CA Issue 33, Oct. 13, 2011 by Sport Stars Magazine

GOLF: IF YOU DON’T LAUGH, YOU’LL CRY. Pg. 6

vol. 2. issue 33

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October 13, 2011

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Hannah suH: norcal’s best Pg. 16 WOODCREEK DAZZLES Pg. 36 COUNTING THE UNBEATENS Pg. 8

Oct. 28-30 • Alameda county fairgrounds

Bring it

Jesuit boys soccer keeps tackling challenge after challenge

Pg. 30

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PHONE 925.566.8500 FAX 925.566.8507 Editorial Editor@SportStarsOnline.com Editor Chace Bryson. Ext. 104 • Chace@SportStarsOnline.com Contributors Bill Kolb, Erik Stordahl, Mike Wolcott, Mitch Stephens, Doug Gardner, Matt Smith, Clay Kallam, Jim McCue, Eric Gilmore, Dave Kiefer, Liz Elliott, Tim Rudd Photography Butch Noble, Bob Larson, Jonathan Hawthorne, Darryl Henick, Norbert von der Groeben

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Creative Department Art@SportStarsOnline.com Production Manager Mike DeCicco. Ext. 103 • MikeD@SportStarsOnline.com Publisher/President Mike Calamusa. Ext. 106 • Mike@SportStarsOnline.com Advertising & Calendar/Classified Sales Sales@SportStarsOnline.com Account Executives Erik Stordahl • ErikS@SportStars Online.com (Special Sections, Calendar, Marketplace sales) Reader Resources/Administration Ad Traffic, Subscription, Calendar & Classified Listings info@SportStarsOnline.com • Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 •

With her family squarely behind her, Hannah Suh of Evergreen ValleySan Jose keeps climbing to new heights. Pg. 16

Distribution/Delivery Mags@SportStarsOnline.com Distribution Manager Butch Noble. Ext. 107 • Butch@SportStarsOnline.com Information technology John Bonilla CFO Sharon Calamusa • Sharon@SportStarsOnline.com Office Manager/Credit Services Deb Hollinger. Ext. 101 • Deb@SportStarsOnline.com Board of Directors Dennis Erokan, CEO, Placemaking Group Roland Roos, CPA, Roland Roos & Co Susan Bonilla, State Assembly Drew Lawler, Managing Director, AJ Lawler Partners Brad Briegleb, Attorney At Law community SportStars™ Magazine A division of Caliente! Communications, LLC 5356 Clayton Rd., Ste. 222 • Concord, CA • 94521 info@SportStarsOnline.com www.SportStarsOnline.com

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First Pitch........................................................... 6 Locker Room.................................................... 8 AAA SportStars of the Week...................... 11 Health Watch.................................................. 12 Tee2Green....................................................... 22 Impulse............................................................. 24 Training Time................................................... 26

comiNG through: Jesuit soccer survives & thrives. Pg. 30 Red Zone: All things football. Pg. 36

focus on the positive: Remembering what you do right will help you do it again. Pg. 45

TriStars............................................................. 35 Behind the Clipboard.................................... 45

ON THE COVER: Luca Licciardi. Photo by James K. Leash

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your ticket to bay area sports admit one; rain or shine This Vol. #2, October 2011 Whole No. 33 is published by Caliente! Communications, LLC, 5356 Clayton Rd, Ste. 222, Concord, CA 94521. SportStars™© 2010 by Caliente! Communications, LLC. All rights reserved. Subscription rates: 24 issues, U.S. 3rd class $42 (allow 3 weeks for delivery). 1st class $55. To receive sample issues, please send $3 to cover postage. Back issues are $4 each. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission of Publisher is strictly prohibited. The staff and management, including Board of Directors, of SportStars™© does not advocate or encourage the use of any product or service advertised herein for illegal purposes. Editorial contributions, photos and letters to the editor are welcome and should be addressed to the Editor. All material should be typed, double-spaced on disk or email and will be handled with reasonable care. For materials return, please enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope. SportStars™© and STARS!™© Clinics are registered trademarks of Caliente! Communications, LLC.

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Celebrating golf’s gift of unintentional comedy

here are few sports I like to play more than golf. And it’s not necessarily because I’m particularly good at golf. I can admit that I’m an average recreational golfer at best. But I find golf fascinating for many reasons. Here are two: 1 — In a four-plus-hour round you can experience just about every emotion, from elation to confusion, to anger, hatred and even jealousy (depending on how well the rest of the players in your foursome are hitting). 2 — Until you reach a certain level of success, the better you get, the more frustration you’re apt to experience during your round. (How messed up is that?) Because once you really strike a ball well — and you watch it carry 200 yards down the fairway and trickle softly on the green — you expect to hit every shot like that. And you don’t. Personally, I’m surprised The Golf Channel or another network hasn’t spawned a golf-related reality show that just follows random recreational golfers and counts down until they reach their boiling points. That would be TV gold, people. It’s these two reasons above that often make for good stories to tell once you get off the course. In honor of the fact that this issue carries our most golf coverage to date — due in large part to our partnership with the Bay Area Golf Show, of which this issue will serve as its official program — I thought I’d share one of my favorite “boiling point” golf stories. I have a regular golfing buddy, one of my closest friends, who I’ve played more golf with than anybody else during my 10 years in the Bay Area. He and I are right around the same skill level, which makes it nice. However, he’d be the perfect candidate for my golf-related reality TV pitch. He does not hide his emotions on the course. And when his frustration boils over, it can lead to some unintentional comedy. The golfers out there are all nodding their heads right now. Everybody who plays regularly tends to have a friend like this. Anyway, as the story goes, we were about 11 or 12 holes into our round. My friend had played well over his first eight or nine holes. But, as I mentioned above, that can often lead to a trap: An expectation that one will play well the rest of the day. So as we start the back nine, the equalizing game of golf rears its ugly head and

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FIRST PITCH Chace Bryson Editor

Chace@ SportStarsOnline.com (925) 566-8503

my friend’s shots start to go awry. Finally, after a particularly gruesome score on a hole, he decided to send his putter airborne — this is actually quite rare for him. The fact that he tossed his club wasn’t funny. That it landed in a tree and stayed lodged there about 15 feet off the ground, was quite funny indeed. Now, one would think that standing on the wheel well of a golf cart and fishing his putter out of a tree — dodging some angry bees in the process — might have served as a moment of clarity. Because I can’t imagine much else could run through your mind at that point other than, “I’m trying to knock one of my golf clubs out of a tree. This is ridiculous.” So as I and the rest of the foursome watched our buddy hit a nice tee shot to begin the next hole, we thought the club-in-the-tree moment may have actually succeeded in calming him down. But his second shot, from the middle of the fairway, sliced way left and into a horse pasture. That was the last shot his 7-iron would ever take — snapped over his knee in a moment of aggression that would’ve made Bo Jackson proud. I didn’t know club shafts could snap so easily. After a few minutes of stunned silence, the rest of us mocked him, he laughed at himself, and everybody had an enjoyable round the rest of the way. And that’s the beauty of golf. For 15 holes, a level-headed and good-natured person can enjoy the game and his company. But two really bad holes can lead to climbing trees and a broken club. If you’ve got a good golf story you’d like to share, email it to me. We’ll pick a few of the best ones and run them in our Tee 2 Green section later in the year.

