWrap applies directly to the skin so you don’t need prewrap or adhesive spray. Thin, flexible, easyto-tear TapeWrap will help you perform the most sophisticated taping techniques quickly and accurately. With its flexibility, it conforms to any body part and won’t inhibit the natural movements of the athlete while acting as a fixation bandage for pads or splints. Cold packs, blister care, bleeding— they’re all covered with TapeWrap. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522 www.muellersportsmed.com Circle No. 550

injury prevention

Protects Even Better

Stromgren’s model 1551HTP Padded Football Compression Girdle is a fivepocket, moisture-wicking girdle offering maximum compression. It features permanently attached hip and tail pads, and its antimicrobial fabric has been improved to provide better comfort and protection to the iliac crest. Plus, the new two-inch waistband allows the hip pads to be positioned half an inch higher on the athlete’s hips to maximize comfort. The 1551HTP is protected by a two-year warranty if it is only air-dried and not put into a clothes dryer. Stromgren Athletics • 800-527-1988 www.stromgren.com • Circle No. 551

Adapts to the Head and the Hit The new Xenith X1™ football helmet features Xenith Adaptive Head Protection®. The X1 adapts to the head, for an instant snug fit with no pumps needed, and adapts its compression to the magnitude and direction of the hit. This intelligent system reduces sudden movement of the head upon impact and the potential for brain injury. The X1 has shown outstanding performance when tested on the field. It is smarter, tougher, and built to last. Xenith • 866-888-2322 www.xenith.com • Circle No. 552

Because Time Matters

Without proper care, a knocked-out tooth begins to die in 15 minutes. The Save-A-Tooth emergency tooth preserving system utilizes Hank’s Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) to not only preserve, but also reconstitute many of the degenerated cells. The patented basket and net container are designed to protect tooth root cells. This is the only system that keeps tooth cells alive for up to 24 hours. Save-A-Tooth® • 888-788-6684 www.save-a-tooth.com • Circle No. 553

Once Fit, Always Fit

The A4 Elite II helmet shell with the A3 fit system produces one of the lightest, most comfortable helmets available anywhere. It’s made for high school, college, and pro teams. There’s no replacing or adjusting an air liner, and the helmet features a “once fit, always fit” design. Check out Adams USA’s new helmets at your local sporting goods dealer. Adams USA 800-251-6857 • www.adamsusa.com Circle No. 554

CoachingManagementOnline.com

injury prevention

Your First Priority

Dynamic Pressure

Cho-Pat’s Bicep/Triceps Cuff affords protection from overuse injuries for individuals performing repetitive lifting in activities such as weight training. The patent-pending device applies dynamic circumference pressure to the upper and lower portions of the bicep and triceps muscles, particularly at the tendon attachments. This action spreads out the stress and direct pull on the muscle attachments, which helps reduce the likelihood of bicipital and tricipital tendonitis or tendonosis. Cho-Pat • 800-221-1601 www.cho-pat.com • Circle No. 555

Simple Stability

The Active Ankle Power Lacer is designed for the athlete who desires added support in a lace-up style ankle brace. It features distinctive Y-shaped vertical stabilization straps for control of the forefoot and heel, dual spring stays for ankle support, and a neoprene nylon shell for comfort.

The unique “pull and play” design allows for easy use by athletes. Active Ankle Systems, Inc. • 800-800-2896 www.activeankle.com • Circle No. 556

Maximum Compression

Stromgren’s model 1541HTP Compression Girdle has the same features as the 1551, except the thigh pad pockets are attached to the outside of the girdle leg for easy insertion of thigh pads. This maximumcompression, moisture-wicking girdle has antimicrobial fabric and a new two-inch waistband that allows the hip pads to be positioned half an inch higher on the athlete’s hips. The 1541 is protected by a two-year warranty if the garment is only air-dried and not put into a clothes dryer. Stromgren Athletics • 800-527-1988 www.stromgren.com • Circle No. 557

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Go beyond and CoachesNetwork.com

Brought to you by

www.CoachesNetwork.com Taking you to the top of your game

Web News Enhanced Site Features Extensive Scoreboard Gallery and More

Daktronics has recently updated its Web site with many new features and expanded information. The site includes images and data on the company’s complete line of scoreboards, timing and scoring systems, statistics systems, messaging displays, large-screen video systems, and sound systems. One of the most visited areas of the site is the photo gallery, which incorporates user-friendly compound search capability. The photo gallery has thousands of pictures of installed systems from around the U.S., and many from other countries. It’s a valuable idea generator to see what designs and configurations have worked well for other customers. The site also includes detailed product and service information. www.daktronics.com

Check Out Kromer’s Site for a Special Spring Promotional Deal

Have you visited the new Kromer Web site yet? It provides product information, pictures, downloadable specification sheets, and videos of many of the company’s products in action. In addition, you can read what others think of Kromer products and how beneficial the products are for making athletic fields look and play great. The new site also features Kromer’s new Triple Play spring promotion, which gives you the opportunity to save big on a new Kromer. When you think of athletic field maintenance products, think Kromer. www.kromerco.com

