Behind the stage pyrotechnics at the 2009 pro bowl half time
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
National Football League: Say No to Thugs! Part Two
When a mom and dad notice their kids are turning into porky little chowbuckets, they often try to substitute healthier foods for all the Twinkies, cookies and potato chips the kids are tossing down their throats. Similarly, let's see where National Football League players get in trouble and recommend alternative, wholesome activities and entertainment for them.
1) Strip clubs. NFL players seem inexorably drawn to these establishments. The attraction is, of course, the varied and exotic creatures you see on display there. And in some strip clubs, they let you observe these creatures up close and personal. In others, you are asked to keep your distance, for safety reasons--yours and hers.
Substitute activity: visiting your local Zoo. Same attraction, actually: interesting animals, exotic habitat. But infinitely more educational, and the municipal Zoo has a much higher class of clientele for you to socialize with. I can't recall a single incident of a celebrity athlete being arrested at the Zoo. Once or twice, a Zoo visitor might get bitten, but that can obviously happen at strip clubs, too.
Substitute activity 2: take up ballroom dancing. Why just watch others dance around the stage, or the pole, when you can sashay across the floor yourself? And an National Football League player's athletic ability gives him a leg up, so to speak, on the other people taking dancing lessons with him. Just look at how proficient Emmitt Smith became on Dancing with the Stars. Though he's still no John O'Hurley.
2) Fights and other altercations in bars. Recently, even a Green Bay Packer, if you can believe it, got into trouble for allegedly pushing or shoving a female late one night in a drinking establishment. The alleged shover was starting linebacker Nick Barnett. (To be honest, I was not aware that shoving was considered a crime, especially after the times I have ridden the subway in New York.)
An unfortunate offshoot of this incident is now Green Bay Packer fans have to listen to the taunts of the Viking fans: "Dude, that was the best tackle Barnett made all year!"
The reason so many athletes have unpleasant experiences in bars is simple: excessive alcohol consumption reduces normally intelligent individuals to a level of thinking just below moronic, and aggressive tendencies that would normally be repressed, from fans and players alike, suddenly emerge. Small-minded people who are envious of the money and fame that accrues to pro athletes sometimes deliberately try to provoke the athlete into an argument. Provoking a National Football League player, who is paid to be aggressive, is never a wise choice. But as with NFL games when the Ref only notices the second person who threw the punch, the athlete often pays the price for a drunken fan's outburst.
Substitute activity: Learn how to cook. Becoming a skilled chef is a lot of fun, and allows you to entertain your friends at your home, and avoid the bar scene and its associated unpleasant situations altogether. You will have to go out to shop for groceries, but fans you may encounter are unlikely to become belligerent in the produce aisle. For the football player who is single, the grocery store can be an excellent venue to meet eligible females, who will be impressed that you know how to use ingredients like radicchio and broccoli rabe.
Substitute activity 2: watch Political Debates. Take out these aggressive tendencies by yelling at the TV when a politician says something particularly idiotic. Since both major political parties are chock full of nuts these days, the opportunity to vent your frustrations is nearly limitless. You may never feel the need to visit a drinking establishment again.
Or, if you listen to enough political drivel, maybe you will.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Illegal "Trick" Football Plays In Youth Football
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There are a number of trick football plays that are perfectly legal and ethical to run in youth football. There are others that are not legal, but we still see them from time to time at both the youth and High School levels.
One illegal football play that has reared its ugly head again the last few year is the old "Where"s the Tee" or "Wrong Ball" plays. These are plays where the quarterback yells out to the defense that "we've got the wrong ball, I need a different ball" or "Where's the Tee, We need a Tee". In the meantime the center places the football in the quarterbacks hands and the quarterback slowly walks off the field feigning he is replacing the ball. All the other offensive players act like nothing is going on, but once the defense lets down its guard, the quarterback is off to the races. In the "Where's the Tee" version of this football play, as the QB takes off to the sidelines to supposedly get a tee that he has supposedly forgotten, the ball is snapped and another player takes off with the ball. In most cases with both of these football plays, the sideline is in on it and the "coach" is at the sidelines with a ball or tee and or yelling for the QB to switch out the ball or "come get the tee".
Not only is it Bush League it is an illegal football play.
Any action or verbiage used to deceive the defense into thinking that the ball is not about to become live is an UNSPORTSMANLIKE CONDUCT PENALTY, 15 yards.
This is the old "Where's the Tee" play that was made illegal many many moons ago.
Nearly all Youth Football Leagues use Federation High School Rules with a few exceptions of "Special Rules" that they all make very clear to their teams often in a mini rule manual. This manual covers exceptions to the High School Rules only. Unsportsmanlike Conduct is not one of the exceptions and is covered in the Federation Rule Book under 9.5.1b. Again, Any action or verbiage used to deceive the defense into thinking that the ball is not about to become live is illegal. Acting like you need a new ball or have the wrong ball or are missing the kicking tee are all illegal under this rule if the ball is snapped during said baloney.
