Parent Advice

DJ Cadden

While performance and execution are a fundamental necessity for the child when
it comes to getting recruited to play football at both a high school and college
level, it is not the only way to get recruited. As a parent, there are five
important ways that you can help your child best position themselves to get on
the radar by college coaches.

Create a database of coach contacts
A beneficial approach is to organize your child’s experience for college coaches
to access it easily. This can be done by creating a Hudl account for your child.
This way, you can organize your child’s contact with college coaches while
collecting field films to present to prospective coaches. College football
scouts constantly track their contacts and films that other student-athletes
submit. You need to do the same to stay ahead of the curve and increase success
for recruitment.


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Register for NCAA Clearinghouse
NCAA Division I and II levels are big leagues, with many student-athletes
attempting to get into. Because of this, you need to create the best and most
aggressive plan of attack to ensure that your child is noticed if you want them
to try for one of these divisions.

The best way to do this is to register them with the NCAA website. Make sure to
go to www.ncaa.com [http://www.ncaa.com] to register on their clearinghouse to
have your child certified with the NCAA. This process is a must-use. Although
there is a small fee to register, it will pay dividends in the long run if your
child can crack into the division, especially with the ability for scholarships
for playing.

The benefit of the NCAA Clearinghouse is it holds as an additional place to
store film and increase exposure for your child. Even if they plan on playing
Division III or are undecided about which level they would like to play, you can
still create an account for them on the website and boost that level of exposure
for them.

Ultimately, when addressing the ways of recruitment, there is no such thing as
too much exposure to become a football recruit.


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Don’t Get Too Involved
When helping your child get recruited, there is importance from the difference
between being involved and getting too involved. While it is crucial to involve
yourself within the recruitment process as a parent with your child, it is also
essential for your child as the frontrunner with their recruitment. College
coaches are continually looking at the parents’ involvement when recruiting. If
the coaches feel that the child doesn’t want to play the sport or get recruited
by a program and it is primarily the parents’ choice, they will notice this
immediately send out a cautionary red flag.

Often, the overarching level of involvement from the parent is a negative factor
towards the student-athletes success. The best approach to attempting this is to
sit down with your child, find out their top picks, and help motivate them to
continue the front-running in their recruitment process while addressing the
backend part.


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Help them Decide Which Division Level is the Best Fit for Them
Talking with your child about what division they may be interested in and what
division they are the best fit for is critical to ensuring that they are putting
their best foot forward.

Most student-athletes are only aware of Divison I and II of athletic programs
because of the media push from these programs. It’s important to encourage your
child to assess their strengths and their end goal. Developing around a
well-built Divison III school may mean that your child has more playing time
than a Divison I or II school. Along with division leagues such as the NAIA and
NJCAA, which have competitive athletic programs, athletes can earn scholarships
and have a lot of playtimes.

Building the complete sports resume
After discussing their division expectations and hopes, it is also important to
create and finalize their sports resume around their strengths.

Like a career resume, this will showcase their accomplishments and goals during
their high school career. This can be done through both a paper application and
a digital one. The benefits of this could allow you to add on your child’s Hudl
and NCAA account that you had created in the earlier steps.

This way, you can have a running list that shows both facets of your child as a
student and an athlete. Most people only look at the athletic perspective for
recruitment, but the significant factor has an athlete who is also focused on
their sports. When creating the resume, don’t limit it to strictly athletic
endeavors; be sure to include academic accomplishments as well.

After you have accomplished each step in this article, you will have a good get
forward to helping your child become a success story for football recruitment.
The more effort and material you give the recruitment team, the better your
child will have with a potential offer.

Be sure to also sign up for a free profile to access the largest network
specifically designed to connect athletes to opportunities.

How Parents Can Help You Get Recruited To Play College Football

Tiana Schoney

Many gymnasts go under the radar at their high schools due to the fact that a
majority of the schools in the United States, excluding the Midwest, do not have
a gymnastics team. Why is this the case? The number one reason for this is
because of the high costs of the sport in general. Even though high school
gymnastics is not popular, Club Gymnastics is rapidly becoming a more
sought-after sport. 

Monthly Practice Costs for Clubs
High level gymnasts are generally practicing twenty to thirty hours each week;
and this is year round. In gymnastics, there is no such thing as an off-season.
If a gymnast takes even a week off, they will pay for it later, physically and
mentally. Average monthly gym fees are around $400-$800.

Equipment
So why are these club gyms charging so much each month? To begin with, top of
the line gymnastics equipment is not cheap. Let's say that a gym has the very
basic equipment, which would be at least two sets of uneven bars, five balance
beams, two vaults, and one floor exercise. Add up all of these apparatuses,
padding, mats, trampolines, and all other needed accessories and we are easily
over $150,000. The equipment needs frequent maintenance and new parts. Of course
there is the regular building fees as well; things add up quickly.

Coaches and Trainers
 Monthly fees need to cover wages for the coaches, and many gyms have highly
qualified coaches training their athletes. Some of them are even former
Olympians or NCAA College Gymnastics Champions. If gymnasts want to win, they
need to be coached by the best. 

The amount of stress that gymnasts puts on their bodies is insane. There are
constant visits to athletic trainers, chiropractors, and even doctors for more
serious injuries can definitely increase the monthly bill. Several gymnasts
attend weekly visits to a mental health specialist as well. 

Competitions
In addition to monthly practice costs, gymnasts who are on a team will have
monthly team fees. For example, one gym has a team fee of $1,800 a month, which
covers the costs for competition entry fees, judge's fees, and coach's fees.
However, this does not include the gymnast's travel costs (hotels, gas, food,
flights, etc.). Club gymnastics teams can have five to eight competitions each
season, not including if they qualify for regional or national competitions.

Leotards and Grips 
Practice leotards range from $30-$60 each, and gymnasts are practicing at least
five days per week. Competition leotards can start at $100, but can cost up to
$400. Luckily most gyms keep competition leotards for more than one season.
Elite gymnasts have multiple competition leotards, however, if you are at this
level of gymnastics, you will have sponsors that cover these costs. Gymnastics
teams also have competition warm-up leotards with jackets and pants for in
between events. All of this can add up to another $300. 

Grips, devices worn on gymnast's hands on the uneven bars apparatus, are a
necessity for any gymnast who wants to serious swinging. These cost $70-$100 and
some gymnasts need these replaces every few months. 

Summer Camps
If you are a college bound gymnast, then attending a summer camp should be a top
priority. Some of the most popular camps, like Woodward, can be very costly,
starting at $1,400 per week. College camps are generally not a full week and
cost less, beginning at around $600. It is common for parents to send their
gymnasts to multiple camps each summer, especially if athletes are looking at
different colleges.

High Cost, High Reward
Despite all of these costs, if a gymnast is able to make it to Level 10 or
Elite, they will most likely earn a full-ride Division I scholarship. The long,
and expensive, journey will be worth it when an athlete is able to achieve their
goals.


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Gymnastics Recruiting: The Costs Of Trying To Be Recruited As A College Gymnast

Gymnastics in the U.S. is really good, and most Level 10 gymnasts can do a lot
of the same skills. When it comes down to it, one of the biggest things a
college coach looks for in a gymnast is character. They look at the person as a
whole, not just at their athletic ability. Coaches want to make sure these
gymnasts will fit in with the culture of the program, with similar ideals as the
team. But how could a collegiate coach possibly find out how genuine an athlete
truly is based on one recruiting trip or their Instagram account? 

Why attend a summer gymnastics camp?
When I asked several college coaches how they find their top athletes, I was
surprised when they all responded with the same answer: Summer Camps. They
explained that it is so beneficial for these coaches to actually be able to
coach and work with these gymnasts. 

