Coaching Management 15.4

Coaching ManagementF O O T B A L L P R E S E A S O N E D I T I O N 2 0 0 7

VOL. XV NO. 4 ■ $7.00

■ When Losses Mount

■ Neckties Lead to Title

AGAINST THE GRAINUsing an Unconventional System

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Circle No. 100

CONTENTS Coaching ManagementFootball EditionPreseason 2007

Vol. XV, No. 4

Advertising Sales AssociateDiedra Harkenrider, (607) 257-6970, ext. 24

Ad Materials Coordinator Mike Townsend

Business and Editorial Offices31 Dutch Mill Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850(607) 257-6970, Fax (607) [email protected]

Mailing lists for Coaching Management Football are provided by the Clell Wade Coaches Directory.

The Coaching Management Football edition is pub-lished in November and April by MAG, Inc. and is distributed free to college and high school coaches in the United States and Canada. Copyright © 2007 by MAG, Inc. All rights reserved. Text may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without the permission of the publisher. Unsolicited materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Coaching Management is printed by Banta Publications Group, Kansas City, MO. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Coaching Management, P.O. Box 4806, Ithaca, N.Y. 14852.

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4 31LOCKER ROOM Bulletin Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Protecting your program from MRSA … Minnesota coaches derail high school fantasy league … SIU quarterback leads sweatshirt exchange … Hawkins pro-motes healthy competition among Colorado coaches … The drop kick makes a comeback … Keeping enough officials in the game.

Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Jerry Moore has led Appalachian State University to back-to-back national titles, making Mountaineers football a big deal in the small town of Boone, N.C.

CHAMPIONSHIP SOLUTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47GUIDE TO SYNTHETIC TURF. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55FOOTBALL FACILITY EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56STRENGTH & CONDITIONING AIDS . . . . . . . . . . . 59INJURY PREVENTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65TEAM EQUIPMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66UNIFORMS & APPAREL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66MORE PRODUCTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68ADVERTISERS DIRECTORY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

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COACHING MANAGEMENT 1

COVER STORYAgainst the Grain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Coaches who have won by defying conventional wisdom point out how to succeed while being different.

LEADERSHIPLessons from Losing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31When losses pile up, self-doubt can follow. A Hall of Fame high school coach offers advice for getting the most out of a losing season.

STRENGTH & CONDITIONINGGain Without Pain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37Hard work is the bedrock of any successful strength-training program. But pushing players to lift until it hurts can do far more harm than good.

HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS

Tieing Up a Title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44In his first season as Head Coach at an 11-year-old school, J.W. Kenton used Windsor knots to help his players prepare for the biggest game of their lives.

On the cover: Graham Harrell is the latest Texas Tech University quarterback to operate Head Coach Mike Leach’s imaginative offense. The article begins on page 22.

Publisher Mark Goldberg

Editor-in-Chief Eleanor Frankel

Associate Editor Dennis Read

Assistant Editors R.J. Anderson, Kenny Berkowitz, Nate Dougherty, Abigail Funk, Greg Scholand, Laura Ulrich

Art Director Pamela Crawford

Photo Research Tobi Sznajderman

Business Manager Pennie Small

Special Projects Dave Wohlhueter

Marketing Director Sheryl Shaffer

Marketing/Sales Assistant Danielle Catalano

Circulation Director Dave Dubin

Circulation Manager John Callaghan

Production Director Don Andersen

Assistant Production Director Jim Harper

Production Assistant Jonni Campbell

Prepress Manager Miles Worthington

IT Manager Julian Cook

Administrative Assistant Sharon Barbell

COVER PHOTO: PICTURE MANN/MICHAEL STRONG

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Circle No. 101

miologist specializing in staph infections. “The treatment pro-cedures and drugs are very effective, and the severe cas-es are usually the result of an infection not being recognized early enough.”

For this reason, protecting your athletes means making

sure they don’t ignore seem-ingly minor skin problems. Every wound should be shown to an athletic trainer or team physician, who can decide if it should be tested for MRSA. “We must constantly rein-force the message about get-

Since football involves frequent body-to-body contact and it’s difficult to keep skin wounds covered, there’s constant risk of transmission during games and practices. The danger extends to locker rooms as well—MRSA can be spread when athletes share towels, razors, or even bars of soap.

When the infection is caught early, a doctor can treat it fairly easily by cleaning the wound site and prescribing special antibiotics. “The real key to controlling MRSA is identifying it as quickly as possible,” says Jeff Hageman, a CDC epide-

Jon Cochran, a guard at Stanford University, was hospitalized by a MRSA infection that spread quickly among some Cardinal foot-ball players. Infections occur when MRSA bacteria come into con-tact with open wounds, making it important for players to practice proper hygiene and have all skin problems checked out.

Football Programs Face MRSAJon Cochran, a senior guard for Stanford University, stands 6-foot-6 and weighs more than 300 pounds. Methicillin-resis-tant Staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria commonly known as MRSA, is too small to be seen with the naked eye. But when the two butted heads last sea-son, the tiny organism sent Cochran to the hospital and sidelined him for two games. He was among a handful of Stanford football players infect-ed during a MRSA outbreak last fall.

If MRSA isn’t on your pro-gram’s radar screen yet, it should be. In the past decade, outbreaks have hit high school, college, and professional teams across the country. And while more coaches and athletic trainers are aware of the dan-ger, outbreaks are still catching teams by surprise.

“It was amazing how quickly the infection would hit someone,” says Charlie Miller, Stanford’s Head Athletic Trainer for foot-ball. “Our doctors would look at a tiny lesion and say, ‘All right, let’s keep an eye on it.’ By the next day, it had become some-thing really significant.”

Staph bacteria are all around us—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 30 percent of the U.S. population carry it on their skin or in their nasal passages, and about one percent carry a MRSA strain, which means the bacteria are resistant to many stan-dard antibiotics used to fight staph infections. But most of these “carriers” aren’t infect-ed at any given time—infec-tion occurs when the bacte-ria come into contact with a cut, turf burn, or other open wound.

4 COACHING MANAGEMENT

ting every cut, scrape, pimple, or spider bite checked out and not leaving anything to chance,” says Mike Goforth, Head Athletic Trainer at Virgin-ia Tech. “The more often ath-letes hear it, the better.”

Another key to preventing a MRSA outbreak in your pro-gram is reducing opportunities for transmission. At Stanford, the athletic department in stalled liquid soap dispensers in the showers to prevent athletes from sharing soap, issued each player his own towels and enforced a no-sharing policy, and washed infected players’ laundry sepa-rately from everyone else’s. In addition, players washed their hands with an alcohol-based sanitizer before returning to the locker room after each practice and sprayed their gloves with a disinfectant.

Cleaning athletes’ padding should be a top priority—pads can provide an ideal environ-ment for bacteria, including MRSA, to thrive, especially if they’re not dried out after each use. When MRSA struck at Stafford (Texas) High School last fall, Athletic Trainer David Edell took immediate steps to prevent it from spreading. “We told the football team, ‘Empty out your lockers—everything goes home, and you can’t bring it back unless it’s clean,’” he says. “Then our maintenance staff cleaned the entire locker room using a cleaning agent that kills microbes, and we sanitized all the lockers and pads.”

Above all, when it comes to MRSA, constant vigilance is essential. “You should nev-er assume that it can’t hap-pen to your program,” Miller warns. “It’s easy to say, ‘We’ve been careful, it will hit some-one else.’ But the truth is, you could always be next.”

Coaching Management’s sister publication, Athletic Management, offers downloadable posters on its Web site with tips for pre-venting MRSA infections in your program. The posters can be hung in your locker room, posted in the athletic training room, or handed out to parents during preseason meetings. To access these free posters, visit: www.athleticmanagement.com.

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Circle No. 102

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Circle No. 103


Stopping HS Fantasy FootballFantasy sports leagues have become an accepted part of the professional sports cul-ture, but when a Minnesota newspaper started one using local high school football play-ers, area coaches took a stand against it. Using the only weapon at their disposal—the threat to withhold statistics from their games that form the very heart of the fantasy

Kevin Merkle, Associate Direc-tor of the Minnesota State High School League. “But what about when a kid has a bad night, say 2-for-12 for 25 yards and a few interceptions? Typically, a bad night like that wouldn’t get much ink, but if he’s on somebody’s fan-tasy team, those numbers are going to stick out.”

After talks with the news-paper’s editors brought no results and the league con-tinued, Lehtola and the other athletic directors decided to boycott the newspaper. “We told our coaches to stop call-ing and e-mailing our scores and stats to the paper,” Lehto-la says. “It was the only lever-age we had.”

Lehtola also reached out to other athletic directors in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area to spread the word about his conference’s approach. After hearing his reasoning and strategy, other conferences joined the boycott.

“Tom Johnson, the Athletic Director for Hastings High School in the Suburban East Conference, thought it sound-ed like a good idea, so he brought it up to his confer-ence and they followed our lead,” Lehtola says. “Once the dominoes started to fall, the newspaper realized the high school community was not at all pleased with what they were doing.”

The league continued for another few weeks after the boycott began before the Pio-neer Press acquiesced and ter-minated it. Lehtola says that without a united effort from area football conferences, the fantasy league would have continued.

“The networking was absolute-ly critical,” Lehtola says. “We have very strong, organized conferences—almost a broth-erhood between them—so we were able to talk and come up with an effective strategy.”

The Shirts Off Their BacksAs Southern Illinois University football players walk around campus this spring, they will likely see more students clad in maroon. Thanks to an effort initiated by starting quarter-back Nick Hill, 300 SIU stu-dents are sporting new Saluki sweatshirts, and many of them have a better feeling about athletics at their school.

During the fall semester, Hill, a junior, planned and imple-mented a sweatshirt exchange program aimed at getting more of SIU’s student popula-tion dressed in Saluki apparel. For several afternoons, he and other student-athletes patrolled campus armed with a box of Saluki sweatshirts. Whenever they saw a stu-dent wearing another school’s sweatshirt, the athletes offered to give them a new one bear-ing the SIU logo—as long as they surrendered the one they were wearing. The used sweatshirts were donated to two local charities.

Christian Spears, Assistant Athletic Director at SIU, helped Hill with the project. “A lot of our students are commuters, and when we looked around, we realized they weren’t wearing very much SIU apparel,” Spears says. “At the same time, on a lot of campuses it’s typical for the general student popula-tion to view athletes as elitist or unapproachable. We decid-ed the sweatshirt exchange could be a good way to increase school pride and pro-vide a positive connection between our athletes and the rest of the student body.”

Spears and Hill approached the school’s chancellor, requesting $5,000 in fund-ing for the project, which he quickly granted. Hill met with the school’s bookstore man-ager, designed the sweatshirts, and negotiated a price ($10 each). Then he coordinated

including Ohio and New Jer-sey, have similar leagues that focus on players’ individual statistics, the coaches and administrations in the Twin Cit-ies found the idea extremely inappropriate.

“I was shocked when my foot-ball coach first told me about the league,” says Eric Lehtola, Athletic Director at Andover High School. “I brought it to the attention of the other ath-letic directors, and we agreed it was wrong and exploited


A group of athletic directors in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area derailed a local newspaper’s high school fantasy football league by refusing to provide statistics from their games to the paper. Here, Andover (Minn.) High School running back Mike Schmidt breaks through a hole during a 13-0 win over Maple Grove.

league—coaches and adminis-trators convinced the newspa-per to end the fantasy season after only a few weeks.

Before the high school season started, the Pioneer Press in St. Paul set up a league for its sports writers, drafting players and creating a point system based on the number of yards and touchdowns they racked up each week. Although news-papers from several states,

our high school athletes and trivialized everything their teams were doing.”

Many of those opposed to the fantasy league say it sent the wrong message by placing too much emphasis on indi-vidual statistics. “If you throw for four touchdowns and 300 yards, that’s a great accom-plishment and it would be in the newspaper anyway with-out a fantasy league,” says

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Circle No. 104

“All of the athletes I’ve talked to about it are really motivat-ed,” he says. “It will be excit-ing, because we will be the entire workforce on the proj-ect. Contractors will direct us, but we’ll do the actual work.”

Hill credits the NCAA Lead-ership Conference, which he attended last summer as Presi-dent of SIU’s SAAC, for spark-ing his desire to lead the pro-grams. “The conference is a life-changing experience,” he says. “It taught me that when you have an idea it’s worth taking a chance to pursue it. Now, I’m submitting a follow-up report on how the idea worked here, and I’m hoping to be selected to make a pre-sentation about it at the next conference.”

For Spears, the project’s ben-efits could go well beyond the obvious visible changes. “We’ll soon be asking our student body soon to vote in favor of raising student fees to help pay for new athletic facilities,” he says. “We need their support, and we’re hop-ing that some of our efforts to connect will resonate with them and they’ll vote for the increase. As athletic depart-ments, sometimes we don’t focus enough on initiatives that benefit non-athlete stu-dents on our campuses, but they can be extremely valu-able in generating campus pride and support.”

Colorado’s Healthy Competition

For coaches at the University of Colorado last season, tak-ing time out wasn’t just some-thing to think about during late-game drives. Under the leadership of Head Coach Dan Hawkins, the entire staff partic-ipated in a Coaches’ Wellness Challenge, reminding everyone that taking a break from work can be a good thing.

Many head coaches tell their assistants to maintain some

balance in their lives, but Hawkins turned the advice into a competition among his staff. He awarded points for doing things that would promote one’s own physical, mental, or emotional health. Coaches could earn points by weightlift-ing, going for a run, maintain-ing a proper diet, getting a full night’s sleep, or spending qual-ity time with their kids.

“It’s impossible to keep every-thing in balance with this job, because there’s too much work and there aren’t enough hours in the day,” Hawkins says. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t get a little exercise, make some time for your fam-ily, or take other simple steps that over the long term will make you healthier and hap-pier, which will ultimately be reflected in the job you do.”

While the point system helped tap into coaches’ competitive instincts, the point wasn’t who finished on top. “Everybody has their own ideas about how to take care of them-selves, so I just told them to think about it and then try to

with other student-athletes to make the exchanges. Since he had pitched a story about the project to the student news-paper in advance, many stu-dents were aware of the pro-gram and excited to exchange sweatshirts.

Nearly everyone the athletes approached was happy to turn in their used sweatshirt for a new one. “We made sure the sweatshirts we offered were thick, heavy-duty, and looked classy,” Spears says. “We didn’t want to ask them to sur-render their old sweatshirt for something that wasn’t as nice.”

Only a handful of students refused to make the swap. “Some kids said that their brother had given them the sweatshirt or other things like that,” Hill says. “But no one was

negative about the idea, and it really was great to be on cam-pus talking with other students and getting to know them.”