Whatever Your Sport, Sports Attack Delivers

Sports Attack has quickly become a leader in innovative sports training equipment, including the new Snap Attack Football Machine. This unique dual-position unit can do it all. From the lower ground position, it can snap the ball for realistic time-efficient reps without the center. In the elevated position, the Snap Attack can deliver any pass with precision and form, every time. This machine will make a difference in the quality and efficiency of your practices. Sports Attack has manufactured and marketed a full of line of quality sports training equipment for almost 15 years. The company’s volleyball machines are used by more than 90 percent of the teams reaching the final four in college competition. For baseball, because of the features of the Hack Attack, Major League coaches are now using a pitching machine not only all season long in practices, but also prior to games during warmups. Sports Attack softball machines deliver every softball breaking pitch, from the riser to right- and left-handed drops. Visit the company’s Web site to learn more about all of its professional sports training equipment. www.sportsattack.com

www.wizardsports.com

Since 1984

Let us customize a board for you at:

School Pride, Ltd.

Wizard Sports, Orange, CA

866.336.5386 www.britewhiteboard.com

1-888-964-5425 Circle No. 143

Circle No. 144 CoachingManagementOnline.com

testimoni al

te am equipment

Just What You Need

Potable and Portable

Cramer Products offers three types of portable hydration units to help hydrate athletes. Cramer’s newest unit, the Powerflo 50, offers an impressive 50 gallons of portable hydration. Cramer’s hydration units are constructed of 100-percent water-portable and FDAapproved materials for drinking water. Cramer Products, Inc. 800-345-2231 • www.cramersportsmed.com • Circle No. 560

“The Greatest Form of Protein” “Egg Whites International has separated itself from all others. This is the authenticity of protein: clear, clean, and pure. Egg Whites International has developed a product that is easily absorbed and digested by the body, allowing for outstanding physical development. Egg Whites International has elevated recovery and building blocks with the egg white protein. “The company has now gone into the next generation of super-foods. It broadened the imagination and development of egg whites by simplifying the industry’s use and gained unlimited results. Egg Whites International is the cutting edge for developing the greatest form of protein with the simplicity of the egg.”—Dr. E.J. “Doc” Kreis, Hall of Fame Strength and Conditioning Coach, DISC Sports Performance, CA “Several of my athletes have been taking egg whites for several months now and are extremely happy. Their recovery after workouts is amazing. My athletes are not as sore the next day, allowing them to work out harder. “It is so easy to take, and you can mix it with anything to flavor it. There is no smell and no taste. I have noticed that my athletes who take it are getting faster results than the athletes who aren’t taking it. They are leaning up and getting stronger. “The thing I like most is that egg whites are a whole food and a complete protein, so the body absorbs all the protein and nutrients in it. There is nothing synthetic in it, so you are really getting your money’s worth from this product. Thanks, Egg Whites International, for making a great product that I can trust.”—Mark Campbell CSCS, ACSM, ACE, AFAA, YMCAFS-certified, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Idaho State University

Egg Whites International P.O. Box 18731 Anaheim, CA 92817 877-344-9448 Fax: 714-921-4674 eggwhites4u@aol.com www.eggwhitesint.com

CoachingManagementOnline.com

Better than Eye Black

Mueller’s patented No Glare Premium strips have been proven to reduce the amount of light entering the peripheral area of the eye by 12.3 percent, due to the extra coverage on the bridge of the nose. An independent study demonstrated that No Glare Premium strips are more than 10 percent more effective than grease. The pressure-sensitive strips are easy to use and remove, and will not smear or sweat off, even when the face is dried with a towel. Mueller Sports Medicine • 800-356-9522 www.muellersportsmed.com • Circle No. 561

Factory-Direct Value

In five short years, Prep Gear Headwear has become a national leader in factory-direct headwear products for high schools and institutions. At Prep Gear, each hat is assembled from scratch using the highest-quality materials and expert craftsmanship. In today’s economy, why pay an extra mark-up when you can buy premium products direct from the factory? Call or go online for more information. Prep Gear Headwear • 800-279-7060 www.prepgear.com • Circle No. 562

Like the Pros Use

Wizard Sports Equipment offers a new Pro Style Football Kicking Net for 2009. The Wizard Pro Kicking Net is manufactured in the U.S. and features a new, lighter 34-pound frame design. It offers quick and easy setup and comes in the smallest angled 30” x 59” durable carrying case. The frame size is 85” high x 52” wide, with durable #32 black coated netting. This product is shipped via UPS. Wizard Sports Equipment • 888 964-5425 www.wizardsports.com • Circle No. 563

