Texas Coach - October 2023 - Volume LXVIII No. 2

INSIDE: what are the four pillars & How can i get involved in the thsca

october 2023

your 2023-2024 THSCA President

KENDALL MILLER frisco emerson high school

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OCTOBER 2023

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OCTOBER 2023

thsca OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS - 2023-24 TEXAS COACH - (ISSN 0040-4241) - Copyright 2023 Texas High School Coaches’ Association, Inc.

PUBLISHER

TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION, INC.

PUBLISHING/EDITORIAL OFFICES: 2553 N INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD SAN MARCOS, TX 78666-5924 web: www.thsca.com

Subscriptions: Annual subscription to TEXAS COACH for members of the Texas High School Coaches Association is $20.00, which is included in the $70.00 membership dues. For non-members: one-year subscription price is $30.00; two-year subscription price is $50.00; Foreign: one-year subscription price is $50.00. Single copies are $5.00 per current volume. TEXAS COACH is published monthly except in June, July, and August and is dated the first of the publication month, although it is mailed around the 10th of the publication month.

Change of address: Request for change of address must reach us 30 days before the date of issue with which it is to take effect. Duplicate copies cannot be sent to replace those undelivered through failure to send advance notice. Email change of address notice to admin@ thsca.com or members can go online and make the change in your member portal profile at www.thsca.com.

kendall miller

President - emerson

john snelson

Pres-elect - dickinson

jerod womack

region 2 - waxahachie

kevin crane

region 2 - central

Lee Wiginton

Past-pres - Allen

aaron roan

region 2 - abl. cooper

matt lovorn

chad dunnam

region 1 - canyon

jeff rayburn

region 3 - lone star

region 1 - amarillo

dave henigan

chip darden

region 1 - lub. cooper

allen gratts

region 3 - denton ryan

region 3 - arl. bowie

james williams

b.j. gotte (interim)

todd quick

robert flores

Periodicals Postage Paid at San Marcos, TX & additional entries. “All rights reserved”. (USPS 540-600).

POSTMASTER Send address change to: TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION 2553 N INTERSTATE 35 FRONTAGE RD SAN MARCOS, TX 78666-5924

john settle

mark torres

fred staugh

clint hartman

region 3 - sunnyvale

region 4 - pebble hills

region 4 - monahans

region 4 - midl. legacy

shaun mcdowell

laqueisha dickerson

ricklan holmes

shane anderson region 6 - waco midway

region 6 - lufkin

charley drum

amanda wolf-schramm

lance moffett

region 5 - fb marshall

region 5 - pearland

Printed by Capital Printing Co in Austin, Texas.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOE MARTIN joemartin@thsca.com

ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GLEN WEST glenwest@thsca.com

region 5 - grand oaks

region 5 - fb austin

region 6 - hutto

region 7 - nikki rowe

Chief Operating Officer of THSCA

BRIAN POLK

brianpolk@thsca.com Chief Operating Officer of THSCEF

LIBBY PACHECO

libbypacheco@thsca.com Director of Publications & Technology

BECKY ADAMS

beckyadams@thsca.com Director of Administration

MARGARET BEYER

margaretbeyer@thsca.com Director of Social Media & Marketing

KAYCI COHEN

kaycicohen@thsca.com Director of Exhibits & Sponsorships

MOLLY FLY

mollyfly@thsca.com Director of Membership

ALLIE HERRMANN

allieherrmann@thsca.com

SHERYL HONEYCUTT

sherylhoneycutt@thsca.com Director of Finance & Accounting

GORDON MACKEY

gordonmackey@thsca.com Director of Hotels & Hospitality

CHELSEA MILLER

chelseamiller@thsca.com Director of Public Relations & Awards

TYLER WATTS

tylerwatts@thsca.com

OCTOBER 2023

jerry carpentier region 7 - odem

leo mireles

region 7 - laredo lbj

region 8 - canyon lake

region 8 - smithson valley

region 8 - hays

juan morales

region 8 - sotomayor

BOARD OF DIRECTORS COMMITTEES for 2023-24:

Finance: Dave Henigan, B.J. Gotte, Kendall Miller, John Snelson, Mark Torres, *Lee Wiginton Bylaws: Chip Darden, Charley Drum, *Chad Dunnam, Ricklan Holmes, Todd Quick, Shaun McDowell Ethics: Kevin Crane, LaQueisha Dickerson, Robert Flores, Clint Hartman, *Jeff Rayburn, Fred Staugh Policy: Shane Anderson, Jerry Carpentier, Leo Mireles, Juan Morales, Aaron Roan, *Amanda Wolf-Schramm Magazine: Allen Gratts, *Matt Lovorn, Lance Moffett, John Settle, James Williams, Jerod Womack Hall of Honor: *Ronnie Gage, Johnny Taylor, Dub Farris, Gary Joseph

*Denotes Chair

Director-Elects & Alternates: DIRECTOR-ELECTS

Region 1 – Todd Winfrey, Canyon; Region 2 – Sterling Doty, Stephenville; Region 3 – Marvin Sedberry, Jr., Terrell; Region 4 – Jeff Ellison, Odessa Permian; Region 5 – BJ Gotte, Pearland; Region 6 – Chris Cochran, Lindale; Region 7 – Reuben Farias, La Joya; Region 8 – Joe Hubbard, East Central;

1ST ALTERNATES

Region 1 – DJ Mann, Lubbock Coronado; Region 2 – Casey Pearce, Breckenridge; Region 3 – Josh Gibson, Pleasant Grove; Region 4 – Michael Pry, El Paso Coronado; Region 5 – Brian Randle, Randle; Region 6 – Don Hyde, La Vega; Region 7 – Ben Bitner, CC Veterans Memorial; Region 8 – Eddie Salas, San Antonio Harlan;

2nd ALTERNATES

Region 1 – Andy Cavalier, Canadian; Region 2 – Sammy Burnett Brownwood; Region 3 – Marcus Shavers, McKinney; Region 4 – Daren Walker, El Paso Franklin; Region 5 – Rick LaFavers, Ridge Point; Region 6 – Clint Fuller, Kilgore; Region 7 – David Sanchez, Laredo United; Region 8 – Tony Salazar, Westlake;

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CONTENTS DE PA RT M E N T S KENDALL MILLER - EMERSON HIGH SCHOOL

NOW HEAR THIS

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPDATES

VOL. LXVIII NO. 2

C O V E R S T O RY

WHAT ARE THE 4 PILLARS

& HOW TO GET INVOLVED F E AT U R E S

WIT & WISDOM

INSPIRATION & MOTIVATION

14 26 42

THSCA MEMBERSHIP CARD

INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING YOUR MEMBER PORTAL ACCOUNT & DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP CARD

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

REGISTRATION FORM & LIABILITY INSURANCE INFO

FUTURE OF N.I.L. AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

ECCKER SPORTS

MORE THAN X'S AND O'S

BY JEFF WILLIAMS, AMARILLO HS

PERIODIZED NUTRITION

BY WALTER PRATER, KILLEEN ISD

PHOTO BY BRITTENY BIRDWELL

7 10 19 20 21

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

OCTOBER 2023

24 34 38 4

AROUND THE STATE

COACHES AND COACHING FAMILIES FROM ACROSS TEXAS

4 PILLARS OF THSCA

FIND OUT WHAT WE ARE MADE OF AND HOW TO GET INVOLVED

SUPER ELITE & COACH OF THE YEAR CRITERIA AND NOMINATION DEADLINES

48 52 56 63 66

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR THE WEIGHT ROOM

BY JOHN TRAVNICK, DELL CHILDREN'S ASCENSION

FINDING YOUR LEADERS WHILE THEY'RE RUNNING

BY MARK ASHLEY, RICHLAND HS

LEAD WITH LOVE

BY TODD WINFREY, CANYON HS

THE OTHER SIDE OF SHINY

BY ANDRES GOMEZ, NORTHBROOK HS

THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE COURT

BY TYLER BROWN, ANGLETON JH

OCTOBER 2023

2023-2024 THSCA

ADVISORY COMMITTEES ATHLETIC DIRECTORS R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Jason Richards, Muleshoe Russell Lucas, Sweetwater Seth Stinton, Melissa *Jaime Boswell, Andrews Virgnia Flores, Cy-Fair Don Drake, Ennis Rob Davies, Harlingen Stan Laing, Northside

AQUATICS R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

*Trey Hayes, Lubbock Casey Pacheco, Abl. Wylie Eric Vogan, Texas High Michael Waldmann, Andrews Robert Kelly, Sam Rayburn Daniel Gonzalez, Longview Hector Castaneda Jr., Harl. South Kari Brothers, Northside

BASEBALL

R-1 Thomas Brockman, Idalou R-2 Allen McGee, Graham R-3 Josh Wheeler, Muenster R-4 Juan Orozco, EP Coronado R-5 *Corey Cephus, Cy-Ranch R-6 Matthew Anderson, Franklin R-7 Adrian Alaniz, Sinton R-8 Tom Alfieri, SA Churchill At-Large Chans Chapman, SA Reagan

BOYS BASKETBALL

R-1 Jason Pillion, Amarillo R-2 *C.J. Villegas, Brady R-3 Ty Tabor, Krum R-4 Jason Archibald, Wink R-5 Danny Russell, Katy R-6 Jake Russ, Franklin R-7 Sean Armstrong, G. Portland R-8 Andrew Brewer, Alamo Heights At-Large Richard Flores, Cy-Falls

GIRLS BASKETBALL

R-1 Tyler Helms, Idalou R-2 *Kenni Patton, Electra R-3 Donna McCullough, Sachse R-4 Steve Lee, Pebble Hills R-5 Christina Jamerson, Dulles R-6 R-7 Clarissa Arredondo, McAllen Mem. R-8 Christina Camacho, Judson At-Large Brooke Brittain, Mansfield

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY

R-1 Jay McCook, Canadian R-2 Glenn Griffin, Holliday R-3 *Logan Kelly, Lovejoy R-4 Alonzo Samaniego, Presidio R-5 Kenneth Decuir, Paetow R-6 Josh Sypert, Eustace R-7 Efrain Ambriz, Harlingen R-8 Kelly Thompson, Leander Rouse At-Large Scott Hippensteel, Lockhart

OCTOBER 2023

GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY

R-1 Ray Baca, Canyon R-2 Loy Triana, Burkburnet R-3 *Susan Bailey, Highland Park R-4 Corina Marrufo, Del Valle R-5 Jim Darcey, Katy R-6 Edward DeLaCruz, Waxahachie R-7 Joey Rendon, Santa Gertrudis R-8 Rachel Freeman, SA Reagan At-Large Karmen Sanders, Taylor

FOOTBALL

R-1 Jason Richards, Muleshoe R-2 Sterling Doty, Stephenville R-3 *Joe Castillo, Little Elm R-4 Ruben Rodriguez, Eastlake R-5 Rick LaFavers, Ridge Point R-6 Keylon Kincade, Winona R-7 Brent Davis, G. Portland R-8 Alan Haire, Chaparral At-Large Clint Fuller, Kilgore

BOYS GOLF

R-1 Justin Wilborn, Lub. Cooper R-2 Jason Hodges, Stephenville R-3 Charlie Means, Denison R-4 Paul Bustamante, Pebble Hills R-5 *Mike Martin, Memorial R-6 Brant Bennett, Midlothian Heritage R-7 Celso Gonzalez, McAllen Mem. R-8 Glenn Phair, New Braunfels At-Large Paige Martin, Southlake

GIRLS GOLF

R-1 OPEN R-2 OPEN R-3 Kerry Gabel, FM Marcus R-4 Shawn Trousdale, Eastwood R-5 *Angela Chancellor, Kingwood R-6 Joel Davenport, Ennis R-7 Jennifer Ruiz, McAllen R-8 Patrick Pruitt, Westlake At-Large Brent McCuiston, Alamo Heights

BOYS SOCCER

R-1 Hugo Aguillon, West Plains R-2 Justin Rhodes, Stephenville R-3 Pablo Regalado, Kemp R-4 OPEN R-5 Ben Powell, Bellville R-6 *Cashan Clark, Alvarado R-7 Julian Robles, Harl. South R-8 David Rogers, SA Lee At-Large Jason Meekins, Katy Jordan

GIRLS SOCCER

R-1 Alistair Caldwell, Lub. Coronado R-2 Carl Wiersema, WF Rider R-3 Kelly Thompson, Allen R-4 OPEN R-5 Evelyn Torres, Ridge Point R-6 Gerald Slovacek, Midlo. Heritage R-7 OPEN R-8 Bailee Perrine, Dripping Springs At-Large Aaron McGough, Highland Park

SOFTBALL R-1 R-2 R-3

Styler Haddock, Canyon Cynthia Herrera, Stamford *Kathy Schoettle, Allen

R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Lindsie Swarb, Monahans Katie Roberts, Brenham Same Weeks, Troup Audra Troutman, Sinton Jennifer Fox, Alamo Heights

TENNIS R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Darby Norman, Canyon Randall *Carrie Castleberry, Vernon Sylvia Sims, Frisco Heritage OPEN Daniel Marshall, A&M Consol.