In the next project, Hill and Spears will organize groups of athletes and non-athletes to build a new home in a commu-nity near Carbondale for bat-tered women and their children this spring. Spears expects nearly every one of SIU’s 350 student-athletes to take a turn on the project, and hopes to also involve at least 350 non-athletes. With their remaining funds, they’ll provide each non-athlete who comes out to work with a new SIU T-shirt.

Hill sees the housing project as another way for athletes and non-athletes to work together, while helping someone who is disadvantaged in the process.

When Southern Illinois University starting quarterback Nick Hill wasn’t busy eluding defenders last fall, he was helping build school spirit by offering fellow students new SIU sweatshirts in exchange for their old ones from other schools.


University of Colorado Head Coach Dan Hawkins encourages his assistants to take time for themselves and their families by establishing a Coaches’ Wellness Challenge.


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Circle No. 105

da’s kick sailed through the uprights. On that September night, Herda converted Mis-souri’s first high school football drop kick in decades.

For the most part, drop kick-ing has gone the way of leather helmets and the flying wedge. Doug Flutie’s famous boot for the New England Patriots last year was the NFL’s first successful try in more than 60 years, and the NCAA hasn’t seen one since 1990. So when Herda told former Nevada Head Coach John Skeans two seasons ago that he could drop kick a football, the coach didn’t know quite how to respond.

“Carthage is one of the top teams in Missouri and they’re one class above us, so we were pretty outgunned in the game,” says Skeans. “But we had just scored a touch-down, and it seemed like a good opportunity to steal some momentum. We got into the formation we’d been practicing, Ronnie boomed it through, and the fans on both sides started cheering. It was a pretty special moment for everyone there, and even though we ended up losing, it gave us a jump start that helped us for the rest of the game.”

Herda missed a second attempt later in the game, but converted two the following week against Webb City. After that, the drop kick became a regular part of Nevada’s spe-cial teams. “Sometimes we’d disguise it by lining up in a standard offense like we were going for two,” Skeans says. “If the opponent lined up in a basic defense, we would drop kick and there wouldn’t be much pressure. If they lined up to block a kick, we would run a two-point play.”

Skeans believes this versatility is the drop kick’s biggest advantage. If the team lined up to kick and then decided to go for two, Herda was already in a basic shotgun formation. If they lined up to go for two and then decided to kick, the running back became an extra blocker in case anyone pene-trated the line. “Having some-one in the backfield gave us a multi-gap defender to make sure Ronnie had time to get the kick off,” Skeans says.

As word spread around the state—helped by a Kansas City Star feature on Herda’s kicking exploits—letters and postcards began arriving from former players excited to see the revival of a long-lost art. “One postcard we got said, ‘Dear Ronnie, I was delighted to read the article in the Star about your drop kick … Par-

“I was skeptical, but he insisted that he was serious,” recalls Skeans, who resigned his coaching position after the sea-son. “Finally I said, ‘All right, show me. If you can make 10 in a row, we’ll give it a try.’ I give Ronnie all the credit for figuring out how to make it all work.”

Herda made his 10 kicks, but the sophomore suffered a sea-son-ending foot injury while playing quarterback before he had a chance to drop kick in a game, and the idea was shelved until last summer. In the Sept. 22 game against Carthage, Skeans decided it was time.

By reviving the art of drop-kicking, Nevada (Mo.) High School quarterback Ronnie Herda gave his team a double threat on PATs. If an opposing team lined up to defend a two-point try, Herda could drop kick for one. If the defense lined up to block the kick, Nevada would go for a two-point conversion.

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do it,” Hawkins explains. “The challenge was a way for me to emphasize to our staff that it’s important to not forget everything else when we’re focused on the season. If you work 18 hours a day, how long can you honestly keep that up and really be productive? And does it mean you aren’t pres-ent in your family’s life? It’s about setting priorities.

“By the end of the season, I wasn’t really keeping track of everyone’s score,” he contin-ues. “But if they were better fathers and better husbands and their health was better because of this, then they were winners.”

Hawkins adds that the compe-tition provided some humor around the office. “One guy took his daughter to the air-port in the morning, then came in and said, ‘Yes! I got two points!’” he says. “And somebody would come in looking really tired and say, ‘Well, I didn’t get any points for sleep last night.’ That showed me they were at least thinking about it.”

Joking aside, the Coaches’ Wellness Challenge is a genu-ine reflection of how Hawkins believes a program should be run. “If I want to keep the right kind of people—coaches who care about our players and treat them like family—then as the head coach I’d better exemplify those values myself,” he says. “If I’m asking our staff members to treat each guy like he’s their son, then they’d better understand what that means by having a healthy family life of their own. To me, it all goes hand in hand.”

PAT from the PastAn extra point is rarely the most exciting part of a foot-ball game. But at a game last season in Missouri between Nevada and Carthage high schools, fans from both teams responded with a standing ovation when Ronnie Her-

think it’s a great tribute to the sport that he’s out there doing this,” Skeans says. “I was truly humbled to be a small part of a local kid mak-ing a little history for Missouri football.”

Officials Getting Harder to FindSometimes it means having four officials at a game instead of five. Other times it means having a rookie official work-ing a varsity game. In extreme cases it can mean moving a game from Friday night to Saturday because no one was available to work the game. Across the country, the pool of football officials is evapo-rating, and these scenarios are becoming more common.

The National Association of Sports Officials (NASO) says

give a lot of leeway to the idea of getting caught up in the heat of the moment,” he says. “A game may be emotional, but a coach shouldn’t get a free pass for that reason.”

Mano doesn’t place all blame on fans and coaches, though. He says that part of the issue is a lack of support from school administrators. “We see bad behavior, but no accountability,” he says. “Whether it’s the conference commissioner, athletic direc-tor, or coach who sets an example by saying, ‘I may not like that call, but I understand why it was made,’ that sends the right message to young people, parents, and fans.”

Even when the atmosphere is welcoming, outside forces reduce the number of avail-able officials. “I get a fair number of people who are

there are several reasons why referee numbers are down, but poor sportsmanship is per-haps the biggest. “The lack of sporting-like behavior drives people out of this avocation,” says NASO President Barry Mano. “And I don’t mean the players. It’s the parents, fans, and coaches who are out of control.

“We don’t expect every fan or even every coach to know the rules like we do, but a lack of fundamental understanding of the rules can cause them to act out—pour gasoline on the fire,” Mano continues. “Unfor-tunately, that causes officials to feel beleaguered and ulti-mately question why they’re doing this on a Friday night.”

Mano says coaches can help promote sportsmanship by remaining calm while commu-nicating with officials. “I don’t

ticularly because of its disuse, it is one of the most wonder-ful things in football.’ The guy went on to say he remem-bered a high school team-mate drop kicking from the 50-yard line in the 1940s,” says Skeans. “Another guy wrote and told us he held the NAIA record for the longest drop kick. We even heard from a surgeon at the Uni-versity of Missouri who had written a book on place kick-ing—he congratulated Ron-nie, and included a signed copy of his book. We had no idea it would snowball like that. We were really surprised it attracted so much interest.”

Herda will most likely contin-ue drop kicking in his senior year, and he’s received some recruiting interest as a quar-terback from college scouts, so it’s possible he’ll take it with him to the next level. “I


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interested in officiating, but in many cases, people just don’t have the time,” says Steve Audette, Commis-sioner of the northern group of the Vermont Football Offi-cials Association and an offi-cial himself. “When they start out, most refs have to work j.v. and freshman level games for a year or two. Those start at four o’clock on weekday after-noons and it’s hard for peo-ple to get out of work at that time. As soon as I tell them about that and the required meetings, studying, and annual test, a lot of them get turned off and we never see them again.”

Audette and Mano both say that once people get over the initial hurdles, they don’t have a problem retaining them. “The NASO has found that if we can hang on to some-one longer than three years,

we have a long-term official,” Mano explains. “But the initial attrition rate is huge—after three years only 30 or 40 per-cent of the original pool may be left.”

Audette suggests that coaches help with recruiting new offi-cials. “Coaches have a lot of contact with players’ parents,” he says. “With the exception of the 10 percent whose sons go on to play at the next lev-el, parents tend to no longer associate with the sport after their kid graduates. Coaches could really help us a lot if they talked up the officiating aspect as a way for parents, or even former players, who enjoyed the game to stay involved with football.”

Efforts to stem a decline in the number of football officials are need-ed to ensure there will be enough officials in position to make future calls, such as this one during the Virginia High School League Division I championship game.

For more information visit the NASO Web site at: www.naso.org.

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Untitled-3 1 10/27/06 11:31:52 AMVillageSports_CM1504.indd 1 3/5/07 4:02:55 PM

Circle No. 108

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Circle No. 109

CM: How did the change in offensive philosophy in 2003 contribute to your team’s success the last two years?Moore: It played a big part. We wanted to change our tempo, so we went to a no-huddle, more open offense. Before the change, our offensive package con-tained a lot of formations, and we ran a lot of different plays. This offense is much simpler and has fewer plays. Since putting in the new offense, I feel like I wasted 40 years of coaching because what we’re doing now is so much more fun. It’s an exciting offense to run, and we as coaches have been learning right along with the players.

You don’t have a designated offensive coordinator. Why not?I’ve never had one. It goes back to when I was at Nebraska under Coach Osborne—we didn’t have one then. I like it because it lets every offensive coach feel more important. It brings out the best in them because they all know that their responsi-bilities and input are crucial to our success.

Who calls the plays?We have five or six offensive coaches who are all hooked up on headsets. Our quarterbacks coach will make the initial call and our offensive line coach might say, ‘No, no, we want to run …’ Then our running backs coach might chime in. In that mix of discussions we come up with a play, but I usually make the final decision. It’s not as gobble-wobble as I make it sound because we’ve already talked about what we want to run in certain situations.

What are the keys to making that sys-tem work during games?

Since we don’t huddle, we’ve got more time to come up with plays than most people think. We all know when to talk, and we all know when to listen. We don’t try to put on a clinic between each play.

What has made your program so pop-ular with students and the community?A lot of it is the way our new administra-tion has embraced our program. They’ve

worked hard to make sure that Saturdays here are an event. It’s a fun place to play and a fun place to watch a ballgame. No matter what the weather is like, the sta-dium is packed and it’s so loud you can’t hear yourself think on the sideline.

As we were walking off the field after winning a home playoff game last sea-son, the other team’s quarterback said

Q AWho says old dogs can’t learn new tricks? In 2003, after missing the NCAA Division I-AA (now the NCAA Divi-

sion I Football Championship Subdivi-sion) playoffs for the first time in six years, Appalachian State University Head Coach Jerry Moore decided to change things up.

During spring practice that year, Moore replaced the Power-I offense the Mountaineers had used for the better part of 16 years with a no-huddle, one-back spread offense. The team expe-

rienced some initial growing pains in 2004, finishing 6-5, but rebounded strongly in 2005, winning the first of two consecutive national championships.

Entering his 19th season at ASU, Moore has quietly built one of the top programs in college football. Under Moore, Appalachian State has posted a record of 140-67, and the team will take a 27-game home winning streak into the 2007 campaign. Along the way, the Mountain-eers have made Kidd Brewer Stadium the place to be on Saturdays in Boone, N.C.

Prior to his arrival at ASU, Moore served as Head Coach at North Texas (1979-1980), then at Texas Tech (1981-1985). He also spent 14 seasons as an assistant to coach-ing legends Hayden Fry at Southern Methodist University and Tom Osborne at the University of Nebraska. In this interview, Moore talks about his approaches to walk-ons and recruiting, scheduling I-A opponents, and coaching in a small town.

& Jerry Moore Appalachian State University

Quarterback Armanti Edwards threw for 2,251 yards and ran for 1,153 more while helping Appalachian State University to its second straight NCAA Division I Football Champion-ship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) title.


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Q A&to me, ‘Coach, this is a heck of a place to play.’ That was a great compliment to our school, our students, and everybody who supports us.

How important is having a positive public presence, especially in a small town like Boone?

We run the whole gamut of engage-ments. Last year, I spoke at preschools and also to groups of 2,000 to 3,000 people in Charlotte. I don’t think of it as work—it’s what I’m here for and I enjoy it. I like to talk about our team, I like to talk about our school, and I like to talk about our town.

It’s been a lot of fun to do those things, and I believe I’m doing it for a great school and a great community. We’ve got that small mountain town feel. You can go to church, Wal-Mart, or a service station and people are talking about our players. That’s fun. I like that I have a little bit to do with it. It’s a great atmosphere to coach in and to live in.

What do you tell your players about off-the-field behavior?


Because we’re in a small town, anywhere our guys go, like the mall or a restaurant, everybody knows who they are. I tell them, “You never know who’s watching you or who’s listening to what you say.” Consequently, our players are pretty good role models.

How have you cultivated a family atmosphere in your program?I was told a long time ago that if you have a good football program, your kids will hang around the facility and around the coaches. I keep a big ol’ basket of candy in my office and whether I’m in there or not, they can come in and get themselves a little Snickers bar. They know that door is always open, and they know we can talk about anything. It doesn’t have to be

football—it can be about a girlfriend, mom and dad, car trouble, or anything else.

What did you learn as an assistant coach that sticks with you today?Hayden Fry was an innovator who wasn’t afraid to take chances. He was ahead of his

time, and I try to follow that lead. Under Coach Osborne, I really learned about pro-fessionalism. It was fun to watch him work and always do things the right way.

I also picked up my approach to using walk-ons at Nebraska. We had an offen-sive line coach who told me, “You’ll never hear a Nebraska coach say, ‘That kid will never play.’” I’ve always remembered that. We’ve got guys playing here now

“Because we’re in a small town, anywhere our guys go, like the mall or a restaurant, everybody knows who they are. I tell them, ‘You never know who’s watching you or who’s listening to what you say.’ Consequently, our players are pretty good role models.”

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Rogers_CM1504.indd 1 3/5/07 11:24:20 AM


who wouldn’t have been given a shot by most people two or three years ago. Last year, Zach Johnson was a senior walk-on receiver for us. He caught six balls for 110 yards in the national championship game. He was here for three years before his talent began to surface. If I hadn’t been around Tom all those years at Nebraska, I don’t think I would have had the patience to allow that to happen.

What is your approach to walk-ons?If a guy comes in and works hard, he’ll surface as a player at some position. Generally, it begins by earning a spot on special teams, then before you know it, he’s splitting time with a position player. Next thing you know, he’s out there as a starter. For instance, our center is as good as any in the country and he’s 5-foot-10. He was a walk-on who came in as a fullback. We didn’t need a fullback in our offense, so one day we tried him at center and it clicked.