A FEW QUICK THINGS Over the next two weeks we’ll start to have our first points tallied in the race for the SportStars Cup. League and section titles will be secured in girls golf as October wraps up. Water polo and tennis will shortly follow. We will feature our first point standings in Issue #34 on October 27. ... We have a slight correction from our Issue #32 coverage of the Ed Sias Invitational cross-country meet. We listed Granada as having the best girls team score of the day, which was incorrect. The best girls team score that day belonged to Acalanes with 30 points. Also, the best boys team score belonged to De La Salle (54), not Miramonte. Thanks to a reader for keeping us on our toes there. ✪

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count’EM Number of undefeated varsity football teams left in the state (excluding 8-man teams) as of Oct. 9. Of those teams, 36 are from Northern California. Broken down by section, there are 16 remaining in the North Coast Section, nine in the Sac-Joaquin Section, six in the Northern Section and five in the Central Coast Section.

some of the unbeatens TOP: Armani Washington, CaliforniaSan Ramon (Butch Noble). MIDDLE: Miles Long, James Logan-Union City (Butch Noble). Bottom: Sutter teammates Ryan Staas (19), Elijah Smith (6) and Philip Robledo (33) (James K. Leash)

Worst places for a motivational speech

You might have seen a recent news story about the high school junior varsity football coach in New York who was suspended for taking his team to a cemetery after a loss. He had them lie down among the grave markers while he rambled on about hard work and team concept. He was, apparently, trying to motivate them to play better. By taking them to visit a bunch of headstones. Because nothing could possibly make high school sophomores play harder than a couple of acres of formerly alive people. That and pizza. Anyway. That got us to thinking. Here are our Top Five worst places to motivate a high school athletic team: 1. The bottom of a swimming pool. We find it’s very, very hard to communicate with the intensity and consistency necessary to motivate anyone when we keep getting water up our nose. 2. The Moon. You think your teammates’ minds tend to drift off when the coach is talking? Imagine the distraction when their bodies do likewise. Not to mention the whole sound-doesn’t-travel-in-avacuum thing. 3. The library. Don’t get us wrong. The library is a great place for lots of other things. Reading. Studying. No, not napping. Stop that. And put your shoes back on. But we’re pretty sure library staff would shush the living bejeebers out of Al Pacino if he tried to rip off his Any Given Sunday spiel in the reference collection. 4. Kindergarten. You know the whole bit about everything I needed to know I learned in kindergarten? Doesn’t apply to sports. Because you definitely didn’t learn how to try to shove a volley/ water polo/soccer/basket/base/tennis/golf/football down your opponent’s throat in between snack and storytime. 5. Delaware. Look. We’re in Delaware. See? It just doesn’t work. — Bill Kolb

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rapidFIRE Funniest student section chant you’ve heard?

USA! Nick Bermudez, Granite Bay football

At St. Ignatius-Serra, S.I. students changed

‘Who’s your Padre?’

(Serra’s nickname)

Chris Forbes, Terra Nova-Pacifica FB

‘He’s a freshman’ Kyra Holt, Albany volleyball

New Facebook: Yay or nay?

Best prank played on a rival?

✖ ✔ ✔

Fans dressed as cows, mocking Del OroLoomis

Taking out the garbage

Terra Nova fans streaked Half Moon Bay’s halftime show

Cleaning my room

None against a fival, but we made freshmen shave their heads

Cleaning up after the dog

sayWHAT? “Freedom likes to heat it up. Sometimes I think Buddy Ryan is over there calling the defense.” — Pittsburg High football coach Victor Galli talking about his Oct. 14 opponent, Freedom-Oakley.The game will be a pivotal Bay Valley Athletic League opener as Freedom comes in with an unbeaten record. Pittsburg hasn’t lost to Freedom since 2007. Support Your Local Business • Say You Found Them In SportStars™

Worst chore at home?

Best food item available on campus?

Most you’ve paid for a sporting event or concert?

Chinese food

About $100 for a Giants game

$1 pack $175 for of gummi ‘Country bears Mega’ at Shoreline Freshbaked cookies

$10 for a high school football game

Throughout the week we poll our Facebook fans on random things that come to our mind here at SportStars HQ. Come ‘Like’ us at www.facebook. com/sportstars to join the conversation. You just might find your comments in this spot next issue. Now that that the rainy season is officially here, we wanna know: What’s the one sport you would play regardless if it was raining? ■ “Football!,” Dawn S. ■ “Love running in the rain,” Susan N. ■ “Soccer in the rain — always makes for fun slide tackles,” Jim M.

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maddie dilfer volleyball . valley christian-san jose . soph.

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MADDIE’S QUICK HITS Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint chocolate chip Favorite warm up music: Old 80’s rock. Favorite athlete: Kerri Walsh

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There was no stopping Maddie Dilfer and the Valley ChristianSan Jose girls volleyball squad from taking the Cupertino Tournament. The sophomore co-captain served up 45 kills, 29 assists, 14 digs, nine aces, five blocks and a partridge in a pear tree as she led the Warriors to the championship. SportStars Magazine: When did you guys know you were going to win the championship? Maddie Dilfer: I don’t think we ever knew we had it in the bag. I think we were confident in our abilities going into the final match. We knew we had to bring it against Los Altos. SSM: The season is about a month old but how do you keep this momentum going? MD: It’s given us some confidence. I think our season is just getting to the hard part now. We have some confidence. We have to work hard and hopefully we’ll do well. ... The tournament showed us what we’re capable of. SSM: team is comprised of a lot of underclassmen. How do you explain your team’s success? MD: We’re very young but I think our coaches do a great job of preparing us to work hard and get better each day. Just getting better each time we’re on the court. We’ve been able to build team chemistry and start from scratch.

honorable mention

logan smith The Vista del Lago-Folsom receiver caught a NorCal recordsetting 24 passes for 318 yards and 2 TDs in a 41-33 OT win over Liberty Ranch-Galt on Sept. 23.

andrew schnugg The AcalanesLafayette water polo star contributed four goals to help the Dons overcome De La Salle-Concord in an 11-10 quadruple OT match on Oct. 4.

erin sherwood The San Ramon Valley-Danville girls volleyball standout racked up 21 kills in a four-set East Bay Athletic League win over Amador Valley-Pleasanton on Oct. 4.

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Keeping one step ahead of ankle sprains Current research places the incidence of ankle injuries at about 1 million per year, with 85 percent of that being ankle sprains. The most commonly heard phrase in regard to an ankle injury has been, “walk it off.” But for young athletes that may not always be the best idea.

robably among the most overlooked and nagging injuries in sports is the dreaded sprained ankle. It happens in almost all sports, from football to basketball to soccer to baseball. It does not discriminate by age, gender or sport. Current research places the incidence of ankle injuries at about 1 million per year, with 85 percent of that being ankle sprains. The most commonly heard phrase in regard to an ankle injury has been, “walk it off.” But for young athletes that may not always be the best idea. For young athletes, it is always important to remember that they are still developing and the skeletal system has not fully matured. Typically, growth plates close by the age of 16 in girls and 18 in boys. This makes it difficult to diagnose an ankle sprain vs. a growth plate fracture in younger athletes. Sometimes these injuries are treated the same in younger athletes, with the athlete being casted to protect the growth plate. This makes it a good idea to go see a physician with any ankle injury in a young athlete. Once you know for sure it is an ankle sprain, there are some other important things to know. Current medical journals show that once you sprain your ankle you could have as high as 80 percent chance of re-injuring your ankle. This has been shown to be greatly reduced by rehabilitating your ankle sprain with a physical therapist. The treatment seeks to restore range of motion and strength, as well as restore proprioception at the ankle. Proprioception is the body’s sense of position and the changes necessary to maintain that position. So what are some good things to work on to help your therapist in your recovery? ■ R.I.C.E.: Stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Giving your ankle a break after the injury will help with pain levels. Icing will help reduce swelling and will decrease pain. Compression also helps reduce swelling by limiting the available space. Just be sure not to make it so tight that you lose good circulation. Elevating your foot above the level of your heart will also help reduce swelling. All of these help to reduce swelling and improve range of motion. ■ Range of Motion: Point your foot as far down as you can, then bring it back up with your “toes to your nose” and moving the foot side to side. Both should be done in a pain-free range as often as possible. ■ Proprioception training: As soon as you’re able, try balancing on one foot. When that becomes too easy, try balancing on one foot while brushing your teeth. This helps reinforce the brains ability to perceive ankle position and make necessary corrections. Working on these will help you in your recovery from an ankle sprain and keep you a step ahead of everybody else. ✪

Health Watch Tom Clennell

Tom Clennell is a physical therapist for the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes, a division of Children’s Hospital Oakland with a facility also located in Walnut Creek. If you have questions or comments regarding the “Health Watch” column, write the Sports Medicine For Young Athletes staff at Health@SportStarsOnline.com.