Gymnastics is such a mental sport, so when looking for athletes to build up a
team, it is important to find gymnasts who are mentally tough, who are also team
players. Jamie Wysong, Assistant Coach at Southern Utah University explains, "
You could have the most talented kid in country, but [she] could tear the team
apart." One of the biggest questions a coach will ask is, "Will this athlete fit
in with the culture of our program?"

That is why camps are a great way for coaches to see an athlete's genuine self.
They want to see you in action, so attending your desired school's summer camp
is a necessity. That way they can see how you are as a person. Wysong goes on to
state, "If an athlete is having a rough day, how do they handle it? And how do
they interact with other gymnasts?" These are things they are able to observe
first-hand at summer camps. 

Of course character isn't the only thing they are looking at. Gymnasts with
strong basics and who are teachable are what many of these coaches look for. If
you start going to these camps at a young age, these coaches will see how you
learn and improve over the years. They will see your hard work and dedication.
Schools like Southern Utah University want gymnasts who have strong potential
and work ethic. "We can teach skills, so really it depends on if that gymnast is
willing to put in the work," Wysong explains. 

What are the best gymnastics camps?
One of the greatest aspects of a summer camp is that while each camp has
incredible facilities and coaches, the main priority is fun. Camps such as Flip
Fest [https://www.flipfest.com/], located in Tennessee, specifically state that
their goal is to not only equip young gymnasts to become great at gymnastics,
but to also excel in every other part of their lives. With the push for athletes
to have better mental health, Flip Fest provides team and character building
activities, along with outdoor recreation such as jet skiing and a high ropes
course. Learning new gymnastics skills is still the primary focus, but creating
a healthy balance and positive outlook on the sport is at the forefront.

Another popular choice is Woodward [https://www.woodwardpa.com/gymnastics-camp],
which has two locations, one in the heart of Pennsylvania, and the other two
hours north of Los Angeles. The camp is newly redesigned by former Olympian Aly
Raisman [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g504KhKOYmA]. Each of these summer
camps host at least twenty-five world renowned coaches, many being college
coaches scoping out potential recruits. 

While camps like Woodward and FlipFest are on the more expensive end, all
gymnastics collegiate programs host some shape or form of camp that generally
cost less. For example, The University of Georgia hosts the Courtney Kupets
Carter Gymnastics Camp [https://www.georgiagymnasticscamp.com/]. Kupets is
currently the Georgia GymDogs head coach and former Olympian. Check out your
desired school's website to find more information on their summer camp and
remember that registration begins early.

These camps can truly be life-changing. Former Division I gymnast, Brooke
Cersosimo, explains that the summer camp she attended over the years is the only
reason her college coach found her. "I was from a small town in South Dakota. He
watched my work ethic over the years and could see potential." Cersosimo walked
on to the team her freshmen year and the following year earned a full-ride
scholarship. Summer camp opened the door for this athlete and also created
memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

If you are serious about college gymnastics, attending a summer camp should be
number one on your list. Even if you aren't in high school yet, it is important
to start going to these camps to build relationships with coaches. This is an
excellent opportunity to create positive interactions with them and let your
personality shine.

Do summer gymnastics camps help gymnasts get recruited for college?

Max Browne

Questions I get all the time while evaluating even the best high school players.
What do I need to do to get recruited? What are the tricks to help me be seen? 

The reality is there are no tricks to it. It's not a riddle and it isn't rocket
science, but there are a few things you can do - today - to secure more offers.
And I'm going to share three of the EASIEST things you can do to help get on a
college roster during this wild year.

But, before we dive in, I want to start by saying: 

If you want to get recruited, that means you have to be in the top percentile of
high school football players - among the best of the best in your school, your
district, and your state.

And the reality is, if you get a scholarship, another kid, sitting where you are
right now, will not. So take it seriously. It's a hard business and it is
serious stuff that affects many more than just yourself.

With that being said, let's get to it. Here are three things every high schooler
should do if they want to get recruited:


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Get In The Weight Room Early
Be proactive with this process. If college football is your goal - try to tap in
and invest in yourself. All this training - all this weight room stuff - is an
investment in yourself up to have the most success in those crucial junior and
senior seasons.

I've seen it time and time again, where the light clicks for a guy in his junior
year of high school. By then, they've missed years of opportunity to get better
and get in the circles of trainers or 7-on-7 teams or recruiting site
professionals.

The trick is to get in as soon as you can, even before you enter high school, so
you become known in that space. And when your game progresses a few years later,
coaches aren't saying, "Hey, who's this new kid?" Instead, they recognize you
and say, "We've known him. He's been around cycles before."


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Edit Your Game Footage And Create Highlights
Honestly, this should probably be tip number one, because if you do not have
film, - if you do not have actual production to show - it is very hard to get
recruited. Now, you can get this from 7-on-7 games. You can get video from
camps. And now, in 2020, you can submit every workout to coaches with GMTM
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals]. But, wherever you are playing, start collecting all
of your film as soon as possible.

Another tip is to edit the film you share with coaches. Your first 15 to 20
plays should be your best 15 to 20 plays. I don't care who you are. When a coach
evaluates your film, their time is extremely precious. You don't want to waste
their time. Every play they watch should help your brand and what you have to
offer move forward.

One of the best types of advice I got is don't put a throw on your film that
every quarterback in your conference could make early on in your highlight film.

Every second is so precious in your highlight film. Don't waste it, cut out dead
space and make sure your highlight film is super tight. And pick plays that
showcase your skill set. Use your film to prove why you are a game changer and
you deserve a scholarship on that coaches team.


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Play Another Sport
We live in this world where parents are pushed to specialize their kids. And in
this one, PARENTS, I'm talking to you, too. Parents push their kids to only play
quarterback. They do training year around. They play football in the fall and
they do weekend training. Focusing so much on one position and one sport, I'm
not a fan of that. 

And I don't think college coaches are either for a couple of reasons. One, you
become a very single lane athlete. If you are only training at quarterback or
defensive back or offensive line all the time, your athleticism naturally takes
a hit. 

> "Look at Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes, or Kyler Murray - all guys who were
focused on baseball into college. That different type of athleticism from other
sports and ability to create plays outside of a script will has made them HOF
quarterbacks." - Max Browne
I, for instance, was heavily recruited as a QB since I was a kid, but I made
sure I kept playing basketball. It kept me mobile. It kept me active. It kept my
body doing different movements. And when your body's changing that as a
teenager, that's really important. If you can go out there and compete and show
college coaches that you're just an athlete and a gamer, they're more likely to
give you a shot.

It's also super important to prevent burnout. So often, kids can burn out late
in high school or they burn out later in college. The game they've loved forever
eventually fades because they're working so hard. Be self aware and make sure
you're still having fun.

Also, if you're struggling to put film together on the football field, you
better be playing other sports. That highlight on the basketball court or the
soccer field or the track that a coach can find on GMTM can change the
trajectory of your football recruitment.


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*Max Browne [https://gmtm.com/articles/author/max-browne] is a former 5-star
quarterback and Elite 11 [https://gmtm.com/organizations/246655/elite-11] 
finalist. He was a starting QB at USC and battled daily with Sam Darnold, before
finishing his college career at Pitt. Max now lives in LA, working as an analyst
for USC and GMTM.

Three Easiest Things High School Athletes Can Do To Get Recruited

Grace White

What are the top volleyball injuries and what are the best tips to avoid them?
As volleyball involves continuous overhead motions, such as spiking, blocking
and setting, players are prone to overuse injuries of the shoulder. In addition,
volleyball players are particularly susceptible to finger injuries.


