Post President's Day Thought from TJ

A democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those that would not. _Thomas Jefferson

Helping Mom Build the "Franchise"

You have a great opportunity when your child commits to playing youth sports. Sure it's a big deal for your child; but I am talking about you! Take this opportunity to build something special around your children; just make sure that there is something in there for you as well. 

I know that in your busy world that there is the temptation of taking advantage of a relatively inexpensive baby-sitting service provided by your child's coaches. Please don't fall prey to settling for just babysitting! You are already putting forward some effort just getting them to games and practices. With a little more planning and effort you can enjoy the satisfaction of building your own little sports “franchise” in the comfort of your own home.

The Foundation
Let me suggest a few parameters in building your franchise. The goal is to build a sporting environment that promotes fun, learning and inclusion; and that's just for the parents! Having your child in a youth sports program is not a chore; it is an opportunity to build an atmosphere of learning, problem solving, teamwork and socialization. All of this occurs while accomplishing something very important; entertaining and educating the adults!

The Opportunities
The management of your franchise is all about “staffing”. Here is a brief overview of the opportunities that are available. The more of these jobs you can fill, the more fulfilling your experience will be. Remember the overriding goal of your franchise is to change a “chore” into an “event”.

Transportation Director
It is hard to make this a glamorous job. It is more to it than being on time. A great transportation director can not only give the final pep talk during the trip to the game but can also easily switch into carpool mode when needed. Driving a properly equipped vehicle is a must as well. I have always admired parents that tool around in vehicles that never lack for a vital piece of equipment that might be in demand. Who wouldn't admire the parent that always has the extra coffee, lounge chair or even a copy of the morning paper? By the way, the ability to transform the “team” vehicle into business mode for the next business day is also a coveted skill. Now we are talking about real world adult skills! 

Equipment Manager
This is crucial position. Never under estimate the affirming qualities of a great pair of shoes (you notice that I don't list a “financial director” in my franchise). While you are in the shoe department anyway; buy some nice looking shoes for everyone! Manage your time wisely. If you quickly buy the cool sports equipment that your kids want, there is more time for you to try on that cute tennis outfit you saw on the way into the store. Remember; make it an event! Never waste a trip to the store on just buying stuff for the kids.

Sports Nutritionist
Trust me when I tell you that much of what adult athletes know about healthy eating started when they were first introduced to the concept of a pre-game meal. Please introduce this to your children as soon as it is practical to do so. Do your research about what foods to serve your athlete for both the pre-game and post game routines. By the way Mom, prepare that food for you as well. After all isn't every day “game day” for parents? Formal meals aside, there is a common mistake to be avoided at all costs. When you are the “snack buddy” do not give the kids fruit and carrot sticks. Whatever nutritional value you will introduce to the team will be offset by the stigma of being “that Mom”. Leave the healthy eating at home and spring for some Ho-Hos and goofy juice.

Research Analyst
 Learn your child's sport! I am not big on learning sports from a book, but wouldn't it be nice to know what people are clapping (or gasping) about? There are great books out there. Please make it your mission to step up your level as your child does. Imagine the thrill of actually knowing what you are seeing when watching the Super Bowl. Your young football player gives you a chance to do that. Personally I never appreciated Olympic gymnastics until my girls took it up. The same applied for ballet (cough cough)!

Promotional Director
Sometimes you need to coax your children to give a sport a chance. Put the pep talk on hold! Instead take full advantage of the social element of youth sports. The other kids all have parents; get to know them! You need them! If playing a sport to your child means “pizza after the game” then by all means make the other likeable parents on your team party to your little scheme.

It is just that social savvy that will prepare you for future challenges and opportunities that lie ahead as your child grows and develops as an athlete. After all, why not grow with your child? My hope is that you will one day reach the pinnacle of sports parenting; Team Mom; the Holy Grail of youth sports power and influence!

Enjoy the game. 

Evaluating your Child's Coach

I have already rubbed some people the wrong way just with the title of this article. You may have already dipped your toes into bubbling stream that is youth sports. You are asking yourself; do I EVEN want parents evaluating me when I am trying to coach their kids?