OPEN Eddie Marquez, Roma Teri Saunders, Pf. Hendrickson

BOYS TRACK & FIELD R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Jon Murphy, Stratford Andy Howard, Brownwood *Janson Head, Denton Ryan Brien Burchett, Greenwood Jason Haddock, Clements Josh Rankin, Longview Bob Bechtold, McAllen Keith Randle, SA Johnson

GIRLS TRACK & FIELD R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Crista Jones, Lub. Monterey *Jeremiah Butchee, Stephenville Ashley Broom, Sunnyvale Robert Ontiveroz, Monahans David Pollack, Seven Lakes Jordan Johnson, Midway Stacy Zamzow, Goliad Jen McHugh, SA Reagan

VOLLEYBALL

R-1 Kelly Lozada, Lubbock Monterey R-2 Shay Douglas, Stephenville R-3 Jennifer Chandler, Northwest R-4 Heather Archibald, Wink R-5 Jenny Adcock, Stratford R-6 Arden Johnson, Troup R-7 Jess Odem, Goliad R-8 *Rachel Torvik, SA Reagan At-Large Jacob Thompson, Leander Rouse

BOYS WRESTLING R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Dalton Clear, Canyon OPEN *Kyle Stevens, Anna Oscar Norez, EP Montwood Vinnie Lowe, Katy Collin Stroner, Midlothian Heritage Donald "Ed" Arvin, CC Veterans Memorial David Burdick, Vista Ridge

GIRLS WRESTLING R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8

Tyler Frausto, Canyon OPEN *Jessica Fresh, Northwest Stephen Scott, EP Franklin Nicholas Johnson, Cy-Woods OPEN Ronald Pratt, Rio Grande City Garvin Smith, San Marcos

* DENOTES CHAIR

5

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OCTOBER 2023

FROM THE PRESIDENT

October 2023

Coaching is one of the most valued, yet underappreciated professions. As our coaches grind through the second half of fall sports, no one realizes the many tasks that you take on each day. While the beginning of November is the end of the regular season for fall sports, it is not the end of the grind for coaches.

Basketball and wrestling will begin, and the season of the coach will continue as many of you will enter a second sport. The fulltime commitment to your sports, while teaching class, attending teacher meetings, driving buses, counseling athletes, and having a family sets the coach apart from any other job in education.

We would like to thank all of you that participated in “Our Day to Shine” and contributed to the Benevolence Fund. The thank you letters that we receive from families that benefit from this fund are always extremely passionate and appreciative. Basketball coaches we urge you to participate in “Our Day to Shine” for one of your basketball scrimmages. Every little bit helps. We also would like to thank all of you that participated in the Official’s Appreciation Game. We need officials across this state, and hopefully our public appreciation for officials will motivate more to become a referee.

And a special thank you to all those who participated in our collaboration with College Football Playoff Foundation recognizing Extra Yards for Teachers. The more that teachers are involved with athletics, the better for the total education experience for our athletes.

A reminder that November 1st Academic All-State Nominations are due for volleyball, water polo, team tennis and cross-country. Also, nominations for SUPER ELITE TEAMS and Coach of the Year start in October. Keep an eye out for e-mails and updates on the THSCA website on when nominations will open for your sport.

There has never been a more important time to fight for public school education. Please be on alert when called upon to act on legislation in support of it. High School Athletics as we know it in Texas is at stake. We must let our voice influence others.

Good luck to each of you as you finish your fall seasons and I wish each of you success.

Only a few will finish the season with a win, but many will be successful. John Wooden said “Don’t measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you can accomplish with your team’s ability”.

Kendall O. Miller, THSCA President

OCTOBER 2023

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OCTOBER 2023

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Hotel Information

Features only high school coaches as speakers.

18 Lectures will be given by top high school football coaches from Texas A discount to Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will be given to each coach at the clinic. (Good only on selected items and only for the duration of the clinic.)

Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World will provide hunting and fishing equipment as door prizes.

The Embassy Suites Hotel is located adjacent to Bass Pro Shops and in close proximity to Grapevine Mills Mall and the Toyota Music Factory.

FCA Lecture on Saturday.

A clinic t-shirt for the first 700 coaches in attendance.

(Sponsored by The Performance Course) Cash and Bass Pro Shops gear given away after each lecture on Sunday. $1000 Cash door prize after the last lecture on Sunday.

“Texas Hold-Em” Tournament on Friday night 50 minute lectures and 45 minute breakout sessions.

Job Board available.

Largest High School Only Football Clinic in Texas!

Clinic Headquarters: ¨ Embassy Suites Outdoor World at D/FW Airport, 2401 Bass Pro Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051 ¨ Phone (972) 724-2600 or (800) EMBASSY ¨ To receive the special room rate of $161, make your reservation by January 4 and state you are attending the DFW Coaches Clinic. Embassy Suites Hotel provides a complimentary cooked to order breakfast and happy hour each day to every coach staying at the hotel. Each room comfortably sleeps four.

Registration ¨

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$80 registration fee if mailed in by January 19 ($90 after January 19, no refunds after this date) To pre-register, please send the registration form and a check payable to: DFW Coaches Clinic 30801 Beck Road Bulverde, Texas 78163 Check our website for clinic updates or to register.

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E-mail — coachesclinic@yahoo.com Follow us on Facebook and Twitter—@dfwclinic

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www.coachesclinic.net

" —————————————————————————————————————— DFW Coaches Clinic Registration Form

Name:

Name:

Name:

Name:

School:

School Phone:

Address:

City:

State:

Zip:

E-mail: Enclosed is my check for $______ covering ______ coaches @ $80 per coach. ($90 after January 19, no refunds after this date) Make check out to DFW Coaches Clinic and mail to the address below or register online

OCTOBER 2023

@dfwclinic

The Largest High School only Football Clinic in TEXAS! Alternate Contact phone 214.356.4730 830.708.9132

9

NOW HEAR THIS Have you checked out our 4-L's (LISTEN, LEARN, LOVE & LEAD) Curriculum?

Coach Stephen Mackey of 2Words Character Development and the THSCA have worked together to generate a library of short video lessons for coaches to use as a tool when addressing key issues coaches face everyday outside of the X's and O's. These videos are a perfect opportunity for professional development for your staff. Check out a sample of available lessons now at www.thsca.com/4l and access the full library of lessons by logging into your THSCA Member Portal Account.

Some of the Lessons Available Now...

•

Three Questions to Ask Yourself to Hear Parents Better

•

The Impact of Athletics Begins and Ends with the Coach

•

How to Get the Most Out of Beyond the Game

•

The Miracle of the Locker Room: How Athletics can Raise the Character & Culture on your Entire Campus

•

A Framework to Building Person and Team Core Values

•

How to Build a Healthy Locker Room (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.)

•

10 Lies of Leadership (& What you can do about them)

•

How to Lead a Parent Meeting

•

AND MUCH MUCH MORE!

COACH DONAL R. SCHMIDT

Obituary

Donal Ray “Don” Schmidt was given life by his Creator and was born on August 13, 1933, on his parent’s farm approximately 13 miles outside Olney, Texas. He was the 9th child of William Robert Schmidt and Margaret Myrtle Schmidt. He was united in holy marriage to Mary Frances “Frances” Montfort on January 24, 1959, and they were blessed with 64 years of married life together. On September 22, 2023, at the age of 90 years, God Called Donal home to heaven.

Coach Schmidt or just Coach to the thousands of young men and women who knew, loved, and respected him enjoyed a long and successful career in athletics and education. A state champion athlete in high school, he attended Texas Tech University where he was all-conference going both ways. He was the 6th round draft pick (67th overall) of the Baltimore Colts in 1956 where he started on defense. After being drafted by the US Army and completing boot camp, the Army assigned him as the head coach and player for an exhibition football team in France during the Korean Conflict. After service, he was traded to the Dallas Texans which became the Kansas City Chiefs. He coached one year at Texas Tech before becoming a high school football coach because he did not wish to travel and chose to stay home with his wife and new son. He ultimately coached two state championship football teams and a runner-up. He won many district championships. He also coached several state championship track teams. Many of the athletes he coached played major college football (including one of his sons) and a few played professionally. He was a long-time member of the Texas High School Coaches Association. He is in several halls of fame. In 1990 he retired as the athletic director and head coach of one of the largest high schools in the state of Texas. He and his wife moved to DeLeon, Texas where they took over the operation of the family’s ranching and agriculture interest. In 2002 he and Frances built another home in Rockport, Texas where they spent many happy years enjoying their children, grandchildren, and great-grandson. Don Schmidt was an avid lifelong hunter and fisherman who loved saltwater fishing with his family and friends. He knew and understood coastal and offshore fishing from Brownsville to Galveston and fished for years on his and Frances’ boat aptly named “Time Out”. Coach Schmidt obtained his master’s degree in Texas History from Abilene Christian University.

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OCTOBER 2023

OCTOBER 2023 Congratulations to these coaches for achieving career victory milestones in 2022-2023!!

James C. Mays Joe Sigler Andress W. Andrepont Terry Crawford Les Goad John King

Boys Basketball Boys Basketball Boys Cross Country Football Football Football

500 Victories 500 Victories 600 Points 200 Victories 200 Victories 200 Victories

Vance McAnally Tracy Ranes Shawn Rogers Keith Stifflemire Steve Van Meter Tracy Welch Jordan Beck Jordan Beck Bob Button Bob Button Trey Hayes Trey Hayes Mike Waldmann Mike Waldmann Andress W. Andrepont Steven Campbell Stevan Keys Roger Olivas, Jr. Roger Olivas Jr. Keith Stifflemire Mike Wheeler

Football Football Football Football Football Football Girls Swimming Boys Swimming Girls Swim/Dive Boys Swim/Dive Boys Swim/Dive Girls Swim/Dive Girls Swim/Dive Boys Swim/Dive Boys Track & Field Boys Track & Field Girls Track & Field Boys Track & Field Boys Track & Field Track & Field Boys Track & Field

200 Victories 200 Victories 200 Victories 200 Victories 200 Victories 200 Victories 500 Points 500 Points 500 points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points 500 Points

We are always on the hunt for article content for publication in Texas Coach magazine!

Article submissions can be sport-specific skills and techniques, or be related to program administration, team culture, building relationships with athletes, parents, administrators, etc. Maybe a top 10 list you want to create or a “Do’s and Don’ts guide?” We publish articles from both members and non-members... so we encourage you to reach out to all of the different sport coaches on your campus, your athletic adminstrators, spouses, student-athletes, school administrators, booster club presidents, etc. and ask them to share their knowledge and wisdom with our Texas coaching family! Please email all article submissions to beckyadams@thsca.com – Word Document format is preferred, and 2-4 pages would be ideal length.

OCTOBER 2023

11

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OCTOBER 2023

13

THE FUTURE OF N.I.L.

AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

ECCKER SPORTS IS THSCA'S RESOURCE ON N.I.L. EDUCATION FOR COACHES & ATHLETES Name, image, and likeness (NIL) has long been a point of contention in collegiate athletics. When the NCAA made the decision to allow college athletes to profit from their NIL, they had hoped that the federal government would soon pass laws to govern this new reality in college athletics.

However, over the last two years many states have now passed laws intended to provide the schools in their state with a competitive advantage in the recruiting process. In fact, some of these new state laws go as far as actually prohibiting the NCAA from enforcing its NIL bylaws in those states.

towards an NIL solution at a nationwide level, one that Eccker Sports believes will result in studentathletes participating in revenue sharing from media/tv rights deals, ticket sales and merchandise sales in exchange for an anti-trust exemption for the NCAA that will enable the NCAA to establish a common set of guidelines that they can enforce across all states. The current pending legislation only addresses the college market, however, there will inevitably be a trickle-down effect when it comes to NIL at the high school level.

Everyone in college athletics laments the current state of NIL that has created chaos and an uneven playing field between universities. In the face of these challenges, we are witnessing the federal government has begun seriously trying to relieve the challenges as four new federal NIL bills have been proposed and/or reintroduced.

Below is a summary of these four bills and the key components of each. While they all differ in specifics, they do represent the first steps 14

OCTOBER 2023

The first bill to look at is the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act: Reintroduced in July of 2023 by Governor Chris Murphy and US representative Lori Trahan, this bill is focused primarily on providing studentathletes with a wide range of freedoms when it comes to profiting from their NIL. It sets out to allow athletes to seek out and create collective representation, and prohibits both schools and intercollegiate athletic associations (such as the NCAA) from entering into any type of deal, including one involving media rights, without a group license from the athletes whose NIL will be profited from in the deal. This is a major step towards revenue sharing at the top level of college athletics, something that will put at least some portion of the money earned by schools and governing associations back into the pockets of the athletes.

Along with pushing for a seat at the table for athletes from a group licensing perspective, the bill aims to create a review process that enables the government to ensure maximum equality across all demographics in the NIL market of college sports.

Not only does it require institutional support on the part of schools and the NCAA when it comes to athlete NIL, but it commissions a yearly analysis of NIL by an entity reviewed by the government, which will provide insight on NIL statistics sorted by relevant demographical information. This will allow regulators to better govern NIL in a way that will give every athlete from all backgrounds an equal opportunity to succeed.

Last but not least, one of the most important parts of this bill revolves around international student-athletes. Currently, international studentathletes cannot profit from NIL while away from their home country due to the way that the student visa process works in the United States. Should this bill pass, it would “allow for international studentathletes to engage in the same NIL activities as their peers without losing their F-1 student visa, including in the case that international athletes and their peers become employees of their OCTOBER 2023

schools and/or athletic associations”. The one pager associated with the bill, quoted above, not only provides international athletes with the same rights as their peers, but it also leaves room for the hotly debated potential for student-athletes to become employees of their universities.

The second bill to consider is the College Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2023: Perhaps the most comprehensive of the four bills to be discussed, the College Athletes Protection and Compensation Act of 2023 has a number of unique and landscape shifting provisions that would greatly increase the rights of student-athletes. The proposed bipartisan legislation would create a committee to “set, administer, and enforce rules and standards to protect student athletes”. The committee would be a major step towards leveling the playing field and properly regulating the NIL industry. Also included in the bill is the creation of a medical trust, which would not only be used to offset medical costs while in college, but guarantees athletes long term medical coverage for any long term injury related to one’s participation in college athletics.

One such condition that is covered is CTE, relevant to athletes in any sport which involves consistent hits to the head.