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Rotator Cuff Injuries
The biggest shoulder injury is rotator cuff tendinitis. So during serving and
spiking, the rotator cuff muscles are important in bringing about the necessary
strength to move the shoulder. Most of the time the muscles aren’t completely
torn, they can become extremely irritated and overused.

The first thing to do in helping reduce or fully remove pain is get a lot of
rest and use physical therapy devices or even services. Of course, if the pain
continues on you should talk to your physician.


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Finger Injuries
Finger injuries are very common when it comes to blocking, spiking, digging and
setting. The most common are fractures, dislocations as well as tendon and
ligament tears.

If you are unable to bend the finger, consultation with your sports medicine
professional or athletic trainer is important. Treatment can change
significantly depending on the injury. 


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Ankle Injuries
Next up we have the most common volleyball injury known, the ankle. Almost every
ankle sprain needs an 8-week span of day to day rehabilitation exercises in
order to decrease the risk of re-injury.

Usually, these injuries can mostly be treated with a brace, physical therapy or
at home rehabilitation exercises and on rare occasions may need to be tended
through surgery. Often if operation is needed it could be due to subtle
fractures or cartilage injuries.

Definitely, if you have continued pain after a few weeks, you should get seen
for further evaluation. If you are having no pain and are able to support your
own body weight then you should be able to continue playing.


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Patellar Tendinitis
Another common injury is called patellar tendinitis. Basically what this is, is
inflammation of the tendon that connects the kneecap to the tibia (or shin
bone). This knee injury is common with any athlete that does any repetitive,
forceful jumping activities, such as spiking and blocking.

Patellar tendon straps can really help with releasing the stress to the tendon
and are often the first line of treatment. Physical therapy and athletic
training services that focus on stretching and strengthening are also helpful.

Paying good attention to landing from jumping in rehabilitation can be very
beneficial. Very rarely, patellar tendinitis continues even after therapy and
then surgery is required.


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ACL Tears
Let’s talk about the commonly heard of ACL injury. Like ankle sprains, most ACL
injuries in volleyball players occur when a player lands awkwardly after
jumping.

Usually, if you hear a ‘pop’ followed by swelling of the knee you should go
ahead and be seen by a physician to get an examination. Often an exam and an MRI
are what's needed to confirm the ACL injury.

Because ACL tears do not heal, those hoping to return to sports activities are
encouraged to have the ACL reconstructed. Recovery time is usually at least 6-9
months.

There are training exercises that would help to prevent the risk of this injury.
However, it is important to speak with a qualified athletic trainer or physician
before joining in on these activities.


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Lower Back Pain
Lastly, let's talk about lower back pain. The cause of most low back pain is
related to muscle or ligament strain. As the lower back is a usual source of
continuous pain among volleyball players, the pain usually does resolve with
rest, physical therapy and athletic training services.

If you are having lower back pain that goes down through your legs and/or a numb
and weak feeling in the foot or ankle, then there could potentially be a
herniated disk. If this is the case for you, a great next step would be to get
an MRI.

Most of the time players can return to playing once there is no pain, weakness
or numbing feelings. If there is continued pain for longer than a month, being
seen by a physician is a very great idea.


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The best tips on how to prevent volleyball related injuries are to use correct
strength training exercises for the lower back, shoulders, and legs. Definitely
using an ankle brace or even taping to prevent from sprain your ankle is huge.
Try not to do a lot of jump training on hard surfaces.

Something that can be very very helpful is to warm up by stretching and doing
light aerobic exercises, this is also very helpful after your workout. Always
remember that if you are having pain, please visit your doctor for whatever
treatment may be needed.

Six Most Common Volleyball Injuries & How To Prevent Them

Scotty Jenkins

It's an incredible year to begin your college/university life while having a
passion for playing sports. Did you know each school is under a division level
based on the budget in the athletic program and the school's size? If your
school was category as Division III, you feel upset because their budget cut is
small with no scholarships.




However, it doesn't stop you from playing sports to represent their school and
community. Division III is the largest group in the National Colligate Athletic
Association with over 180,000 institutions. If you're still not convinced that
Division III sports can benefit your needs, here are ten shocking facts about
them and perhaps give you second thoughts.




The Coaches values their Athletes' Education




As much as you love to compete in sports, these coaches stay on top of your
grades.

Unlike Division I and II sports, your education is a priority before any
activity, including competing in sports. At any point, your coaches pull you to
the side and ask about your classes. Mainly, they wanted you to take time away
from competition until the grades have improved.




Athletes can Balance their Schedule




Going to a Division III school, you'll have the ability to balance your schedule
in studies, social life, and sports. Instead of focusing on your competition
more than studies, they want you to find time for yourself and any activity,
such as socializing with friends, studying for tests and exams, exercising,
walking or jobbing around the community, and more.




Shorter Breaks through each Game Season




As a result of the small budget in their athletic programs, athletes have
shorter game nights throughout each semester. Allows them to do other
activities, study, and relax.




Less Travelling




Division III sports don't offer travel to other colleges/universities for game
nights. Although, it allows you as a student-athletes to explore their school
and community in the time being before and after game night.




Achieve like a Professional Athlete




In Division III sports, passion is more important than fame and population.
Competing in sports is a passion you have sparked since day one, and imagine
yourself making it to the professional field in basketball, football, baseball,
ice hockey, and more. If you continue to put in the hard work, you'll become a
pro before or after college/university life.




Discover your Potentials




There are millions of activities you can get involved in other than sports. As
student-athletes, you're experiencing social life to help the community or find
interesting hobbies you like to try.




Less Exposure to Live Television




Have you felt pressure from fans watching you and your team live? Did you feel
humiliated after losing a game? You don't have to worry about being on live TV
each game night as Division III sports barely exposure. Without reporters
following you daily, enjoy life as a student-athlete and explore multiple
hobbies to do.




Explore Sports the school offers




As we mention, less exposure equals less pressure and more freedom. You want to
try different sports you have never heard of or experienced. As long as you keep
up with your studies, trying other sports will help you grow as an athlete.




Playing Sports for Passion, not Famous




Do you remember being famous in high school? Did you achieve through talent or
being part of the team? When you want to gain fame from joining a sports team,
your peers will judge you or steal your spotlight. However, playing sports for
passion created a strong community between you and your peers. They'll look up
to you as their rising star to bring in more students to attend their school and
compete for the team.

Ten Things Division III Sports Offer Student-Athletes

Whether you believe it or not, the spring season might be starting to give the
fall a run for its money as the most exciting time for high school football. Of
course, nothing can replace the Friday night lights, the fans, and seeing effort
and talent reflected on the field. But, when it comes to your own personal
success in the game of football, how you handle and promote yourself between
your last game of the season and summer camp can mean the difference in where
you play next.

Football camps big and small have become the events where serious recruits and
talented second-string players can move the needle for college scouts and
coaches. And from February to June, you better be networking and making the most
of what camps and the coaches there can offer you heading into your next
football season.

Football camps have only grown in popularity over the last decade and have
become a stage where individual players can showcase talent, coachability, and
leadership skills away from their high school coaches and teammates. Events like 
Elite11 [https://gmtm.com/organizations/246655/elite-11], The Show by NextGen
[https://gmtm.com/organizations/31459/nxgn], and a few other All-American camps
have in some ways replaced the stats gained through a high school football
season. For a talented few, they’ve even been the difference maker between
playing college football at the Division-II level
[/how-does-a-football-camp-work-and-why-they-are-so-important-to-college-recruiting/gmtm.com/articles/tag/division-ii/] 
and receiving interest from a few of the best Power-5 programs
[/how-does-a-football-camp-work-and-why-they-are-so-important-to-college-recruiting/gmtm.com/articles/tag/power-5/]
.

But before we get into what helps an athlete gain that interest and exposure,
it’s important to understand how a football camp works and how each different
group is involved.