As you might expect from my background that I am “pro coach”; I believe that parents need to understand that there has to be some boundaries when they entrust their children to a coach. I can honestly tell you that I did manage to follow that advice myself when my children played youth sports for another coach. I set my own boundaries. Fortunately for all involved my parameters comfortably meshed with my kids’ coaches’ expectations. Make no mistake; the final word on that boundary must lie with the coach. Sorry Mom! Sorry Dad!

Evaluating your child’s coach will always be tied to your personal expectations for your child; whatever those expectations may be. Fortunately we are still a “results oriented” society and the “bottom line” exists even in youth sports. My advice is to evaluate the process more than the results. Different parents will view their child’s team’s “results” and come to many varied conclusions. Observing how your kid’s coach goes about their business is a much more objective way of measuring how successful they can be for your child. My experience is that the process of youth coaching done correctly inevitably takes care of the final results.

Here are some suggestions of what to look for when evaluating your child’s coach. They are not necessarily in order of importance; remember these are your expectations, not mine.

1. Organization. When I speak to youth sports coaches I tell them that they have to be more organized than their most organized parent. If you can’t manage that then “hire” your most organized parent! One of the most lasting life lessons of youth sports is that; “chaos is bad; organization is good”.

2. Curb Appeal. This is tricky; there are a lot of great youth coaches that don’t look the part, but are tremendously effective. I look for a coach that recognizes that this is a public relations job and they should approach the job accordingly. How far does a first impression go with your child? How about with you?

3. Communication. Proper communication puts you in partnership with your child’s coach. Boundaries, expectations and philosophy should all be a part of this conversation. How does your coach handle correcting and criticizing your child? Rest assured it will happen. A coach that puts it in writing has gotten off to a good start.

4. Entertainment Factor. Does my child have fun? You know that you have hit the jackpot when your kid has a coach that can make practice fun. I am told that the best advice I have ever given out is to find a fun way to see who LIKES to compete. It was a more “pressurized” situation; but I once took a Girls Softball All-Star team (11-12) bowling. I wanted to see who really liked to compete, even when there was nothing at stake.

5. Sports Knowledge. The older the child the more important this becomes for you and your child. The more advanced the coach is with his craft the more important it is for them to also aspire to qualities 1-4 when they coach your child. In other words; knowledge of a sport does not guarantee coaching success. This flaw exists at every imaginable level of play; even in professional sports.

6. Intangibles. When I played Little League I had a coach with a river place and a built-in swimming pool. Best coach I ever had!

Enjoy the game!


About the Author

Gary Criswell has coached and officiated multiple years in youth sports while making football his main focus. That has led him to coaching positions at the high school, college and Arena football level. “Coach Criz” currently is in his 21st  year of broadcasting High School Football (Sports Radio 910). 

Coaching Wisdom!

"People can have great engines, but it means nothing if they don't have both hands on the steering wheel." -Bobby Bowden

I like President Obama personally!

Mr. Obama is not the first /won't be the last politician that thinks government IS the answer. Bon Voyage' Mr. President. Let's have a beer when you are in town. 

True, or not, this is a different perspective on what Obama’s ‘Legacy’ may be:

One 82-year-old lady loves Obama and she may have a very good point. She says that Obama is amazing, and is rebuilding the American dream! She gives us an entirely new slant on the "amazing" job Obama is doing, and she says that she will thank God for the President. Keep reading, for her additional comments and an explanation. When discussing Obama, she says:

1. Obama destroyed the Clinton Political Machine, driving a stake through the heart of Hillary's presidential aspirations -something no Republican was ever able to do. 

2. Obama killed off the Kennedy Dynasty - no more Kennedys trolling Washington looking for booze and women wanting rides home. 

3. Obama is destroying the Democratic Party before our eyes! Dennis Moore had never lost a race. Evan Bayh had never lost a race. Byron Dorgan had never lost a race. Harry Reid - soon to be GONE!