On top of guaranteeing assistance with medical costs, the bill requires universities to continue to provide scholarships to athletes who are forced to medically retire, or who are cut from the team. This is a great step to ensure that athletes who chose a university based on an athletics scholarship who may not have the opportunity to complete their athletic career can still graduate with the same financial support they expected upon their enrollment.

A unique and potentially game-changing aspect of the proposed legislation involves entrance to professional drafts. The bill states that if the college athlete does not receive any compensation related to a professional sports team or league, an agent, or an athlete representative and announces their 15

intent to return to college athletics within 7 days of the draft’s completion, they will be allowed to resume participation without punishment.

This would give athletes the freedom to fully participate in the draft process while returning to school without loss of eligibility. The draft process is incredibly beneficial for athletes, so this would be a major benefit to those unsure of their professional future. Additional provisions allow athletes to terminate a contract without punishment once they no longer participate in college athletics.

The third bill, also the shortest, is known as the Student Athlete Level Playing Field Act: The second bipartisan act of the four to be looked at differs greatly from the two discussed before. Concerned more with creating uniform guidelines for regulation of the industry as opposed to maximizing freedom for athletes, a few things stand out about the bill. The first is the creation of a 13 member commission, which will assist in the creation of rules and regulations in the NIL industry. The members will be chosen from the following groups: ● “Representatives of institutions of higher education, including athletic directors and coaches. ● Individuals who are current or former student-athletes and who advocate for the interests of student-athletes. ● Administrators organizations.

of

covered

athletic

● Professionals with expertise in sports marketing, contracting, and public relations. ● Individuals with expertise in corporate governance; and who are not associated with a covered athletic organization or institution of higher education”.

It also requires at least two people on the commission to be advocates for athletes.

Additionally, the bill greatly limits the ability of universities to be involved in NIL activities, and 16

specifically denotes that the proposed legislation in no way is intended to make athletes employees of their institutions.

The fourth bill reintroduced/proposed this summer is the The Protecting Athletes, Schools, and Sports Act of 2023 (PASS act): Another bipartisan bill, this one is unique because it has been brought to the table by former national championship winning college football coach Tommy Tuberville, and former college athlete Joe Manchin. As expected in the name, the bill intends to protect both athletes and schools by establishing guidelines which will improve the process by which NIL is regulated. The act would protect universities from liability in their efforts to comply with the PASS act, require collectives to register officially with the university, and prohibit any form of inducements.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions relating to the medical expenses of athletes as well as their scholarships in the event that they do not finish their career as an athlete, and more: ● Guaranteeing health insurance for sportsrelated injuries for uninsured student-athletes for 8 years following graduation from a 4-year institution. ● Requiring institutions generating more than $20 million and $50 million in athletics revenue to pay out-of-pocket expenses for two and four years, respectively. ● Requiring institutions to honor the original scholarship commitment made to a studentathlete. ● Implementing a Uniform Standard Contract for student-athlete use for NIL deals. ● Enhancing curriculum on financial literacy, NIL rights, and related legal and regulatory issues.

One unique aspect of the bill includes a provision that prohibits athletes from gaining immediate eligibility if they transfer before they’ve OCTOBER 2023

completed three years of their career at a school, with exceptions for “a death in the family, a coach that is fired or leaves, and other criteria”. Finally, the act would establish an anonymous public facing website with statistics on NIL to help understand how to better regulate it in a fair manner.

All four of these bills have legitimate relevance and the potential to impact the industry in a positive manner. There are unique provisions in each, and while all could feasibly benefit athletes and schools by creating uniform laws, they differ greatly in how they set out to accomplish those goals. All things considered, Eccker Sports believes that the most likely result of the efforts to pass federal legislation involve some sort of exchange in which the NCAA receives an anti-trust exemption, and student-athletes receive revenue sharing capabilities, such as those outlined in the College Athlete Economic Freedom Act. This allows for athletes to profit from their NIL in all facets,

OCTOBER 2023

including in media deals and other potential group licensing deals, and it allows the NCAA to maintain their seat at the table as the governing body of collegiate athletics.

While these proposed bills are great first steps when it comes to NIL and federal legislation, it will still take time before the solution is finalized.

The massive media deals being struck and the pace at which conference realignment has been happening have sped the process up, but until these bills start making their way through congress, the NCAA is in a difficult position. Additionally, while these bills do not address high school NIL, the college level tends to lead the way for NIL at the high school level, so Eccker Sports expects some sort of trickle down effect when the federal government inevitably passes legislation on the topic. For the most up to date information on NIL, visit ecckersports.com.

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OCTOBER 2023

&

wit

wisdom FA I LU R E “Most aren't afraid of failing, they're afraid of what people will think of them if they fail. So they play it safe and settle for average. You weren't made for average. You were made for more than that. Instead of being held back by your fears, be fueled by your belief.”

Kevin DeShazo "I always thought that "thriving" would come when everything was perfect, and what I learned is that it's actually down in the mess that things get good.”

"We are all failures - at least the best of us are.”

J.M. Barrie

CHAMPIONS

Joanna Gaines “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.”

Winston Churchill

TIME

“If you think about it, there is absolutely no way possible to become a champion without having to gain victory through trial.”

"Time is a created thing.

To say 'I don't have time' is to say 'I don't want to.'”

Sale Williams

Lao Tzu

“What you unleash in others you unleash in yourself.”

Matshona Dhliwayo “Everyone has the fire, but the champions know when to ignite the spark.”

Amit Ray

“I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team, I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.”

Mia Hamm OCTOBER 2023

“Don't spend a dollar's worth of time on a ten-cent decision."

Peter Turla

“People often complain about lack of time when lack of direction is the real problem.”

Zig Ziglar

“There is only one thing more precious than our time and that's who we spend it on.”

Leo Christopher 19

L A T R O P R E B M E M A C S H T E H 2023-2024 ACCESS TO T UPDATE YOUR MEMBER PROFILE: 1.

Navigate to www.thsca.com and select the gold button at the top labeled Member Portal Login.

2. The first time visiting the new portal you will be required to set up a new password, so select the Forgot your Password? option. Your initial username will be the email address we have on file for your member account.

3. The system will email a link/verification code for you to verify your account and set-up a new password. (If you have any difficulty remembering the email address you used for account set-up, or you do not receive the verification email to reset your password, please call our THSCA office 512.392.3741 and we can assist you.)

4. Click on the Round Grey User icon on the top right and select “Update Profile/View Membership”.

5. Select the blue pencil icon under “My Personal Information” to update your contact data. Choose the blue Update button at the bottom of the screen to save your changes.

download and print/screenshot your THsCA membership card: Your 2023-24 THSCA digital membership card is accessible through the THSCA Members Portal on our website. You can download your member card at any time and choose to either print it and carry it in your wallet, or screen shot a photo of it on your mobile device and keep it ready when you need it!

To print/screenshot your Member Card: 1.

Login to the THSCA Member Portal and click on the Round Grey User icon on the top right and select “Update Profile/View My Membership”.

2. Click on the Membership tab, and you will see THSCA in blue under My Membership. Click on the blue THSCA letters.

3. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the screen and locate the option to "Download My Membership Card" under Membership Tasks.

4. Your membership card should download as a PDF that you can print or screen shot on your mobile device for proof of membership. Please note if you do not see the download you may need to turn off your pop-up blocker first.

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OCTOBER 2023

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The THSCA membership year will run from July 1st to June 30th of the following year, congruent with UIL and academic calendars. A portion of every membership fee goes to the THSCEF as an education fee.

Applications submitted for individuals who are not current members of the THSCA, will be issued a membership for the CURRENT year, and given immediate access to THSCA online member services.

The membership fee will NOT be pro-rated. If the applicant already has a current membership when submitting this application, the fee will be considered a renewal and be applied for the upcoming membership year.

SELECT MEMBERSHIP FEES: PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

PAYMENT SUBMITTED BY:

9

Shall include all coaches and athletic administrators employed at a school in Texas under the direction of the University Interscholastic League.

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Shall include all coaches and athletic administrators employed at a Private, Parochial, or out of state school, all College/University employees, and individuals wishing to support the THSCA.

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PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE

8

See Eligibility Requirements for THSCA Professional Liability Insurance Coverage to the right**

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE OCTOBER 2023

**2023-2024 COACHES PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE CRITERIA** Coverage effect 7/1/23 through 6/30/24. Coverage purchased after 7/1/23 will commence on the payment received date. This coverage is not retroactive. You must be a Coach, Athletic Trainer or Athletic Director for an accredited secondary school, college, junior college or university, within the state of Texas. Coverage also applies to classroom duties. Your THSCA membership must be current for the 23-24 school year to be eligible to purchase this coverage. If you choose to purchase this coverage & do not meet the criteria for eligibility, this coverage will not be valid. (Annual Premium $53.00; State Taxes & Fees (4.925%) $2.61; Association Admin. Fee $2.39; TOTAL 23-24 Renewal Premium: $58.00)

21

Offered By:

The John A. Barclay Agency

8701 Shoal Creek Blvd., Bldg. 2, Ste #201 -- Austin, TX 78757

Phone: 512.374.4927

Underwritten by Carrier rated A+ XV Superior by A.M. Best

This coverage will be in effect July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024.

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE WHAT THE POLICY COVERS:

COVERAGE A - LIABILITY INSURANCE Up to $2,000,000 per insured per occurrence/$ 3,000,000 per occurrence, plus the cost of defense, investigation and legal fees • Applies in the event a member is alleged to have caused injury or damage to others while performing his/her professional duties • Errors and omissions insurance for claims for damages arising out of a member’s duties as a professional educator, including all defense cost Note: The duty of the insurer to defend extends even to groundless, false and frivolous suits and accusations.

COVERAGE B - REIMBURSEMENT OF ATTORNEY FEES Up to $10,000 per insured per occurrence • The policy provides reimbursement of attorney fees in a broad range of situations not included under Coverage A. This includes allegations of criminal and/or sexual misconduct and employment related actions against an educator involving dismissal, revocation of certification and other professional rights and duties.

• In actions involving termination, salary, reassignment, certification or resignation, the matter in dispute must be resolved in favor of the member to qualify for the full reimbursement of $10,000. However, $2,000 of this amount is available for initial consultation and research, whether or not the member prevails, to determine if there exists a reasonable chance of the case being resolved in the member’s favor.

COVERAGE C - BAIL BONDS Up to $2,000 premium on bail bonds

WHAT THE POLICY PAYS:

COVERAGE A: Up to $2,000,000 per insured per ccurrence/$3,000,000 per occurrence, plus the cost of defense, investigation and legal fees.

COVERAGE B: Up to $10,000 per claim per Insured. Coverage for criminal proceedings and /or sexual misconduct limited to $10,000 aggregate per policy term.

COVERAGE C: Up to $2,000 premium on bail bonds.

COVERAGE FEATURES:

Criminal/Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The policy provides reimbursement of attorney fees up to $10,000 under Coverage B if the educator is acting in the scope of his/her duties.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment is covered under Coverage A (Liability) if administered according to the rules of the jurisdiction in which the school is located.

Outside Activity

As long as the educator is within the scope of his/her professional duties, the policy covers liability for injury to students and others while the educator is conducting visits to industrial and commercial establishments, entertainment centers, outings, picnics and other similar school functions, subject to specific automobile, watercraft, & aircraft exclusions

Coverage B

Reimbursement of Attorney Fees - Such reimbursement as is afforded the member for actions involving tenure, dismissal, revocation of certification & other professional rights and duties is assured under the policy and is not contingent on the approval of a board or review committee, as might be the case where 44 the only available assistance is from a defense fund.

22

NEW INSURANCE PURCHASED AFTER 7/1/23 WILL COMMENCE ON THE PAYMENT RECEIVED DATE. THIS COVERAGE IS NOT RETROACTIVE.

AM I ELIGIBLE FOR COVERAGE & HOW DO I PURCHASE?

The Texas High School Coaches Association offers a Coaches Professional Liability Insurance option to eligible members with coverage beginning July 1, 2023. The THSCA has chosen the John A. Barclay Agency, Inc. to provide this coverage to our members.

This plan was devised to offer liability insurance and legal assistance to THSCA members. In order to be eligible for this coverage you must meet the following criteria: • You must be a Coach, Athletic Trainer or Athletic Director for an accredited secondary school, college, junior college or university, within the state of Texas. Coverage also applies to classroom duties.

• Your THSCA Membership must be current for the school year in which the coverage is effective – 7/1/23 - 6/30/24.

• PROFESSIONAL, AFFLIATE and LIFE members are eligible only if they meet the criteria above. This insurance is not available to STUDENT or RETIRED members.

If you choose to purchase this insurance coverage and do not meet the criteria for eligibility, this coverage will not be valid. This coverage will be in effect July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Insurance purchased after July 1, 2023 will commence on the payment received date. This insurance coverage is not retroactive.

Payment should be made directly to the THSCA. The total 23/24 annual premium for the insurance coverage will be $58.00 per member.

Annual Insurance Premium: State Taxes and Fees (4.925%): Association Administrative Fee: TOTAL 2022/23 Annual Premium:

$ 53.00 $ 2.61 $ 2.39 $ 58.00

Checks should be made payable to: THSCA Mail payment to: THSCA, P.O. Box 1138, San Marcos, TX 78667 DO NOT MAIL PAYMENT to the Barclay Agency.

Eligible members will be able to purchase the Coaches Professional Liability Insurance on the THSCA website, or by selecting to purchase the coverage on the THSCA membership application form and submitting it by fax, email or mail to the THSCA office with the insurance payment.

NOTE: In order to be eligible to purchase the coverage your membership must be current for the same year of policy coverage. (7/1/23-6/30/24)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF

Do you have the financial ability to defend yourself in the event of claim?

Do you have the expertise to find the best legal counsel for your situation?