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What is a football camp?
A typical football camp is usually a one-or-two-day talent identification event
where the best high school football athletes in the freshman, sophomore, and
junior classes are invited to display their talent and learn from experienced
trainers and coaches. Throughout the day, athletes are separated into position
groups, compete in drills, listen to advice from coaches, and reenact real game
scenarios in order to add context for recruiters.

A typical camp could range from a hundred to several hundred or even a thousand
athletes. Because of the size of the talent pool and the number of coaches
needed to help and evaluate those players, it is essential for athletes to
maintain a game mentality and pay attention in order to succeed and
differentiate themselves.

Very few football camps come without an up-front cost to attend or travel
expenses, which is why each one should be taken seriously as an investment in
the future of the athlete in the sport.


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What do high school athletes get out of a football camp?
As we stated above, football camps have quickly evolved into one of the most
important aspects of college football recruiting where athletes can gain
exposure and learn from coaches and trainers who have been through the process
before. A football camp is a cornucopia of talent where individual athletes
attend in order to be analyzed and ranked by coaches and scouts.

Through a variety of individual positions drills like passing, route running,
blocking fundamentals, and defensive work, players from every part of the field
are able to learn and develop quickly with other top players in their region.

There are also valuable metrics that are measured and recorded helping players
with speed, strength, and explosiveness to shine above similar athletes in their
position. These activities include the 40-yard-dash, the 5-10-5 drill, shuttle
runs, vertical jumps, and others. Similar to how the NFL Combine works, these
drills are essential to how football athletes are assessed and every player
should not only practice these but work to always be developing these skills.
These drills can help a relatively underrated player stand out quickly at a camp
and gain a reputation as the leader among the group.

Along with these drills, football camps also offer one of the most important
opportunities for high school athletes - another opportunity to compete in a
game setting. Through one-on-one matchups for wide receivers and defensive backs
or offensive linemen and defensive rushers, athletes are able to show college
coaches and scouts how they match up to the talented players across from them.

The mini battles may seem repetitive in the scheme of the whole day but within
each one, evaluators are able to reinforce some of the intangibles that are so
difficult to assess in a live game setting or on film with limited context. Most
high school football players are not facing off against the best talent in their
region in a typical game during the fall season, so head-to-head dills or 7-on-7
games essentially add film and game experience college staffs love to see.

Because of the competitive atmosphere and real-time coaching athletes receive,
football camps have become an essential part of the recruiting and development
processes that coaches and scouts at the next level pay attention to.


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What do coaches, trainers, and scouts get out of a football camp?
Football camps are a huge part of the evaluation process for college football
recruits. The real-game scenarios, metrics, and athlete relationships that are
collected in the course of a one or two-day football camp are essential to
player rankings and organization before the fall football season begins.
Essentially, the in-person football camps that happen from February to June
offer an insight into which players are worth watching when the high school
football season begins in August. If you miss your chance to shine in the
spring, it might take a record-setting performance in the regular season for you
to get attention from scouts in the regular season.

Another major reason why football camps are so important for coaches and
trainers is that the offseason is the only time they get to meet players outside
of their how area and impart their knowledge to the next generation of football
athletes.

If you are from a small town or not connected to coaches and trainers on social
media, it is very rare that you will cross paths with them unless they are
coaching the opposing team in a regular-season game. Coaches love the way
football camps bring exciting talent to them and offer an opportunity for
everyone to wear the same color jersey and network.

Football camps also offer a way for those trainers and coaches to find new
clients to work with throughout the rest of the year. Most of the major Power-5
recruits work with an individual position coach who can help them develop away
from their school-organized practices. The sooner you can meet these coaches and
seriously think about how you are learning and developing at your position, the
more likely you are to succeed and be talked about among these scouts and
coaches.

What do colleges get out of a football camp?
A huge portion of high school athletes who are recruited to major college
football programs don’t earn their spot on the team through high school game
film. It certainly helps to put up stats, but these coaches want to see how hard
you work off of the field, how athletic you are without your pads, and what kind
of metrics you record when everyone is watching.

You can succeed without attending these camps, but it makes the process that
much harder. College coaches need multiple opinions and proof of your
competitiveness and athleticism. These camps and the dozens of trusted coaches
and scouts there offer valuable info to those who decide which athletes will
earn a scholarship offer.

Another reason colleges love football camps is the way in which athletes are put
into uncomfortable situations and forced to react. Without the speed of a normal
game or the pads to conceal how a player really moves and uses their body,
scouts and college coaches are able to get a view of an athlete that game film
doesn’t offer.

Football camps are as much about revealing an athlete's football IQ and the way
they react to new systems as they are about showcasing athleticism. When you
play within one offense for an entire football season, coaches rarely get to see
how you function in a different system. Football camps allow them to get a
glimpse at whether you would be an asset to the way their team plays the game.

How does a football camp work? And why they are so important to college recruiting

Rebekah Morris

No matter how talented or hardworking you are as an athlete, there are ways to
boost your recruitment in order to get noticed by colleges, universities, and
recruiters that you're looking to play volleyball for. Volleyball recruiting is
incredibly competitive, but there are many different levels to continue on to
play after high school and if you're seriously interested in playing, you can do
it! Here are some tips that will help boost your recruitment: 

1) Create a short, yet impactful highlight film
Having film for recruiters and coaches to watch is important. Instead of
creating a highlight video of simply all your best kills, blocks, serves, or
passes in a micro-edited film, it is also best to show some longer clips as
well. Certainly include those great kills, blocks, passes, wherever your
strength is, show it! 

Along with your highlights, be sure to include clips and film that also show how
you overcome adversity during a match. Pick a few other excerpts of game film
that show your body language, how you interact with your teammates, what you do
when you fail, and ultimately, how you compete on the floor during AND between
points.

> 2021 Alamo Hot Shot Highlights for Alamo 16P's Katie Hill 
pic.twitter.com/U4o5qHnUDJ [https://t.co/U4o5qHnUDJ]

— Alamo Volleyball (@AlamoVB) January 19, 2021
[https://twitter.com/AlamoVB/status/1351625472988340226?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
A lot of coaches will be impressed with your talent, but they're not just
looking for talent. They're looking for someone who will work hard, have a good
attitude, and fit well with their team.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2) Research the Roster
Is it your goal to play for a nationally ranked team? Or maybe attend your dream
school as a student-athlete? If so, before you sink your teeth too deeply into
the idea, look into the roster.

This is so important! Researching the roster at a college can show you how deep
your position is on the team.

> Unbelievably excited to call ND home. Go Irish!!☘️ https://t.co/UQDwzVg9Fr

— paris thompson (@paristhompson12) November 13, 2020
[https://twitter.com/paristhompson12/status/1327106016169824256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
If you're a setter and there's only two other setters, and both are seniors,
that sounds like you have a great chance of playing for that team as an
underclassman. But, on the contrary, if the team you're looking at already have
a setter in each class and you know they run a 5-1, then you might have to
decide if playing time is more important than attending your dream school. 

Winning your spot on the floor isn't impossible, but with a deep roster on a
college team, you'll certainly be tested every practice. Being realistic about
your place on the team is an important aspect to consider as you look for a
place to play college volleyball. 