These are just a handful of the Democrats whose political careers Obama has destroyed. By the end of 2016, dozens more will be gone. Just think, in December of 2008 the Democrats were on the rise. In two election cycles, they had picked up 14 Senate seats and 52 House seats. The press was touting the death of the Conservative Movement and the Republican Party. However, in just one term, Obama put a stop to all of this and gave the House and the Senate - back to the Republicans. 

4. Obama has completely exposed liberals and progressives for what they are. Sadly, every generation seems to need to re-learn the lesson on why they should never actually put liberals in charge. Obama is bringing home the lesson very well: Liberals tax, borrow and spend. Liberals won't bring themselves to protect America. Liberals want to take over the economy. Liberals think they know what is best for everyone. Liberals are not happy until they are running YOUR life. 

5. Obama has brought more Americans back to conservatism than anyone since Reagan. In one term, he has rejuvenated the Conservative Movement and brought out to the streets millions of freedom loving Americans. Name one other time when you saw your friends and neighbors this interested in taking back America! 

6. Obama, with his "amazing leadership," has sparked the greatest period of sales of firearms and ammunition this country has seen. Law abiding citizens have rallied and have provided a "stimulus" to the sporting goods field while other industries have failed, faded, or moved off-shore. 

7. In all honesty, 4 years ago I was more afraid than I have been in my life. Not afraid of the economy, but afraid of the direction our country was going. I thought, Americans have forgotten what this country is all about. My neighbors and friends, even strangers, have proved to me that my lack of confidence in the greatness and wisdom of the American people has been flat wrong. 

8. When the American people wake up, no smooth talking teleprompter reader can fool them! Barack Obama has served to wake up these great Americans! Again, I want to say: "Thank you, Barack Obama!" ` After all, this is exactly the kind of hope and change we desperately needed!! 

9. He has saved Carter’s legacy and made Jimmy Carter happy, since Jimmy is no longer the worst president we've ever had. Credit goes to where credit is due. I feel better now! 

THANK YOU OBAMA

NFL Network's Michael Robinson's First In-Studio Interview

In 2001 I was doing a Thursday Night High School Sports / Recruiting Show on (what was then) Sports Radio 910 in Richmond. The object of a huge recruiting battle that season was Varina's Michael Robinson who had committed to Penn State over the then recruiting juggernaut in the Commonwealth of Virginia; Virginia Tech.

We invited Michael to visit the show and explain his decision. He came into the studio with his older brother who I detected was acting a little like his "handler" which kind of rubbed me the wrong way. I wasn't in the mood for a kid with an entourage. That first impression would soon evaporate. Michael and his brother were great to deal with and just regular guys.  

Michael was gracious and thoughtful with his answers and poised beyond his years. To the surprise of me & my Partner Bill McDonald our guest agreed to take calls. We had a huge in-state following (we're talking about 2001) and the Hokie following came in hot. I watched Michael answer all the questions and he even weathered the questions about his future as a quarterback and leaving the State. By the end of the hour, the calls started to change to congratulations and good wishes. Mike had won them over.

Michael exceeded my expectations with his College and Professional careers. That's not what I will remember about Michael Robinson. I have since told him personally that I never once "worried about that kid" that came into the studio that evening. First impressions are everything and of course you never know who's watching. 

Seeing him on the NFL Network strikes a familiar chord with me. Mike returns to that same studio to regularly talk sports with Wes McElroy of Fox Sports 910. Congrats Mike for your life on and off the field. 

In true 21st century fashion we are raising Harley; my stepson Scott's 1/2 Beagle 1/2 Boston Terrier. You know the story, when one of the kids decides it would be nice to have another life to take care of and then it turns out that they are not up to caring for it for some reason. I am thankful; I know that this plays out every day with "real" children. 

If you look at this little guy you realize that I lucked out. What a fabulous pet! At the end of the day he doesn't know that I am past my prime, rapidly losing my swagger and just an old guy trying to stay relevant. I now understand dog owners.