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Drivers, putters & Walruses. Oh my! Pg. 20

Getting the First Tee into schools Pg. 22

Be fit, physically and mentally Pgs. 26, 28

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Supported by a tight-knit family, Evergreen Valley’s Hannah Suh has established herself as the North State’s top female golfer Story by David Kiefer • Photos by Norbert von der Groeben 16

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he tournament wasn’t a huge one by junior golf standards, but had its share of tradition. The event, the Crystal Springs Junior, was played on a course so picturesque that many choose to get married on the hillside overlooking San Mateo County’s Crystal Springs Reservoir and the thousands of uninhabited acres of San Francisco Watershed land. For Hannah Suh, now a 17-year-old senior at San Jose’s Evergreen Valley High, Crystal Springs was among the series of junior events that characterize the summer of a talented young golfer. But this one was special in its own way, because of the way Hannah and her younger brother, Justin, dominated the competition.

On the 6,207-yard par-72 on the Hillsborough layout, Hannah shot a 1-under 71 to win the overall title for the second time in three years and become the first girl to break par in the tournament’s 12-year history. And, just as significant for Hannah, Justin followed suit with the same score, to win the 14-15 age group and the boys overall title. To understand how Hannah has become Northern California’s best high school girls golfer — she has won the NorCal title the past two years and is the defending Central Coast Section champion — is to understand how much family has played a role in her success. Actually, it’s more than that. Hannah and Justin make each other better. “We’re always there for each other,” Hannah said. And she means it. Hannah and Justin practice together. They observe each other and videotape each other’s swings. Later, they review the footage together and offer advice. Neither has an official personal coach, and who needs one. They have each other. “I’m always the one looking out for her swing,” said Justin, 14. “And she pretty much does the same for me.”

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After all, they know each other’s swings and games better than anyone else. They even caddy for each other at tournaments. “Golf takes my life every day after school, all day,” Suh said. “But everything’s fine. I really love it right now.” Hannah’s first coach was her dad, Doug Suh, who was born in Korea and arrived in the United States at a young age. From 4 to 14, Hannah learned just about everything about the game from her father. And he took his job seriously, becoming a PGA-certified coach. Though he coached a couple other young golfers on the side, Hannah and Justin were his primary pupils, playing primarily at Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose and Summitpointe Golf Club in Milpitas. As Hannah got better and better, and Justin showed a gift for the game, the family — parents Doug and Hyun and the two children — decided they needed a better environment to play in. Seeking an environment with more golf courses, lower country club fees, and good weather, the Suhs sold their San Jose home and moved to Atlanta, Ga., when Hannah was in fifth grade. Her parents didn’t tell her it was a golf-related move. Better to shield her from some of the pressure. But she found out later, after they returned to San Jose two years later. Yes, there was great golf and they played on some great courses, and Hannah met many new friends. However, the weather was miserable – at least for the Suhs. Too hot and humid. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a positive experience. “I really love it there,” Hannah said. But Suh is more than making her mark here in the Bay

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Area. Besides her high school championships, Suh, using the smooth stroke created by her 5-foot-7-frame, captured the women’s title at the storied San Francisco City Amateur, outlasting her friend Briana Mao for a 1-up victory in the 36-hole final at Harding Park. Suh halved No. 18 to clinch the victory after Mao had won the previous two holes to stay alive. The ability to stay cool under pressure has become a Suh characteristic. “The strength of my game is my confidence,” she said. “I have to be in control of my emotions.” It wasn’t always that way. As a young girl, it was difficult to understand why she had to practice so often and had difficulty getting used to it. Her parents were understanding and suggested she take a break if needed. Today, she continues to incorporate rest days in her routine. But even in the midst of an outstanding 2010, Suh struggled with her confidence, and even her enthusiasm for the sport.

As she describes it, “It’s hard out there. The pressure gets pretty scary.” That pressure manifested itself in her short game. Yes, even a two-time NorCal champion can get the jitters. It was on those late putting sessions on the driving range with her brother that began to put her game back in focus. The two searched hard to find a grip that would solve the problem. “It helps to have someone who understands the way you play,” Justin said. “We both know what we need to work on.” Indeed. Together, after several tries with various grips, they settled on something called a “claw” grip after watching an Internet video. The grip changed everything. Hannah felt comfortable again and her confidence came soaring back. It was at the City Amateur that it all came together. “It was a huge relief,” she said. “I always knew I had it in me.” Eventually, Hannah would like to try the professional ranks, but in the meantime, she’s taking three Advanced Placement classes and trying to balance golf and school. There isn’t room for much else. But Hannah says it’s worth it. Asked to name her greatest accomplishment in the sport, the answer is easy: “Since I was young, all I wanted to do was get a scholarship,” she said. “And I finally achieved that.” Next year, she’ll be at Cal-Berkeley on a golf scholarship. “I’m really happy,” she said. Not surprisingly, Justin, a freshman at Evergreen Valley, would like to follow in his sister’s footsteps. “I definitely would love to go to Cal,” he said. “I’m going to do the best I can to get there.” With Hannah’s help, of course. Isn’t that what sisters are for? ✪

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thousands of deals

Appearance by 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler will highlight 2011 Bay Area Golf Show

H hundreds of vendors One walrus

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e won the 1982 Masters. He has recorded 29 professional golf wins. He’s the only golfer ever to go by “The Walrus.” And this October, he’s coming to the Bay Area Fall Golf Show. Producers of the 2011 Bay Area Fall Golf Show announced recently that Craig Stadler will be among the featured celebrities at the popular fall golf expo, which returns to the Alameda County Fairgrounds for its annual three-day run, Oct. 28-30, 2011. The PGA Tour’s leading money winner in 1982, with over $10 million in career earnings, Stadler is one of the most recognizable golfers of the last three decades. Nicknamed “The Walrus” for his build and signature mustache, Stadler finished in the top-10 at major championships 13 times, including a win at The Masters in 1982. He also won two majors on the PGA Champions Tour, the last in 2004. Stadler will appear at the Bay Area Fall Golf Show on Sun., Oct. 30. In addition to serving as a spokesperson for exhibitor Shankmeister.com, Stadler will be featured on the Golf Show Main Stage to share stories from his 30 years in the professional golf world, and answer questions from attendees in the audience “It’s exciting to have former Masters champion Craig Stadler appear at our show to share stories from his Hall of Fame career,” Bay Area Golf Show owner Kirk Tourtillotte said. Stadler’s personal appearance adds star power to what has become one of the nation’s largest fall golf expos, featuring blowout, end-of-season pricing on up to $1 million of name-brand clubs, equipment and apparel in the Golf Mart Superstore, plus the chance to test out the fall’s newest sticks on a free, indoor driving range lined with representatives of the top manufacturers in the world of golf. In addition, attendees will have the chance to win a dream Maui golf getaway and other great prizes, and connect with dozens of exhibitors from throughout the golf, travel and recreation industries, each offering show-only savings on their products and services. “The 2011 Show will be our biggest ever for front door giveaways, prizes that can be won at our games and the blowout prices on golf equipment,” Tourtillotte said. Save big on your next golf vacation or join a local country club at discounted rates, all while earning free goodies and other end-of-year benefits. Over 5,000 attendees pack the show floor each year to take advantage of the lowest prices of the year on clubs and equipment, test their driving, pitching and putting skills to win great prizes, and to pocket the free rounds of golf, golf balls, magazine subscriptions and other at-the-door giveaways. All of which guarantee a return on the value of a $10 ticket, just for walking in the door. And with free admission for kids 12-and-under, and free clubs for all kids at the First Tee booth, it’s a fun day for the whole family. Download discount coupons and stay up-to-date on the latest additions to this year’s lineup of exhibitors and activities at BayAreaGolfShow.com, which will be updated frequently leading up to the show’s opening on Oct. 28. Go Friday for first pick of the top equipment, Saturday to try out the fun interactive games, or Sunday to meet The Walrus and pocket those terrific last-day savings. Like that six-inch birdie putt to win on 18, it’s a true can’t-miss! ✪ — Varsity Communications Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Exhibitors A to Z

Here’s A List Of All The Vendors You Can Expect To See At This Year’s Bay Area Golf Show: Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs Ambrose Financial & Insurance Services, Llc Ameriprise Financial Bath Fitter Black Oak Casino Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited Bridges Golf Club, The Butler Golf Callippe Preserve G.C. Carson Valley Inn Coyote Springs Diablo Grande Winery & Resort Divine Nine/Carson City Cvb El Cid Resorts Fisher Touch Putters Forever Putting Greens Four Points By Sheraton Pleasanton Global Travel Golf Balls Only