Complete Supply House

GameTime Athletics is your one-stop shop for athletic supplies. Whether you need team benches, bleachers for your field, turf paint, blocking dummies, chutes, sleds, practice aids, clocks, equipment storage units, sideline covers, mouthguards, goal posts, or virtually anything else for your team or facility, the company has products to meet your needs and fit your budget. Go online today to see the wide selection of products for yourself. GameTime Athletics • 877-891-2476 • www.gtathletics.net Circle No. 564

Get a Grip

From the creators of the 1st Tackified Glove comes the Gripper II receiver glove with a synthetic Gripper palm. These gloves are designed to repel moisture and ensure the best grip at all times. The synthetic gripping properties will not wear away, and the 1.5-inch wrist wrap provides secure fit and comfort. This product is machine washable and should be air dried, and it’s available in six color combinations. Youth sizes range from small to large and adult sizes go from small to 2XL. The Gripper II meets NCAA and NFHS specifications. Adams USA • 800-251-6857 www.adamsusa.com • Circle No. 565

Giving You an Edge

coaching a ids

Testimonial

Save Time, Manage Stats

The Coaches Clipboard on HighSchoolSports.net has free tools for coaches to showcase their teams all in one location. Coaches can save time using these tools to stay ahead of the game. Add, postpone, or cancel events and practices, enter scores and stats, access your team roster, and get cumulative player and team stats—all on HighSchoolSports.net. Start saving time today: Go to HighSchoolSports.net and click on Coaches. HighSchoolSports.net • 800-258-8550 www.highschoolsports.net • Circle No. 570

Never Stop Learning

California University of Pennsylvania has helped build the character and careers of its students for more than 150 years. Cal U’s dedication to providing high-quality, in-demand programs to its students continues through the University’s Global Online 100-percent online programs of study. Through an asynchronous format, Global Online allows students the opportunity to complete coursework anytime, anywhere. All that’s required is a computer with Internet access. Go online for more information. California University of Pennsylvania • 866-595-6348 www.cup.edu/go • Circle No. 571

Expandable and Reliable

The DX300 wireless headset system links you and your coaches in a secure, two-way, hands-free conversation during the game. The DX300 takes only minutes to set up on game day and can be easily expanded from a basic five-coach system to accommodate a coaching staff of up to 20. Choose between the lightweight beltpac and wireless headset models or mix and match both. Continuing more than 35 years of innovation. HME 888-760-7836 • www.hme.com • Circle No. 572

Easier Ticket Sales

Give your fans the convenience of purchasing tickets online at HighSchoolSports.net. Online ticketing is secure, free to set up in Schedule Star, and requires no special hardware or software. Monitor ticket sales in your Schedule Star using detailed online attendee and sales reports. This convenient tool saves you time and cuts down on calls the day of the big game. It’s the easy way to sell tickets to your sporting events. Go online to start selling tickets over the Web today. Schedule Star • 800-258-8550 www.schedulestar.com • Circle No. 573

NFL Team Enjoys Improved Grass When Spin Martin, Head Groundskeeper of the Indianapolis Colts, was looking to rebuild the team’s only grass practice field, he needed some answers. He called EnviroTech Soil Solutions, Inc., to learn more about AXIS® calcined diatomaceous earth, manufactured by EP Minerals. David Curtis responded to his questions with unparalleled data and evidence. It sounded impressive, but just to be sure, Martin sent AXIS and another product to the laboratory. After that, the choice was easy. “One reason why I went to AXIS was to promote healthier and deeper roots. My Bermuda roots penetrated my whole root zone, 14 inches deep, within six weeks,” Martin says. “I noticed highly reduced water consumption—a 60-percent reduction. The soil is actually oxygenated after a rain. I’ve also noticed less compaction. I had 12 solid weeks of NFL players practicing on my fields, with not one bare spot at the end of the season. Why would anybody choose anything other than AXIS in their root zone mix? For me, it’s a no-brainer.”

Practice Smarter

Maximize your time on the most difficult-to-practice phases of the game with the new Snap Attack Football Machine by Sports Attack. This innovative, quality, extremely portable training tool can not only pass the ball at throwing height for any offensive or defensive drills without the quarterback, but it can also simulate a realistic snap from the ground for drills such as shotgun and no-back offense. In addition, it’s great for emphasizing the kicking game. Sports Attack • 800-717-4251 www.sportsattack.com • Circle No. 574

Extra Freedom

Sold separately, Sports Attack offers a remote control that feeds the ball instantly or on a delay, allowing the coach to control the tempo of practice. The remote control also allows a punter, extra-point kicker, or holder to work alone. Sports Attack 800-717-4251 • www.sportsattack.com • Circle No. 575

EP Minerals, LLC 9785 Gateway Dr., Ste. 1000 Reno, NV 89521 800-366-7607 Fax: 775-824-7694 inquiry.minerals@eaglepicher.com www.epminerals.com

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overtime

Continued on… Coachesnetwork.com

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