What’s your advice for young coaches looking to climb the coaching ladder?Number one, they have to know what they want to do. Number two, they have to be tireless workers. We don’t watch the

clock here—we are all people who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Our guys are smart, hard working, and they care about our players. Those are the traits I look for in an assistant coach.

Do you ever think about giving I-A another shot?If I hadn’t already been at Texas Tech, North Texas, Nebraska, and Arkansas, I might want to. But we’ve got great kids and a terrific staff here. We’ve been together a long time, and we don’t see much turnover. There’s a lot of harmony and the entire staff pulls for one another.

What’s your philosophy on scheduling I-A opponents?We want one on the schedule every year, and we’d like to play them early. We only want to play one per year because it’s hard to compete numbers-wise. Some players get beat up and the next thing you know you’ve got guys missing two or three big ballgames.

However, two years ago we faced two—LSU and Kansas. The schedule got re-worked, and we ended up playing LSU late in the season. Even though we lost, I

think keeping the score close gave us a big boost going into the next ballgame and helped jump-start our championship run.

Are the bigger schools shying away from playing you now?A little bit, and I understand why. There were times they were beating down our door to play us, but they seem a little reluctant to schedule us now because everybody needs six wins to qualify for a bowl game, and they really can’t afford to play a I-AA team that has the potential to beat them. It makes scheduling a lot more difficult, but we take it as a compliment.

What do you want your players to remember you for?That’s something we talk about a lot here. I’m always asking our players, “What do you want to be remembered for?”

I want to be remembered as a role model, and I want every player to walk away saying, “They were fair to me, and I got coached as hard as I could be coached. They got as much out of me as they could.” It’s sad when a kid’s eligibility is completed and he thinks, “I probably could have been a little better.”

Q A&

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Circle No. 115

IF IMITATION REALLY IS THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY, THEN FOOTBALL COACHES ARE A MOST SINCERE LOT. There are few secrets on the football field, so if a strategy works for one team, countless other teams inevitably follow suit.

However, there are coaches who have found success by taking less traveled roads. These coaches buck the pre-vailing trends and eschew common offensive or defen-sive schemes.

Some choose to use a lesser-known scheme because they believe it best fits the skills and talents of their players. Others do so for the strategic advantage that comes with being un con ventional. Whatever their motivation, they have found success by not being the same as everyone else.

Some of these unconventional systems date back to the days of leather helmets, while others are as new as officials using instant replay. Regardless of the age of their systems, these coaches have found that the benefits of being contrary can be substantial. As with most things in foot-ball, these rewards do not always come easily. But by doing the proper planning, getting players to buy in, and sticking to your guns, a contrary approach can be a winning one.

Making The SwitchAlthough some coaches have a phil-

osophical attachment to a particular offense or defense, in many cases the main goal of using a contrarian system is to be different than everyone else.

Nate Dougherty is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

Thanks in part to Texas Tech’s unconventional wide-open offense, which sometimes leaves no one in the backfield, quarterback Graham Harrell threw for 4,555 yards and 38 touchdowns last season.

BY NATE DOUGHERTY

This can mean running anything from a wide-open passing attack like the one Head Coach Mike Leach has developed at Texas Tech University, to old-school ground-oriented offenses like the Wing-T or Double Wing.

The first step to choosing a contrar-ian scheme is determining what every-one else is doing so you can shift the opposite way. For example, defenses geared toward stopping common sets like the One-Back or Power-I, often struggle to adjust when they encounter a new formation.

“If you look from team to team, you’ll find there’s a certain line split used by most offensive lines,” says John Reed, a former high school coach and author of a book on the Single Wing offense. “If everyone else is using two-foot line splits,


AGAINSTTHE GRAIN Coaches who have won by defying conventional wisdom

point out how to succeed while being different.

COVER STORY

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“Ten or 15 years ago, when it was a lot newer, we were more secretive,” Long says. “But now, our staff learns a lot about the system by discussing it with others who are looking into doing something similar. They’ll ask questions we haven’t asked ourselves or remind us of things we did well in the past but have gone away from. That type of exchange among coaches is good for both parties, and it’s good for the game.”

A Wing And A Player Once the decision to run a particular

system is made, it’s important to remem-ber that installing it requires much more than simply swapping out some pages in your play book. New systems will often requires players to take on new roles.

When Bob Bourgette, Head Coach at Kennedy High School in Burien, Wash., switched to the Wing-T in 2002, he knew some personnel changes would be in order. To run the system effectively, Bourgette needed an agile quarterback with great hands who would be able to disguise hand-offs and basically serve as a point guard for the offense—even if that meant using a player who had never played quarterback before.

“There are always people who can fill roles for any scheme, but sometimes you have to search hard to find them,” Bourgette says. “Your ideal quarterback might be the guy who was your tight end the year before. This year, we’re moving a wide receiver to quarterback because he’s got great speed and a great knowl-edge of the game.”

For players used to filling traditional roles, some coaxing may be required before they fully grasp how they’ll now fit into a new scheme. For example, Willamette’s Fly offense calls for receiv-ers to go into motion and take a lot of hand-offs, something most of the team’s wide outs did sparingly, if at all, in high school. Speckman says many receivers initially consider themselves too small to run the ball between the tackles, but eventually warm to the idea of becoming dual-threat players.

“We had an all-league receiver this year who was strictly a run-and-catch wide receiver in high school,” Speckman says. “When he came here, we told him, ‘We’re going to throw you the ball, but we’re also going to hand it to you.’ Although he really saw himself as a wide receiver, the more we worked with him

you want to look into a system that uses either tighter splits or wider splits. If most teams have only one option to take the snap, you want to have three. You want to figure out what your opponents are doing, especially the stronger teams.”

Once you’ve identified the prevail-ing trends, you can explore ways to run counter to them. Because many of the atypical schemes available to choose from were developed decades ago before

falling out of favor, old coaching books are one of the best sources for informa-tion. Reed has found a treasure trove of knowledge waiting in libraries and used book stores, which are an excellent start-ing point for a coach looking to use a retro system.

Some coaches, like Western Illinois University Defensive Coordinator Thomas Casey, look within, searching for an atypical scheme that will best fit their players, rather than just trying to be different. Casey’s unit runs a 3-3-5 defense which places a priority on speed and athletic ability rather than size. For teams lacking the prototypical hulking defensive linemen, the formation offers a chance to put their 11 best defenders on the field, regardless of size.

“When I coached high school foot-ball, I’d hear great things about a defense and want to try it, but as I’ve matured I’ve found it’s more important to have a system that fits our athletes,” Casey says. “Trying to find four quality defensive linemen is difficult, so instead

we design a defense that takes advantage of our best players.”

Not all contrarian offenses and defenses are relics of the past. Some schemes, like the Double Wing, can be learned by watching how-to videos cre-ated by coaches. And chances are there’s a coach in your area willing to show you how to get the scheme up and run-ning, as well as how to avoid common mistakes. At Willamette University, Head

Coach Mark Speckman often gets questions from coaches looking to run a variation of his Fly offense. Though Speckman used to closely guard the trade secrets of his ener-getic, motion-centered offense, he is now more open, even teaching it at clinics.

Regardless of what system you choose, Speckman warns that a few film sessions or practice visits are rarely enough to understand the nuances of a complicated offensive or defensive scheme. “A little bit of knowledge can be dangerous,” he says. “There’s a coach I’ve known a long time who has sat in on a lot of my clin-ics. One day he told me, ‘This is the third time I’ve listened to you teach the Fly offense, and I think I finally got it.’ This offense takes some time to learn and some-

times coaches think they can pick it up after watching a couple of practices, but eventually they learn it takes more of a commitment.”

Leach also suggests hitting the books and talking to coaches who use a particular system, but adds a caveat. “Read as much you can, but don’t accept everything at face value,” he says. “What works for one coach might not work for your team. It’s best to actually watch someone else prac-ticing and running the scheme, and draw information from them firsthand.”

As uncommon schemes pick up adher-ents, the pool of knowledge increases. At the University of New Mexico, Head Coach Rocky Long uses a 3-3-5 defense he learned as an assistant to Joe Lee Dunn in the early 1980s. Because so few college teams used this formation when he began, Long didn’t have many opportunities to talk shop with other coaches. But as it’s become more popu-lar, he’s found that answering other coaches’ questions has actually helped him fine tune his system.

COVER STORY


“The more you can keep it simple and do a handful of things with a high level of execution, the more success-ful you’ll be ... I’ve learned it’s best to introduce the core concepts and not go into a lot of the details at first. Once the kids have those basic concepts down pat, you can augment that knowledge base and intro-duce more advanced aspects of the defense.”

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Circle No. 116

players will be experiencing something unfamiliar.

When introducing a new scheme, it’s a good idea to keep things simple, both for the players and the coaches. Though his players often ask to learn the more advanced concepts of the 3-3-5 defense, Casey keeps his foot on the brakes in the early going.

“The more you can keep it simple and do a handful of things with a high level of execution, the more successful you’ll be,” Casey says. “I’ve been teaching this package since 1993, and I’ve learned it’s best to introduce the core concepts and not go into a lot of the details at first. Once the kids have those basic concepts down pat, you can augment that knowl-edge base and introduce more advanced aspects of the defense.”


COVER STORY

and told him he was just as good as a running back, the better he played. He became a very versatile player for us.”

Flexibility is an important trait for coaches to have, even if it means rework-ing the playbook itself. While players can be coaxed into new roles, it’s up to the coach to identify what each player can and can’t do, and adjust accordingly.

“Make some educated guesses about your personnel, then see how those guesses play out during training camp,” Speckman says. “You might discover one aspect of your attack isn’t as good as you had anticipated. For instance, maybe your perimeter can’t be blocked as well because this year’s receiver isn’t as good a blocker as his predecessor.

“Sometimes, you have to go to plans B, C, and D,” Speckman adds. “There

have been plenty of times we’ve had to go quite deep for plans based on how our personnel shaped up.”

At Texas Tech, Leach’s changes mir-ror the turnover of players filling each position. “You might have players more adept at doing certain things, so you’ve got to take a look at who you have and what they bring to the table, then tailor your playbook based on that,” Leach says. “We want the ability to attack the whole field and get the ball in every-one’s hands, but if we have a really good option runner one year, we’ll put in more option plays.”

In all but the rarest cases, coaches using an off-beat system will have to build their players’ knowledge from the ground up. Since they’ve probably never seen a Wing-T offense or a 3-3-5 defense,

RECRUITING BATTLES

One of the common complaints about atypical offensive and defensive approaches is that it hurts recruiting. From the high school side, the fear is that players in these schemes will become pigeon-holed and less attrac-

tive to college coaches.

Not true, says Bob Bourgette, Head Coach at Kennedy High School in Burien, Wash. Employing a Wing-T offense, Bourgette has sent three running backs and a quarterback to Division I teams in the past five years.

“The biggest rap is from people saying, ‘Oh my gosh, you play quarterback at a Wing-T school. You’ll never get recruited,’” Bourgette says. “College coaches are hired to recruit athletes, not schemes. If you’re a good athlete, the college coaches will find you.”

On the college level, coaches with non-traditional schemes aren’t handcuffed when it comes to recruit-ing either. According to John Reed, former high school coach and author of a book on the Single Wing, college coaches with atypical approaches actually create a wider range of recruiting criteria.

“If everyone else is running the same offense and defense, they all have to recruit the same kids,” Reed says. “If I’m a college coach who runs some-

thing different, I can go out and look for kids who are excellent football players but maybe aren’t getting recruited because their size and skill sets don’t match up well with common formations. And a lot of them are guys whose athleticism I wouldn’t otherwise be able to get.”

Sometimes the key to countering a player’s con-cerns about what your school doesn’t do is empha-sizing what it does. At Willamette University, Head Coach Mark Speckman’s Fly offense spreads the rushing load among receivers and running backs and is a major change for running backs who are used to getting the bulk of their team’s carries. So Speckman lets his backs know they can still rack up plenty of yardage.

“The pitch we give to running backs is, ‘Would you like to average 100 yards a game?’ and they all say yes,” he says. “Then we ask, ‘Do you care if you do that on 30 carries a game or 10?’ and most of the kids say, ‘It would be great to get 100 yards on 10 carries.’

“We do that to get kids to understand and buy into our system, since it’s not the same as anything they’ve seen before,” Speckman adds. “You’re always under the microscope when you’re doing something different, and you have to be able to sell it to the players.”

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Circle No. 117


COVER STORY

To help players focus on learning the basics, Leach suggests keeping the playbook thin and avoiding the tempta-tion to throw in every play that catches your eye. “The difficulty isn’t in finding plays, it’s in selecting the right ones and narrowing them down to the ones that fit,” Leach says. “It’s tempting to do more and more because there’s so much good stuff out there. But what you really need is a small package that you can execute well.”

Working The PlanEven after the unfamiliar becomes rou-

tine, the work continues. One of the ironies of running an atypical scheme is that the more success you have with it, the more familiar it becomes. Thus an approach that gains its strength from opponents’ unfamiliarity requires constant adjustments to keep it fresh. As opponents begin to key in on certain plays, it’s time to modify your contrarian approach to make sure it remains that way.

“In order to be truly contrarian, after two or three years you have to look at

your approach and modify it a little bit,” Reed says. “It’s like an arms race—as soon as someone invents a tank, some-one else comes up with an anti-tank weapon. Good opponents might not respect your scheme the first time around, but in the offseason they’re going to try to find ways to stop it.”

As opponents become more familiar with your scheme and learn how to counter it, game-day adjust-ments also become more important. Anticipating how other teams might counter your approach and having back-up plans ready are important considerations.

“You can find out in the first series or two what they want to take away from you,” Speckman says. “Maybe they’re keying on your tailback or focusing on your tackle outside game. So you’ve got to be ready to go to your belly offense and your trap and run inside. It’s a chess game. If they take away one thing, you’ve got to find an opening and come back and attack it.”

While tweaking your game plan is often necessary, it’s important not to go overboard with in-game adjustments. “You need to be constantly tinkering, but if you alter your entire approach,

you’re going to lose a lot of games,” Leach says. “If there’s a better way to run a play, you’ll find it. I don’t think making a bunch of wholesale changes is productive for your players or your team.”

Staying The CourseCritics, of course, are part of the

landscape for football coaches. Because very few teams use atypical defensive

If a contrarian scheme fails, it’s usually not the result of things going wrong on the field, but more likely because a coach loses his commitment to it in the face of critics.

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tered his share of nay-sayers who didn’t like his change of pace—especially par-ents. He says coaches won’t ever silence all critics no matter how well they per-form, so they need to grow a thick skin.