> The stage is set. pic.twitter.com/u2wATsRlxD [https://t.co/u2wATsRlxD]

— Husker Volleyball (@Huskervball) January 22, 2021
[https://twitter.com/Huskervball/status/1352617019137552385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
You should also find out how big the recruiting class is for your upcoming
freshmen season and who is included in that group as well. While a team may have
open spots with a lot of graduating seniors, those positions could be filled
quickly with other incoming freshmen who want to compete for that spot.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3) Watch and Learn
When you're in between seasons or have time on your hands, it's always a great
idea to keep watch on the players that you wish to play like. Watch videos on
Youtube, watch college volleyball games, and attend volleyball games when you
can. By watching you learn and your volleyball IQ will get greater. You might
understand that elbow-pop dig off a block after watching it, or the form of
great blockers that you haven't seen before, or the amazing serve you will one
day imitate. Immersing yourself into the realm of volleyball will enable you to
have more "smarts" with the way the game is played.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5) Play on a Club Team
Because both high school and college volleyball are during the fall season
(usually, when not in a pandemic) coaches typically don't have a lot of time to
do recruiting, and so usually do more recruiting doing spring JO season. They
will attend, or send assistant coaches to attend, tournaments where there are
numerous competitive teams playing. And playing during both seasons will
definitely give you an advantage and increase in your volleyball level. The more
volleyball you play– the better!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4) Stay Active
When transitioning from playing high school volleyball to college, the biggest
difference athletes claim that is different than high school is the attention to
weight lifting and working out.

> Clemson VB🏐commit Jacyn Bamis just getting it DONE!🔥🔥#BKcrew
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/BKcrew?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] #contrast
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/contrast?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] #power
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/power?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] #strength
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/strength?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw] What are
your goals and are you working hard enough to get there??👍🏼👍🏾💯 
pic.twitter.com/1InyYXHDkn [https://t.co/1InyYXHDkn]

— Tommy Boyer-Kendrick (@TommyB_K) January 20, 2021
[https://twitter.com/TommyB_K/status/1351951799637352449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
Every college sports team has a weight lifting program that is expected to
follow and you want to give the impression to the recruiters that you are
active, healthy, and willing to work hard in the gym.

> Spokane ———> TigerTown 

✍️ Jacyn Bamis is CLEMSON COMMITTED 🐾 pic.twitter.com/eAUtb3JhJ3
[https://t.co/eAUtb3JhJ3]

— Clemson Volleyball 🏐 (@ClemsonVB) November 12, 2020
[https://twitter.com/ClemsonVB/status/1326864841408131077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

These steps can help boost your recruitment to not only get noticed by a
recruiter or coach, but to have them think yes, they want you playing for their
team!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rebekah Morris [http://gmtm.com/articles/author/rebekah-morris] is a
contributing volleyball writer for GMTM. She played college volleyball for
Minnesota-Morris and now coaches at the high school level, helping to empower
the next generation of volleyball athletes.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Volleyball Players: Here are Four Ways to Boost Your Recruitment

Aria Modirmassihai

It is every athlete's worst nightmare, you work hard and train for months in the
offseason to prepare for the season. Finally, the time comes for all your hard
work to pay off, and then out of nowhere, you're forced to sit on the sidelines
with an injury.

All of those hours in the gym for nothing and all the prospects for a successful
season gone. Every year millions of athletes are forced to deal with this harsh
reality and have their dreams crushed.

So how can you minimize your chances of dealing with a season-ending injury?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

What are the most common and devastating types of sports injuries?
* Joint injuries such as ankle sprains, knee sprains, tennis elbow, and more. 
* Ligament and tendon tears such as ACL, MCL, Meniscus, and Achilles tears.
* Muscle strains such as hamstring or quadriceps strains.
* Bone injuries such as dislocations, fractures, or bruises. Overuse related
injuries such as shin splints or carpal tunnel.
* These, along with many other categories, are very common among athletes after
years of high-level activity. In fact, if you have been playing sports at a
high level throughout your life it is very likely you have experienced at
least 1 of these in the past. 


What are the best ways to lower your chances of a sports injury? 
* Warming Up Before Workouts & Competitions

The biggest thing that athletes, especially amateurs, neglect is proper warming
up and cooling down. Taking the time to properly warm and wake up your muscles
greatly helps prevent muscle strains. And just a few minutes of post-workout
stretching and icing have the same effect.

* Drink Water & Hydrate Often

Hydration is also key to keeping muscles from cramping and tearing during
cardio. Carrying around a large jug of water can help keep you from leaving an
event early with a muscle cramp. Hydration also plays a key role in muscle
building.

* Maintain A Steady Workout Plan

Having an all-around workout plan that exercises the muscles you use on the
field is essential. Lifting weights, cardio, endurance, flexibility, or any
other training alone is going to be enough to keep your body healthy. You need
to make sure every area of your athleticism is up to par. This will help keep
your bones and tendons strong and prevent breaks or tears.

* Stretch Only To Get Loose

Overstretching is a major cause of pulls and strains to various muscle groups,
and can greatly hinder performance. Listen to your body and don't push your
limits too much while stretching. Overstretching a muscle is both very easy and
very dangerous to do. 


A common trait of student athletes is impatience. Match this with stubbornness
and the result usually is an athlete bypassing the proper rehab timeline to get
back to playing too soon. This is the most common way that injuries become
reaggravated and eventually become permanent. Make sure that, if you do sustain
an injury, you do not make it worse by rushing to get back to your sport. While
in the short-term this gets you back to playing faster, in the long run, it is
a
sure-fire way to keep you sidelined for longer stretches.





[https://www.gmtm.com/sign-up/]

How Athletes Can Avoid High School Sports Injuries

Athletes get discovered in a variety of ways that don’t always have to do with
their stats in the regular season.Through camps and offseason showcases, high
school football athletes can earn interest from colleges by drawing attention to
their intangibles, their competitiveness, or even just showing off their speed
and strength in a verified setting.

 * More Articles On This Topic: How does a football camp work?
   [https://gmtm.com/articles/how-does-a-football-camp-work-and-why-they-are-so-important-to-college-recruiting]

Here are a few examples of how a football recruit can go from being under the
radar to earning multiple stars in one offseason.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Word of Mouth Is The Key To Recruiting
When you’re competing in a high school football season in your hometown,
sometimes it can be difficult to get your name out there. Unless you’re playing
big name opponents in the top division or putting up stats that make your school
rewrite the record books, gaining exposure and interest from college coaches can
be difficult. Tens of thousands of athletes are sharing their weekly film with
coaches on social media and it’s hard for everybody to keep up.

The offseason camp circuit, though, puts you in the center of the spotlight,
without pads or a helmet, to showcase your talent and personality for coaches
and scouts.

At a camp, a high school football athlete will meet a dozen coaches who will
have a different opinion of what that recruit might be able to do. If you are
putting your best foot forward at a camp, your name will be elevated by those
coaches and you will be accomplishing the first task every major recruit has to
do… become part of the conversation.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Coaches And Scouts Want To Find You
Within a football camp, it can seem like chaos. At each corner of the football
field, there are hundreds of athletes that look just like you, each doing a
different set of drills in front of a handful of accomplished coaches, scouts,
and college recruiters. It can seem like a huge hurdle to be seen, let alone be
given the attention you think your talent deserves.

But, don’t get discouraged. The coaches and scouts at these major football camps
know just what they are doing. They know how to organize and evaluate each
athlete who performs a drill or competes in a head-to-head matchup. They’ve been
in your shoes and they’ve worked through the ranks as a football recruit
themselves.

Furthermore, these coaches are at these camps because they want to find the next
great athletes. It’s their job to recognize the great talent and share those
opinions with college football coaches. These football camps are a major part of
any college football programs recruiting process and the coaches and scouts
standing on the turf with you are an essential part of that.