There are plenty of ways to compete in youth football and for some, a trick play is something they like to put in. I'm not a big believer in trick plays, we are going to fundamental you to death and I don't like stealing practice time to perfect trick plays. I do however like to put in one trick play later in the year just to keep the players attention and keep them interested in midseason. We rarely run it to gain advantage, but as a reward to the kids, often as an extra point play when we are up a touchdown or two.
We do practice against the above illegal play in our defensive walk throughs and fit and freeze. But fortunately we have yet to see it in 15 years of coaching.
Youth Football Team Struggling For Funds? Try Community Sponsorships
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Creating a youth football organization or team can run into some unusual challenges: where to play, how to get people to join the program, community involvement, funding etc. One strategy in overcoming multiple challenges is to gather local community sponsors. This article's intention is to give a couple pointers in extending invitations and garnering relationships with potential sponsors.
Make a plan
The first step is to make a plan. An old adage states, "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail." A plan will consist of some basic marketing skills. First, start with people that you know. Second, understand the benefits of sponsoring your organization. Third, make the call and close the deal.
Start with people that you know
In planning to get sponsors for your football organization begins simply as a list of people. This could be anyone from a CEO of a fortune 500 company to the local delivery boy. It is amazing how much businesses rely on social networking, and you are two steps ahead of the game if you have a name, or a tie in to that organization.
Also, try and expand your circle of influence in a variety of ways. Get your football players and their parents to join you in sponsoring efforts. This will not only help you expand your circle, but is an ideal invitation to get them and their businesses to sponsor your team.
Understand your benefits
Here is a lesson from marketing 101: no one wants to hear how much a sponsorship is going to help you...they want to hear how this is going to help them. The more that you hone your pitch towards their goals, and their success the more they will listen.
Take some time to construct your pitch. How would a company, individual, or organization benefit from sponsoring your football organization? Are there ways to promote their businesses at your games? Promote them on your football jerseys? Will giving to your organization help the community feel better about their business?
Make the call and close the deal
Before you continue reading, stop and ask yourself. "How afraid am I of asking for help?" If you are 100% afraid then either you don't believe enough in your cause or you haven't constructed a plan or pitch that is good enough. Start over and try again.
Now that we are ready to go lets start calling! Nothing will help your cause, pitch, or donations more then persistence. Realize that everyone is going to have their free choice. Not even the best marketers or salesman achieve 100% sales conversion. You will get rejected, but if you believe in your cause it will not deter you from trying again and again.
When ending your conversation ask for some donation. There are many styles of closing the sale. One strong tip is to avoid yes or no questions. Instead of asking, "Would you like to sponsor our community team?" Ask something like, "Would you like to donate with cash or a check?"
Conclusion
Remember that if you have a good cause people will join you. The most powerful thing that you can do for yourself and your team is answering the "why" question: "Why are you doing this?" The more powerful and resolute the answer is the better!
Monday, March 29, 2010
College Football Helmets - Its Evolution
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Football is one extreme contact sport. It may not be as fast or as furious as the usual racing games you seen but it definitely has a unique notch of action on its own. This is precisely why helmets are necessary when playing football. Both amateurs as well as professional players of the said sport can be seen donning this specific protective gear on before setting off to play the game. However, there are specific characteristics possessed by football helmets. They generally have a face mask, a chin strap, and even a mouth guard that comes as an optional feature.
All that have been mentioned goes the same with college football helmets. Apart from being just a protective gear, it can also be said that college football helmets are being worn for their aesthetic effect. Every football helmet comes emblazoned with the particular team's logo. This is essential because it helps coaches identify their players while on field and referees find it easier to record down playing technicalities while every one is out there on field.
College football helmets were not as complex as they are right now. Football helmets actually started way back in 1915. These old types of helmets are very basic looking. They are even simply made out of leather. They are also made with a flat looking top design which can be likened to the ones professional wrestlers have been using. Back then, the main purpose of these helmets was to protect the player's ear from any damages. However, the lack of ear holes on the helmets has proven communication to be difficult when these old helmets were used.
So through time, helmets have evolved and improved until the National Football League has required football helmets to come with a face mask. From then on, college football helmets have also adapted this particular technical requirement for the games they have held. Nowadays, leather is not the main ingredient of college football helmets. It is now polycarbonate which is being widely used in making such helmets for football.
In addition, college football helmets have also taken into consideration the need for constant communication while on field. Football, after all, is a group sport which calls for much coordination within the team. What happened instead is that these football helmets have changed its design from flat top into a more oval structure. According to studies which have been conducted, this oval shape of college football helmets actually helps a lot in protecting the head from too much impact. Moreover, an inflatable bladder is also now being used to provide more protection for football players while wearing a football helmet.
Then eventually, the chin strap has also been developed as professionals felt the need to secure that these football helmets are safely held in place. This is important especially for a contact sport like football wherein unpredictable actions can happen. College football helmets really did evolve through time. From its humble beginnings, people have realized the need to improve it.
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