Golf Channel Solutions/Golfnow.Com Greenhorn Creek Gc Half Moon Bay Gl Hammerhead Golf Haque Chiropractic, Inc Heavenly Greens Hiddenbrooke Golf Club Hotshotz Igolping Innovative Kaanapali Golf Resort/Tee It Up Hawaii Kerry A. Adamo Golf Laser Eye Center Of Silicon Valley Los Cabos Convention & Visitors Bureau Massaging Insoles By Soles For Comfort Mercedes Benz Of Pleasanton Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Nick’s Net Works Nk Products Inc Non-Surgical Spine Care Center

Polara Golf Prato Eyewear Psp Golf R-Mac Properties Reaction Sports Ridgemark Golf & Country Club San Ramon Golf Club Sdf Golf Inc Shankmeister Sohl Chiropractic Sportstars Spring Valley Gc Storus Corporation Stx Golf Summer Winds Resorts Total Effects Technologies Tpc San Francisco Bay At Stonebrae Trinitas Golf Club Visit Mendocino County Westin Maui World Wide Golf Zengryo

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The First Tee works toward getting its curriculum in the schools EVERY KID GETS A CLUB ■ What: A First Tee-provided promotion in which every kid is given a free golf club. ■ Where: The “Every Kid Gets A Club” booth at the Bay Area Golf Show at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton. ■ When: Oct. 28-30, 2011 ■ Admission: Tickets to the Bay Area Golf Show are $10 for adults, while kids 12-and-under are free.

Beyond health and fitness, all sports have invaluable lessons to teach. Leaders of The First Tee chapters believe the game of golf is the perfect vehicle for young people to build character.

Do you remember how you learned to kick a soccer ball or throw a spiral for the first time? Who put the first baseball bat or golf club in your hand as a kid? Most of us fell in love with a particular sport or multiple sports as starry-eyed youngsters. The aptly named The First Tee organization puts the first golf club in kids hands, helps direct their first swings and promotes character enrichment. This most important last aspect is accomplished through The First Tee curriculum, where coaches teach personal etiquette by first teaching golf’s etiquette. Beyond health and fitness, all sports have invaluable lessons to teach. Leaders of The First Tee chapters believe the game of golf is the perfect vehicle for young people to build character. In addition to its youth development curriculum The First Tee is also dedicated to increasing access opportunities to the game of golf for young people from all backgrounds. How do we spread the lessons of the game? How can we get golf clubs in more children’s hands? How do you make golf a traditional sport? The answer: Install our program in elementary schools. The First Tee has established National Schools Program sites in over 500 school districts and 4,200 distinct elementary schools across the country. At these schools, young people are exposed to golf and our curriculum during physical education class. The First Tee of the Tri-Valley (the local chapter for Pleasanton, Livermore, Dublin, San Ramon and surrounding areas) is beginning the extension of our program to local elementary schools this fall and upcoming spring. Our goal is to offer all young people the opportunity to learn from the game’s etiquette through the school program and have the ability to transition to our core programs, offered year-round. To raise awareness about our new in-school golf units, and promote all our programs, The First Tee of the Tri-Valley will be sponsoring an “Every Kid Gets a Club” booth at the upcoming Bay Area Golf Show. Any child attending the golf show will receive a complementary golf club to hopefully spark an interest in this great game. This opportunity is made possible through our chapter staff, coaches, participants and other friends of the chapter all dedicated to developing more young golfers in our hometown! Come to the Bay Area Golf Show, pick up your free club and find out more about The First Tee National Schools Program. The Fall Bay Area Golf Show will be held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds October 28-30, 2011. Kids 12-and-under have been offered free admission! For complete event details visit bayareagolfshow.com. ✪

First Tee Files

Daniel McKegney

First Tee Files is a rotating column featuring the executive directors of four Bay Area chapters of The First Tee — Contra Costa, Oakland, San Jose and Tri-Valley. Dan McKegney is the executive director for the The First Tee of the Tri-Valley. Check out your local chapter by visiting one of the following websites: www.TheFirstTeeContraCosta.org, www.TheFirstTeeOakland.org, www. TheFirstTeeSanJose.org or www.TheFirstTeeTriValley.org.

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October 13, 2011

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impulse courses

Welcome to Impulse, your one-stop shop for all the latest and greatest in gadgets, gizmos and gear. Compiled by staff writer Erik Stordahl, Impulse provides you with what’s currently hot on the market. This week, we give you an all-access tour of the Bay Area Golf Show being held at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds on Oct. 28-30. Packed to the gills with enough golf to fill a water hazard, the Bay Area Golf Show serves as a haven for gear and deals, whether you’re hitting the links for the first time or you’re gearing up first your first weekend at Augusta. For more info on this golf extravaganza, hit up www.bayareagolfshow.com.

There are so many courses that are gonna be at the show. Dozens from all over the Bay Area and four states total. Some of these courses are probably in your backyard. The others could make ideal weekend getaway hotspots or amount to one killer vacay. Be sure to hit up all their booths to discover killer deals and promos.

CINDERELLA STORY

This is your golden opportunity to meet Craig Stadler, Masters champ from 1982. Gather ‘round and listen to the Walrus talk of his triumphs from yesteryear like outlasting Dan Pohl in a playoff at the ‘82 Masters or becoming the first player over 50 to win a PGA Tour event in 28 years. There will also be an auction where the highest bidder will get to shave the Walrus’s iconic mustache. We’re not 100% on that last one so stay tuned for updates.

Greenhorn Creek — They just opened their brand-spankin’ new Caddy Shack on Sept. 3. Ideal for golf groups of up to 12 people, The Caddy Shack comes complete with BBQ area, horseshoe pits, 52” HDTV, five bedrooms and a state-of-the-art kitchen. Oh yeah, it’s located by Hole #9 so you’ll always be super close to golf action. Talk about the perfect bachelor pad. Or, best family vacay destination. Or, ideal work retreat where little to no work will be accomplished.

walrus hunting

freebies!

The only times we get in line early are when we KNOW we’re getting the goods: Playoff tickets, front row concert tix w/ backstage passes, and live shows of Justin Bieber (don’t ask). You can expect us to be at the Bay Area Golf Show early to get these golfin’ goodies: ■ Spring Valley Golf Course & The Pleasanton Golf Center — Round of golf for the first 500 people each day. ■ Trinitas Golf — 2-for-1 golf for the first 1,000 people each day. ■ San Ramon Golf Club — Even if you’re the last one to show up, you’re still getting something. How awesome is that? A reward for the tardiest of the tardy, San Ramon GC is giving away $20 off to their Par 4 Package.

the goods

Nike, Titleist, and Callaway, oh my! Golf Mart will set up their mobile clearance shop all three days where you can get sweet deals on name-brand equipment all at a steal of a price. Walk in with nothing and leave with a cart full of the latest drivers, putters, bags, apparel and other gear.

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October 13, 2011

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Athletic development in golf starts with coordination

lot of parents believe that in order for their young athletes to excel in golf that they must play, practice, think and breathe golf 24 hours a day, 12 months a year from the moment these kids can swing a club. Nothing could be farther from the truth. What you have to understand about sports in general is that although we may see them as specific activities requiring specific skills, they are nothing more than general skills that are being applied in a specific way. The fact is that sport does not develop athleticism it really only develops a specific skill. Athletic development should precede sport as it is the crux to sporting success for your young athlete. The key for excelling in golf, or any sport for that matter, is to develop generalized athletic skills that can and should be developed in all young athletes. Variety is the spice of life when it comes to developing a complete athlete. These skills should be developed through a process of basic athletic development and then eventually as these skills are mastered they can be applied to golf. Guaranteeing athletic success isn’t anything more than just making sure that your young athletes start learning, playing and enjoying basic elements of sporting skills at a young age. And when they experience a wide variety of athletic stimulus (sports, games, training, etc.) at a young age, they automatically enhance their level of coordination. The best athletes are highly coordinated, and the main reason why many athletes struggle in sport is because they lack coordination. Developing coordination through generalized skill development allows your young athletes to become super efficient at expressing the skills (power, mobility, speed, strength) required for golf and all sports. The athletic skills required to excel in any sport require coordination of speed, strength, mobility and endurance which all can be enhanced through a non-sport specific strength and conditioning program that appropriately focuses on the above elements with a multi-lateral and progressive approach in mind. Let’s look at each element and how it develops overall coordination and the athleticism that will transfer over to sporting success for your young athlete: ■ Speed and Agility: Coordination that expresses the highest amount of force in the least amount of time, resulting in optimal displacement. This teaches athletes skills that allow them to apply great amounts of force in smaller amounts of time while moving their bodies in whichever direction in the optimal distance. ■ Strength: Coordination under resistance which teaches the athlete to maintain technique under varying loads of resistance. ■ Mobility: Coordination training that dynamically expresses forces through desired or required ranges of motion. ■ Endurance: Coordination training under prolonged event or sport-specific time constraints, which are specific to the demands of any given sport. Each of these elements of coordination can and must be trained in order to develop a complete athlete. None of which are sport-specific as all sports require speed, agility, strength, mobility and endurance. So remember, just because an exercise or skill isn’t ‘specific’ to a certain sport, doesn’t mean that it won’t make a young athlete better in golf, soccer or baseball. Never forget: The best PLAYERS are always the best ATHLETES. ✪