THIS IS NOT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE POLICY BUT A SUMMARY AND IS PROVIDED FOR REFERENCE ONLY. ALL COVERAGE PROVIDED UNDER THE TERMS OF THE POLICY IN THE EVENT OF A LOSS OR OCCURRENCE IS SUBJECT TO THE EXCLUSIONS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THE MASTER POLICY ON FILE WITH THE POLICYHOLDER, INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS, ENDORSEMENTS, AND ADDITIONS. QUESTIONS REGARDING SPECIFIC INSURANCE POLICY COVERAGE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO: The John A. Barclay Agency, Inc. 512.374.4927 2/23/2023

MARCH 2021

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25

More than X's and O's

By Jeff Williams, Head Girls Basketball Coach, Amarillo HS Having the opportunity to become the Head Girls' Basketball Coach at Amarillo High not only brought me a level of excitement, but in turn gave me anxiety beyond measure. The level the program was at when I became the head coach was not only at an elite level, it was thought of as one of the top programs year in and year out in the state. At the very top of the job description, in my mind, was expectations are high and it is now your responsibility to carry on the tradition of Amarillo High Lady Sandie Basketball as its leader and head coach. As daunting as this task seemed at the time, I realized quickly that not only did I have the expectation to be my best everyday, our players, administration, coaching staff, support staff, athletic trainers, teachers, and community had the same goal for our program. It was what excited me the most about the job. Everyone involved wanted the same thing: excellence in everything we would do moving forward with a clear mindset of obtaining success that would make our program hold a special place in our community. I quickly learned that success is more than X’s and O’s and wins and losses. Success quickly became crystal clear in my mind. The ultimate goal was to establish a solid basis for a bright and productive future for each of our players; with winning being an incidental outcome of the relationships built, the development of character, and the growth of young ladies into young women.

for success in my opinion. I am a graduate of Amarillo High and was fortunate to see a school growing up that encompassed everything it did to strive to be its very best. Coach Dippel, former Amarillo High football coach, and his staff began this tradition of excellence at Amarillo High from 1975 to 2006. This is what I know as the beginning of Amarillo High’s standard of excellence, because as an elementaryaged student I knew then it was special to be Sandie; and I too could not wait to be a part of the tradition.

Coach Dippel and his coaching staff held themselves to such a high standard that everyone else couldn’t meet that expectation without having a high level of accountability on themselves or the programs they led. It made being a Sandie something I wanted to be at a very young age. Excellence has a starting place, and for me it was Coach Dippel when it comes to his leadership at Amarillo High.

For me as a coach, I came into this position knowing that I was replacing coaching Legend Dale Blaut who had a tremendous career at Amarillo High, winning two state championships and making the final four another time. Going into any new position it is not just the individual getting hired that it affects, it affects the entire family. My discussion with my wife about taking the Head Coaching position of the girl’s basketball program would come with a heightened level of commitment and expectation. This is something I embraced wholeheartedly, because I EXPECTATION = ACCOUNTABILITY = RESULTS knew we had the type of girls that could win year As I have mentioned time and time before, in and year out. Without embracing expectations of coaching positions that come with high expectations leading the program at AHS, I would in turn not still by all involved are the only places I want to be because be the coach at Amarillo High: as I know what our with expectations comes the opportunity to grow and community expects from us, and I make sure that I have success. As a coach, when everyone involved do my part to uphold those expectations. It’s a daily has an expectation of excellence, it drives the engine grind. It cannot be hot and cold as far as preparation 26

OCTOBER 2023

is concerned. You have to be willing, diligent, and committed to have consistency from year to year.

of being a Lady Sandie, “Being a Lady Sandie doesn’t just mean you get to wear a jersey, it means you get to be a role model. Little eyes are always watching Brette McDonald a 2009 graduate of Amarillo you, giving you motivation to be great everyday High, said this: the expectation to play at the highest in everything you do.” We strive as a program to level is one of the motivating factors to make sure maintain the fire to compete at the highest level in she was ready to play at a championship level when our daily lives to help motivate the next group of she got to be a Lady Sandie. Brette also said this players that come through the program. However, it about her thought process before she even stepped does not always turn out that way, as Brette’s senior on the campus as a freshman: “I still remember year was the only year we've missed the playoffs in going to my first Texas Tech Lady Raider game and my time at Amarillo High. However, the way she and watching Natalie Ritchie play” (2000 Amarillo High her teammates fought through adversity that season graduate that scored 2,877 career points, which to led to a whole new group of Lady Sandies that were this day is the most in Amarillo ISD: history boys or willing to lay it on the line to always be their very girls). She went on to say, “I was amazed at her skill best. We expected excellence from them, and even and that she was a Lady Sandie, as well as in awe though they did not make the playoffs they were of players like Emily Brister (2005 graduate from able to meet our expectations as a program because AHS which went on to play at West Texas A&M and they gave their best and got their best result. It was holds their scoring record); and I would try to learn all I could ask for as their coach. from her by watching her every move. The idea that I could one day wear the jersey like them was exciting WIN TODAY and overwhelming- I knew I had so much growing to Win Today is a concept we adopted as our yearly do in the sport to deserve that legacy.” Brette is a perfect example of what we as coaches always talk motto during the 2016-2017 season and I feel like it about, young eyes are always on you as an athlete, was a powerful tool in reaching a goal all programs watching your every move. She wanted to be like and coaches want to achieve. We were at a point Natalie Richie and Emily Brister because as a young in our program where we knew we were no longer lady she looked up to them and dreamed of being on the outside looking in at the inner circle of teams just like them. It’s why we set our goals high and set that could win a State Championship. I knew and our expectation of winning in everything we do. Jada our girls knew we had something special, and things Graves, AHS class of 2024, said about expectations were coming together to where we really felt like OCTOBER 2023

27

we were now in the conversation to win a regional tournament and make it to the Alamodome to play for the ultimate prize: to be crowned as the 5A Texas State Champions.

The phrase “Win Today” took on many different meanings throughout the course of the year that season. Our daily discussion at the end of each day was to ask girls what their "Win Today" moment was for the day and for the selected player to discuss a teammate's "Win Today" moment that day in practice. Our definition of Winning Today was for everyone in the program to understand at the highest of highs (executing your job to set up the game winning shot in a big game) or the lowest of lows (turning the ball over at the end of a game in a big moment and hurting the team), that if we could Win the Day by paying attention and then learning from those moments, then we indeed did win and were able to improve.

Learning through success meant to analyze what success for the day looked like. It could be as simple as having the mindset to blockout on every possession, to as complex as finally understanding how to read defense and make the right cut. We wanted our girls to understand winning is not something you stumble upon and magically win games. Winning is so much more than that. Winning big games in February and then hopefully in March starts now in the moment, not a week from now, not a month from now, it starts right now! When a player has success in whatever

facet of the game she is working on, we want that moment to be realized and duplicated over and over again, which leads to success. Understanding those moments helps the player and the team have success at a much higher level, and gives the team and individual a chance to succeed.

I often would be asked, “How does a player apply Win Today through failure, bad workouts, mentally weak moments?” It’s a simple concept in all reality.

As a coach, I evaluate, replay the game in my mind and watch lots of film, and often wake up in the middle of the night realizing my shortcomings that did not put our team in the best situation to have success.

For years, like every other coach, I would take lessons learned and grow from them, vowing to not make the same mistakes again. Through this process of holding myself accountable first and foremost, I have grown as a coach. Lessons learned from situations like these not only make me better but gives our team the best chance to win ball games. What I ask of my players is that they do the very same thing. I want them not to dwell in shortcomings. My hope for them is that they keep their heads up after a practice in which they are not at their best and in a scenario where I am demanding more from them than what they think they can produce. Learn and apply what they’ve learned in a way to have success, and make a commitment to fixing the problem. When our girls do these things, it shows in their play and makes the team better.

BELIEF During the 2017-2018 season we were eliminated in the Regional Finals by Coach Lombard’s Canyon team. Our ladies had a season that had everything a coach could wish for. We went 37-2 with both losses to Canyon that season. We split with Canyon in the regular season; so we knew we could play with them, but had to do things almost perfectly to get that done. Canyon, at that time, was the team to beat if you wanted to play in March in San Antonio.

Going into the regional final game, I felt like we could get over the hump and get our program to a level that we had wanted for so long. Our time was now! However, in our pregame talk, I could see in our girls' eyes that they were unsure. This is a look that I hadn’t seen all year long, as we won all three tournaments beating many ranked teams along the

28

OCTOBER 2023

way. The game was back and forth all game long with both teams executing at a very high level. Their difference in the game came down to the fact that Canyon was doing things late in the game to position themselves for a hard fought win. It came down to execution and the belief they could do what they needed to do in the end to win. Our loss had nothing to do with a lack of effort. It came down to believing if we belonged on this stage; a state of mind Canyon had made a living on for so long. Canyon went on to win its fourth State Championship in a row that year ,and was the best team on our schedule by far. It was well deserved, but we wanted what they had and we wanted it bad.

Going into the 2018-2019 season we as a coaching staff wanted to to focus on something daily that would give us an edge ,as well as a focus to understand we are close to getting over that threshold to get to the State Tournament. Coach Lankford, who was the varsity assistant at the time and has now led his Gruver team to State the past two seasons (winning in 2022 and the runner up in 2023), said "We have to get the girls to believe it to accomplish it." We pondered on this concept for a while and finally came up with "Belief" as our motto for the year. We wanted the girls to have that belief that they could get over the hump and take that next step. As a staff, we took the word belief and broke it down into three separate phases in which each had a specific goal.

OCTOBER 2023

B- Bring E- Energy Day one that year, we wanted our girls to come in and have the mind set that we would be energetic from the moment we walked on the floor, entered the weight room, or came to an open gym. We made the commitment to our players as coaches that we too would be energetic daily and would make workout plans for our athletic period that fell in line with our first phase of our mission that year. Our girls bought in and did just that, they brought it every day.

L- Live I- Intentionally Our next focus that season was to live daily in a way that would give us an edge on our opponents.

We focused on this phase and introduced this mindset on day one of the season (in mid October) when our season began. Our message to the girls involved doing things that would give us an edge.

We preached it daily. The core thought process was to get more rest than our opponents, eat better than our opponents, and to do things with intention to earn advantage. As a coaching staff, we challenged our girls to make decisions conscientiously to be at the highest level; which meant to recharge their bodies and to fuel themselves the right way. Those are just a couple of examples of what we wanted to 29

do as a team to separate ourselves from others as a team. Living intentionally also meant for us to plan with a specific goal in mind to improve on things early in the season that would allow us to be successful.

This was different for each player. Many wanted to shoot at a higher percentage, many wanted to take care of the ball better, and many wanted to have the mindset to attack the boards on every possession.

Our goal in this phase was to be intentional and have a focus to do things that would help us win games.

time with the right coaching staff, players, parents, support from admin, and community. Our team in 2018 ended the season at 40-2 and they still incorporate the WIN TODAY philosophy and firmly have a BELIEF that they can do anything. When it comes down to it, this is what basketball and being part of a team really means, preparing our athletes for success in life.

E- Embody F- Ferociousness

Our mission each year is to be the very best that we can be, with the understanding that is all anyone can ask from themselves. The internal competition daily with the group of young ladies that have been led at such a high level over the years has given our program a chance to stay consistent in the pursuit of excellence. It takes complete buy-in to be able to do these types of things.

YEARLY MISSION

With the first two phases that season being carried out at a high level, it was time for our third phase for that season. We kicked off the final phase of our plan that season which was to incorporate a fierce effort everytime we stepped onto the court.

We revealed this aspect of our yearly motto before The building blocks to our success have been the we began our district season. Our undertaking at same all the years I have been at Amarillo High. this time was to take all the things we had learned 1. Expectations are high! Work daily to meet those up to the point through bringing energy daily, to expectations. living intentionally, and then to reap the rewards of the first two phases. Next on our list was to give 2. Be accountable for all our actions on and off the everything we had to bring our team together and court. win it all. Being fierce was on display with this group, 3. Understand the tradition, embrace the tradition, as they had a desire to be dominant defensively as and execute the plan to carry on our tradition. we connected in a way in which we would pressure from baseline to baseline.

4. Execute the plan for the year, as every team is different and you have to adjust to your strengths We went on to win our first of two consecutive and weaknesses. state championships that year because our young ladies not only learned what it meant to "WIN 5. Do all of the above with the team at the forefront TODAY," but they also bought into what we knew and individuality in the background. as coaches: they had to have a BELIEF that they too could be a State Champion! This time of my coaching As important as it is to have a great knowledge career is something that I will not ever forget and of the X’s and O’s in any sport as a head coach, I am so thankful for experiencing. When it comes believe it is the relationships you have with players together it’s just an amazing feeling; but as a coach, and coaching staff that lead to a common goal of you realize it was much more than just blind luck, being the best team possible. Developing good it is a combination of an amazing group of young relationships and trust from player to coach and ladies. However, the foundation to do something this coach to player are vital to success. Even having the special takes time and does not happen overnight. best game plan, strategy, and actions on the court will As I’ve told many people, winning State is not a likely lead to an unfavorable result if this foundation “right of passage” if you have been in the business is lacking. Invest in your players and in turn they will for a long time. It is a combination of hard work, in invest in the program and each other. This is where which everything has to come together at the right success begins and sustained success is possible.

30

OCTOBER 2023

The confetti falls

december 27 Ta x A c t Te x a s B o w l . c o m OCTOBER 2023

31

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33

What is the

THSCA

All About?

Let's define the...

4 Pillars

of the texas high school coaches association

Like many other associations, we get asked all the time about what we do and how we serve.

Frankly, there is no short answer to that question.

The interworkings of the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA) are difficult to sum up because we serve a broad range of coaches, and they have a broad range of needs. In the past, our mission has been summed up into one statement, "Helping coaches help kids." We are grounded in that mission and have worked hard to grow as an association to continue to meet the evolving needs of the profession.

two new members of our executive staff. Chief Operating Officer of the THSCA, Coach Brian Polk, and Chief Operating Officer of the THSCEF (Education Foundation), Coach Libby Pacheco. Coach Pacheco was challenged to help grow our membership and to help define, for all those that were curious, "Why" should we join and be involved in THSCA?