When you are at a camp, compete as hard as you can. When a coach is teaching
you, listen and remember that they are judging your coachability as much as your
talent. When you are networking with scouts and other players, be yourself and
show that you are a good person who deserves a chance to shine at the next
level. From the moment you show up to a camp, you need to be on mentally and
physically because out there on the field are the movers and shakers that could
lead you to your next step in the recruiting journey.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Distinguish Yourself From Others At Your Position
It’s no secret that each camp you attend is an opportunity that shouldn’t be
wasted. While coaches and scouts are doing their best to honestly evaluate every
player on the field, you need to help yourself be seen to. Football camps and
recruiting showcases are about raw talent, but at the same time, who doesn’t
love the highlights and excitement that comes with them. These camps are as much
a place to celebrate everything that makes being a football so exciting as they
are to earn a star on your recruiting profile.

If you are a quiet kid, when you attend a camp you need to push yourself to be
louder. Whether it is how hard you compete or speaking up to demonstrate your
leadership abilities, you need to adapt to the situation in order to be noticed.

On the other hand, if you are a flashy player who loves getting in the face of
everybody who lines up against you,camps may not be the best place to show that
side of yourself. Yes, coaches love a competitor, but don’t let that come ahead
of this opportunity to listen and learn from the camp coaches and even the other
athletes.

All in all, football camps and exposure events should be a fun and an exciting
way to network with coaches and scouts while seeing where you stack up to the
other position players in your class. Just be sure you’re letting your game do a
majority of the talking, because a negative reputation among these needle movers
who are evaluating you can be a difficult thing to shake before your recruitment
ends.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shoot For Awards and Recognition at the Camp
The easiest way to distinguish yourself at a camp is to try to win camp awards
or gain recognition for a particular drill or talent. If you can head home with
an award for your defensive abilities or Camp MVP honors for your performance
throughout the weekend, that is something coaches and scouts won’t forget. These
awards and recognition show that the camp coaches discussed you and decided you
deserved to be shouted out.

Better yet, earning this kind of recognition is a certain way to earning an
invite to the next camp this group is hosting. Better than taking home a trophy
or plaque, knowing that your talent earned you a spot at another exposure camp
down the road is a huge momentum builder for you and your reputation. And many
of the coaches who decided to honor you will be at the next camp, checking in on
your progress and telling a new group of scouts and college coaches about how
much potential you have.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make Sure To Use Social Media After The Camp
Whether you left the camp with MVP honors or only caught a few passes, the most
important part of the camp might be happening after the lights are turned out.

After the camp, it is so important to keep the momentum going for yourself and
connect on social media with the coaches and scouts you met while at the camp.
If you had a great showing, tell them you’d love to be a part of the next
exposure event they have on their schedule. If you didn’t have a great showing,
message them and say how much you appreciated the coaching and the insight they
offered you. No matter how you performed in the weekend you were with a coach or
scout in-person, a thoughtful message following up with them can make a big
impression.

Along with that, reach out to anyone who might have been filming at the camp and
ask if they have footage of you. Posting videos on GMTM and Twitter of how you
battled with a big-name recruit or how well you ran routes can help you reach a
ton of new coaches who may not have been able to attend the camp. Through social
media, you can find new opportunities and maintain relationships with the
coaches and scouts you meshed with while attending the camp.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

When it comes to being discovered or gaining exposure, it is important to
understand the process. Not even the best NFL players were able to gain interest
from colleges without putting in the work and representing themselves.

Attending a camp is just one step in the process, but if you learn and
understand how high school recruits are talked about and evaluated, it will make
the journey less intimidating. Most of the work it takes to be recruited as a
high school football player happens away from the field without your pads or
helmet on. Embrace the process and you will undoubtedly have more opportunities
at bigger programs that reveal themselves to you.

How do athletes get discovered at football prospect camps?

Johnathan Wright

The college soccer recruiting process can be extremely competitive, and
unfortunately, it does not always come down to how well you perform on the
field. According to the NCAA
[http://www.ncaa.org/about/resources/research/estimated-probability-competing-college-athletics]
, only 5.6% of high school players make the jump to play in college.

In order to give yourself a chance at becoming a part of the 5.6%, you will need
to be extremely proactive and assertive. Begin the process early; high school
athletes can begin speaking to college coaches after June 15th of their
sophomore year.

#6 Johnathan Wright battling Jordan MorrisBefore completing any of the steps
below, it is essential to plan and do research. Look up the schools you would
want to play college soccer for, is it a big or small school, do they have the
major you want to study,  is it in a part of the U.S. you would like to live in?

Make a school list separated into your dream schools, and then your fall back
schools — the school in your hometown or a lower division than you are shooting
for. Remember that the more schools you reach out to, the higher the chance that
one will recruit you, so cast a wide net.

Here are 5 Tips To Help Get Attention From College Coaches:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#1 You are the one trying to play, not your parents
When communicating with college soccer coaches, you need to ensure that you
always reply and talk to coaches on the phone, not your parents. You are the one
that will be playing and attending the school, so it is vital that coaches
genuinely know you are interested.

If you have your parents do all the talking, then coaches will not take you
seriously.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#2 Have game film 
When reaching out to a coach, one of the first questions they will ask is, do
you have any game film?

It does not have to be professional filming. Just have your parents or friends
grab a camera and track your positioning on the field.

> All you high school athletes - Nick Saban just said he watches EVERY SINGLE PLAY
of his recruits HIGH SCHOOL CAREER on film. Think abt that!

— Anthony Savage (@Savage_ADS) November 4, 2013
[https://twitter.com/Savage_ADS/status/397179608933486592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
A player can hype himself up as much as he wants, but a coach will always need
to see your game film in order to move forward with the recruiting process.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#3 Give coaches your playing schedule
Make sure that coaches are aware of your showcase and tournament schedules.

College soccer coaches dedicate a certain amount of resources for recruiting
trips, so try to factor yourself into their trips by attaching your playing
schedule to every email you send.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#4 No need to go to college ID camps, unless you are invited
Often, college ID camps are just a fundraising ploy for the college soccer
programs.

Unless the college is in your home town or the coaches explicitly request you to
attend the ID camp, it is not worth spending the extra money for hotels and
travels. Just continue to send game film along with your updated showcase and
tournament schedule.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

#5 Academics are just as important as your playing ability
Grades are just as crucial in the college soccer recruiting process as your
playing ability. The minimum GPA for an incoming athlete to compete at the NCAA
Division I level is 2.3 or higher. It required that one earns a 900 or higher on
the SAT or a sum score of 75 on the ACT, via National Scouting Report
[https://www.nsr-inc.com/scouting-news/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-ncaa-gpa-requirements/#:~:text=The%20minimum%20GPA%20required%20to%20compete%20at%20the,is%20what%20the%20NCAA%20calls%20the%20sliding%20scale.]
.

> Dear High School Athletes Care About Your Test Scores(SAT/ACT) & Grades The Same
Way U Do About Your Play!!!!! 💪🏾 #WinningFormula
[https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinningFormula?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]

— Plies (@plies) August 5, 2019
[https://twitter.com/plies/status/1158503059842129920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw]
As great as it is to want to earn a full-ride scholarship, the reality of that
happening is low. DI college soccer programs have just 9.9 full scholarships
that get split amongst the team.

Having a high GPA will allow you to earn additional scholarship money through
academics, making you more attractive to college coaches.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ALSO READ: How Many Scholarships Does Each Collegiate Sport Offer? | GMTM
[https://gmtm.com/articles/how-many-scholarships-each-collegiate-sport-offers]

5 Tips To Help Get Recruited To Play College Soccer

One of the most unique things happening in sports right now is the development
of athletes at earlier ages. High school athletes who receive offers to play
Division I sports look like they could run circles around the pro athletes of
just a few decades ago.

Most of that early development is due to the average athlete being introduced to
strength training at an earlier age.

Whether it is resistance drills with their siblings in the backyard or learning
how to do a squat before they get their training wheels off, kids are more
exposed to fitness and strength than ever. And that means parents need to know
the pros and cons.