Training Time

The key for excelling in golf, or any sport for that matter, is to develop generalized athletic skills that can and should be developed in all young athletes.

Tim Rudd for IYCA

Tim Rudd is an International Youth Conditioning Association specialist in youth conditioning (level 3), speed and agility (level 2), and nutrition specialist (level 1). For more information on anything you read in Training Time, email him at tim@fit2thecore.com.

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October 13, 2011

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Is it really your mechanics? A quest for consistency in your golf game

ou just shanked another ball. “How many more times am I gonna hit this way before I finally hit a good one? Why can’t I fix this? Why is this happening?” You’re at the driving range, with your designer driver in your hand. This is the club you or your parents dropped $500 on that was custom fitted for you and was supposed to fix your slice. Yet, the ball keeps drifting to the right and you gotta fix it by tomorrow. You tinker with your grip, your set-up, your takeaway. You shift your weight, think about your downward plane and squaring the club face to the ball. You tell yourself to “just relax” and that “you can do it,” yet deep down your confidence is as small as a blade of grass. You are hoping to make a shot instead of believing in your execution — and the chasm between these two thoughts is as wide as the lake to your right. And you’re still only on the driving range. I know you have been there and that you have seen others act in a similar fashion; irrational and angry standing next to a bucket

of balls. You take a swing, produce a bad shot, reach down and place another ball on the tee and fire away, only to continue your ugly display. At some point, whether two or 20 swings later, your anger subsides and you begin to, at least, hit every other ball well. The next day, when it counts, your round reflects your previous day’s preparation and you seek out everyone’s advice as to what is wrong with your swing. The responses you get sound like what you were thinking at the driving range. You are given many technical and mechanical suggestions and are told to “just relax” and “not to worry.” My personal favorite is “just trust your swing.” Just trust my swing? What does that mean, especially when you have no idea what to trust? Tiger Woods is dealing with this dilemma right now. Obviously, I have no idea what he is thinking about, but I can tell that he is thinking about the wrong things at the wrong times. Look closely and you can see tension in his face and in his forearms when he stands over shots. His entire approach to

Get Mental

Doug Gardner

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October 13, 2011

a shot does not seem to have a rhythm and tempo, which is reflected in the tightness and lack of repeatability of his golf swing. Most importantly, look at his reactions to missed shots, as his frustration is palpable. Tension, whether it is physical or mental, creates mechanical breakdowns in athletes. Instead of understanding how tension affects athleticism, technique, and fine motor skill execution, athletes and those around them tend to exclusively seek mechanical and technical fixes. This is a circular approach that never resolves one of the major reasons for mechanical breakdown and poor performance in sport. Tension originates in the athlete’s brain and then manifests itself in the form of physical tension. Physical tension creates mechanical breakdown and further mental tension in the form of frustration, doubt, fear and other emotional responses. Tinkering too much with physical and mechanical adjustments just adds more information to think about. Instead of trying to think “nothing,” a golfer’s mind becomes cluttered with too much information and they often find themselves standing over a shot having made no decisions at all. Is it really possible to stand over a shot and think nothing? We often think this is the goal

for every shot, but I argue that the best golfers do think, process information and make decisions. The difference between them and the rest of us is that they often engage in this process well before they address their shots. What we call no thought, consistent golfers call decision-making. Consistent golfers develop consistent ways to think, process information and decide on their golf shots. I often see golfers attempt to think and execute at the same time. In every sport, there is time to think and time to execute. Those who work through the decision-making process prior to executing tend to be less tense because they know what they want to do rather than being mentally indecisive. Many golfers do not practice integrating these mental skills into their physical practice, yet they expect, unfairly, that their swing and shot making abilities to be there when it counts the most. ✪ Dr. Doug Gardner is a Sport Psychology Professional and is the owner of the ThinkSport Consulting Services, with locations in Lafayette and Los Angeles. For more information, please e-mail him at dg@thinksport.com or visit www.thinksport.com to learn more about the services he provides for athletes, coaches and parents.

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October 13, 2011

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October 13, 2011

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previous page: Jesuit’s Denny Gosting dribbles upfield during a mid-September match at Rio Americano-Sacramento. ABOVE: Coach Paul Rose addresses the team. Rose is in his 33rd season as coach of the Marauders.

s the winningest high school boys soccer coach in California, and with nearly 650 victories (and a .772 career winning percentage), Jesuit-Carmichael head coach Paul Rose has seen just about everything that the high school game can offer. But, the 2011 season for Rose and the Marauders has been full of new and unique experiences that he has not seen in 33 years of coaching. In just over a month of play, Jesuit has faced more adversity than Rose’s teams have normally faced in entire seasons. For starters, the Marauders knew that they would be facing four opponents ranked in the national top 10 in their first 20 games. Rose admits to creating a “crazy” schedule that would easily rank as the toughest in the country, but he knew that the competition would benefit a program coming off a perfect 31-0-0 season and the No. 2 national ranking. But, before the Marauders could face a single opponent, senior Peter Wajda was lost for the season when he went down with a knee injury just 10 minutes into the team’s first practice. A few weeks later, the Marauders faced their first nationally-ranked foe at the Capital Classic. Jesuit defeated No. 6 Granite Bay 3-2 on a late penalty kick, but suffered another major loss when senior captain, and Rose’s son, Jeff, went down with a knee injury. In the weeks after the Granite Bay victory, Jesuit (13-1-2 as of Oct. 4) played to a 1-1 tie with local rival Davis High School and lost two additional players to a controversial U.S. Soccer Federation ultimatum that forced players in its California Development Academy (CDA) to choose between playing for their high school team or pursuing the chance to advance to the national team pool.

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“Never in my 33 years of coaching have I had to rebuild in the middle of a season,” Paul Rose said of his retooled roster and lineup. “It is a very unique situation where we are practicing a new formation and I have brought up three sophomores when I rarely, if ever, have sophomores on the varsity team.” Despite the mid-season rebuilding, Jesuit still had more nationally-ranked foes to face before playing league games with local competition eager to bring down the region’s top program. In late September, the Marauders (version 2.0) travelled to St. Louis for the Gateway City Classic where two matches against top teams from the Midwest and East awaited. Jesuit escaped St. Louis without any further injuries, but could not come away with a victory in two games. In their opening match, the Marauders faced two-time mythical national champion Chaminade-St. Louis (the Red Devils won titles in 2001 and 2002 before Jesuit captured the 2003 crown) and battled to a 1-1 tie despite controlling play for much of the game. In the showcase game at the conclusion of the tournament, No. 2 Jesuit squared off with No. 3 DeMatha Catholic-Hyattsville (Md.)