As a result of many conversations amongst the executive staff, our THSCA Board and some marketing professionals, the Four Pillars of THSCA were created. Those pillars are: REPRESENTATION, ADVOCACY, PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL In 2021, our Executive Director, Joe Martin, hired DEVELOPMENT, and AWARDS & RECOGNITION.

34

OCTOBER 2023

An association's first priority should be to adequately represent the cross section of their members and serve each of those groups effectively.

The REPRESENTATION pillar means we represent EVERY COACH in EVERY SPORT throughout the state of Texas, and encourage our members to share their voices and continue to "Help coaches help kids." Every initiative THSCA creates is born from a coaches' request. Your voices define our path and fuel our passion for servant leadership.

Our next pillar is essential to the vitality of the coaching profession. The ADVOCACY pillar means that THSCA will provide a network of support and advocacy to place coaches in the best position to succeed. We fight for our members every day to achieve their goals. There are a long list of people in this state that do not understand the calling that is coaching. Maintaining the prestige of the coaching profession, preserving a fair and equitable athletics structure in Texas, and preaching the influential power of a coach are the crucial components of the Advocacy pillar.

If you are working hard to adequately represent and advocate for your members, your next goal should be to help them grow. The PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT pillar provides coaches in every sport with access to the people, events, tools, and resources that help improve their skills and knowledge; and enables them to thrive personally and professionally. We must provide coaches with connections and resources to be able to navigate the real-world issues studentathletes face, build a coalition of support in their communities, and empower them to have a lasting impact on high school athletics.

REPRESENTATION

Representing ALL kids and coaches • Advisory Committees - Every UIL sport/boys & girls • Athletic Director Advisory Committee • IDEA Committee - Inclusion-Diversity-EquityAwareness • THSCA Board of Directors • THSCEF Board of Directors • Urban ISD Athletic Director Advisory Committee • Collaboration with State & National Associations • Regional Membership Meetings • Power of Influence Meetings • ACC Tour (Association Communication and Collaboration) 1. Give all coaches a voice and ability to participate in how to improve the coaching profession in Texas 2. Inclusive to all head coaches, assistant coaches, race, and gender 3. Encourage coaches from all categories to feel welcomed and encouraged to be part of THSCA 4. Enable coaches to see people who look like them to make every coach feel welcome appreciated and valued

We are proud of the way our member coaches have adopted the THSCA initiatives and boughtin to our programs whole-heartedly, and we want to celebrate that! The final pillar, AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS allows us to recognize and celebrate the achievements of our coaches, student-athletes, and contributing stakeholders who support our members on and off the field.

This more concise definition has helped us to to easily organize our entire association's purpose and plan for the future. So what do these pillars look like on paper?

OCTOBER 2023

35

advocacy

Supporting our kids and coaches • State Legislative Representation • UIL Legislative Council Representation • Memorial Benefit • Permanent Injury Benefit • Benevolence Fund • Our Day to Shine • Future Coaches of Texas • Opioid Awareness Program • Straight Line Recruiting (SLR) • Liability Insurance options for coaches • Iron Sharpens Iron • Job Board • Texas Fall Classic • Bally Sports Partnership • Tradeshow/ Exhibits

Personal & Professional Development Education opportunities for Coaches & AD’s • Annual Coaching School & Convention • 250 plus hours of Lectures & Demos

1. Impact state legislation as it relates to the • UIL CCP Certification • ROCK Mentoring Program coaching profession in Texas 2. Include coach’s voice in the UIL process for • Networking Opportunities throughout the year creating their policies • 4 L's Curriculum - Listen-Learn-Love-Lead 3. Have instant access to essential health, safety, • Leadership Summit and wellness resources • Health, Safety, and Wellness Curriculum 4. Support for your players and their families in • Seat at the Table the event of a tragic event • Recruiting Curriculum - Online seminar • NIL Curriculum • Texas Coach Magazine • Jason’s Foundation 1. Improve skills and knowledge of the game and become a better coach 2. Develop lasting and important relationships with other coaches 3. Get help solving problems from peers that you can trust 4. Achieve greater success in your coaching profession 36

OCTOBER 2023

awards & recognitions

Celebrating our Kids and Coaches • Officials Appreciation Game • Extra Yard for Teachers • Academic All-State • Hall of Honor • Coach of the Year - All sports (head coach & assistant coaches) • Super Elite Teams - Recognizing all sports and all classifications • Coach of the Week • National Football Foundation (NFF) Team Academic Award • Trainer of the Year • Distinguished Service Award • Curly Hay's Official Award • Tom Landry Award • Jody Conradt Award • Coaching Beyond the Game Award • Putt Powell Sportswriter of the Year Award • Texas Coach Article of the Year • THSCA Scholarships

This new outline has helped us to be able to explain to new members all of which the association is capable. We need our coaches to be invested in the strength of the association and it's ability to protect the profession and athletics in this state. If you have been looking for ways to get involved more in THSCA we've compiled a list of ideas: •

Attend coaching school

•

Attend networking events at coaching school

•

Attend Regional Meetings in February and at Coaching School

•

If applicable, attend Power of Influence meetings

•

Contact State Representatives when called to do so through legislative alerts

•

Submit an article to Texas Coach magazine

•

Contact Regional director and introduce yourself

•

Contact Sport Advisory Committee Member and offer feedback

•

Contact Sport Advisory Committee Member and offer to serve on the Super Elite Team Committee

•

Nominate athletes for Academic All-State

•

Nominate athletes for a Super Elite Team

•

Nominate fellow coaches (both head and assistant coaches) for Coach of the Year and Coach of the Week

•

Nominate a 1st-5th year coach for ROCK Mentoring Program

•

Volunteer to be a ROCK Mentor

•

Attend the Leadership Summit

•

Repost THSCA social media posts

•

Post photos on social media when your athletic program participates in THSCA projects and tag us @THSCAcoaches

• BSN Scholarship 1. Celebrate the passion & commitment of our coaches 2. Provide scholarships for children of THSCA members 3. Honor teachers who support our studentathletes

OCTOBER 2023

37

thsca Super Elite Teams and Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Coach of the Year It's time to start nominating for

The THSCA Super Elite Teams consist of high school players nominated by members of the Texas High

School Coaches Association. The player must meet the THSCA award criteria to be nominated. The award recognizes student athletes across the state of Texas for their exemplary athletic achievement in their respective sport. (Do you have highlights of athletes you think are Super Elite? We would love to see you post them on social media and tag us @THSCAcoaches and #SuperEliteTeam.)

All eligible nominations will be collected and sent to the the S.E.T. (Super Elite Teams) Committees to be evaluated. The S.E.T. Committee will submit the finalists to the THSCA advisory committee for their respective sport for final approval and decision on who has made the Super Elite team in each classification. Super Elite teams will be recognized after the state championships have been announced. See the chart below for nomination windows for each sport.

CRITERIA FOR NOMINATION: 1. Be of good moral character 2. Varsity sports only 3. Have been a member of the team in good standing at the time of nomination 4. Player has excelled as an elite member in their respective sport

SUPER ELITE TEAMS BY THE NUMBERS: ► There will be 101 Super Elite Teams covering all 23 sports throughout the state. ► There will be over 1,800 student-athletes recognized on the Super Elite Teams. ► We will have 808 Coaches (on S.E.T. Committees) that will select the Super Elite Teams.

Super Elite Team Timeline by Sport: SPORT

NOMINATIONS OPEN

NOMINATIONS CLOSE

Team Tennis

18-Oct

2-Nov 2-Nov

Water Polo*

18-Oct

Cross Country*

25-Oct

9-Nov

Volleyball

6-Nov

30-Nov

Football

4-Dec

4-Jan

Wrestling*

12-Feb

29-Feb

Swim/Dive*

12-Feb

29-Feb

Girls Basketball

19-Feb

7-Mar

Boys Basketball

26-Feb

14-Mar

Soccer*

1-Apr

18-Apr

Golf*

11-Apr

10-May

Track & Field*

22-Apr

9-May 21-May

Tennis*

6-May

Softball

1-May

6-Jun

Baseball

8-May

13-Jun

* Indicates nomination window applies for both boys and girls teams in that particular sport.

38

OCTOBER 2023

THSCA along with our partners at Texas Farm Bureau Insurance, want to give recognition to our Texas high school coaches for their accomplishments on and off the field/court. We will be presenting head coach and assistant coach of the year awards in every sport and every THSCA region. Awards will include:

Award Requirements:

Nomination Process:

The nomination process will be open to every member of THSCA after the state championships in each sport. Each THSCA member is offered a chance to nominate a head coach and/or assistant coach to submit through the Member Portal. Nominations will cease after 2 weeks. Nominations will then be handed over to the Awards Committee for scoring (by region).

SPORT

NOMINATIONS OPEN

NOMINATIONS CLOSE

Team Tennis

18-Oct

2-Nov 2-Nov

Water Polo*

18-Oct

Cross Country*

25-Oct

9-Nov

Volleyball

6-Nov

30-Nov

Football

4-Dec

4-Jan

Wrestling*

12-Feb

29-Feb

Swim/Dive*

12-Feb

29-Feb

Girls Basketball

19-Feb

7-Mar

Boys Basketball

14-Mar

26-Mar

Soccer*

1-Apr

18-Apr

Golf*

11-Apr

10-May

Track & Field*

22-Apr

9-May 21-May

Tennis*

6-May

Softball

1-May

6-Jun

Baseball

8-May

13-Jun

* Indicates nomination window applies for both boys and girls teams in that particular sport.

OCTOBER 2023

39

40

OCTOBER 2023

OCTOBER 2023

41

periodized nutrition

for high school athletes Optimizing performance through well-timed fueling strategies

By Walter Prater, PHD Candidate - killeen Ellison, Strength & Conditioning Introduction to Periodized Nutrition While in high school, student-athletes undergo many physiological changes, hormonal fluctuations, body composition changes, and increased metabolic expenditure, which requires a lot of energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate or ATP (Desbrow et al., 2021; ‌Halloway, 2017). Consistent, proper nutrition is important for maximizing sport and cognitive performance. To achieve this end, nutrition must be adjusted based on where the athlete is in the sport calendar. The phases of training – off-season (which is actually the beginning of the preparatory period for strength & conditioning), pre-season, in-season, and post-season – all have different athletic goals and training characteristics; therefore, fueling must follow suit to support athletic demands of volume, frequency, intensity, time, and mode of exercise (Munteanu et al., 2014). This is where periodized nutrition emerges. In this article, we will explore the concept of periodized nutrition and provide practical tips for designing a nutrition plan that can help high school athletes maximize their potential.

Periodized nutrition involves a structured and planned approach to align nutritional needs to the phase of a training program, whether at the macrocycle (months of training up to 1 year), mesocycle (weeks of a training block), or microcycle (daily training) level (Jeukendrup, 2017; Stellingwerff et al., 2019). At the microcycle level, nutrient timing can be divided into 3 phases of the energy phase (the duration of the workout), anabolic phase (up to 45 minutes after the workout) and growth phase (45 minutes after the workout until the next workout) (Munteanu et al., 2014). The energy phase primes the body with carbohydrate reserves and some protein to meet energetic needs (Munteanu et al., 2014). The anabolic 42

phase involves the repair of damaged proteins and replenishment of glycogen stores, while the growth phase is when contractile proteins and muscle fiber size increase (Munteanu et al., 2014). These phases help to provide framing for deciding what types of food are most advantageous at the appropriate times.

The goal is to optimize performance and recovery by providing the right nutrients at the right time. To find out an athlete’s energy expenditure, one may search online for a total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) calculator that factors in resting metabolic rate (RMR – based on body mass, height, and sex), estimates of various activity durations and levels of intensity (Desbrow et al., 2021). The resulting number, as measured in kilocalories per day (simply known as calories), generally, changes based on the phase of training, so it is important to understand these caloric demands to meet each athlete’s unique nutritional needs at the macrocycle, mesocycle, and microcycle levels (Stellingwerff et al., 2019).

The Physiology of Exercise To understand how to fuel high school athletes properly, it is important to understand the physiology of exercise. During exercise, the body uses energy (ATP) in the form of calories. These calories come from three macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Carbohydrates are the primary fuel source for high-intensity exercise, while proteins are essential for repairing and building muscle tissue. Fats are a secondary fuel source for endurance training and provide important essential fatty acids. On a day-to-day basis, achieving energy balance and energy availability require a solid understanding of nuances of an athlete’s daily activities and intake preferences (‌Holtzman & Ackerman, 2021). For example, training high for high OCTOBER 2023

In situations where injuries have occurred, there is typically a large reduction in physical activity. Due to this decrease, the adjustment to nutritional intake must have particular attention paid so that the needed number of calories is ingested. Protein intake timing (20-25g or 0.25-0.30 g/kg BM) is critical in these cases to offset muscle loss, foster tissue repair, and stimulate muscle protein synthesis to foster recovery (Schoenfeld et al., 2013; Tipton, 2021). When an athlete is temporarily immobilized due to injury, monitoring carbohydrate and fat intake encourages a well-balanced, whole foods diet to maintain body composition until the injury throughout the healing process (Tipton, 2021).

Periodized Phases & Nutritional Outlook Off-Season The off-season phase of training is the early stage of sport preparation through attaining athletic goals increasing hypertrophy, strength, muscular endurance, or power. Depending on the duration of the off-season, multiple goals, such as hypertrophy and strength school athletes – where high muscle and liver glycogen matches demand – is a strategy that emphasizes glycogen restoration post-exercise (Jeukendrup, 2017).