“I just tell any parents or other critics this is what’s going to happen with this offense and this is how we’re going to execute it,” Bourgette says. “I let them know we have the same interests in mind and they need to trust me when it

comes to making football-related deci-sions. It may sound abrupt, but you need to tell them off the bat, ‘This is what we do. We’ve had great success doing it, and we’re going to continue to have success.’” ■

According to Reed, if a contrarian scheme fails, it’s usually not the result of things going wrong on the field, but more likely because a coach loses his commitment to it in the face of critics. “You should be wary of pseudo-coach-es—the radio guys and boosters who may see the coach as using a dated or desperate approach,” Reed says. “If you run one of these schemes, it’s going to take a few years to get really good at it,

and you will hear some criticism along the way. But the problem typically isn’t on the field, it’s in the guts of the coach running it.”

Though his team has had great suc-cess with the Wing-T, Bourgette encoun-

COVER STORY

schemes, Long says those who do typi-cally attract even more skeptics. He usu-ally counters their criticism with a dose of education.

“Some people will assume that if they haven’t seen an idea before there must be something wrong with it,” Long says. “There are great football minds who do things a lot differently, but some people won’t believe in something until it’s successful.

“If the critics truly want to understand what we’re doing, and is not just spout-ing off for the sake of spouting off, we’ll try to educate them,” Long continues. “Those who understand the game will see why our approach will work.”


“You should be wary of pseudo-coaches—the radio guys and boosters who may see the coach as using a dated or desperate approach. If you run one of these schemes, it’s going to take a few years to get really good at it, and you will hear some criticism along the way. But the problem typically isn’t on the field, it’s in the guts of the coach running it.”

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Circle No. 121

I DON’T LIKE TO LOSE. I don’t even like to write about losing. But we’ve all been through it—having a losing season that doesn’t turn around no matter what you do.

In today’s world, with parents scru-tinizing your every move, you can’t just grit your teeth through a bad year. In fact, a sub-par season needs to be han-dled with as much care—if not more—than a winning season.

Losses usually lead to questions and doubts: Should I alter my approach? Set new rules? Change my expectations? How do I keep athletes from getting frustrated? How do I keep them from losing confidence in me? Should I start

playing younger players and looking ahead to next year? How do I respond to the complaints of parents and fans? And how do I make sure I don’t lose my job? Your answers and actions will make a huge difference in how things turn out.

Check In With YourselfIt is important to realize that losing

is not an indictment of your coaching ability. However, the way you react to losing can be. When losses pile up, your

values and leadership will be exposed in a new way. How you respond to adversity will show those around you what you’re really about.

That’s why the first step to take when you start losing is to review your coaching philosophy. If you have a written philoso-phy, re-read it. It will help remind you why you coach, and for most of us, it’s not only about winning. Staying true to your coaching philosophy is paramount to keeping the situation positive.

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Lem Elway has coached several sports, including football, at the middle school, high school, and college levels for nearly 30 years and is a member of the Washington State Coaches Hall of Fame. His first book, The Coach’s Administrative Handbook, has recently been published by Coaches Choice.

When losses start piling up, self-doubt is sure to follow. Should you change your approach? How can you keep student-athletes from growing frustrated? Here, a Hall of Fame high school coach

offers advice for getting the most out of a losing season. BY LEM ELWAY

LESSONS FROM LOSING

LEADERSHIP


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evaluate why the team is losing and try to turn things around.

Let your athletes and their parents know that you are constantly analyzing everything the team does to make what-ever changes are needed. Break down

every game and figure out what went wrong and what went right. Know what your athletes are doing well and what they need to improve on. Are there problems with concentration, technical skills, or communication? Have you neglected to teach them something? What will you do in practice to work on those problems?

I am a firm believer in the motto, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” and when we’re losing, I ask myself if there is a weak link in our offense or defense. I use statistics and performance analysis to find areas that need improvement. Then, I work with those athletes to improve their skills, or I increase the number of athletes working at the position so I can make a change if necessary. Either the athlete gets better or I alter the lineup.

Throughout all these evaluations, I make sure I am communicating well. After games, I talk to players about what caused the team to lose and what we need to do to improve. I post produc-tion sheets on the locker room bulletin board so my athletes can see the facts of their performance, and I let them know that I am evaluating them on their hustle, teamwork, and attitude.

I also ask them to evaluate themselves using one question: Did you give 100-percent effort today? If they can answer yes, then I feel we are achieving our goals. Each athlete needs to answer this question for himself, not for me or anyone else.

At the same time, I emphasize that we’re all in this together. I try to create the feeling that everyone must learn

Here are three critical areas that will define who you are during a losing season:

Consistent Expectations: During a losing season, it can be tempting to lower your standards for player behav-ior and work ethic. However, your play-ers gain nothing from you lowering your expectations. If you expect them to get to practice 10 minutes early every day when the team is winning, you should continue to do so when they’re losing. If you give out an award in prac-tice every week to the player who works hardest, you should continue doing it, even if it feels like that hard work isn’t paying off.

Emotional Control: For both players and coaches, keeping emotions in check becomes more difficult when the losses keep coming. But this is the time when your leadership and maturity are most needed to set an example for your ath-letes. Take the time to go over your rules on behavior more frequently than usual, and don’t hesitate to quickly call players on any negative actions.

Staying Positive: It’s extremely easy

to feel negative about your players and yourself when the losses pile up, and you need to fight this every step of the way. Every word out of your mouth and all your body language needs to convey that you have not lost hope.

It’s up to you to continue hus-tling, being enthusiastic, and bring-ing energy to practices and games. You must be as excited as ever when something good happens and present nothing but positive encouragement when things are not going right.

Examine your words and your tone of voice. Yelling is not an acceptable way to correct players, nor is foul language. Be a teacher and explain in a confident voice the mistake that was made. Every time you open your mouth, something constructive should come out.

Evaluate Why You’re LosingA key part of getting through a losing

season is making sure athletes and par-ents do not lose confidence in you. The best way to ensure this is to continually

LEADERSHIP

JOB SECURITYThe worst part about a losing season is that it gives people license to question your decisions and objectives. I can think of several coaches who posted continuous winning seasons, had one losing season, and were sud-denly faced with all sorts of questions that led to their firing.

The key to avoiding the one-bad-season axe is to communicate with parents and administrators and educate them about what you’re trying to do. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that it is not only important to mold players, but also their parents, who can be very vocal if the team begins to lose.

For example, I hold a clinic just for parents, where our coaching staff presents the fundamentals we are trying to teach in our program and explains why we teach techniques the way we do. We periodi-cally have pre- and post-event get togethers and dinners for team members and families, and I regularly send group e-mails to update parents on schedule changes and team notes. When the team is los-ing, I intensify this communication, spending even more time talking to parents about what we are trying to do.

During a losing season, it can be tempting to hunker down, avoid contact, and communicate less than usual. Fighting this urge can earn you a new level of respect from parents and administrators. It can also help you keep your job.


I try to create the feeling that everyone must learn from each other’s mistakes in a construc-tive manner. I also emphasize that comments on individual mistakes are not to be taken personally. I try to convey the idea that figuring out what’s going wrong and how to change it is a fun, dynamic process.

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Circle No. 122

that will not make a good impression.Sitting Seniors: What if you decide

that a senior on the team is a weak link? I always convey to seniors that they should be the strongest members of the team, but if they aren’t the best at their position, they should expect no favors. If an underclassman begins to play better than a senior, I will not hesitate to start the younger athlete. However, I always have factual information to support my decision and I often make it a gradual transition.

I’ve also learned that, during these changes, it is critical for a coach to protect younger players from an older player’s abuse. This can be an emo-tional time for a senior and his parents, who are faced with losing their role and stature on the team. This should never be underestimated, and the coach must communicate well and offer compas-sion and understanding.

When Players Quit: Some players are not able to deal with losing and may decide to quit the team during the season. As a coach, be ready to deal with

LEADERSHIP

from each other’s mistakes in a construc-tive manner. I also emphasize that com-ments on individual mistakes are not to be taken personally. I try to convey the idea that figuring out what’s going wrong and how to change it is a fun, dynamic process.

Tough DecisionsOnce you’ve determined why your

team is losing, you may be faced with some difficult decisions. The most

important thing is for you to be able to justify your actions in whatever you do, because sometimes, you’ll need to make tough decisions. Here are some big questions that can arise:

Individual vs. Team: What if there’s one athlete who is trying to play at the next level but the team is hindering him? I still base everything we do on team goals—not on the individual. I let my best players know that for them to get the recognition they’ve worked for, the team must be successful. If they continue to work hard on an individual basis, the team will succeed. The mes-sage from the coach must be that both goals are intertwined.

I also remind athletes that if they want to play at the next level, college recruit-ers watch everything they do. If they see an athlete only trying to impress the recruiter and not being a team player,

If young people can be held accountable and accept responsibility for their part in a loss, they are learning a wonderful life lesson. If they can say, “I wasn’t giving 100-percent effort today” or “I botched the play,” they can figure out how to change their attitude or skills to help make sure it doesn’t happen again.

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Circle No. 123


that possibility. Be aware some will go quietly, while others will make a scene. Some might also direct their animos-ity toward you. In this situation, always take the high road in your reaction. It is imperative that your team is ready to regroup quickly and move on with the players who have decided to remain.

If possible, I try to talk to every kid who quits to find out why. I think about their reason and if I, as a coach, feel I did something to make them quit, I try to change that part of my coaching. If the reasons for quitting come down to simply not having the right attitude, I wish them the best and tell them I’m glad they were part of the program.

Make It A Learning ExperienceWe’ve all heard the saying, “You can

learn more from losing than winning,” but the operative word there is can—this learning doesn’t happen automati-cally. You need to seize the teachable moments of losing.

To start, I always ask my players how they want to be remembered when they

leave high school. Do they want to be the athlete who fought through adversity, or the athlete who helped bring the team down? I explain that one’s true character comes out during tough times, and if they can hold their heads high while losing, they’ll know how to hold their heads high when they experience adversity in their adult lives. If they can hold onto a “never give up” attitude in sports, they will go far in anything they choose to do.

We also talk about how losing can bring us together or tear us apart. One season I started with seven seniors who had minimal varsity experience from the previous year. Over the season the play-ers developed togetherness and support for each other, and the team won the league championship. The energy cre-ated by hard work fueled everything.

Communication is key to the learn-ing process. I make sure there are times when athletes can voice their frustrations, either one-on-one with me or in a group. They need to be able to express them-selves, and I let them know they can talk to me to let off steam. At the same time,

they know that they will be held account-able for what they say to the whole team.

What do I do when an individual athlete or an entire team has endured a particularly dismal outing? I believe it is good for athletes to face the reality of “being down,” especially when their per-formance has helped create the situation. If young people can be held accountable and accept responsibility for their part in a loss, they are learning a wonderful life lesson. If they can say, “I wasn’t giving 100-percent effort today” or “I botched the play,” they can figure out how to change their attitude or skills to help make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Through it all, I always try to teach the ultimate lesson—that sports are fun, no matter what the score is. I always want to accentuate the positives and show interest in the present. We laugh and joke every day. Win or lose, you need to keep true to your philosophy and your role as a mentor of young people. ■

Versions of this article have appeared in other editions of Coaching Management.

LEADERSHIP

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ometime in the 1500s, English poet Robert Herrick used the phrase “no pain, no gain” in his writings. He was conveying the idea that if you don’t work really hard at something, you won’t ben-

efit from it—a good, noble phrase from a well-respected poet of his day.

Ben Franklin and, a little closer to home, Adlai Stevenson, also used the maxim with success. They, too, were pro-moting the value of hard work.

More recently, “no pain, no gain” has been connected with athletics. Today’s coaches motivate their athletes with the phrase and it has become the mantra of the hard-working team.

The problem is that coaches and play-ers can take the phrase too literally. For JA

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many athletes today, experiencing pain is linked to working out. They approach the weight stack with the assumption that a little hurt is what will get them to the next level.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. For sure, proper train-ing in the weightroom or on the field demands that players be pushed to their limits. And there is no doubt that a good coach can get players to accomplish things beyond what they ever thought possible. But achieving this does not

Vern Gambetta is the President of Gambetta Sports Training Systems in Sarasota, Fla., and a frequent contributor to Coaching Management. His daily thoughts on training athletes can be viewed on his blog at: www.functionalpathtraining.blogspot.com.

S BY VERN GAMBETTA

GAIN WITHOUT PAIN

STRENGTH & CONDITIONING


Hard work is the bedrock of any successful strength-training program. But pushing players to lift until it hurts can do far more harm than good.

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stimulus. To make gains, it is necessary to achieve a certain stimulus threshold. This threshold is dependent on the indi-vidual and the objective of the training.

In addition, some workouts should be very difficult and others should almost seem easy. This ebb and flow of chal-lenge intensity is essential for proper adaptation.

The question I always ask coaches when I am teaching at a clinic is: Are you making your players better, or are you making them tired? If you are just mak-ing them tired, I suggest you reconsider your approach. You need to continually keep the big picture in mind: achieving the training objective entails more than just pushing to pain at every workout.

Another reason not to push your ath-letes to their very limit is that it can wear them out at a time when you need them fresh. It is important to remember that the weightroom is only one facet of a player’s preparation. If you expect them to peak in the weightroom, what will they have left for practice? And, more impor-tantly, what will they have left when the game reaches the fourth quarter?

I don’t know about you, but I want my players tough on gameday. That should be the goal of training. A thoroughly conditioned athlete who is supremely confident in his preparation will be mentally and physically tough. But an athlete can only go to the well so many times before it will begin to run dry. Push a “no pain, no gain” message in the weightroom, and you risk depleting that well and leaving the athlete with nothing in the tank for competition.

Know The LineThe obvious question, then, is: What

is the line between working hard and overdoing it during weightroom work-outs? I tell my athletes they are like finely tuned race cars. To stay in top shape, they must work with high energy and push themselves. But just like race cars, they cannot be at the red line all the time or there will be a breakdown.

The test of work done in the weight-room is soreness. There is good sore-ness and bad soreness. Good soreness is soreness in the muscles involved in a particular movement, such as the glutes in squatting. If the glutes are sore after a heavy squatting session, that is good.

However, if there is soreness in the joints, that is not good. For example, if

mean you have to inflict pain. In fact, pain is a red flag that something is wrong with the workout.

Why Not Push It?The main reason not to push your

players to their threshold of pain is that it won’t help them achieve their strength and conditioning goals. To make gains in the weightroom, it’s critical to follow a progression. An athlete should not move to a higher weight until he has mastered the weight he is at. If an athlete has pain,

his body is struggling to adapt and needs rest. If you push more weight on a body in pain, it will lead to more pain and no adaptation. It may even eventually lead to injury.