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and lost in a penalty kick shootout after the two teams were knotted at 1-1 after regulation and two overtimes. The team’s first loss since the 2009 season closed a long run of success and presented another psychological hurdle to overcome upon returning home. Jesuit fell to No. 9 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) poll — a seven-spot fall from the previous week and an eightplace decline from the start of the season — and will likely slip further in the rankings after the Marauders played to a once-unthinkable 1-1 tie with Sheldon-Sacramento in their first game back in California. But Rose remains upbeat about his team despite its recent struggles. “I was real proud of the team,” Rose said. “I think the trip pulled the team together and built up our team unity even though we didn’t do as well as we would have liked to. Looking at the big picture, we want to win the (Sac-Joaquin) Section title, so we can’t get caught up in wins and losses and national rankings.” That sentiment is echoed by senior goalkeeper Luca Licciardi, whose vocal leadership from the last line of defense is evident at every Marauders practice and game. “It sounds awesome to say you are nationally ranked number one,” Licciardi said of the team’s early season top ranking, “but we try to focus more on what we can do to get better as a team. At this point in the season, (national rankings) do not matter as much as taking pride in putting on the Jesuit jersey.” The pride to play for the area’s most storied program was so strong for Licciardi that he transferred to Jesuit from Reed High School in Sparks, Nevada, for his final two years of high school soccer. A club team player in the Sacramento region for years, Licciardi was drawn by the program’s reputation and the opportunity to get exposure on a national level. He currently lives in Sacramento with his father while his mother remains in Nevada. The team’s lone remaining captain (Jeff Rose was co-captain before suffering his season-ending injury) has thrived in net for the Marauders. The shootout loss to DeMatha was his first varsity soccer loss. And Jesuit could have lost him as well. Licciardi was also hit with the CDA mandate, but the goalkeeper chose to keep playing for his school and was granted an exception that will allow him to play for Jesuit while continuing to train with his CDA team. Licciardi said that the exception excludes him from playing with his CDA team until his high school season is over, which he hopes will be Saturday, Nov. 12 (the scheduled date for the Section Division I final). “It’s a weird situation because it’s so unclear and inconsistent all the way up to the (USSF),” Licciardi said. “I knew right away, though, that I was not going to quit playing the high school season. I am totally obligated and dedicated to Jesuit.” Jeff Rose has also shown his dedication to the program despite the season-ending injury. The senior striker has taken on the role of an additional assistant coach, which is not a big stretch for the son of a California Coaches Association 2011 Hall of Fame inductee. Jeff was often a second set of eyes for Paul Rose while playing for his father, and has not missed a game — even traveling with the team to St. Louis — since his injury in early September. A constant presence on the bench and sidelines, Jeff has stepped up to provide coaching help, but says that he is not ready to be comfortable on the sidelines. “It’s been very difficult and frustrating to watch games, but I am just trying to stay positive and be there for my teammates,” Jeff Rose said. “I’ve never really thought about coaching, but I figure that it can wait until I maybe coach my son in the future.” Paul Rose began his coaching career at Jesuit before any of his children were playing soccer, but he had the opportunity 34

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Senior Jeff Rose, the son of Jesuit coach Paul Rose, walks on crutches following the Rio Americano match in September. Rose had his season cut short when he tore knee ligaments during a 3-2 early-season win over against Granite Bay. to coach Nate and Jeff in high school. The 2003 Jesuit team, which featured Nate and the famed “Three Amigos” (Chris Sardon, Eric Forner and Adam Mariani), brought the only official national championship title for Rose. But the 2010 team, with Jeff as a junior, was a perfect 31-0-0 and finished second in the national rankings. “You can do everything right and have a perfect season, then still not get the number one national ranking,” Paul Rose said of the final 2010 rankings and the unfolding rankings this season. “Even if we were at full strength all season, it would have been extraordinary to pull (another perfect season) off.” As is stands, the Marauders had a 68-game winning streak snapped by the Davis tie and have struggled with the rebuilding process since. But, with all of the challenges and some disappointing results, it appears that the more things change, the more they stay the same for Jesuit soccer. Just two days after the shocking tie to Sheldon, the Marauders improved to 2-0 in Delta River League play with a 13-0 pounding of Oak Ridge. That win moved the team one step closer to its goal of a section title and moved Rose one win closer to number five all-time on the national wins list for high school boys soccer coaches. That Rose and Jesuit move calmly forward with their eyes still on a section title in a season filled with turbulence is both a testament to and a reflection of Rose’s coaching style. “It helps to have skilled players to put out on the field each year, but he lets the players play the game and puts them in the right position to succeed,” Licciardi said of Rose’s sometimes stoic sideline demeanor. “He has a great knowledge of the game that he passes along, but he trusts his players to get the job done as a team.” When Rose and his team look back at the unique experiences of the 2011 season, they hope and believe that they will have the chance to experience a very familiar occurrence— standing tall atop the Sac-Joaquin Section. ✪

It sounds awesome to say you are nationally ranked number one, but we try to focus more on what we can do to get better as a team. At this point in the season, (national rankings) do not matter as much as taking pride in putting on the Jesuit jersey.” Senior goalkeeper Luca Licciardi Upload photos and team stats! www.SportStarsOnline.com

Run-Bike-Swim-Eat right: Nutrition, the fourth discipline

o, you’ve started training, but you’re not losing weight, or you don’t look like an athlete. Well, most likely, it’s the fuel you are putting into your workouts. Food really does show in your performance, and on your body. Nutrition, daily and training nutrition, is the fourth discipline of triathlon. Nutrition is a BIG topic, and there is a lot of information you can read. For that reason, this is the first of a two-part article on nutrition for triathletes. For right now, there are some basics you should know.

Nutrition First off, I am not a nutritionist. The information here is what I have learned through my education in exercise physiology, and through experimenting and experience as an endurance athlete and coach over the past 20 years. If you have specific questions or needs based on your health or goals, I recommend seeking a nutritionist you trust and works for you. Below is some general information. The goal is to give you the tools to help you decipher what you read, and to help you make the best food decisions for you. As an athlete (which you are all now), you have to think of food as fuel. It’s not just calories in/ calories out, it’s what those calories are, how they are used to refuel and regenerate your body and when you eat them. The calories each individual needs varies based on many factors including sex, height, weight, body makeup, fitness level, physical activity, and goal. Some of you want to maintain your weight, some want to gain weight, and some want to lose weight. Every one’s goal should be to take in the best fuel for your body for the optimal energy level and performance, during practice, and life.

Calories We all need calories to live. If you are trying to lose weight, calorie number is important, but what kind of calories and when you eat your calories is way more important. You should lean towards a mix of lean protein, good carbohydrates like whole grains, and some essential fats. Even if you are trying to lose weight, your body needs essential fats.

Liz Elliott

TriSteps is a sevenpart series focusing on topics that athletes should know about as they set sights on training for their first triathlon. This is the third installment. The first two offerings can be found in Issues #28 and #31 at www.Sport StarsOnline.com.

better, will feel generally happier, and can be more productive not only at practices, but in your everyday life. This by no means a full description of nutrition, just some information to get you thinking about what you need. And, again, I am not a nutritionist. These are the recommendations I give to my own athletes based on my own research, education in exercise physiology, work with nutritionists, and experience as an endurance athlete and coach. ✪

Liz Elliott is the head coach of the Tri-Valley Triathlon Club based in Dublin. Liz specializes in preparing beginner triathletes for their first triathlon or set of triathlons. Liz just completed her second Ironman in August, bettering her performance in every aspect of the race. She felt great during and after the race, and credits her performance to her nutrition plan during training, as well as during and after the race. Contact her at liz@ trivalleytriclub.com

Essential fats aid in neurological functions (help you think), and you burn fat when you exercise. When eaten in combination, protein and carbohydrates help the other ones work while aiding in metabolism speed. In general, try eat the least amount of processed foods as possible. The general rule, if it can sit on the counter or in the cupboard for more than a week without going bad, it’s processed in some ways. People know to avoid donuts and chips, but crackers are a sneaky processed food. A short list of food examples that should be included in your everyday eating: Lean proteins include chicken, turkey, whey. Good carbohydrates include whole grain breads or cereals, fruits, vegetables. Essential fats include olive oil, avocados, and nuts.