This tactic is achieved by ingesting 8-12g per kg BM per day and helps to not only maintain the quality of endurance training but also reduce symptoms of fatigue and overreaching (Jeukendrup, 2017; Kerksick et al., 2017). As the athletic seasons and modes of exercise shift, the amount of nutrition intake must also adjust to either based on easy training or weight management, moderate training of hard training (Desbrow et al., 2021).

Post-training recovery strategies apply to all phases of an athlete’s season. Such activities include consuming a meal or snack that contains carbohydrates (0.8g/ kg/hour) with protein (0.2-0.4 g/kg/hour) within 30 minutes to 1 hour after exercise (Kerksick et al., 2017).

Even when there is no substantial injury, low grade inflammation is present after exercise (which is typical and healthy when performing physical activities), therefore it is important to ensure that macronutrients are available for metabolic processing and protein synthesis/remodeling (Schoenfeld et al., 2013; Tipton, 2021). This can help replenish glycogen stores and support muscle repair and growth. Athletes should aim to consume a meal that contains a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of carbohydrates to protein.

OCTOBER 2023

43

in this phase is to adequately fuel the body to maintain body composition throughout the season so that there is consistency or improvement in competition. Midsession fueling strategies include consuming sports drinks that provide carbohydrates and electrolytes to fuel exercise and prevent dehydration. Athletes should aim to consume 30-60 grams of carbohydrates per hour of exercise. In some cases, where scheduled breaks, such as half time of a basketball game, a quickabsorbing, mid-competition snack, such as a banana or smoothie, may be consumed as long as it is well tolerated by the gastrointestinal system.

Post-Season

(typically) may be achieved each off-season. Also, deliberate changes in body composition may occur during the off-season. To achieve this, athletes should focus on consuming a balanced diet -appropriate for the body composition goal – that includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. This is also a good time to experiment with new foods and recipes to keep meals interesting.

Pre-Season The pre-season phase of training typically involves building sprint capacity, endurance, strength, and flexibility. During this phase, athletes should aim to consume a diet high in carbohydrates to support highintensity training. It is also important to consume protein to support muscle repair and growth. Pretraining fueling strategies include consuming a meal or snack that is high in carbohydrates and moderate in protein about 2-3 hours before exercise. This meal should be low in fat and fiber to prevent gastrointestinal discomfort. Consuming a carbohydrate-rich snack 3060 minutes before exercise can also help provide a quick source of energy.

In-Season During the in-season phase of training, the focus shifts to maintaining strength and speed performance and preventing injuries. Athletes should aim to consume a balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats. It is important to consume enough carbohydrates to fuel high-intensity exercise, but not so much that it leads to weight gain. The key 44

The post-season is a period of time when the focus is on recovery from any injuries and ailments from competition. Although the amount of time can vary by sport and overall physical health of the athlete, typically, a span of 2-6 weeks may be used for the athlete to engage in active recovery with drastically reduced sport-specific activities. From a nutritional standpoint, the decrease in intense physical activity allows for the reduction of required calories for intake.

Mindful nutritional consumption is adequate during this unstructured period and allows for mental recovery as well as physical recovery to reset and refresh the athlete for the approaching off-season work.

Snacks & Supplementation Per the USDA, “smart snacks” should be a priority to choose mostly whole grain foods or those with the first ingredient as either fruit, vegetable, dairy product, or protein (Marangoni et al., 2019). Based on the athlete’s training focus, the use of snacks based on refined ingredients, such as added sugars, should be kept to a minimum – or avoided completely – and be low in fat and fiber to avoid digestive issues (Marangoni et al., 2019). Supplementation can be a useful tool for high school athletes, but it is important to be cautious and consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new supplements. Common supplements for high school athletes include multivitamins, protein powder, creatine, and caffeine. However, it is important to keep in mind that supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet, but additions to an already healthy diet.

Practical Tips for Implementing a Periodized Nutrition Plan Implementing a periodized nutrition plan can be overwhelming, but with these practical tips, designing OCTOBER 2023

a plan can be made easier: 1. Work with a registered dietitian or sports nutritionist to create a personalized plan that considers individual needs and goals.

2. Focus on consuming whole, nutrient-dense foods and limit processed foods.

3. Be mindful of portion sizes and aim to consume a balanced diet that includes carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats.

4. Experiment with new foods and recipes to keep meals interesting and enjoyable.

5. Stay hydrated before, during, and after exercise by using a general guideline to consume 16-20 ounces of water or sports drink 2-3 hours before exercise, and 7-10 ounces every 10-20 minutes during exercise.

6. Utilize supplements cautiously and only after consulting with a healthcare professional.

Conclusion Periodized nutrition is an important aspect of optimizing performance and recovery for high school athletes. With proper planning and attention to detail, registered dietitians/sport nutritionists, coaches and athletes can work together to create a nutritional program that is thorough and relatively easy to follow.

By tailoring nutrition needs to the phase of training, athletes can ensure they are fueling their bodies with the right nutrients at the right time. Proper nutrition, hydration, and supplementation can help improve performance and prevent injuries which adds to a winning culture and environment for any athletic program.

About the Author Walter L. Prater is a certified sport scientist, sport nutritionist and strength & conditioning coach. He works in Killeen ISD at Ellison High School as the Strength & Conditioning Coordinator to improve student-athlete readiness for competition while minimizing injuries.

References Desbrow, B., (2021, August 1). Youth athlete development and nutrition. Gatorade Sports Science Institute. https://www. gssiweb.org/en/sports-science-exchange/Article/youth-athletedevelopment-and-nutrition ‌ alloway, G. P. (2017, November 1). Nutritional strategies to H improve skeletal muscle mitochondrial content and function.

Gatorade Sports Science Institute. https://www.gssiweb.org/ en/sports-science-exchange/Article/nutritional-strategies-toimprove-skeletal-muscle-mitochondrial-content-and-function ‌ oltzman, B., Ackerman, K., (2021, July 1). Practical approaches to H nutrition for female athletes. Gatorade Sports Science Institute. https://www.gssiweb.org/en/sports-science-exchange/Article/ practical-approaches-to-nutrition-for-female-athletes Jeukendrup A. E. (2017). Periodized nutrition for athletes. Sports Medicine, 47(1), 51–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-0170694-2 Kerksick, C. M., Arent, S., Schoenfeld, B. J., Stout, J. R., Campbell, B., Wilborn, C. D., Taylor, L., Kalman, D., Smith-Ryan, A. E., Kreider, R. B., Willoughby, D., Arciero, P. J., VanDusseldorp, T. A., Ormsbee, M. J., Wildman, R., Greenwood, M., Ziegenfuss, T. N., Aragon, A. A., & Antonio, J. (2017). International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: nutrient timing. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 14(1), 1–21.

Marangoni, F., Martini, D., Scaglioni, S., Sculati, M., Donini, L. M., Leonardi, F., Agostoni, C., Castelnuovo, G., Ferrara, N., Ghiselli, A., Giampietro, M., Maffeis, C., Porrini, M., Barbi, B., & Poli, A. (2019). Snacking in nutrition and health. International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition, 70(8), 909–923.

Munteanu, A. M., Manuc, D., Caramoci, A., Vasilescu, M., & Ionescu, A. (2014). Nutrition timing in top athletes. Sports Medicine Journal, 10(3), 2357–2363.

Schoenfeld, B. J., Aragon, A. A., & Krieger, J. W. (2013). The effect of protein timing on muscle strength and hypertrophy: a metaanalysis. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 10(1), 1–23.

Stellingwerff, T., Morton, J. P., & Burke, L. M. (2019). A framework for periodized nutrition for athletics. International Journal of Sport Nutrition & Exercise Metabolism, 29(2), 141–151.

Tipton, K. D. ‌(2021, July 1). Nutritional support for injuries requiring reduced activity. Gatorade Sports Science Institute. https://www.gssiweb.org/en/sports-science-exchange/Article/ sse-169-nutritional-support-for-injuries-requiring-reducedactivity

OCTOBER 2023

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THAT SHOULD BE USED IN EVERY HIGH SCHOOL WEIGHT ROOM

By John Travnick, MS, LAT, ATC, CSCS 1. Allow your athletes to learn body awareness.

Body awareness cannot be coached. Athletes must be put in a position that allows them to learn body awareness. There are two methods that can accomplish this: Athletes new to a weight room must have time to observe and practice the movements. Heavy, compound lifts such as the squat, deadlift, or bench press should be performed in a technically sound manner early and often. The more often the athlete sees good technique, the greater the chance that they will engrain good movement patterns. Then they need to practice the movement pattern. Technique will break down under higher loads, so the use of low to moderate loads is essential in developing a good movement pattern that can be repeated. Novice lifters who develop a foundation of good movement patterns will outlast and eventually outlift those who are thrown under a heavy bar too quickly.

Outside the weight room, athletes learning body awareness need exposure to a wide range of movements.

We’ve heard of offensive linemen practicing ballet, or baseball players performing yoga. As ridiculous as it sounds, these types of low-impact activities create connections in the brain that translate to athleticism on the field. Jim Wendler, weightlifting author, high school football strength coach, and 1,000-pound squatter, builds it into his program by incorporating gymnastics movements like cartwheels and summersaults in his team’s warm up before every lifting session. Add variety 48

to your athlete’s movements and they will develop greater body awareness.

2. Train simple, train hard.

When developing a strength and conditioning program, the KISS principle reigns supreme. An effective weight training session can be completed in an hour with 4-5 exercises, 2-4 times per week, with very basic programming. Spencer Phillips, a collegiate Director of Strength and Conditioning states he bases his programming on “simple movements, executed as perfectly as possible.” Complex does not mean more effective, and there are no secret movements that will unlock the true potential of any athlete. Have a main lift that is the focus for the day and end with accessory exercises that hit all main muscle groups by the end of the week. Attack the weight room for no more time than is necessary. Get in, work hard, and get out to start the recovery process.

3. Use the weightroom to teach preparation and discipline.

The weight room is about more than getting stronger.

More importantly, it’s an outlet to teach preparation and discipline. Be on time. Get enough sleep. Be well fueled. Be dressed properly. Bring a working mindset.

These are the foundations for a winning culture that translate directly to the barbell. If the goal is simply to put up more weight and these principles are not set in stone, you’ll be looking at a group of over-fatigued, tired OCTOBER 2023

faces by the next practice. If the principles are at the forefront of every day in the weight room, the strength will come. At the high school level, the juice isn’t in the special weight training program – it’s in the discipline.

4. Leave reps in the tank.

In the last decade, an abundance of research has emerged showing that training to failure leads to decreased strength gains compared to leaving 1 or 2 reps left in the tank on each set. This is because grinding out the final repetition creates a type of fatigue that hinders performance through the remainder of the training session. There is also an increased level of risk when technique has broken down and the athlete tries to get the weight up any way they can. A tactic more often used in high-quality strength programs is to reduce the weight and move it as fast as possible. Specifically, use the amount of weight that an athlete can lift for 8 repetitions, and have them lift that amount for only 2-5 repetitions, as quickly as possible on the ascending phase. This trains power, which is more often what we want out of athletes rather than pure strength.

5. Stabilize from the center, express power through the periphery.

The core and the hips are where we generate stability so we can express our power effectively against the environment. Often, I will see a lack of core and hip stability that leads to both ineffective and unsafe lifting.

These common faults can be corrected with simple cuing.

“Brace like someone’s about to hit you in the stomach.”

This action creates stability around the spine. For this movement to be done correctly, the athlete should brace as if they may be hit in their gut from any direction, but they should still maintain the ability to speak normally.

This takes practice, but taking time on the front end to practice could prevent weeks of lost time on the injury report.

“Screw your feet into the floor.”

During a squat, this engages the larger muscles of the hips that prevent knees from caving inwards. During a deadlift, this directs tension into the legs and relieves some of the stress on the low back. Even while benching, this cue encourages maintaining foot contact with the ground, which enhances stability and efficiency.

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“Push the floor away.”

This can be used with the squat or deadlift. Athletes will often try to “peel” up from the bottom position, rather than use their legs to drive the weight up. Instead of having them think of moving the weight upwards, have them direct their attention to pushing against the ground. It may seem small, but this is one of the most effective cues that I use.

“Squeeze your pinkies.”

On the bench press, tension is often lost in the upper back, and we see shoulders rounding forward. This tiny cue encourages engagement of the upper back muscles and sets the foundation for a strong press.

6. Strength training is like a slow cooker, not a microwave.

Gaining true strength happens over years – not weeks. We see an early significant strength gain when athletes start to lift weights for the first time. They may go from a 30lbs dumbbell press to 50lbs over 3 months, but this adaptation is largely neurological – their brain is forming a new connection to their muscles. Once that connection is formed, the effect tapers off and the strength gains they see become truly muscular.

This type of strength develops much more slowly. The most effective way for an athlete to gain true muscular strength is through discipline of consistency, good technique, and proper programming. Forcing extremely high intensity within the first year of strength training is time and effort better spent developing good movement patterns and learning how to generate tension in various positions. Be patient and allow the necessary time it takes for the athlete’s body to adapt.

7. Be an educator, foster accountability, and keep a watchful eye.

Supervision of the weight room means more than being physically present. Create accountability by arming your fellow coaches and athletes with the knowledge of these principles. The National Strength and Conditioning Association recommends 1 strength coach for every 15 athletes in the weight room at the High School level, but even when this isn’t feasible, ensure these practices are adhered to by fostering an atmosphere of accountability within the team. Connect with every athlete that enters the weight room that day and make sure they know that they aren’t just being watched, but that their effort is seen.

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51

Finding Your Leaders While They're Running

by Mark Ashley, Richland High School, Head Cross Country/Assistant Track Coach

Cross Country season! Whether you will wrap up the season at district or continue on hopefully to the state meet, this is an awesome time of year. Ever heard that saying we all have a runner inside us? Cross country season may or may not be a hard season for you to recruit for, but we’ve all got a runner in us somewhere.