Here are five things every parent should consider before their little one starts
bulking up:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starting Younger Is Almost Always Better
Training the muscles your child is using in sports is the most responsible thing
they can do to help them succeed and remain active for longer. It offers your
child an edge on the field, helps them develop control over their mind and
bodies, and limits the number of injuries due to fatigue.

At the same time, this rule is not always the best one to follow. If a child is
small for their class or underdeveloped for their age group, speak with their
physician before taking them to the gym. While age 7 or 8 is an acceptable time
to start strength training, doing too much too early can have lasting negative
effects.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make Strength Training Fun
While they are young, kids have to have time to be kids. While they may talk
about wanting to become great, it is a parent or coach's responsibility to make
the start of the process fun.

Instead of taking them to a crowded gym, find an outdoor space to see who can
run up the hill faster or who can hop the longest on one leg. Frog squats,
pushups, burpies, crab walks and bear crawls are all low impact ways for
children below age ten to build important muscles.

Additionally, being more creative in how you introduce strength training to
young athletes can help curb the fatigue of playing and training for sports.
When kids find training fun, they'll naturally become a better teammate and
competitor.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Make Sure Your Child Is Interested In Lifting
For most kids who dream of playing in the NFL or winning an Olympic gold medal,
the reality of how that happens is not in the front of their mind. To excel in
any sport, from Table Tennis to Rock Climbing to Handball, developing the right
muscles and learning how to train is one of the most essential parts.

But, as you introduce weightlifting and strength training to a young athlete, it
is important that they are interested and understand the benefits. If weight
training is a chore, look for ways to make it more fun. If its intimidating and
hard, reinforce them by telling them it is part of the process and no
professional athlete got their without sacrifice.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starting To Lift In High School Is Too Late
The number one rule for young athletes is to start weight training before
starting high school. Experts say that if you wait until a high school coach
introduces lifting to an athlete, they can be as far as ten years behind other
athletes in their class.

Be cautious of how and when you introduce weight-lifting to children, but above
all, make sure you are giving them a chance. Education and monitoring is vital
before your child steps into the squat rack, but introducing it to them at a
younger age can make all the difference.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Five Things To Consider Before Your Child Starts Weight Lifting

By Q. Williams: A mindset & performance coach for Athletes Beyond Sports
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/126/athletes-soul-your-team-beyond-sports]


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Every athlete out there is hiding something. They’re hiding something in the
back of their mind, that they think about constantly.

They don’t want to ruffle any feathers with it...

They’re afraid of what others will think... their coaches, teammates, or even
their fans.

They’d rather just not even talk about it... to avoid the discomfort.

They don’t want to be “that” person on the team.

They don’t want to bring up the question of... what is beyond sports?

A lot of athletes are afraid that if they take their eye off their sport for
just one moment, they’ll lose out on opportunities and not maximize their
potential in their sport.

If they don’t focus all of their time and energy on their sport - training and
studying nonstop, and always being “on” - that will mean they’re not “all in.”
Taking even one day off could feel as if they aren't fully committed and that
lost time time could come back to bite them when they finally get their
opportunity to shine on the biggest stage.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Can you relate to this?
See, this framework has served athletes until now. It’s helped them get to where
they are today. Whether it's Kobe Bryant's "Winning Is Everything" mentality or
Tiger Woods work ethic, the feeling that you must be ready when your time comes
can be a valuable motivator. It’s worked!

But, just because it works doesn’t mean it’s not ripe for innovation.

See, athletes that think in this kind of “all-or-nothing” fashion - they’re
thinking in a framework of “sacrifice”...

It's always "Either/Or", "Give or Take", "This or That", or "Win or Lose".

And this framework (aka mental paradigm) is what’s keeping a lot of athletes
STUCK.

In the mental performance space, we talk a lot about another way to look at
growth, and it’s through a holistic lens. When your sports performance and life
are viewed from a holistic perspective, you realize that when one area of your
life grows and deepens, it allows all other areas of your life to expand as
well.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Time spent in one arena does not mean time lost in another."
The truth is: athletes that build their life resume beyond sports create a
win-win for themselves. As I like to say, guys... winning isn’t everything
[https://www.q-williams.com/blog/why-winning-isnt-everything]!

And there’s data to support this now. In a study of over 600 professional
athletes, it turned out that preparing for life beyond sports had a performance
enhancing affect. The study titled, “Engagement in sport career transition
planning enhances performance
[https://rke.abertay.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/15452291/Lavallee_Engagement_in_SportCareerTransition_Author_2018.pdf]
,” showed that athletes that prioritized their lives and careers beyond sports
(by leveraging career prep services, advisors, and networking), they actually
had longer careers in their sports.

At Athletes Soul [https://gmtm.com/organizations/247514/athletes-soul], we
believe that the reasons for the performance enhancement are bountiful. But we
broke it down into 3 main benefits, and how they operate.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Here are the 3 main benefits to exploring yourself beyond sports, while still
playing:


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boost Your Confidence
A lot of athletes feel the need to “put on a face” in the locker room or around
their coaches... And they might not realize it, but it’s costing them precious
energy.

It can be exhausting to put on a front. More importantly, every time someone
compromises their authentic self, they compromise their confidence. After all,
confidence is simply trusting yourself.

Can your authentic self trust you to be yourself? By knowing yourself beyond
sports, you can be yourself in sports, and perform with more confidence.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boost Your Leverage
Let’s face it... as humans, we need each other. But codependence or reliance on
others can create unhealthy habits and identities that get wrapped up in a
sport, a team, or a set of accomplishments.

By investigating and identifying who they are beyond sports, athletes can have
their own north star, their own core identity, and be less influenced by other
people’s standards. Less swayed by the winds of cultural norms.

You can be a true leader on a team, and be different. Choose different, and
innovate as an athlete, so you can perform with more leverage, on and off the
field.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boost Your Focus & Flow
Lots of athletes don’t even realize there are things stressing them beyond
sports. But there are! Whether it’s family pressures or shifting dynamics,
financial stress, school stress, or uncertainty about the future... everyone has
stressors. And athletes are experts at focusing and cutting out the clutter.

But by mitigating external stress at the source (and not just using sports as a
coping mechanism to dull or avoid stress), athletes can live stress-free, be
more focused, and be less prone to injury (Li et al., 2017
[https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.00042/full%23B51]; 
Moreland et al., 2018
[https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2020.00042/full%23B65])


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The most interesting part of exploring yourself beyond sports...
These benefits are not just athletic performance enhancements... but they’re
life enhancements.

With such a heavy pressure on athletes to produce, keep up with social media,
NIL, and STILL manage to have a normal college experience... athletes need every
edge they can get to settle their stress. 

Plus, you might not meet your “full potential” in and out of sports if you
don’t.

When you max out your life beyond sports, you max out your life in sports. It’s
a true WIN-WIN (see what we did there?). There’s more where that came from,
beyond sports.

Trust us, we’ve been there.

And we know, it’s uncomfortable to talk about...
Having a third party perspective is a huge advantage in these situations. So you
can be fully transparent, you can be yourself, and you can be supported without
the risk of conflicting interests.

That’s why we created the ultimate solution... for athletes to open up in a
confidential environment, and explore themselves beyond sports, so they can
boost their athletic, mental, and social performance Beyond Sports.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Are you ready to explore Beyond Sports?
Athletes Soul has partnered with Q. Williams to offer a FREE 10-week personal
development program titled Beyond Sports
[https://gmtm.com/virtuals/126/athletes-soul-your-team-beyond-sports], designed
to help athletes learn about themselves beyond sport. It includes weekly group
coaching sessions and educational videos.