Everyday Eating Everyday you should be hydrating and eating (fueling) your body. Make it a part of your life. Start keeping a food log, a basic list of what you are eating. At the end of each day, look at what you’ve eaten. You will probably find you eat about 85% of the same foods on a daily basis. When you write down and review what you eat, it also gives you a base from which to make changes to your diet to help you feel better during practices. You will find that by eating the right foods, you will have more energy, sleep

Recommended Reading

Here are some nutrition web resources to check out. ■ The Big Three — www.nextstepracing.com/blog/?p=14 ■ Fiber and Fat Burnin: 8 Foods to Boost Your Metabolism —teambeachbody.com/about/newsletters/-/nli/176#60773809 ■ Online Food Logs we recommend: www.Fitday.com

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Red Zone

Nogosek shines in his moonlighting role at quarterback By jim mccue | Contributor It was no surprise that quarterback play carried a team to victory when Woodcreek-Roseville visited Whitney-Rocklin in a recent nonleague matchup. Many expected that Jake Rodrigues — Whitney’s preseason all-section pick and Oregon-bound senior — would shine brightest against a Woodcreek defense that was giving up an average of 28 points per game, including 54 to Casa Roble and its versatile signal-caller, Mitch Samson. Instead, it was a little known junior under center for the Timberwolves that stole the spotlight, lighting up the scoreboard in a 35-13 defeat of the host Wildcats. Stephen Nogosek — a wide reciever who was making his first varsity start at quarterback due to a strained right bicep that forced senior Shaun Mize to flip positions with him — showed the poise of a decorated college recruit in accounting for all five of Woodcreek’s touchdowns. Nogosek finished the game 16-for-25 for 227 yards and threw four touchdown strikes while adding a one-yard touchdown plunge in the final quarter to cap the scoring. “I felt very nervous before the game, but my team helped me get through it,” said Nogosek about his somewhat unexpected start at quarterback. “I had to learn 82 plays, but the coaches got us prepared for the game. After I got settled in, I started to run on straight adrenaline for most of the game.” Nogosek’s adrenaline rush may have started early in the week when Woodcreek head coach John Hildebrand made the decision to swap Nogosek and Mize for the Whitney game. The Timberwolves’ regular starting quarterback was well enough to run and catch, but the injured bicep on his throwing arm limited his ability to throw the ball. Mize finished the game with six catches, including a 25-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter that broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Timberwolves a lead they never relinquished. “(Mize) has had some bad luck,” Hildebrand said of

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October 13, 2011

Woodcreek-Roseville

Mize

Nogosek

the bicep injury, “but we were comfortable swapping him and Nogosek at quarterback and receiver. We didn’t change the game plan because of the switch because we knew the key to beating Whitney was to control the clock and keep the ball out of (Rodrigues’) hands.” Woodcreek executed its game plan to near perfection. Rodrigues was ineffective through the air (6-for-16 for 88 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions) and on the ground (9 carries for 40 yards and being sacked four times). The Timberwolves also forced four turnovers in the game, including a pair of fumbles that halted Whitney drives inside the red zone. Every time the Wildcats appeared to have a chance to stay within striking distance of the Timberwolves, Nogosek and the Woodcreek offense mounted time-consuming drives to keep Whitney and its potent offense off the field. “We were fortunate to take the ball away from that offense,” Hildebrand said of his team’s four forced turnovers. “We wanted to play tough and have a bend-but-don’t-break defense to have a chance in the game.” The Timberwolves’ toughness on offense was displayed not only by Nogosek, but by a pair of young running backs that ground down the Wildcats’ defense and the clock with their power running. Sophomore Mitchell Layton started the game and rushed for 51 first-half yards before a leg injury sidelined him at the intermission. Junior Vincent Fernandez, a smaller back who had just 23 yards in the four games prior to the Whitney contest, added 51 of his 56 rushing yards in the second half to keep the Wildcats off the field. Fernandez also hauled in a 51-yard touchdown catch and run that broke the game open late in the third quarter. “Fernandez is our number two (running back) and he came in and ran real hard in the second half,” said Hildebrand. “And Nogosek, our number two quarterback, was composed and managed the offense extremely well.” Hildebrand expected that the depth chart would revert

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Red Zone back to normal when the Timberwolves (4-1) opened Sierra Foothill League play against local rival Roseville on Oct. 7. But, knowing what his “backups” are capable of, provides the coach with the luxury of giving Mize and Layton additional time to rest and heal, if necessary. The two players did indeed return to their original positions against Roseville, but the results were not as the Timberwolves would’ve hoped. It was a rough game all around for Woodcreek, as it fell to its rival 44-21. Furthermore, Nogosek had to leave the game after sustaining an injury to his right arm. The Timberwolves return to SFL action on Oct. 14 at Granite Bay. “Whitney’s a great team and this is one of the greatest wins that I have been a part of,” said Nogosek after the September 30 game. “But we just flipped jobs this week and I know he will be back for the Roseville game and I will just do whatever I can at wide receiver or anywhere to help the team win.” ✪

Whitney’s a great team and this is one of the greatest wins that I have been a part of. But we just flipped jobs this week and I know he will be back for the Roseville game and I will just do whatever I can at wide receiver or anywhere to help the team win.” Stephen Nogosek

James K. Leash

FAR LEFT: Woodcreek’s Shaun Mize prepares to pass during the team’s Oct. 7 game against Roseville High. right: Stephen Nogosek, back in his familiar role as Woodcreek’s wide receiver, hauls in a pass over the middle during the Timberwolves’ loss to Roseville.

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Red Zone

Granite Bay regroups after first loss and picks up inspired wins

When the Granite Bay football team suffered a 38-27 loss at Vacaville on Sept. 16, it lost more than just the game. It lost a little bit of its identity and sense of direction. Fortunately, it had a bye week to get things set straight. “We really fell apart at Vacaville,” Grizzlies senior defensive back and kicker Nick Bermudez said after his team’s Sept. 30 win at Pittsburg. “We weren’t together. We were fighting each other. We wanted to come in as a team and play as a team.” The win at Pittsburg was certainly a positive first step. Granite Bay forced four turnovers in the game. They never

trailed as they built an early 10-0 lead and maintained the pace of the game from start to finish. Running back Arik Bird had over 120 total yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns. His second touchdown was a short swing pass from quarterback Brendan Keeney that he eventually took 58 yards for the game-icing touchdown. “We kind of struggled with our camaraderie at Vacaville,” Keeney said afterward. “We had some bad things happen, but we had the bye week and we worked on picking each other up. We just wanted to focus on getting our team back

because if we know we play as a team, we’re tough to beat.” The Grizzlies continued that mantra and built on the momentum gained in Pittsburg by returning home and picking up a thrilling last-minute victory over Nevada Union-Grass Valley in the Sierra Foothill League opener for both teams. Bird scored on a 13-yard touchdown run with 47 seconds left on the clock as Granite Bay pulled out a 28-21 win. The comeback win was a testament to the fact that the team has indeed rededicated itself to staying together. The Grizzlies trailed at the half 14-7 and had just 122 yards of total offense. Bird was particularly impressive in the second half, rushing for 97 of his 122 yards. “Don’t beat ourselves,” Keeney said when he was asked after the Pittsburg game what it would take for the Grizzlies to reach their goals of an SFL and Sac-Joaquin Section title. “I don’t think a lot of teams can beat us if we play together. We’re getting there.”

VIOLENT VILLA Jake Villa runs like a force of nature. Or a road grader. He

Continued, page 40

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Red Zone

All records through Oct. 8 Rank (Last Wk.) ..................................Record 1. (1) De La Salle-Concord.................... 4-1 2. (2) Bellarmine-San Jose..................... 4-1 3. (3) Buhach Colony-Atwater................ 6-0 4. (4) Pleasant Grove-Elk Grove............ 5-1 5. (5) California-San Ramon.................. 5-0 6. (6) Lincoln-Stockton............................ 5-1 7. (8) Folsom........................................... 3-1 8. (9) Del Oro-Loomis............................. 3-1 9. (19) Elk Grove....................................... 6-0 10. (10) Cardinal Newman-Santa Rosa.... 4-0-1 11. (11) Palma-Salinas............................... 4-0-1 12. (15) Serra-San Mateo........................... 5-0 13. (13) Granite Bay................................... 5-1 14. (14) Palo Alto........................................ 4-1 15. (16) Escalon.......................................... 6-0 16. (17) Marin Catholic-Kentfield................ 6-0 17. (18) Vacaville......................................... 5-1 18. (20) James Logan-Union City.............. 6-0 19. (7) Grant-Sacramento........................ 3-3 20. (NR) Oakdale......................................... 6-0 Top 20 Facts-Figures-Fallout DROPPED OUT: No. 12 Foothill-Palo Cedro (Lost to Enterprise-Redding 7-6 on Oct. 7) BIGGEST MOVER: Elk Grove jumps 10 spots after another impressive win over a Top 20 team. The Thundering Herd defeated then-No. 18 Nevada Union-Grass Valley 23-7 on Sept. 23, and No. 7 Grant-Sacramento 21-14 on Oct. 7. TOTAL TEAMS STILL RANKED FROM PRESEASON TOP 20: 13 KNOCKING AT THE DOOR: Leland-San Jose (5-0), San Ramon Valley-Danville (4-1), Windsor (6-0) SMALL SCHOOL TOP 5 (500 enrollment cutoff): 1. Le Grand (6-0), Central CatholicModesto (5-2), 3. Salesian-Richmond (5-0), 4. Bradshaw Christian-Sacramento (5-1), 5. Ferndale (4-1) Rankings updated every Wednesday at www.SportStarsOnline.com