Remember when we were kids, and all we wanted to do was run when we had free time? Not only do I believe all of our kids have a runner inside them, I believe they have a LEADER inside of them. Cross country and track season are some of the best times to spot those leaders and help them grow. As you fill out all those entries and heat sheets, ask yourself what type of leaders did you notice in your program this year? Not a cross country or track coach? Keep reading anyway, like we said, everyone has a runner inside them and a leader.

In the Post-Covid era, in many ways it’s been easier and harder at the same time to spot and nurture the leaders in our programs. It's easier because they really stand out, and harder because at first glance there may seem to be less of them. Blame society, blame parents, blame Covid, blame whoever. The fact is, in our role as coaches, we are to grow leaders. Today I see a group of kids hungry to lead but just a little lost and maybe struggling with how to do it. I think cross country and track have been an excellent place to let them grow.

about the different types of leaders we all potentially have. Every single athlete leads in some way. It's our job to know and recognize the types we have to maximize their character growth and performance. In our program, we stress character and leadership above everything and have found that performance seems to follow pretty nicely.

Think about the kids you see come out for track the first time. You’ll have some that think everything should be an all out sprint; it doesn’t matter if it's a 100m or a 1000m. They’re going for it. In a distance race, you need those runners that are comfortable with their pace and know their body. They are the ones that set the pace for the rest of the runners. They take off from the start line and don’t have to see what the other runners are doing, because they know their body, the course, and they have a plan. They are just ready for the gun to go off so they can do what they do. Do you have leaders like that? They don’t have to be told to lead. They just show up and do it. They look for ways to lead and don’t care about being

Pacing in running is one of the harder aspects, not just to coach, but to get kids to realize it’s importance. But that’s where I’ve seen their leadership styles really show; and depending on where they are at in their mastery of pacing, I think it’s a great comparison to use when talking 52

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judged by others. They have goals and they just need someone to give them an opportunity. We need to let those kids lead and give them chances.

The second type of runners are those that might seem confident, but are waiting to see the pace of the race before they see what they are going to do. They have a plan but are second guessing it from the start. They have all the tools and the same training, but aren't confident yet to trust their own pace and want to see what others are doing. We have leaders like that. They’re ready but just need that extra push. They doubt themselves on a daily basis and are hesitant to speak out until they see how they are going to be perceived. They want to be more vocal but just struggle with self doubt and are still caught in that comparison trap. We need to help those kids not only find chances to grow and lead, but help them with their self confidence. Once they find their voice, they will often be the ones that grow into your strongest leaders.

Your next group are the ones trying to keep up with the pace leaders in the race, those two groups ahead of them. They are racing based on a desire to win but beyond the desire there hasn’t been much training. They’ll stay with the pack until about halfway through the race; then they’ll quickly fall behind. They are the ones you secondguess if they were ready for the race or not. It probably would have been best to keep them on JV for awhile.

These are your leaders that you need to be careful not to put too much on their plate until they are ready. They have all the potential to be great leaders down the road, but need the experience and the examples around them to help them grow. As coaches we have a plan to get a better performance out of our athletes, and we need to do the same when it comes to their leadership. Have a plan in place to grow your leaders. If not they’ll never get past that wall they hit in the race.

time, and you may ask yourself why they're there as well.

But the point is they ARE there and that’s a start. You’re both not sure how good they are going to be and you also may be a little pessimistic. Everyone has a starting point, and we get to be a part of a lot of those. These are your leaders who you marvel at four years down the road when you see how much they have grown. They had no idea there was a leader in them, but they were given the opportunity to find out they did. One of the worst things we can do is underestimate the leadership potential of our athletes.

Then, we have the runners that we don’t have. The ones not on our roster because we can’t get them to come out or they’ve slipped through the cracks and no one has asked them. Sports in general have become harder to get kids to commit but WE have to be the ones to find them and get them out. Every coach looks to grow their program, and a ton of time goes into recruiting athletes. It needs to be the same way with the leaders in our program. They won’t just show up. These are the leaders that have no clue they can lead because they have no outlet TO lead. As hard as we try to add kids to our program, we need to look to add LEADERS as well and give them a chance to see they can lead.

Lastly, in cross country races, no matter how good the runners are, there is someone leading them where to go. That course monitor with the fun job of driving the ATV leading the way. Even the clearest marked course will usually have a lead vehicle for the runners to follow.

Regardless of the training or leadership of the runners in the race, they need someone who has been there before them and knows what lies ahead on the course and helps get them to the finish. That’s the biggest thing we can do as coaches: lead the young men and women in our care to the finish and along the way teach them how to lead.

Then help progress them from one level of leadership to the next. Don’t forget that the course monitor always checks the course before the race and does what they need to do to get it ready. So always take care of yourself, and constantly look for ways to sharpen your leadership skills as well.

Then we get those runners who are there for the first time and just really have no clue what they're doing.

They have a ton of questions, they look lost most of the OCTOBER 2023

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55

lead with

love

BY TODD WINFREY, CANYON HS

FROM HIS 2023 TEXAS COACHES LEADERSHIP SUMMIT TALK

It was hard to decide what to speak about at the Leadership Summit, when you know you are talking to a room full of amazing people; People that have taught you, mentored you, that you admire. If there is one thing that we feel like our staff does well enough to tell other people about, it’s loving on kids. So when we decided on the title of our talk, it was LEADING WITH LOVE. LOVE YOURSELF - Everyone should understand that it is impossible to love anything or anyone unless you love yourself first. In this profession, where we put others first on a consistent basis, it is easy to get so busy that we forget ourselves and put ourselves on the backburner. However, it is vital that we take care of ourselves. We have to eat right; actually, sometimes we just have to eat. We need to find ways to get rest. Coming up with any kind of exercise program is extremely important. Find ways to better yourself, like reading a book, listening to a podcast, and calling someone you trust and talking. Basically, we must find a way to take time for ourselves.

LOVE PEOPLE - Once we love ourselves, then we are capable of loving others. Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said that there are two things more powerful than sex and money, that is PRAISE AND RECOGNITION. Psychologists say that all human beings want to feel appreciated and significant; and, Oprah Winfrey said there are three things everyone wants: to feel SEEN, HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD. All of this wraps up into one big 56

thing: everyone wants to be loved. In the coaching world, there are several groups of people we get to love on.

LOVE YOUR FAMILY - Our family makes so many sacrifices that allow us to do what we love. Because of this, we need to take every opportunity we can, not just to love, but to promote our family. I am blessed with an amazing wife, Jennifer, who is not only the epitome of a coach’s wife, but also an amazing mother and a business owner. I have four incredible daughters: Brylee (A senior at Lubbock Christian University, who is helping Coach Kyle Lovorn and the Lubbock Cooper Lady Pirates basketball team, Kenadee (A sophomore at UNLV, that plays on the Lady Rebel basketball team), Abree (A senior at Canyon HS, who will attend the University of Kansas next year to run track), and Sydnee (A sophomore at Canyon HS, who has been an all-district player in both volleyball and basketball the past two seasons.

I think it is important to promote our family because coaching is what we do, not who we are. Even the most invested coaches need to realize that. One of the best ways to love your family is to shield them from the junk. We deal with so many things on a daily basis, and we don’t need to bring them home. If you can’t leave it in your office or at the field house, then figure out how to decompress on the way home; and when you get in the driveway, leave it in the truck. When you walk in the house, you don’t have to be perfect (There has only been 1 perfect person), but you do have to be present.

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Plain and simple, one day all of this will end, and when it does, your family will be the group that is with you.

LOVE YOUR PLAYERS - All great coaches do this. We get to watch them grow up, from little kid campers, junior high athletes, to high school athletes, to graduates. We get to see so many different facets of their lives. We think you need to love ‘em during the bad times. The times when their parents are divorcing; or when their girlfriend breaks up with them; or when they come in your office crying because they thought about killing themselves that day; or when you have your arm around one of your players, because he is burying his father later that morning. No one taught us how to handle these situations. There is no training or manual to read,.

We get through these times by loving them. We also get to love them in the good times: when they get stronger or faster, when they have a good max in the weight room, when they earn a starting position, when they make a big play. We also get to continue to love them. Coach Bryan Wood used to talk to us about Coaches Paychecks. These have nothing to do with money. These are the moments when a former player calls you and tells you he is going to ask his girlfriend to marry him and wants you to know first.

When you wake up on Father’s Day and have a text from a former player saying “Happy Father’s Day Pops, love ya!”. Coaches Paychecks have nothing to do with money, but you sure couldn’t place a dollar value on these moments. We think it’s important to love all your players. It’s easy to love the best players, your position players, the ones that show up all the time or work the hardest. But, you also have to love the rest of them, especially the ones that take a lot more from the program than they give. We have to love them like a family. In a family, people mess up, make mistakes, let you down and disappoint you, but you don’t love them any less. Last, you have to say, “I love you.” We think you need to physically say those words to kids. When a kid leaves our office, we say “I love you,” and it’s always awesome when they say “I love you too, Coach.” Sometimes it takes time for them to have the confidence to say it. I had a kid that took two years to be able to say “I love you too,” and when he did, I had to get up and shut my office door because it hit me so hard that I got emotional. When they do say “I love you too” I tell OCTOBER 2023

them, “It’s good to be loved.” We believe kids need to hear the three works I LOVE YOU from adults.

LOVE YOUR COACHES - At some point we have all worked for someone that were scared or afraid of.

We have also worked for someone that we loved and respected. You can get the same results from either one, but in the long haul, we think working for someone you love and respect will get better results and make you more productive. It is important to love coaches enough to let them fail. We need to put them in situations where they might fail, because they also might succeed. I can still remember the day when my mentor, Blake Bryant, told me “I wouldn’t have done it that way, but it worked, and actually it was better than I could have done it.”

That was a defining moment in my career. Love your coaches enough to demand that they are great family men/women. We miss so many things being a coach, but when the opportunity is there to go see an elementary program, or a practice or game, we should demand they go to it. This is a non-negotiable on our staff. Love your coaches enough to teach and correct them. Someone taught or corrected you when you made mistakes; we should do the same.

Last, love your coaches like others loved you. Along the way, someone took you under their wing and mentored you to be the coach and leader you are today. We should do the same for others.

LOVE YOUR SUPPORT STAFF - If you are not doing this, you are missing the boat. We are talking about the people that make everything run: the custodians, ground crew, and front office personnel.

Nothing can work without these folks, and they need to be loved on. The crazy thing is that it takes zero effort to say hello to them or ask them about their day or their family. When we order equipment, we buy game shirts for these guys, and to them, it’s not just a shirt, it is a badge of honor. They are so excited to wear it, and they wear it with pride.

During Thanksgiving, our staff all pitches in and buys turkeys for this group. It is not life changing money, maybe $20-25, but to them, it is priceless, and the relationship it builds is incredible.

LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY - There are coaches from a one horse town and coaches from big cities with multiple schools, but we all need to love 57

our community enough to be visible. Early in our career, we would only do stuff with other coaches, which is great, this is the group you go to battle with. But there are also some great people out there that you don’t want to miss the opportunity to get to know. We have so many friends not that are not coaches, and these people are now part of our family and have helped us raise our kids. THE VILLAGE. It is important for your community to see you in a different light other than the sideline, like the grocery story or church.

LOVE PARENTS - This can be tough because parents can be difficult to deal with. The reality is that most crazy parents are crazy because they love and care about their kids. We have all coached a kid that didn’t have a parent that cared, so we should give them some grace. Love parent meetings. Tate Lombard, the girls basketball coach at Canyon HS taught me that before you have a parent meeting, say a quick prayer and ask for a calm, peaceful, nonconfrontational spirit that helps you to listen. And we all understand that 99% of parent meetings are about playing time. Be a good listener, and then use these meetings as an opportunity to sell yourself and your program, and what your program does for their kid. Last, love parents enough to involve them.

There are a bunch of different parent roles, like team meals, locker decorations, flag and tunnel crew, etc.

Don’t just assign these duties and hope for the best, make it a big deal, and make it important, because to most parents, being a part of their kids’ season is extremely important. A lot of football teams do Decals with Dad, we do STICKERS WITH SOMEONE SPECIAL. This is a cool time for families to come up and be a part of the special moment of putting the helmet stickers on with their kid.

LOVE THIS PROFESSION - We have the greatest job in the world, and there is no greater title than COACH. That is not an insult to other people, that is just how important we think coaches are. Coaching has a lot of negatives, but so does every other job, but the positives far outweigh any negative we could have. Love this profession enough to be part of an association, like the TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL COACHES ASSOCIATION. The THSCA is the biggest and best organization of its kind in the world. Don’t just join and call it good. Be active and participate. Go to 58

Regional Meetings, Power of Influence Meetings, Coaching School, get on an Advisory Committee, try to get on the Board of Directors, do things that allow you to contribute. Make the profession better than it was when you started. Love the profession enough to honor other coaches. First, honor the old dogs that came before us and made our profession what it is today. Jimmie Keeling, Bill Bryant, Joe Martin, Glen West, etc. We all have those coaches we know that changed the game. Second, honor the coaches and programs you see every day. One thing we do is write a note to the opposing coach and give it to him during pre-game. It simply says that it is an honor and privilege to coach against you and your team, good luck and we are praying for safety for both teams. Some coaches may think that is cheesy and just throw it away, but it doesn’t really matter. It is a blessing to us and a way that we honor the other coaches and programs. Love the profession enough to take care of the young coaches. Programs like the ROCK Mentor program helps find young coaches, do things to keep them from leaving the profession, and then help mold and develop them into the next generation of amazing coaches.