Program goals:

 * Help you learn about yourself outside of sports
 * Develop your emotional awareness and coping techniques
 * Help you set life goals and take steps to prepare for life beyond sports
 * Build social connections with other athletes and former athletes

You can sign up for the next cohort here: 
https://gmtm.com/virtuals/126/athletes-soul-your-team-beyond-sports


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Q. Williams [https://www.q-williams.com/] is a mental performance coach for
current and retired athletes. Q. became a Gator Bowl Champion as a 2-sport
athlete at Northwestern University, where he holds a Bachelor's and Master’s
Degree in Sports Management. Q. is a coach for Athletes Soul
[https://gmtm.com/organizations/247514/athletes-soul], an Official Provider for
the Pro Football Hall of Fame Behavioral Health and the founder of his coaching
program the World Class Method.

Beyond Sports: Three Benefits Of Finding Yourself Off Of The Field

When it comes to the growing popularity of soccer in the United States, perhaps
one of the lingering concerns that its detractors cling to is how many contests
end in a tie - or a "draw" as it is called by the sport's purists.

During that 2020/21 season, nearly 22-percent of all Premier League games ended
in a draw. That translates to 83 top-level matches out of 380 ending a tie. 

The isn't exactly how most of the sports fans in America like to see a game end.
No marathon shootouts like hockey. No nail-biting sudden death like we have seen
in American football. No buzzer-beating game winners that we have come to love
about basketball.

Instead, soccer matches end in with a whistle and muffled applause as fans check
and calculate the updated league standings.

But, even with primetime matches ending without a clear winner and loser, the
passion and strategy involved in the 90(plus)-minute match is winning over
American viewers. And in an effort to curb the curiosity or confusion of a
growing American audience, let's explain once and for all the reason for the
disrespected draw.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It All Comes Down To The Point Standings
Oddly enough, the question, Why are there ties in soccer?, helps answer itself.
In most soccer leagues across the world, the standings are not decided by how
many wins each team has, but by how many points the teams have accrued
throughout the season.

If a team wins a match, they receives three points and the loser gets zero.
However, if the teams finish in a draw, they both receive one point. Those
points from draws, however disappointing to the casual fan, can make a world of
difference for top-level teams trying to avoid relegation or qualify for the
Champions League.

For example, Chelsea FC, an extremely popular club in London, finished fourth in
the Premier League in 2020/21 with 19 wins and earned a berth in the Champions
League. Leicester City, on the other hand, finished fifth with 20 wins and
missed out on the Champions League.

So, what is the the reason for Leicester City with more wins to finish behind
Chelsea?

Simple. Chelsea had 10 draws to their name while Leicester City had six.

Those four extra points were enough to cancel out the extra three from Leicester
City's additional win and give Chelsea the Champions League berth by one point
in the standings, 67 to 66.

For comparison, the National Football League has only had 27 ties since the
introduction of overtime rules for regular-season games in 1974. In the 2021
season, the first with each NFL team playing 17 games, there was only one tie in
272 games. From 1920-1973 in the NFL, before overtime was introduced, 258 games
ended in ties.

The National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball do not allow for
ties, while the National Hockey League got rid of ties in 2005-06 as part of a
sweeping list of changes to improve the product on the ice following the lockout
in 2004-05.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, why don't Soccer Leagues just add overtime or shootouts to regular season
matches?
Knockout round games in tournaments already have extra time periods and a
shootout to decide a winner, much like in hockey. Why not adopt this for every
match regardless of the stakes?

Ties Protect The Athletes By Limiting Injuries
One logical reason is that soccer players run between seven and nine-and-a-half
miles during an average match. And the players don't have nearly as many breaks
as players competing in other sports.

Each team only has a set amount of substitutions they are allowed to make per
match, and players who are substituted off cannot come back in that game.
Players cannot just come on and off the pitch in soccer like in other sports.

There are also no timeouts like in other sports, so players will spend the
majority of their time running around the pitch. This means your starting eleven
can only walk or relax for a small portion of the match. And resting your legs
is only possible for a short period at half.

So, adding additional periods of time in a regular-season game only adds to the
possibility of injury.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Teams still want to win because those extra points will add up over a season,
but that single point for a draw can make all the difference as well. So do not
expect to see actual overtime periods being added to regular season soccer
anytime soon.

What is a 'Draw'? And Why Ties Still Exist in the World's Most Popular Sport

Young athletes all over the world dream of playing their sport at the college
level.  Unfortunately, most young athletes do not always have access to the
tools needed to create exposure for their skills to college programs.
If you are considering the next step in your athletic career, determining the
correct route for being recruited can be a daunting task. But, it is an
important one that a serious athlete should start as early as possible.

For athletes, the recruiting process needs to look beyond the simplicity of
their athletic goals and fit in with their vision for future careers as well as
making sure the Universities life values fit their own.  It’s a big decision for
parents and players to find a program that checks all the boxes for their
academic and athletic careers.

Being recruited by a college sports team can be a long and detailed process, but
it is no reason to be intimidated. This detailed step-by-step timeline of the
college recruiting process will offer young athletes and parents a clear list of
what they need to do to make college athletics a reality.

Step 1: Research Your Top Universities And Make A Realistic List Of Options
Do your research.  Dive deep into University websites to determine if their
values, educational programs, and lifestyle align with your future academic and
career goals. Then, create a list of 20-plus schools that are a realistic option
for you. You should start this process in your freshman or sophomore year of
college.

You might choose a program based on location, accolades of the degrees and
programs offered, or specific coaches you’ve worked with in the past. Each
school you consider could have a number of unique reasons why you think it is
the best option for you and your career.

Important Tip: Be sure to only add schools that you have a likely chance of
being accepted to based on your academic performance and the school's acceptance
rate.

Whatever excites you about each school, though, remember that the choice is
yours. And because of that, you are responsible for doing the leg work to
determine which universities make your short list.

Step 2: Send Recruiting Videos and Letters of Interest
Once you’ve determined a list of schools you’re interested in you can send
recruiting videos and letters of interest to the coaching staff.  Introduce
yourself, state your interest, and showcase your talents to catch the interest
of the coaching staff.

Recruiting videos can include real game highlight videos, drills and practice
videos, stats, etc.  Think about what you want to showcase and make sure these
are highlighted in the videos to best showcase the talents you have to offer in
your sport and position.

It’s always good to showcase your academic success along with your athletic
abilities.  Coaches care about your athletic ability, but they also look for
all-around quality of their players including coach-ability and academics.  Be
sure to showcase these in your recruiting videos!

Step-By-Step Guide to the College Sports Recruiting Process

After competing for the French National Team at the Sydney Olympics, Myriam retired from Synchronized Swimming to attend business school. She worked for Accorhotels in marketing and sponsorship in France, Thailand and Australia and eventually resumed her sporting career to compete for the Australian National Team in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Following her second retirement, Myriam combined her business and sports knowledge to return to sport and worked in high performance and sport management in England and in the U.S for several years before founding Athletes Soul. ​

In this podcast, Myriam and Joey go through some of the ways Myriam was empowered as a female athlete and ways that we can continue to make sure others like her are as well.

The Power of Female Sports - Podcast with Myriam Gletz and Joey Grant

VTO Sports in Dallas Texas - Lineman 1v1's

Connor is a co-founder of GMTM Sports, an athlete social network designed to connect organizations to the talent sources they need for recruitment and success. Andrew began his fencing career at an early age, attended Penn State University, and later joined Team USA to compete in the Tokyo Olympics. He's headed back again with his eyes on the podium and his future career when fencing isn't an option.

Connor - https://gmtm.com/athletes/3/connor-dietz
Andrew - https://gmtm.com/athletes/1335718/andrew-mackiewicz