It is important to understand the various stimuli that cause an adaptive response to strength training and how they correspond to your specific goals. If the goal is to build mass, then volume is the stimulus. If the goal is to train the muscles to aid in performing spe-cific tasks, then intensity is the primary


38 COACHING MANAGEMENTUntitled-18 1 10/23/06 4:47:52 PM

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the knees are sore after squatting, that is a bad sign. It often means the training is being performed incorrectly.

In addition, soreness that persists is a red flag. The inability to recover for the next workout often indicates that the athlete is at red line all the time, or the workload was excessive. Soreness should dissipate after a good thorough warmup the next day.

An unexpected performance plateau is another sign that an athlete is doing too much. During a time when performance should be rising, a plateau or decline indi-cates that there is a problem. The athlete may very well be pushing too hard.

Holding Them BackEven if your workouts have the proper

progression and you’re asking your ath-letes about any soreness they are experi-encing, you need to be on the lookout for those players who take the “no pain, no gain” mantra literally. There will always be

athletes who want to go past their limits every day, and they need to be reined in.

As coaches we are teachers, and it is our job to show our athletes how to train. I certainly do not want to discourage an athlete from working hard in the weight-room—or anywhere for that matter—but I feel I must teach them that training is more than feeling the burn. It’s some-times hard for a young athlete to think about the big picture, so I try to make it very clear where they are going and out-line the steps they must take to get there.

The first thing I explain is that train-ing is cumulative. Progress is not made through one heavy max session in the weightroom, but through the cumula-tive effect of many sessions over a period of weeks and months. I also talk about how workouts in the weightroom cor-relate to their performance. I tell them why and how a certain lift will help them on the field, and why overdoing it will hurt their performance. If they are very

Here’s one more good reason not to push players to the point of pain during their workouts: It can result in injury. And injuries that may have been preventable can lead to lawsuits.

Two years ago, Scott Koffman, a former pitcher at Brigham Young University, filed a $9.2 million lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the school and one of its strength and conditioning coaches, claiming a weight-training injury ended his hopes of playing professionally. The suit said the pitcher suffered three herniated disks in September 2001 after being forced by the coach to lift too much weight.

While performing an elevated leg press, Koffman says that he tried remov-ing some weight from the press and was stopped by an assistant strength and conditioning coach who called him a vulgar name, added another 100 pounds, and ordered him to lift. The lawsuit indicated that Koffman suffered the injury on the first repetition he attempted.

Although Koffman participated in 16 games during the season following the injury, he says the pain eventually became too severe to continue his career. He claims it also affected his ability to study, causing his grades to drop. Once drafted by the Baltimore Orioles, Koffman says he is no longer able to be even moderately active and that he will be affected physically and finan-cially for the rest of his life.

In February 2005, BYU and Koffman settled out of court, though terms were not disclosed. School officials claim they provided Koffman with adequate medical care, although they have not commented on the strength coach’s actions. — R.J. Anderson

LEGALLY SPEAKINGCOACHING MANAGEMENT 39


driven on a daily basis, I ask them to put that effort into performing their lifts with concentration and intensity—mak-ing their technique perfect and explod-ing at exactly the right moment.

Another part of the solution is giv-ing athletes strength and conditioning goals—the more individualized, the bet-ter. This provides direction and purpose to the training. It helps the athlete see each workout not as a one-time heroic effort, but as part of the big picture.

It is also important to provide a lot of feedback, especially for the very driven athlete who has formerly worked with a “no pain, no gain” coach. For this ath-lete, the hurt that comes from training may be seen as a form of feedback. If it hurts, they think that’s good, and it gives them the incentive to keep going. This is not an easy athlete to work with because in their eyes you are taking away the opportunity to get better. The solution is to provide this person with a lot of feed-back and motivate them in different ways. Also, they must not be allowed any leeway in their workouts.

Testing is a great way to provide feed-back to all your players and show them they are achieving gain without pain. The tests should be carefully chosen to accurately reflect what is going on in training at the present time. Young, developing athletes, especially, want to see tangible progress. Testing reinforces the positive effects of proper training.

Some day-to-day solutions include pro-viding close supervision and structuring the training away from big lifts. I have seen too many athletes get caught up in the moment and try lifts they had no busi-ness attempting. It should be clear what the protocol is every day, and coaches should circulate around the weightroom to ensure that athletes aren’t trying to do more than what is prescribed.

I know some coaches who make a conscious effort to downplay any competition over who can lift the most weight, and that tends to work well. Others have had success by de-empha-sizing one-rep maximums. Instead, they use three-rep maximums and project a one-rep max off of that. This can help

reduce an athlete’s temptation to try to lift too much at once.

Not A PunishmentPart of the problem with the “no

pain, no gain” mentality is that it leads coaches and athletes to think: More is better and the more weight someone lifts the better, regardless of the tech-nique (or lack thereof). In addition, some coaches use workouts as punish-ment. If someone isn’t listening, they do 100 push-ups. But training is not punish-ment, and it should not be thought of as such. It is an opportunity to get better.

If we can shift our thinking in these two areas—realizing that more is not always better and ensuring that training has a specific purpose—then the “no pain, no gain” school of thought will have a lot less credibility. And our players will, ultimately, make the most gains. ■

Versions of this article have appeared in other editions of Coaching Management, as well as our sister publication, Training & Conditioning.

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Glute/Ham


Circle No. 130


In his first season as Head Coach at an 11-year-old

school, J.W. Kenton used Windsor knots to help his

players prepare for the biggest game of their lives.

BY ABIGAIL FUNK


TIEING UP A TITLE

The week before a state cham-pionship game, you might expect to find a team preparing by watching film or thumbing through playbooks an hour before practice. But it was a different picture at King Kekaulike High School in Pukalani, Hawai’i, in the days leading up to the Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division II State Championship. Instead, Head Coach J.W. Kenton would show up at the field to find his team sitting in small groups fumbling with Windsor knots.

“When you dress up in Hawai’i it’s tradition to wear an Aloha shirt,” Kenton, a University of Florida gradu-ate, explains. “Even adults don’t wear ties. But I wanted the athletes to under-stand that we were going over to Oahu to take care of business, so I taught them—and the coaching staff—how to tie a tie. It’s not normal for them to be at practice an hour early, so it was amazing when we showed up and found them sitting on the grass and in the stands helping each other.”

Kenton told his team that if they had the knot tying down by Wednesday, they wouldn’t have to wear them to the game that weekend. But the seniors told him during the week that they were ready to take care of business and wanted to wear the ties anyway. “That diversion of focusing on something besides football helped reduce some of the pressure building that week,” Kenton says. “It helped immensely.”

The pressure of the postseason was certainly new to a football pro-gram and school only 11 years old. King Kekaulike High finished with just four wins the previous season, and 2006 was Kenton’s first year as head coach. To top it off, no neighbor island team had made it to the championship game before. “Because this program is so young, there was no tradition of being in championships,” Kenton says. “There aren’t a lot of alumni, and we’re still developing pride in the program.”

Kenton is happy to say that King Kekaulike now has an abundance of pride. The day the team left for the game, the principal released the whole

school for a special send off. A wide sidewalk that extends through the mid-dle of campus was lined with hundreds of students and the entire faculty and staff. Led by Kenton, the 52 necktie-clad players marched down the sidewalk single file through a softly clapping human tunnel.

“I turned around at the end of that sidewalk and saw that nearly every player had tears in his eyes, and then all of I sudden I had tears in mine as well,” Kenton recalls. “At that moment I felt like I had done my job. They bought into the system and had emo-tion for what we were doing. Win or lose, it didn’t matter. That was the greatest moment of the year.”

Inside Aloha Stadium, King Kekaulike took care of business in efficient fash-ion, beating previously undefeated Kauai High School, 33-20. Kenton says his defense struggled all year, allowing 20 and sometimes 30 points in a win, which put pressure on the offense to win games. But in the state champion-ship game, that all changed.

Less than two minutes after kickoff, the King Kekaulike defense forced two turnovers, returning both for touch-downs, and they were off to a 14-0 lead. Kauai got on the board in the first quarter, but King Kekaulike’s 20 first-quarter points set the tone for the rest of the game. To Kenton’s delight, his defense forced four more turnovers.

“Our offense was used to being the main attraction, but our defense showed up and really played their hearts out,” Kenton says. “I told myself that we didn’t have to show any razzle dazzle, just manage the game, run the clock, and win.”

In its semifinal game the week before, however, it was a razzle dazzle play that ultimately won the game. Down by five points with seconds on the clock, Kenton called a team-favor-ite double-handoff run-pass option they had used earlier in the season. The first two handoffs went smoothly, but the pitch to quarterback Shelton Bangasan bounced off his helmet as he eyed an open receiver downfield.

“You could feel all the energy in the stadium just die when the ball hit the ground,” Kenton says. “It was all hap-pening five yards from me. I felt like I could have reached out and touched the ball.”

A calm Bangasan turned and ran a few yards to the ball, but his momen-tum caused him to kick it back even fur-ther. Still surprisingly calm, Bangasan nonchalantly walked to the ball, picked it up, took one step to the left, and fired it to an open receiver in the end zone before being flattened by a defender. Kenton says it was like watching a movie as the ball was caught with no time left on the clock.

That one-point semifinal win helped create a solid mindset leading into the state championship game. “People were asking me if we were a team of destiny,” Kenton says. “I downplayed that idea, but we definitely walked around with an enormous amount of confidence because we did something special. We felt invincible.”



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Abigail Funk is an Assistant Editor at Coaching Management. She can be reached at: [email protected].

School: King Kekaulike High School, Pukalani, Hawai’iHead Coach: J.W. Kenton2006 Season: 8-3-1, Hawai’i High School Athletic Association Division II State ChampionsNotes: King Kekaulike handed Kauai its only loss of the season in the champion-

ship game… 2006 marked the first time a team from the island of Maui reached the state championship game … In the state semifinals, the Na Ali’i pulled out a wild 38-37 win against defending state champion Iolani as time expired.

Varsity Assistant Coaches: Brandon Nagata, Chad Hashimoto, Chris Porter, Dick Gaskell, Herbert Kalama, James Hapakuka, Joey Tamayose, Ka’eo Ripani, Kepa Sarduy, Mark Makimoto, Peter Ralph, Michelle Kaho’ohanohano

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Dulles High School, TXWinning League Record, 2006

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Circle No. 500

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Timpview High School, UTState Champion, 2006

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Fruitland High School, IDClass 3A Champion, 2006

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Rockford High School, MIDivision Champion, 2005

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550 . . Powernetics (Bulldog/Attacker) . . . . . . 62505 . . Powernetics (championship solution) . . . 47551 . . . Powernetics (Power Trainer) . . . . . . . . . 62506 . . Pro Fields (championship solution) . . . . 48516 . . . Pro Fields (turf) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53567 . . . Pro Look Sports (coach’s gear) . . . . . . 66566 . . Pro Look Sports (uniforms) . . . . . . . . . 66530 . . Professional Turf Products . . . . . . . 56532 . . Profile Products (Field & Fairway Emerald) . 57531 . . . Profile Products (Keep America Playing) . . . 57507 . . ProGrass (championship solution) . . . . . 48514 . . . ProGrass (turf) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52533 . . Qualite Sports Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57508 . . Qualite Sports Lighting (championship sol.) . 48534 . . Qualite Sports Lighting (lighting systems) . . 57575 . . . Reebok (cleats) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67576 . . . Reebok (training apparel) . . . . . . . . . . . 67552. . . Rogers Athletic (Brute Rack system) . . . 63509 . . Rogers Athletic (championship solution) . 49553 . . Rogers Athletic (Monster Arms) . . . . . . . 63510 . . . Samson (championship solution) . . . . . . 49554 . . Samson (Pillar Station) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63535 . . Samson (Platform with Logo). . . . . . . . . 57520 . . Southern Bleacher . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55515 . . . Sportexe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52517 . . . Sprinturf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53577. . . Stromgren (Compression Shirt) . . . . . . . 67578 . . . Stromgren (Model 329 Ankle Support) . . 67558 . . TuffStuff (XXL-930 power rack) . . . . . . . 63559 . . . TuffStuff (XXL-950 power rack/platform) . 63538 . . Ultimate Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57569. . . Under Armour (Skill Girdle) . . . . . . . . . 66568 . . Under Armour (UA Demolition Mid) . . . 66579. . . Village Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67564 . . WaterBoy Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65526. . . WeatherBeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56511 . . . Wenger (championship solution) . . . . . . 49536 . . Wenger Corp. (Sport Cart) . . . . . . . . . 57537. . . Wenger (TranSport cart) . . . . . . . . . . . 57580 . . Wizard Sports (+3 Kicking Shoe) . . . . . . 67512 . . . Wizard Sports (championship solution) . . 49557. . . Xvest (Don Chu) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63556 . . Xvest (TurboBells) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

A D V E R T I S E R S D I R E C T O R YCIRCLE COMPANY PAGE CIRCLE COMPANY PAGENO. NO. NO. NO

122 . . . Aer-Flo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33118 . . . Austin Plastics & Supply . . . . . . . . . 28121 . . . Bac-Shield (Adams USA) . . . . . . . . . . . 30135 . . . BallQube. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59134 . . . Cho-Pat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50117 . . . Cramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27143 . . . Cutters Gloves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC115 . . . Digital Scout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21141 . . . Eagle Sportswear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62140 . . . eFundraising.com . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62120 . . . Fair-Play Scoreboards . . . . . . . . . . . 29110 . . . FieldTurf Tarkett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17102 . . . Gearboss by Wenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5130 . . . Hammer Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43139 . . . HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61114 . . . Humane Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . 20132 . . . Jump Stretch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48127 . . . K&K Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39113 . . . M.A.S.A. Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20123 . . . MAXX by Shoot-A-Way . . . . . . . . . . 34104. . . Mondo USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9107 . . . ONS (Optimal Nutrition Systems) . . . . . . 14

125 . . . Power Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36142 . . . Powernetics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC131 . . . Pro Fields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46101 . . . Pro Look Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2-3119 . . . Professional Turf Products . . . . . . . 28124 . . . ProGrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35112 . . . Qualite Sports Lighting . . . . . . . . . . 19103 . . . Reebok . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7111 . . . Rogers Athletic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18126 . . . Samson Weight Equipment . . . . . . . 38100 . . Sportexe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC116 . . . Sprinturf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25106. . . Stromgren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13129 . . . TuffStuff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41109. . . Turface Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15137 . . . Ultimate Athletics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60105. . . Under Armour . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11108 . . Village Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14133 . . . WaterBoy Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49136 . . . WeatherBeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59138 . . . Wizard Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60128 . . . Xvest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

AchillesTendonStrapThis patenteddevice will reducestress upon theAchilles Tendonand provide effec-tive relief frompain and discomfort associated withAchilles Tendonitis. Sizes: Sm - Med - Lrg

DualActionKnee StrapPatented deviceoffers an extralevel of pain reliefand protectionfrom knee

degeneration and overuse syndromes.Stabilizes and strengthens the jointwhile allowing full mobility. Sizes: Sm - XL

KneeStrapCho-Pat’sOriginal KneeStrap is designedto alleviate certainknee discomfortsdue to overusesyndromes, arthritis, and other forms ofdegeneration. Nearly two million sold!Sizes: XS - XXL • Colors: Black and Tan

www.cho-pat.com 1-800-221-1601

Great Ideas For Athletes...

