If you ask me, I think one of the most important things about an athlete is how good of a teammate they are. You may not think it matters, but college coaches are very good at picking up how good of a teammate you are. They care about how good you are, but they also care about coach ability and how good of a fit you are going to be for the team.
Here are my list of DON'TS:
1. Don't yell at your teammates. No one wants to be yelled at, and that's a good way for you to become the least liked player on your team. It could get you in trouble with parents and coaches, and everyone is better off if you just leave it up to the coaches.
2. Don't brag about yourself every second you can. No one actually cares! There are ways for you to talk about being good without bragging. Be humble!
3. Don't talk back to your coaches. Obviously you would think this would get you benched, but in some cases, it doesn't happen. I've had coaches who favor the players who talk back to them. Why? Couldn't tell you.
4. Don't talk poorly of your teammates. Eventually, they will find out, and it will be a very unpleasant time for the both of you. Remember when you were 5 and your mother said "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all!"? FOLLOW THAT RULE!
It's not hard to be a good teammate. It actually very much affects the team chemistry if you do have that one player that is rude to everyone. And, I have previously posted about how imperative it is to have good team chemistry. You will never play good if you don't have team chemistry!
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Gotta Love Cool Uniforms
One of my favorite parts about athletics is probably the uniforms. I can't even count how many I have at home. Considering I play three sports, it's a lot! But, if you're like me, you like to be the team that everyone envies because you have the coolest jerseys.
Each sport, the jerseys are different, but they are all so cool in different ways. For volleyball jerseys, I think long sleeve jerseys look the best. For my team, we have three long sleeve jerseys. A white one with black letters, a black one with volt letters, and a gray one with pink letters. Fortunately our team is sponsored by Nike, and we get to have really awesome jerseys!
For softball, I have always liked the color maroon for jerseys. Teams like Alabama and Oklahoma just look so professional. White pants look very nice, but they are a pain! Once you slide in them, you can never fully get the dirt stains out! I think the coolest jersey award for college softball goes to University of Florida. I would love to wear jerseys like them.
Track uniforms aren't anything but solid colors and very very tight. For my high school, we just wear black tank tops with black spandex. I think it's the most boring jerseys out there.
I don't know if you can consider it a jersey, but gymnasts probably have the most glamorous outfits. They can have sparkly leotards in any color they want. My old gym used to be maroon, which I loved, but now they are purple, which I envy. Purple is my favorite color. Why not get those when I was still a gymnast!
Each sport, the jerseys are different, but they are all so cool in different ways. For volleyball jerseys, I think long sleeve jerseys look the best. For my team, we have three long sleeve jerseys. A white one with black letters, a black one with volt letters, and a gray one with pink letters. Fortunately our team is sponsored by Nike, and we get to have really awesome jerseys!
For softball, I have always liked the color maroon for jerseys. Teams like Alabama and Oklahoma just look so professional. White pants look very nice, but they are a pain! Once you slide in them, you can never fully get the dirt stains out! I think the coolest jersey award for college softball goes to University of Florida. I would love to wear jerseys like them.
Track uniforms aren't anything but solid colors and very very tight. For my high school, we just wear black tank tops with black spandex. I think it's the most boring jerseys out there.
I don't know if you can consider it a jersey, but gymnasts probably have the most glamorous outfits. They can have sparkly leotards in any color they want. My old gym used to be maroon, which I loved, but now they are purple, which I envy. Purple is my favorite color. Why not get those when I was still a gymnast!
Now I think everyone can agree that the University of Oregon is the luckiest college alive. They get the coolest uniforms ever! They have really awesome football jerseys, softball jerseys, and volleyball jerseys. I'm sure they have a lot of other cool jerseys for other sports too. I would kill to go there and get the uniforms they do!
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First College Coach Call
Today, I am going to be giving you some tips on calling a college coach for the first time. I know that it can be scary, but if you want to play a sport at a high level, you need to know how to do it.
First, be enthusiastic and engaging. Coaches are looking for athletes who are excited about the opportunity to compete at their school. Consider your tone, confidence level, and leadership ability while you're talking to a coach.
Second, before you call, it's a good idea to practice. Role play with a friend or a parent the conversation you expect to have. The practice should help calm your nerves when you make the actual call.
Third, do your homework. Research the college and the coach before the call. A coach will be impressed if you know the specifics about his/her program.
Fourth, be prepared. Have a list of questions or a script in front of you when you call. Introduce yourself with your name, city, and high school. Ask specific questions about the program and your chance to compete. Ask the coach what your next steps should be in the recruiting process. Cover the basics during your first conversation with a coach. On second and third phone calls you can discuss more detailed information about the program.
Fifth, be ready to answer questions from the coach. Phone calls give coaches a chance to find out more about you. They're likely to ask what your strengths and weaknesses are, what other schools you're considering, what goals you have, and what you're looking for in a college.
Finally, be persistent. Coaches are busy, and you'll likely have to leave a few voicemails before finally reaching them. I know for me that it took four tries the first time I called a coach. Find out from the coach or an athletic secretary the best time to call. When leaving a message, let the coach know exactly what time you plan to call back.
The main thing you need to remember is to be confident! If you follow these simple rules, and add in a little bit of personality, the coach will have for sure enjoyed your conversation! Good Luck!
Word Count: 369 words
First, be enthusiastic and engaging. Coaches are looking for athletes who are excited about the opportunity to compete at their school. Consider your tone, confidence level, and leadership ability while you're talking to a coach.
Second, before you call, it's a good idea to practice. Role play with a friend or a parent the conversation you expect to have. The practice should help calm your nerves when you make the actual call.
Third, do your homework. Research the college and the coach before the call. A coach will be impressed if you know the specifics about his/her program.
Fourth, be prepared. Have a list of questions or a script in front of you when you call. Introduce yourself with your name, city, and high school. Ask specific questions about the program and your chance to compete. Ask the coach what your next steps should be in the recruiting process. Cover the basics during your first conversation with a coach. On second and third phone calls you can discuss more detailed information about the program.
Fifth, be ready to answer questions from the coach. Phone calls give coaches a chance to find out more about you. They're likely to ask what your strengths and weaknesses are, what other schools you're considering, what goals you have, and what you're looking for in a college.
Finally, be persistent. Coaches are busy, and you'll likely have to leave a few voicemails before finally reaching them. I know for me that it took four tries the first time I called a coach. Find out from the coach or an athletic secretary the best time to call. When leaving a message, let the coach know exactly what time you plan to call back.
The main thing you need to remember is to be confident! If you follow these simple rules, and add in a little bit of personality, the coach will have for sure enjoyed your conversation! Good Luck!
Word Count: 369 words
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