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Red Zone Continued from page 38 runs like he has a personal grudge against the defense. Or his own helmet. ‘Violent’ might be the best description for the Las Lomas High School junior running back’s running style. And it is one that suits him just fine. “I’ve been playing football since I was 8 years old,” Villa said. “When I was young, we didn’t really have a great offensive line. I had to do a lot myself. I guess I got used to having to put my head down and drive.” So far, the drive to drive is working well for Villa and the Knights. Through his first five games this season, Villa had racked up 759 yards and 11 touchdowns on 98 carries. Las Lomas, not coincidentally, had racked up five wins. “He’s so aggressive,” Knights defensive coordinator Dan Elbanna said. “Each and every play, he gives 100 percent. He’s an absolute pleasure to coach.” Long-time fans of Knight football will remember Elbanna as the school’s all-time rushing leader, and one of its most punishing runners. He and Villa have that in common. “He’s a lot faster than I ever was,” Elbanna said. “As a runner, you see most people trying to tackle him up by the neck. They see how hard he runs and they don’t want to

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October 13, 2011

get run over. He delivers the blow each and every time, and that wears down defenses. His motor doesn’t stop. Most defenders stop wanting to tackle him.” Villa is listed generously at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, though he admits to being closer to 5-9, 180. But his small stature doesn’t cause him to shy away from contact with much bigger players. “I love it,” he said after pounding Alhambra for 176 yards and three scores on 26 carries in Week 5. As a strong safety, he also helped anchor a defense that held the Bulldogs to just 65 yards of total offense. “He’s probably the most enjoyable kid I’ve ever coached,” Elbanna said. “He’s so enthusiastic and smart. He knows what I want him to do before I even say it.” If he has one fault, according to his coaches, it is that he might be too aggressive. “He’s going to give himself a concussion,” head coach Doug Longero said. “He gets in the open field and it’s like he’s looking for someone to hit.” “The coaches keep trying to get me to go away from contact if I can,” Villa said with a grin. “I’m working on it. I don’t do it on purpose. It just happens.” Kind of like a force of nature. ✪ — Chace Bryson and Bill Kolb

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Red Zone

Develop players, winning will follow

hen we look at the role of a football coach, we see the X’s and O’s and the schemes that help put players in the best position to be most successful. We are valued by our win and loss record, without ever being the ones to step on the field to throw the curls, run the fades, block the blitzing linebacker or make the tackles. The players are the ones who make the plays to determine the outcomes of games. However, one of the most overlooked aspects of the sport is the development of a football player’s skills. The lack of fundamentals is the difference between a quarterback connecting with a wide-open receiver and overthrowing him, or a 3-yard gain and a 30-yard touchdown. Football is a unique sport where one missed pass or a poor angle on the ball in the first quarter can determine the outcome of the game. However, most of time and discussion is spent on whether or not the offense should run a spread gun attack or the defense should be blitzing more. In the end, It doesn’t matter if a coach calls the perfect play if his players cannot fundamentally execute it. We put emphasis on the fundamentals in many other sports. In basketball, coaches spend countless hours teaching a player shooting, footwork and offensive skills. In baseball and softball practices, the hitting, fielding and pitching mechanics are drilled over and over. These fundamentals are generally practiced throughout the year in the off-season and during the season. But in football, skill development traditionally only takes place during the season and is often limited, because of the time needed to work as an offensive, defensive and special teams unit. As I’ve transitioned from being a head coach to a skills coach, I believe that my teams would have been more successful if I had devoted more time to developing my player’s individual skills so our overall game plan would be executed at a higher level. A more accurate passer, better pass rushers or better route runners, increases the success of any play called. These fundamentals or lack of fundamentals are especially crucial, because they are what players revert to under the highpressure situations of a game. Players are getting bigger, faster and stronger, but unless they are able to translate their athleticism to football skills, they are not maximizing their abilities. As coaches, there are many elements that go into running a team. But at the foundation, it is the players who will determine a team’s success. Stronger people make stronger teams. ✪

Gridiron Lessons Roger Theder

Roger Theder was the head football coach at Cal from 1978 to 1981 and is widely recognized as one of the leading quarterback coaches on the West Coast. A former assistant at both Cal and Stanford, he has tutored dozens of top collegiate quarterbacks including Drew Olson (UCLA), Ken Dorsey (Miami) and Trent Edwards (Stanford). He also served as quarterbacks coach for the San Diego Chargers and as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts.

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Remember your good plays and you’re apt to make more of them I set for my volleyball team, and I just don’t feel I’m that good. I do some things just fine, but I make a lot of mistakes. My coach keeps telling me to have more confidence in myself, but how can I do that when I keep playing badly? D.R., Palo Alto

here’s a simple truth in sports and life: If you say can’t, you won’t. (Now that doesn’t mean if you say you can, you will — I can say I’m going to dunk from now until the sun turns cold, but the only way I’m going to thrown one down is if they put a trampoline under the basket.) So if you start telling yourself that you can’t be a good setter, sooner or later you’ll start to believe yourself. Then again, you can’t ignore the mistakes you make, but you have to put things in perspective — and here’s the story I tell my players: A friend of mine was a guitarist, and a pretty good one, but that wasn’t his job, and he just played for fun. Every once in a while, someone would criticize his playing, and he’d just shrug and say “I’m an amateur — I remember the good notes.” First, you’re not getting paid to play volleyball, so you’re an amateur. That means, literally, you do it for the love of the game, and not because someone is writing you a check at the end of the month. Now if they were, it would make sense to really worry about the mistakes you make, because it would be a job. But you’re not getting paid (there’s some serious recruiting going on all the time at the high school level, but not that serious), so you shouldn’t worry so much about the things you do wrong, but rather focus on what you’ve done right. Sure, you blew a set to the outside hitter in the first game, but what about the nice dig after that? And that perfect back set? What it comes down to, really, is what you choose to focus on. If you only think about what you did wrong, you’ll think you’re worse than you really are. If you only think about what you did right, you’ll think you’re better than you really are. Since confidence is an issue for you, it’s easy to guess that you focus more on the negative than the positive, and so you need to balance that equation a bit. One way to do that is to make yourself remember three good plays you made in each practice and game. To make this work, though, you have to be aware of how your mind is working, and you have to counter negativity with positivity. What that means is this: When you start to think about your mistakes, and start beating yourself up, you have to be aware enough to tell yourself to start thinking about the good plays you made as well. Human beings love to tell stories, and we tell stories about ourselves, to ourselves, all the time.

We tell ourselves we’re smart, or we’re stupid, or we’re cute, or we’re ugly, and after a while those stories, those narratives, start to become who we are, so it’s really important to take control of the stories you tell yourself. And if you tell yourself you can’t be a good setter, well, you won’t be. Since your coach believes in you, you most likely have some talent, and you should start telling yourself a different story. Think about the good plays you make, not the bad ones,

and what you’ll find is that you’ll start making more good plays as time goes on. As the old song says, accentuate the positive, and when you do, not only will you have more fun, you’ll become a better player. ✪ Clay Kallam is an assistant athletic director and girls varsity basketball coach at Bentley High in Lafayette. To submit a question for Behind the Clipboard, email Coach Kallam at clayk@fullcourt.com.

Behind the Clipboard Clay Kallam

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