Circle No. 134


Case Study

Why is Aer-Flo’s new Bench Zone™ tarp so different from all the others?

Instead of copying competitors for new products, we listen to the needs of coaches, athletic directors, and grounds-keepers. MRSA is a growing concern for athletic programs, so we wanted to make a sideline turf protector with a material that does not absorb sweat, spit, blood, sports drinks, or water—all of which can be found in football bench areas. We rejected the felt-like fabric used in most bench tarps because it absorbs and holds liquids, is nearly impossible to clean, and gets heavy when wet. Rolled up in storage, the absorbent material becomes a breeding ground for microorganisms. We found a new type of vinyl-polyester matrix fabric that does not absorb liquids, yet is total-

ly cleat- and spike-resis-tant. Grounds crews say it’s lighter and cleans off eas-ily with spray from a water hose. Our new Bench Zone sideline protector solves all the problems of felt-like fabric tarps.

What major college and NFL teams use the Bench Zone?

We introduced this product last August, just before football season and too late for most teams. I called 15 college teams, and four bought our new Bench Zone sideline protectors—Texas A&M, Ohio State University, the University of Georgia, and Purdue University. After the season, each one said its protectors performed perfectly and were showing no signs of wear. The most cited ben-efits were lighter weight, ease of clean-ing, and superior turf protection.

We sent samples to the NFL home office for evaluation, and Bench Zone received

NFL approval in only one week. The first game was only a week away, and the Kansas City Chiefs were the only NFL team needing a new tarp. Their experi-ence mirrored that of the college teams. We expect several more NFL teams will soon have Bench Zone protectors.

What about sidelines close to a track?

Many football fields are surrounded by a track. The soft composite materi-als used in modern track surfaces can be damaged by teams and indi-viduals crossing over the track. Many schools use heavy rubber or carpeting to protect their tracks—materials that cause moisture damage and are hard to install and remove. We make Cross-Over Zone™ track protectors with self-draining geotextile material to cushion and protect against cleats, shoes, and wheels. We add vinyl edging with a steel chain in it, so it’s virtually wind-proof and easy to install and remove.

What does your company offer to help football coaches?

We recently introduced the Bench Zone TRACK protector for this situation. It’s similar to Cross-Over Zone in construc-tion, only much larger. Self-ballasting chain edging keeps it down without stakes or staples, and it’s dependable for any track surface.

What other football products does Aer-Flo offer?

Our new Huddle Zone™ special teams mat gives special teams units a place to organize and call plays. It helps reduce penalties and lost timeouts, plus it folds up for away games. A steel chain in the edge hem keeps it station-ary in high winds, and the material is the same cleat-proof matrix used in our Bench Zone Protector.

How do you market your football products?

We are proud to sell through the best sports equipment dealers. Prospective customers can request a catalog by calling us or by visiting our Web site.

Football Turf and Track Protection with Aer-Flo’s Jeff MondorAer-Flo® is a leading manufacturer of sports cover products that solve problems for high school, college, and professional teams. The company’s products offer quality materials and workmanship, and they’re designed with safety and utility in mind.

Jeff Mondor, the National Sales Manager at Aer-Flo, develops sales and new prod-uct programs for the company.

Aer-Flo, Inc.4455 18th St. EBradenton, FL 34203800-823-7356www.aerflo.com


Sportexewww.sportexe.com866-935-7100

See ad inside front coverCircle No. 515

Sportexe is truly a technological leader in the synthetic turf industry. Using Sportexe turf, Ottawa’s Frank Clair Stadium at Lansdowne Park received the first FIFA 2-Star recommendation in the CONCACAF—the highest ranking available. Sportexe has an accredita-tion program to guarantee professional installation and a research and develop-ment department whose products have been recently showcased in Forbes Magazine, ESPN the Magazine, and NPR’s Marketplace.

Background: With more than 18 years of synthetic turf experience, Sportexe has become synonymous with inno-vation and quality. Sportexe offers unparalleled service, installation, and performance, and its turf is more attractive and durable than natural grass. The company offers sport-spe-cific synthetic turf systems designed for the exacting requirements of many of the world’s top sporting activities.

Recent Installations:

San Francisco 49ersNew Orleans SaintsLouisiana State UniversityUniversity of AlabamaUniversity of California-DavisMiddle Tennessee State University

ProGrass, LLCwww.prograssturf.com866-270-6003

See ad on page 35Circle No. 514

ProGrass engineers each of its tur f systems to play like natural grass. ProGrass systems are designed for optimum performance, offering ath-letes a safe, top-notch competitive experience. The company takes great pride in making sure the installation process always goes smoothly—each ProGrass field is installed by certified ProGrass installers. The quality of the installation helps create an aestheti-cally pleasing result.

Background: In 1997, members of the ProGrass management team were involved in the first sale and installation of a synthetic surface with infill technology. Since then, they have been involved in over 300 sports field projects—everything from high school fields, small and large college stadiums, and govern-ment projects to the NFL, private indoor facilities, golf domes, and numerous custom-built facilities.


Bolles High School, FLPalm Bay High School, FLMars High School, PACalifornia University, PAImmaculate Catholic High School, CTSandlot Tampa, FL

FieldTurf Tarkettwww.fieldturftarkett.com800-724-2969


An ongoing, long-term testing program has proven that FieldTurf is safer than many other turf systems and equal to, if not better than, natural grass in the most critical aspects of player safety. No other company can make such a claim. In addition, FieldTurf is widely known for enhancing the aesthetics of campuses worldwide—the durable characteristics of this player-friendly turf system allow the field to remain in pristine condition 24/7 with very little maintenance required.

Background: In addition to its world-renowned FieldTurf brand, FieldTurf Tarkett offers a comprehensive line of athletic surface products, includ-ing basketball, volleyball, and gymna-sium flooring; squash and racquetball courts; floor protection and covering systems; weightroom flooring; indoor and outdoor running tracks; and a complete range of tennis and golf surfaces.


Riverside-Brookfield High School, ILShorewood High School, WABothell High School, WASt. Genevieve High School, CAWeequahic High School, NJCatonsville High School, MD

Guide to Synthetic Turf


FieldTurf Tarkettwww.fieldturftarkett.comSite includes:

Customer testimonialsFacility profilesHomepage media centerCompany background

Special features:Video clips of customer testimonialsTechnical information video clips

Pro Fieldswww.profields.comSite includes:

Product description and composite breakdown

Downloadable literatureOutside links to drainage company

partnershipsProject gallery

Special features:Information on free Pro Look team

uniforms and turf packages

ProGrass, LLCwww.prograssturf.comSite includes:

Detailed product specsCustomer testimonialsAnimated Flash introduction

Special features:Downloadable video demo

Sportexewww.sportexe.comSite includes

Product information on synthetic turf systems

Profiles, testimonials, and images of facilities

Turf industry news and Sportexe press releases

Information on Sportexe UniversitySpecial features:

Register for “turFYI” newslettersTurf questionnaire for immediate

response from Sportexe

Sprinturfwww.sprinturf.comSite includes:

Numerous customer testimonialsCompany historyFiber, base, and drainage specsWarranty information

Special features:Time-lapse evolution of a synthetic

field installation“Sprinturf Newsstand” (latest news

releases)

Sprinturfwww.sprinturf.com877-686-8873


Sprinturf’s patented 100-percent rub-ber infill system has proven to be very similar to pristine natural turf and has the added benefit of superior playability. Recent studies have determined that 100-percent rubber infill systems have a G-Max level--the industry’s accepted test of turf hardness and quality--most similar to natural grass. With the resil-iency of Sprinturf’s Ultrablade(TM) fibers, you know you’re getting a field that’s safe and durable.

The Ultrablade family of fibers, coupled with Sprinturf’s all-rubber infill, allows the blades to mimic the look and feel of natural grass. The fibers significantly reduce the directionality associated with traditional synthetic turf systems. The combination of appearance and perfor-mance has made Sprinturf the choice of many premier facilities worldwide.

Background: As a leading American-owned manufacturer and installer of synthetic turf systems, Sprinturf cre-ates top-quality fields. The company’s patented technology delivers a safe, highly durable product with natural grass-like performance. Through its premium product quality, safety, pat-ented systems, and customer service, Sprinturf is one of the world’s premier synthetic turf companies.


UCLAHoover High School, ALCollege Football Hall of Fame, INLaSalle University, PABeverly Hills High School, CASt. Brigid’s, Ireland

Pro Fieldswww.profields.com888-KIK-GRASS


Pro Fields cares about not only the function and performance of an athletic field, but also the visual appeal. The company installs fields that looks like natural grass—not an off-color door mat. Two-tone fibers contribute to a natural appearance, so your field looks and feels like perfectly manicured grass.

Pro Fields’ monofilament fibers are extremely supple, which means fewer abrasions to athletes’ skin. This softness also means increased longevity and less matting over time. The G3 turf system has been subjected to rigorous testing from independent research facilities, including Isasport Research Lab, and has passed all FIFA 1- and 2-Star tests. G3 excels in all sports field applications.

Your athletes will love G3 turf because it will not tear up their skin like some other surfaces. They will be able to play year-round, in all weather, with consis-tent footing because of G3’s outstand-ing drainage system. Pro Fields is con-fident that its fields will exceed even the highest expectations and give your athletes a reliable playing surface that reduces the risk of injury and helps them perform at their very best. It’s a better turf product at a better price.

Background: Pro Look Sports entered the team apparel marketplace 11 years ago with a better custom uni-form at a better price. The company saw an opportunity to do the same for the turf industry with G3 turf. Along with co-creator Sports Fields, the Pro Fields brand was created as a subsidiary of Pro Look Sports.

On the Web...

Guide to Synthetic Turf


Case Study

John Arce, Director of Strength and Conditioning at Arkansas State University, was given the opportunity to help develop a unique training facil-ity for ASU athletes. Coach Arce was looking for an equipment company that could help design and manufacture a unique training station. This training station would accommodate multiple

athletes performing the same or dif-ferent exercises on both ends of a power rack. Coach Arce chose Samson Equipment, and today, Arkansas State’s athletes are benefiting from this partnership.

Once he had decided on a basic design plan, Coach Arce contacted Samson Equipment to go over his needs. He had worked with Samson Equipment on numerous projects before this, and had always experienced great success. Once Coach Arce explained what he was looking for, the team at Samson Equipment drew up a model of what each station would look like, including each unit’s specific height, width, and depth. These drawings were

sent to Coach Arce for his review, and once they were approved, Samson Equipment began producing a total of seven of these custom stations, along with various other standard Samson Equipment products, such as DBs, DB racks, and a unique Samson Pillar System. Also, a number of proposed layouts were prepared to scale for Coach Arce’s approval. These layouts helped illustrate exactly how his weight training facility would look, and provided a blueprint for Samson Equipment when it came time to install the room.

Once production was complete, a team member from Samson Equipment flew out to Arkansas State with the ship-ment to help coordinate the installation with Coach Arce and the football staff. Each unit was assembled and placed in the specific location designated in the layout that Coach Arce had agreed to. Each member of the football staff had a set of tools, and they had been prepped by Coach Arce beforehand about what the installation process would entail. Installation began around 7:00 a.m., and was finished by around 2:00 p.m. the same day. Once every-thing was completed, Coach Arce was left with a weight training facility built exactly to his unique specifications.

“I want to thank Samson Equipment for their professionalism in meeting our equipment needs here at Arkansas State University,” Coach Arce says. “Dave and Scott were extremely helpful and a pleasure to work with. The excel-lent design, craftsmanship, and instal-lation of our rack training systems have played a major part in maximizing the physical development of our athletes. These rack systems have allowed us to increase the exercise selection in our weight training program, helped us to get the most out of our NCAA-mandated training time, and enhanced our ath-letes’ training efficiency.”

Samson Equipment Gives Arkansas State

Its Dream Weightroom

Samson Weight Training EquipmentP.O. Box 353Fairacres, NM 88033800-472-6766Fax: [email protected]


NEW Product LaunchNaked Glove

Unique features:

• The fi rst palmless football glove

• Made with C-TACK Perfor-mance Grip Material for unparalleled grip where players really need it—in the fi ngers

Benefi ts for the user:

• Eliminates material bunching, tenting, or“trampolining”

• Perspiration evaporates rapidly to improve heat dissipation, reduce moisture buildup, and ensure that the gloves won’t shift during play

Cutters Gloves800-821-0231www.cuttersgloves.com

Circle No. 518

Unique features:

• Antibacterial foam system• 35 percent lighter• Better body cooling• Better impact absorption


• Enhances players’ performance due to less weight and better cooling features

Gear 2000, Ltd.785-625-6060www.gear2000.com

Circle No. 519

Textured

Plank

Unique features:

• Rough surface decreases the likelihood of falls• Excellent hardness and mar resistance


• Provides a consistent texture and appearance• The ideal coating for exterior walkways

Southern Bleacher Co.800-433-0912www.southernbleacher.com

Circle No. 520

Drive SledUnique features:

• Made with heavy-duty 12-gauge steel• Cleverly designed rear handles let

you drive the sled from two different heights

• Multiple plate storage stations for overload strength training


• Allows for evenly balancedpush/pull exercises

• Olympic plates may be added to achieve greater resistance

• Heavy-duty harness lets you comfortably handle heavy loads

Perform Better800-556-7464www.performbetter.com

Circle No. 521

Z-Cool

Shoulder

Pads


Football Facility Equipment

Aer-Flo, Inc.800-823-7356www.aerflo.com

The Cross-Over Zone™ track protec-tor from Aer-Flo resists and cushions against steel-tipped cleats. Its breath-able polypropylene fabric allows rain

to drain through while pro-tecting modern track surfaces

from crossing traffic. A steel chain inserted in the edging keeps the protec-tor in place without stakes or staples, even in windy conditions. The entire edge and chain are wrapped in white or gold vinyl for durability and safety. The Cross-Over Zone is 7.5 or 15 feet wide and 30, 40, or 50 feet long. Custom sizes are also available. This product is easy to install, remove, and store.