LOVE YOUR SCHOOL - Everyone thinks they do, but do you love your school or just your program? Do you love your second sport as much as your first sport? Do you love the girls side of the program as OCTOBER 2023

much as the boys? Do you love band, cheerleading, choir, etc. as much as athletics? If you truly love your school, then you love all the programs. Everyone’s success is your success. When our band made it to state, we had the honor of getting to speak with them before they got on the bus. I admire how hard this program works, and I respect the heck out of Mr. Rath, the band director. He actually gives me a hug before every game. When our cheerleaders made it to state, our team put together a gift basket and did a send off just to let them know how much they meant to our program. Love your school enough to help your administration. When your principals ask for help, do it. We all understand that the things they may ask us to help with are not fun or not what we want to do, but we do them anyway, because we love our school. Here is the truth, if you don’t do it, your staff won’t do it, and you need to do it with a happy heart. Plain and simple, if you want to change the culture or set the attitude of the campus, it comes from coaches, not the english or science department.

LOVE BEING FLEXIBLE - We heard Coach DJ Mann from Coronado talk the other day at the THSADA meeting about being flexible. Every day we seem to have a million things going on. Emails, meetings, a crazy schedule, getting called out of the office, etc.

It’s like we are always in crisis management mode.

This year, there were several times that I got back into my office 15 minutes before practice started, and had no idea what we were doing. Thank goodness my staff had a great plan and had the practice cards already made, but at that point you have a choice. You can either stay frazzled and go outside and do an average job of coaching, or you can do what great coaches do, stay flexible, adapt

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and adjust, and go outside and be the best version of yourself you can be, because that is what you kids deserve. Last, if you coach long enough, you will have a season ending injury, it just happens. We lost our QB in week five for the season. Love being flexible, so that when the bad stuff happens, you can keep the ship sailing in the right direction.

LOVE ACCOUNTABILITY - There were times this season where we allowed things to happen or let stuff slide, and if we allowed that, that means I allowed that. What I have learned is that if you allow it, you are encouraging it. If you allow it, you are promoting it. If you allow it, you are coaching it that way. So, we have decided to openly, in front of kids and coaches, discuss things, call people out, correct mistakes, so that nothing slips through the cracks and nothing is allowed. What we have to remember is that IT’S YOUR PROGRAM, IT’S ON YOU! LOVE SMILING - Be a happy person, have fun, enjoy the day. Do not be an energy vampire. The late Jim Valvano, in his iconic speech, said there are three things you should do every day: laugh, think, and have your emotions moved to tears. You cannot do the first one without putting a smile on your face.

Every leader knows that we will have bad moments or bad days, and we cannot afford to show it. So, when we have to fake it, the best way to do that is to put a smile on your face, and act like everything is great. Sometimes, you might just convince yourself that things are not as bad as you thought; and, at least in Texas, when you smile at someone, most of the time they smile back at you, and now you are changing others for the better.

LOVE COMMUNICATION - And all of the wives said, "AMEN". We all can be better communicators: with your spouse, your children, your co-workers, your team, with everyone. Have great communication with your administration and not just your principal or AD or Superintendant. Have great, open, honest communication with your transportation department, your maintenance department, your warehouse. Every group you establish great communication with only makes your program better. At the end of this season, I had meetings with the coaches, and a couple of them told me that there were times they didn’t know what was 59

going on. That hit me like a punch in the gut. How can people on my staff not know what is going on?

The reality is no one tries to communicate poorly, but sometimes it just happens. Maybe I said it one way and they needed to hear it a different way, or maybe I told my coordinators and they didn’t pass on the message the way I wanted. It doesn’t matter, if your people don’t know, then it’s on you. So we have started trying to over-communicate like crazy.

Every Monday morning, I send out an email to our staff telling them everything we are doing each day, who is gone, what days they are gone, etc. The staff is then responsible for email back to the group verifying that they understand and to let us know what I might have missed. Love communication enough to over-communicate with parents. Fact kids don’t tell parents anything. My kids don’t tell us what is going on and your kids don’t tell you.

Parents want to know, so help them. Use different platforms like SportsYou. What a great way to get info to your parents, plus they can’t respond back to you like a group text. Use social media. Our AD, Toby Tucker, always tells us that someone is going to tell our story. Don’t wait on others to do it, you tell the story. This doesn’t mean you are bragging or full of yourself, it is just a way to share info, but also sell your staff, your players, and your program in a positive way. Parent reps are another great way to communicate. Don’t just pick someone randomly.

Pick someone that you can work well with and that communicates well with others; then train them how you want them to help you communicate with the other parents, it will go a long way.

LOVE THE PROCESS - This is a big one to me. I was an assistant coach to Blake Bryant for 21 amazing years.

During that time, I had several coaching buddies that got head jobs. I wanted to be a head coach, I thought I was ready to be a head coach, and even thought I might be better than Coach Bryant. But here is what I learned, maybe I wasn’t ready. Maybe God wasn’t done teaching me. Coach Bryant used to always tell us that if you want to be a HS coach, be a great JH coach. If you want to be a coordinator, be a great position coach, and if you want to be a head coach, be a great coordinator. Basically he was teaching us to grow where we are planted. Be great right where we are at. The bad part was when I was getting frustrated about not being a head coach, I 60

also wasn’t being a great follower; and if you are not ready to follow, you sure aren’t ready to lead. It’s like the Avalanche vs the Glacier. In the me, me, now, now world we live in, everyone wants everything right away, like an avalanche. It happens really fast, is over in a hurry, maybe does a little damage, but in a few weeks or months, you never know it even happened. A glacier is different. You can watch a glacier for weeks or months and never even see it move, but in the long run, sometimes after several years, it has changed the planet. BE A GLACIER NOT AN AVALANCHE. LOVE BEING A SERVANT LEADER - This is such an easy concept and the Bible is the perfect blueprint for us to look at. What can I do for you? What can I do to make you more successful? What can I do to help you? This applies to everyone: your players, your staff, your school, community and parents. When you make others look good, as a leader, that always comes back to you and helps you as well. Be willing to do anything and don’t be above anything. If you have to do laundry, mop the floor, clean toilets, no job is below you. Because, at the end of the day, as a leader, if you want to be served, start with serving.

LOVE THE MIRROR - This might be the last place where you can be absolutely honest, and honest with yourself. The person in the mirror can help you to remember to do what is best or right, even when it isn’t popular. When you aren’t winning, the mirror can remind you to keep coaching the right way, to keep loving on kids, and don’t sacrifice your values for a win. When you are winning, the mirror can remind you that winning isn’t guaranteed, to keep your ego in check and keep doing things right. Here is the important thing to remember: Coaching is a calling, and other than someone leading someone to Christ, it’s probably the most important calling on the planet. GOD PUT US HERE FOR A PURPOSE TO COACH, TO BUILD YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN, TO CREATE GREAT HUSBANDS AND WIVES, GREAT FATHERS AND MOTHERS, GREAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND GREAT LEADERS! Thank you for letting me share this with you. If there is anything that myself or our staff can do to help you, please let us know. I LOVE YOU!! todd.winfrey@canyonisd.net, 806-683-9321 OCTOBER 2023

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OCTOBER 2023

The Other Side of Shiny

By Andres Gomez, Head football coach, Northbrook hs

Our world is built on attracting the attention of the masses by offering new shiny things to catch our eyes. The appeal of opening a new box, driving a new car, or wearing a flashy outfit can draw the average person in with an allure that is unmatched. Entire industries and platforms have been built upon this concept.

Why are we so interested in shiny things? In an environment with endless choices, manufacturers of products know that in order to survive and make profit, they must stand out against their competition in the way a peacock struts his colorful feathers to attract the best mate possible. In an effort to outdo each other, products become flashier than the last iteration and continue to trend that way until the original is unrecognizable. The catch here is that the shine is only on the outside. It’s more challenging to have sustainable substance and depth as opposed to shine and brightness that will catch the attention of casual observers, but fade away over time.

The profession of high school coaching has had to adapt to this new societal model, because our constituents are fully immersed in this world. Middle schoolers are creating edits to announce where they will attend high school (most of these are full of cliches like “all glory to God”, “that being said”, or “respect my decision”). Shiny things earn you likes on social media, which can then be turned into supposed clout and power. Some days it seems as though players are paying more attention to cleats and OCTOBER 2023

visors than attendance and grades. They place a great deal of value in the joy of immediate gratification that comes from these shiny new items and not enough on the elements that will give them a better future. For example, many of our kids love to obsess about their uniform and accessories without understanding that the more they take care of the body parts that will one day fill the uniforms, the better they will look.

Sometimes coaches are guilty of this too. We chase jobs in the shiny schools with the shiny new helmets. We chase the shiny titles of “coordinator” or “head coach” without realizing that there is another side to the shiny. No matter how bright something is, there is always another side. Grab the latest chrome speed flex and look on the inside. There you find dull plastic surrounded by all the functional padding that allows the helmet to do its job. Watch your head coach outside of the shiny Friday night lights and interviews, and realize that there are a great number of tasks and activities that aren’t flashy or sometimes even desirable, but that have to be done. Look at that championship trophy that is held up at the end of the season and realize how many small and often seemingly insignificant factors had to be in place for that major accomplishment to take place.

The other side is actually where the growth happens. Ask most champions what the highlight of their season was, and very rarely will they answer with the moment they held up 63

the trophy. That is a culmination, but the best moments are the games that are won through big plays where preparation meets opportunity. The trials that were faced and overcome to get the team up to that podium.

Or the offseason grind prior to that first snap, pitch or tipoff that, in hindsight, was the secret to the success everyone craves. That’s the other side of shiny that is often ignored.

When you are asked to do a job as an assistant that is less than desirable, remember this concept. Remember that not everything shines. Some things are a support structure for the shine, they are the backbone of that success. Our brains and our hearts don’t get the attention that our hair or skin often do, because they are hidden inside our bodies well protected, but they are the ones running the show and without which, nothing else would be possible. We could all grow in unimaginable ways if we spent the same effort and energy making sure that the internal shine matched our external one. Always relish those bright, shiny moments when you get a chance to experience them, but understand that the thousand moments on the other side are just as valuable to your own development and growth.

There is nothing wrong with chasing the shine, the problem is when that is the sole focus of our actions. We must always remember that there is another side. An often dull, monotonous, and challenging side that must be overcome to truly earn the shiny prizes that we all crave as validation of a job well done. We also have to remember that shine wears off after time. Every piece of junk car you’ve ever seen was once a shiny car that came off the lot to the excitement of its new owner. And when the paint has faded and the metal has rusted, that engine can still work to get its passenger from point A to point B as long as it has been maintained and properly cared for, as opposed to being ignored in order to wax and polish the outside.

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The Unsung Heroes of the Court: The Assistant Coach's Crucial Role in Texas High School Basketball

By Tyler Brown, Angleton Junior High Coach

Introduction: When the spotlight shines on the basketball court, it often illuminates the head coach and star players. Yet, behind every successful team, there exists a dedicated and diligent assistant coach, working tirelessly to support the team's mission. In the great state of Texas, where basketball is more than just a sport, assistant coaches play a pivotal yet often overlooked role in shaping the future of high school basketball.

The Assistant Coach's Multifaceted Role: The assistant coach is the unsung hero of the coaching staff, often acting as the glue that holds various elements of the team together. From tactical planning to player development and everything in between, the assistant coach's responsibilities are diverse and crucial to the team's success.

Strategic Collaborator: In the heart of the Texas high school basketball scene, assistant coaches collaborate closely with the head coach to devise game strategies and practice plans. By analyzing opponents' strengths and weaknesses, breaking down game footage, 66

and suggesting adjustments, assistant coaches contribute to the team's tactical advantage.

Player Development: Behind the scenes, assistant coaches work diligently to develop players' skills and abilities. They conduct specialized drills, provide personalized feedback, and nurture young talent, ensuring each player reaches their full potential. In Texas, where basketball is a way of life, assistant coaches are essential in molding the stars of tomorrow.

Mentor and Confidant: Assistant coaches often forge strong connections with players, serving as mentors and confidants.

They provide a supportive environment where players can discuss challenges, seek advice, and find inspiration. This mentorship role extends beyond the court, as assistant coaches help shape players into well-rounded individuals.

Adaptability and Flexibility: Texas high school basketball is known for its dynamic and fast-paced nature. Assistant coaches must be adaptable and versatile, ready to switch OCTOBER 2023

roles and responsibilities as circumstances demand.

Whether stepping in during practice to demonstrate a technique or providing on-the-fly guidance during a game, their versatility is crucial.

Cultivating Team Chemistry: Assistant coaches play a pivotal role in fostering team chemistry and camaraderie. They organize team-building activities, facilitate open communication, and promote a positive atmosphere within the squad. In the diverse cultural landscape of Texas, assistant coaches bridge gaps and create an inclusive environment for all players.

The Assistant Coach's Grind: Behind every successful season lies hours of relentless work put in by assistant coaches. From early-morning practices to late-night strategy sessions, their dedication is unwavering. Balancing their coaching commitments with personal lives, they showcase a commitment that sets a sterling example for players.

Supporting the Head Coach: The assistant coach's relationship with the head coach involves trust and collaboration. They provide an extra set of eyes and ears, helping the head coach manage the team more effectively.

Their insights, suggestions, and support alleviate the immense pressure of leading a high school basketball team.

Embracing the Future: As technology becomes an integral part of sports, assistant coaches in Texas are embracing new tools to enhance their impact. Video analysis, datadriven insights, and virtual training platforms are aiding assistant coaches in providing more in-depth and tailored coaching experiences for players.

Conclusion: In the tapestry of Texas high school basketball, the assistant coach is an essential thread that holds the team together. Their commitment to player development, strategic insights, and mentorship is pivotal in the team's journey to victory. As the basketball legacy of Texas continues to thrive, let us not forget the unsung heroes of the court – the dedicated and passionate assistant coaches shaping the stars of tomorrow.

OCTOBER 2023

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