Circle No. 522

Aer-Flo’s Bench Zone™ sideline turf protector is made of industrial-grade vinyl-coated polyester open-mesh fab-ric that allows sunlight and rain to get through but prevents steel-tipped cleats from penetrat-ing the sur-face. It does not retain water and double in weight like some other non-woven sideline protectors. Standard sizes are 15’ W x 50’, 75’, 100’, 125’, or 150’ L, and custom sizes are available as well. The Bench Zone is offered in a variety of colors, can be digitally imprinted in multiple colors, and has grommets spaced every three feet around the edges. It is easy to install, remove, and store, and is shipped directly from the manufacturer.

Circle No. 523

Aluminum Athletic Equipment (AAE)800-523-5471www.aaesports.com

The Donkey has a long list of uses: It’s a scorer’s table, observation cen-ter, video station, broadcast booth, coach’s station, penalty bench (optional), and additional on-field storage unit (optional). No matter the sport—track, lacrosse,

soccer, field hockey, baseball, or ten-nis—everyone can benefit from what the Donkey has to offer. It’s fully portable, easy to move, features lockable wheels, and affords protection from wind, weath-er, and sun. Constructed of durable alu-minum, it stands nearly 11 feet high and comfortably seats six people.

Circle No. 524

AAE manufactures and sells numerous styles of BallStopper systems—high ones, low ones, units with offset posts, straight posts, small netting, large netting—but each serves the same

function: to prevent balls from escaping the field of play. They’re perfect for fields sur-rounded by

parking lots, residential areas, or steep embankments. BallStopper systems are especially useful for adjoining fields because they prevent ball interference during simultaneous games and prac-tices.

Circle No. 525

WeatherBeater® by Colorado Lining888-546-4641www.weather-beater.com

WeatherBeater’s football sideline mats protect your high-impact areas while allowing air and moisture to pass through. The lightweight, UV-stabilized material has stitched web strapping and reinforced grommets around the perimeter. The mats come in a variety of colors and are protected by a one-year warranty. Logo printing is available. Contact Colorado Lining to learn more.

Circle No. 526

Fair-Play Scoreboards800-247-0265www.fair-play.com

The impressive FB-8132TKH-4 is a 32-foot-wide football scoreboard from Fair-Play featuring a 30-inch clock and electronic team names, which make a big statement about your program. This scoreboard is also available with a four- or five-digit game clock, as well as optional caption conversion kits for multi-sport facilities. Fair-Play’s foot-

ball line continues to keep coaches, players, and fans

in mind while helping to lead the indus-try to new heights. Catch the spirit of Fair-Play at the company’s Web site.

Circle No. 527

Outdoor full-matrix scoreboards from Fair-Play are an ideal choice for facili-ties that host multiple sports or mul-tiple home teams in one sport, such as football or soccer. Different from traditional scoreboards, full-matrix units offer the versatility of a message dis-play with vir-tually unlim-ited scoring and timing options. Display digi-tal advertis-ing signage with the touch of a button, and incor-porate team and sponsor logos, text, graphics, and animations on the same scoreboard. Full-matrix units feature a 56 x 184 pixel pitch.

Circle No. 528

M.A.S.A., Inc.800-264-4519www.masa.comwww.sportsadvantage.com

M.A.S.A. carries a large selection of economical sideline turf protectors that come in two grades of durability to meet any budget. All the company’s protectors are constructed using a durable, breath-able polypropylene that will stand up to cleat traffic and protect your turf. All

tarps are light gray in color and fea-ture brass grommets every

three feet along the edges. They’re now available with optional lettering and logos to make your field stand out. Custom sizes and shapes are available. For more information, call today or visit the company online.

Circle No. 529

Professional Turf Products866-726-3326www.proturfproducts.com

Turf Armor Trax Tarps can help you increase the longevity of your running track, natural grass field, or synthetic


Football Facility Equipment

tur f sur face. The tarps “breathe,” so they will not create mildew on your

running track or kill your grass. You can even have your tarp

customized with your school’s logo. Go online today to learn more about all of Professional Tur f Products’ solutions for facility management.

Circle No. 530

Profile Products, LLC800-207-6457www.profileproducts.com

Knowledge is power. Knowing how to manage your athletic fields allows you to keep them safer and more play-able. The Keep America Playing tour is designed to educate everyone from professional turf managers to parent volunteers about the importance of well-kept athletic fields and how to attain them. The tour can help you develop and maintain fields that keep America playing. To learn more and find out how to get involved, visit www.KeepAmericaPlaying.com.

Circle No. 531

Field & Fairway Emerald from Profile Products, the maker of Turface, is a

porous ceramic soil amendment specially designed for turf. Applied as a topdressing, it pre-vents slippery, wet condi-tions and extensive wear and tear. Poured directly onto muddy, wet areas, it instantly absorbs excess water, making the surface

dry, safe, and playable. Its emerald color disguises worn areas until new turf grows back.

Circle No. 532

Qualite Sports Lighting, Inc.800-933-9741www.qualite.com

Qualite Sports Lighting’s systems incor-porate some of the most efficient IESNA-sanctioned fixtures in the industry. The fixtures are pre-set spe-cifically for your field to provide

optimum, uniform light and create a safe, enjoyable environment for players and fans. With superb spill light control, low-cost installation, and one of the best 10-year warranties in the business, Qualite’s systems are a must see.

Circle No. 533

Qualite’s factory-wired, pre-aimed, pre-assembled lighting systems allow for easy on-site assembly and reduced

installation costs. Choose the Gold Series, ProSeries™, or International—each one offers unique char-acteristics to solve a facility’s specific lighting needs, and all systems are backed by one of the best 10-year war-

ranties in the business. These systems provide excellent spill light control with optimum field lighting. Standard remote ballasts are used for all these systems, and the patented MDS allows you to conduct important safety tests from the ground with the power turned off.

Circle No. 534

Samson Weight Training Equipment800-472-6766www.samsonequipment.com

The new Samson Rubber Platform with Custom Logo is yet another way Samson Equipment proves itself to be a leader in heavy duty, custom weight training equip-ment. This new platform features a custom color logo, is available in a variety of sizes, and can be added to any of Samson Equipment’s power rack systems. The platform requires less mainte-nance than a typical wood platform, so it lasts longer while providing a sharp logo image that has to be seen to be believed. Check out Samson Equipment’s Web site for examples, or call the company to learn more.

Circle No. 535

Wenger Corp.800-493-6437www.wengercorp.com

The Sport Cart can complement a larger GearBoss™ equipment storage system or function as a stand-alone solution. Its compact size is ideal for smaller storage spaces or sports with less equipment. Heavy-duty swivel cast-

ers provide easy mobility, and the Sport Cart will fit through most doorways and onto most eleva-tors. The shelves and garment bars adjust in one-inch increments to fit many GearBoss accessories. Grille ends and optional closure kits are avail-able in school colors.

Circle No. 536

The TranSport Cart from Wenger Corp. is ideal for moving athletic gear around a facility, out to the field, or when on

the road. It eas-ily hauls up to 1,000 pounds over uneven ter-rain. When not carrying gear, the TranSport Cart quickly transforms into

a sturdy multipurpose table. It can be pulled manually or towed behind vehicles such as Gators or golf carts. Four 10-inch pneumatic wheels offer easy mobility and feature rugged outdoor tire tread. An optional mesh wrap quickly snaps on to secure more than 36 cubic feet of cargo.

Circle No. 537

Ultimate Athletics, Inc.561-626-6735www.athleticpaint.com

Krylon® Line-Up® paints set a stan-dard for quality and convenience in the tur f management industry. Line-Up® is sold in both five-gallon pails and 18-ounce aerosol cans with the new universal tip that will fit all striping machines on the market. Line-Up® paints are formulated for sharp, bright lines that will not harm the grass or wash away in the rain. They come with a non-clogging spray tip, are VOC compliant, and are free of lead hazards.

Circle No. 538

Your source forfundraising tips, support,

and suppliers:www.fundraisingforsports.com


Calling CardsHere is what these companies are most known for...

Accept “No Substitutions” for quality sports products.

www.adamsusa.com

Protecting America’s finest athletes since 1992.

www.gear2000.com

An excellent strength-enhancing, power-producing conditioning tool.

www.thexvest.com

A leading manufacturer of innovative pain-reducing sports medicine products.

www.cho-pat.com

A leading provider of sports and recreation coverage.

www.kandkinsurance.com

Athletic satisfaction surveys provide phenomenal feedback about your athletic programs.

www.lifetrack-services.com

Winning taste...Championship results.

www.cytosport.com

Elite performance training equipment since 1970.

www.nautilus.com

Offering some of the largest mats in the industry to simplify installation and minimize seams.

www.rubbermats.com

Daktronics is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of scoreboards and displays.

www.daktronics.com

Building equipment for football champions for 35 years.

www.rogersathletic.com

Suppliers of quality tools and resources for more than 30 years.

www.optp.com/ad

Dedicated to manufacturing grandstands and bleachers for more than 40 years.

www.edstands.com

Supplier of functional exercise equipment for rehabilitation and athletic training.

www.totalgym.com

Toro provides reliable, productive, and versatile turf management equipment.

www.toro.com

Fair-Play designs and manufactures quality scoreboards, message cen-ters, and accessories.

www.fair-play.com

Manufacturer of some of the world’s finest portable beverage dispensers.www.wisstechenterprises.com

Tough Tarps...No Bullwww.westernindustries.com


Strength & Conditioning Aids

Austin Plastics & Supply800-290-1025www.athleticrecordboards.com

Athletic record boards are effective tools for motivating your athletes to do their best. Visit Austin Plastics’ Web site to

view exam-ples of football-related boards, such as off-season strength and con-ditioning

record boards, player-of-the-week boards, goal boards, and football record boards. Engraved record nameplates are available, or you can print your own using perforated card stock supplied by the company. Custom boards are also available.

Circle No. 539

Humane Mfg. Co., LLC 800-369-6263www.humanemfg.com

Rubber mats and flooring provide excel-lent protection for your equipment as well as the floor beneath it. Humane

Loktuff mats are totally non-absorbent and provide a vibration/noise barrier as well as dust reduction. With a ten-sile strength of up to 1,000 psi and a durometer rating of 63, Humane mats are stronger and softer than many tradi-tional mats—so let the company be the “foundation of your success.”

Circle No. 540

Jump Stretch, Inc.800-344-3539www.jumpstretch.com

Don’t Ice that Ankle Sprain! is the new book co-written by Jump Stretch founder Coach Dick Hartzell and Dr.

Michael Shimmel. It details a technique for treating ankle sprains that gets the athlete up and running sig-nificantly faster than traditional methods. The technique utilizes four FlexBands® (three mini and

one average). The book is available as an eBook, and the print version is due out in March.

Circle No. 541

Factory Direct Wholesale Pricing!

Baseball Holders start at 79 cents!Football Holders start at $8.95

Basketball Holders start at $9.95Preserve those cherished memoriesBallQube display cases for game memo-rabilia give you more for your money. The solid wood base has a mirror bottom and a rich mahogany fi nish with room for a plaque. Maximum UV protection standard in most sizes. Inset top and rubber feet helps prevent display from sliding. The GS Football, Basketball and Baseball cases feature a clear Ball Cradle.

(800)543-1470 Made in the USAwww.ballqube.comwww.sportsqube.com

A great way to raise money

for your athletic department:

Sell team-signed balls in BallQubes!

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Hammer Strength800-634-8637www.hammerstrength.com

One of Hammer Strength’s most popu-lar pieces of equipment, the Jammer, is part of the innovative Ground Base product line. This highly versatile

machine is ideal for athletes who want to train explo-sive movements. To maximize ath-letic performance, users train with their feet on the ground, promot-

ing total-body stabilization and better balance that transfers to movements on the playing field. In the standing position, the athlete’s body is able to respond naturally to the exertion of exercise and to gravity, spurring strengthening of the corresponding muscle groups and enhancing coordina-tion.

Circle No. 542

The Hammer Strength Olympic Heavy-Duty line—including the new Combo Rack, 6’ x 8’ platform, and wood

inserts—offers a com-prehensive selection of performance-enhanc-ing training products. Tough and rugged, the space-efficient Combo

Rack lets two ath-letes train

simulta-neously. This high-

quality lifting platform features full sub-floor framing, a finished oak surface, and rubber impact mats. Hammer Strength’s Combo Rack, platform, and inserts offer performance that’s hard to beat. Call toll-free or visit Hammer Strength online to learn more.

Circle No. 543

NSCA800-815-6826www.nsca-lift.org

The Training for Football video from the National Strength and Conditioning

Association presents a detailed sequence of exercises and drills for

teaching the clean, jerk, and snatch. It features step-wise progressions that give coaches the capacity to train athletes of varying ability levels. Key points for ensur-ing proper execution of the exercises are demonstrated, allow-

ing coaches to confidently incorporate these explosive exercises into their training programs. The item number for this video is V-SS-0030.

Circle No. 544

The NSCA’s Quick Series Guide to Strength and Conditioning for Football is a handheld guide with 24 laminat-ed pages that teach the fundamentals of proper strength train-ing and conditioning

Krylon® Line-Up® Paints & Lining Machines for all your jobs, large or small!

Line-Up® comes in both easy to use 18 oz.

inverted cans or 5-gallon pails.

Free shipping and striping machinewith all orders of 20 ormore cases of paint.

Order Online:www.athleticpaint.com

or call: 561-626-6735

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Circle No. 137

www.wizardsports.com

Since 1984

1-888-964-5425Wizard Sports, Orange, CA

nobodybeatsthewiz.indd 1 9/28/04 3:52:08 PM

Circle No. 138



for football players. It includes sections on how to train safely; how to design your own program; flexibility exercises; power exercises; abdominal training; cardiovascular training; and sample pro-grams. The item number for this product is QS-1004. To order, call the NSCA’s product department.

Circle No. 545

Power Lift800-872-1543www.power-lift.com

Power Lift’s 6 Post Modular Power Rack is a unique lifting rack that pro-vides enough space for three lifters to

perform upper-body, lower-body, and Olympic lifts at the same time. The design allows

ample spotting space for all three lift-ing stations. Standard features include two pairs of Rhino Hook bar catches, one dual-grip chin-up handle, two pairs of safety spot bars, weight storage, and bumper plate storage. Optional attach-ments include Lever Action benches, Olympic lifting platforms, rack dip attach-ments, technique trays, rotating chin-up handles, and rack step-up platforms. Unique vibration-dampening mounts are placed between the racks to reduce vibration from one rack to the next.

Circle No. 546

The Performance Training Station is the latest rack and platform design to be offered by Power Lift. It features a nine-foot power rack, a multi-angle dumbbell bench, an Olympic lifting platform with exten-sion, and a 10-foot, 600-pound adjust-able cable column. Standard features of the Performance Training Station include weight storage, band attachments, rotating chin-up han-dles, cable column attachment storage, dual vertical bar storage, Rhino Hook bar catches, safety spot bars, and a rack dip attachment.

Circle No. 547

Power Systems800-321-6975www.power-systems.com

Develop the powerful upper body and core needed to outmuscle the compe-tition with the Power Systems Power Rope-Ball. Perfect for swinging, chopping, and rotational

drills, it is made of synthetic rubber with a 36-inch rope handle that allows the ball to rebound. An improved design features washers positioned on either side of the ball to prevent the rope from sliding through during high-impact exercises. The balls range from two to 12 pounds and are color-coded by weight. An instructional manual and DVD are also available.

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Untitled-8 1 1/18/07 7:26:58 PM



Power Systems800-321-6975www.power-systems.com

Everything’s going retro, even exercise equipment. In today’s high-tech world, the newest and hottest training tool on

the market is one of the old-est: the cast iron kettlebell. The Russians used them to train the Red Army and their world-renowned

power lifters, and now, Power Systems has brought kettlebells back to satisfy the training and conditioning needs of today’s power-hungry athletes. Create an intense, total-body cardiovascular workout that incorporates swings, snatches, lifts, and clean and jerks while developing strength, power, endurance, and dynamic flexibility. Power Systems kettlebells are available in weights from 10 pounds to 100 pounds.

Circle No. 549

Powernetics800-829-2928www.powernetics.com

Powernetics offers many products for the strength-training needs of your players, including the Bulldog and the

Attacker. The Bulldog isolates the ham-strings and glutes

without putting stress on the knees and back. It also offers an explosive hack jump exercise that develops power in the hamstrings, glutes, and quads—all from one exercise. The Attacker allows the athlete to fire and roll his hips while moving up and out into a full hand sep-aration. Because of the intense move-ment, power is developed from the feet through the hands.

Circle No. 550

Powernetics offers the Power Trainer, which for more than 10 years has made

the power clean a safe exercise for ath-letes from junior high to the collegiate level. The Power Trainer enables an athlete to not only do cleans safely, but

also to reverse the clean. The unit can be used to perform

seven different exercises: the clean, reverse clean, deadlift, lift jump, high row, bench press, and shoulder press. The Power Trainer has proven over the years to be among the safest and most effective tools used to perform the power clean.

Circle No. 551



Check out

www.AthleticBid.comto contact

these companies.



Rogers Athletic Co.800-457-5337www.rogersathletic.com

Rogers Athletic, known for football train-ing equipment, has applied its years of expertise in athletic skills train-ing to strength and con-ditioning equipment with the introduction of the Brute Rack system. This system, equipped with Monster Arms, provides your athletes with a closed-chain free-weight training experience. The Brute Rack system’s workstation enables athletes to perform multiple exercises that typically require four to six exercise-specific machines. Call Rogers Athletic toll-free for more information.

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With an unrestricted range of motion, Monster Arms for the Brute Rack help

athletes devel-op specific muscle groups. Monster Arms allow players to enhance both power and skill using freeweights with the added safety of prede-

termined starting and stopping points.Circle No. 553

Samson Weight Training Equipment800-472-6766www.samsonequipment.com

The Samson Pillar Station is one of the most versatile units on the mar-ket today. You can place virtually any of

Samson Equipment’s excellent selector-ized or plate-loaded machines onto one of these four-sided units. Give your ath-letes the ability to work out on multiple machines while keeping them in close

proximity to one another for easy transi-tions. The Pillar Station’s design also saves floor space. Check out Samson Equipment’s Web site or call the com-pany to discuss your program’s specific needs.

Circle No. 554

MAXX by Shoot-A-Way800-294-4654www.maxxfootball.com

This off-season, while your opponents are simply lifting, you can be putting the intensity of football into your work-outs. MAXX is a rubber man with a life-like feel, a durable weight machine, and a state of-the-art com-puter all in one. The LED board gives players instant feedback on their speed off the ball and the power of their punch while they work to increase strength and per-fect football technique.

Circle No. 555

Xvest800-697-5658www.thexvest.com

Adjustable Xvest TurboBells are a new product from the maker of Xvest. They replace a room full of dumbbells and

are engineered so the weights can be adjusted from five pounds to 60 pounds in just seconds, giv-ing athletes com-plete control of their workout. The economical Xvest TurboBells have

large easy-grip rubberized handles and come with a specially designed stand. The manufacturer is offering them at an introductory price of $349, plus free shipping—saving you more than $270.

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“I have found the Xvest to be an excel-lent tool for providing overloads in plyometrics, strength training, condition-ing, and rehabilitation programs. The fit and adaptability are excellent. The

Xvest allows freedom of movement and doesn’t interfere with any of the agility, bounding, or run-ning programs that I write for a wide variety of ath-letes, both collegiate and professional. The Xvest has proven itself in my programs. Thank you for all your efforts and help in improving my capability as

a strength and conditioning specialist.”—Donald A. Chu, Ph.D., PT, ATC, CSCS, author of Jumping Into Plyometrics

Circle No. 557

TuffStuff Fitness Equipment800-961-9377www.tuffstuff.net

The XXL-930 power rack, recognized by strength and conditioning coaches worldwide, is ideal for both novice and

elite training programs. Its modular design allows cus-tomization for specific train-ing regimens and space requirements. The rack fea-

tures 3” x 3” commercial steel frames, stainless steel Olympic plate holders and bar catches (standard), and an adjustable high-impact safety bar spot-ter. Multiple chin-up bar options and technique trays are available.

Circle No. 558

The XXL-950 Olympic power rack and platform system by Tuff Stuff Fitness Equipment is built for heavy daily use in any environment. It features a 6’ x 8’ triple-layer premium plywood base with a final top layer of 3/4-inch clear-coated hardwood with a 3/4-inch protective high-traction rubber mat. The retainer frame is made of solid three-inch powder coated 12-gauge steel. Stainless steel Olympic plate holders and bar catches are standard.

Circle No. 559


• Receive TIPS & ADVICE from

fundraising experts who have

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teams

• Read about SUCCESSFULFUNDRAISING projects

implemented by teams at schools

around the country

• Research & CONTACTPOTENTIAL VENDORS for your project through our

online Products & Services Guide

• SHARE IDEAS with other fundraisers at schools through

the Fundraising For Sports Message Board

www.FundraisingForSports.comwww.FundraisingForSports.comTIPS & ADVICE SUCCESS STORIES PRODUCT DIRECTORY FAQ

THE

• Receive TIPS & ADVICE from

fundraising experts who have

experience raising funds for sports

teams

• Read about SUCCESSFULFUNDRAISING projects

implemented by teams at schools

around the country

• Research & CONTACTPOTENTIAL VENDORS for your project through our

online Products & Services Guide

• SHARE IDEAS with other fundraisers at schools through

the Fundraising For Sports Message Board

Presenting the first Web site...specifically for sports booster

clubs, a valuable resource to help you raise money for

your athletic teams.

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TestimonialInjury Prevention

Fair-Play Provides the Crown Jewel for a New StadiumThe number one thing to keep in mind when purchasing a scoreboard for a new facility is appearance. A good-look-ing scoreboard should go hand in hand

with a new stadium. Chambersburg (Pa.) Area High School Athletic Director Don Folmar wanted a perfect fit for his school’s new football field, and he found it with Fair-Play Scoreboards.

“We built a brand new stadium with a new track and a turf field,” Folmar says. “I think the scoreboard is the focal point of it all. Our old scoreboard had been donated, and it only had very basic information—the time and the score. Our Fair-Play scoreboard has been a great addition.

“The large message center has been unbelievable,” he continues. “The graphics you can put up on the mes-sage center are awesome and add a lot to the game experience. We really enjoy the ability to announce upcom-ing events. We use it for soccer as well. We sold the sponsorship spaces at the bottom of the scoreboard and were able to generate $160,000 in revenue.”

Fair-Play Scoreboards1700 Delaware Ave.Des Moines, IA [email protected]

Adams USA800-251-6857www.adamsusa.com

Bac-Shield is a bacteria inhibitor that disrupts the growth of odor-causing bac-teria and fungi. Athletic facilities, equip-

ment, apparel, towels, and playing surfaces can be excel-lent host envi-ronments for bacteria, fungi, mold, and mil-dew. Bac-Shield

“fills the gap” and makes your hygiene program more effective by inhibiting the reproduction of harmful microbes between cleanings and disinfections. The active ingredient in Bac-Shield, chi-tosan, has a long history of safe and effective applications. Use Bac-Shield for laundry, locker rooms, athletic sur-faces, mats, and practically any place bacteria can be present. It is available in pint, gallon, and five-gallon sizes.

Circle No. 560

Cho-Pat800-221-1601 www.cho-pat.com

Cho-Pat’s newest product, the Bicep/Triceps Cuff, affords protection from overuse injuries for individuals perform-ing repetitive lifting activities such as weight training. This patent-pend-ing device applies dynamic circumfer-ence pressure to the upper and lower portions of the bicep and triceps muscles, particular-ly at the tendon attachments. This action spreads out the stress and direct pull on the muscle attachments, which helps reduce the likelihood of developing bicipi-tal or tricipital tendonitis or tendonosis. Contact Cho-Pat toll-free or visit the com-pany’s Web site for more information.

Circle No. 561

Cramer Products, Inc.800-345-2231www.cramersportsmed.com

Cramer Co-Stretch non-adhesive stretch tape is an innovative choice

that beats traditional stretching and self-adhering tape. It has excellent ten-sile strength, tears clean, and features a “no-slip” grip, mak-ing it supe-rior to many traditional tapes. It’s excellent for use as an anchor for tape applications or compression bandages. It contours easily to the body, allowing you to effortlessly wrap any appendage.

Circle No. 562

Cramer’s AS1 ankle brace combines the support of a heel-lock strapping

system with excel-lent value when compared to other ankle braces. The brace is construct-ed with an 840D nylon shell, with a soft neoprene liner for comfort and feel. Non-stretch straps lock the heel

in place, and steel spring stays on each side of the brace provide addi-tional support.

Circle No. 563

Waterboy Sports, Inc.888-442-6269www.waterboysports.com

Waterboy Sports offers an extensive line of fans, misters, tents, and hydra-tion units that are designed to meet the price ranges and specific needs of the ath-letic training community. Visit the company online to see its complete product line. All Waterboy Sports prod-ucts are built to withstand the punish-ment of constant use and any abuse an angry athlete can exhibit. Call today to find out more about how Waterboy Sports can provide your team’s hydra-tion and climate-control solutions.

Circle No. 564


Uniforms & Apparel Team Equipment

Eagle Sportswear, Inc.877-323-2453www.eaglecanada.com

Eagle Sportswear manufactures moisture-wicking and antibacterial protective undergear for athletes in

contact sports. ProBack II is a lightweight compression rib shirt used by professional athletes for the prevention and rehabilita-tion of injuries.

A front Velcro™ belt allows players to adjust front and back pads. ProBack II is available in black and white in adult sizes. For more information, call Eagle Sportswear or visit the company online.

Circle No. 565

Pro Look Sports800-776-5665www.prolooksports.com

Pro Look’s football uniforms offer the newest in stretch-fit materials, including stretch mesh that makes your play-ers virtually unstoppable. As one of the first companies to offer soft tackle twill, Pro Look now brings you a stretch tackle twill that conforms to the jersey, as well as self-material stretch belts. Pro Look’s “One Price Promise” includes fully customiz-able uniforms in the newest high-tech designs—you get unlimited embroidery, unlimited tackle twill, and unlimited design options.

Circle No. 566

Pro Look now offers a selection of coach’s gear and travel gear. Choose wind breakers, coach’s shorts, and high-tech polos in your school’s

colors. All of Pro Look’s coach’s gear is custom embroidered at unbeatable prices. Bags with embroidered logos and other travel gear are also available in a variety of colors.

Circle No. 567

Under Armour410-468-2512www.underarmour.com

Under Armour storms into the season with the UA Demolition Mid—provid-ing the ultimate on-field advantage for the power player. It’s a speed-inspired

shoe, engineered to combine light-weight, agile performance with maxi-mum stability. Under Armour’s patented moisture-wicking uppers, ultra-support-ive integrated strap system, and pro-gressive-traction cleat formation round out one of the most advanced football cleats on the market. Detachable and molded cleat models will be in stores this June.

Circle No. 568

The Skill Girdle from Under Armour combines lightweight, malleable pad-ding for the hips with a removable tail pad and two interior thigh pockets built on the pattern of UA’s best-selling football girdle. This girdle com-bines HeatGear fabric for durable and lightweight performance, an articulated mesh crotch panel with a cup pocket, and a secure two-inch waistband—all with Under Armour’s sig-nature compression fit. The Skill Girdle is available in sizes S through XXXL. The pads are graded according to size, and the girdle is made of 82-percent nylour/18-percent elastane.

Circle No. 569

Adams USA800-251-6857www.adamsusa.com

The A4 Elite helmet shell with the A3 fit system produces one of the light-est, most comfortable helmets on the

market today. It’s designed for high school, college, and professional teams. Low cost and great fit make this helmet a win-

ner, and you’ll never have to replace or adjust an air-liner. Check out this hel-met at your local sporting goods dealer.

Circle No. 570

Cutters Gloves800-821-0231www.cuttersgloves.com

Cutters Gloves has introduced Cutters GreatCatch, the only football training device that teaches athletes how to

properly catch a football by putting all the focus on their fingertips. Using the palms and heels of the hands causes bobbles and drops—with Cutters GreatCatch, the fingertips do all the work for proper catching technique. The results speak for themselves—softer, more reliable hands, better fingertip control, and fewer bobbles and drops.

Circle No. 571

The 197 Triple Playmaker Wrist Coach is made with C-PRENE™, Cutters Gloves’ exclusive “fits like a glove”

technology, for opti-mal comfort and fit. It includes three windows for easy reference, allowing you to store over 60 plays at once, and is available in black, white, gray,

and 11 team colors. Visit the down-loads section of Cutters’ Web site for free blank playcard templates. The site


Team Equipment

also offers additional product informa-tion and a dealer locator.

Circle No. 572

Gear 2000, Ltd.785-625-6060www.gear2000.com

Z-Cool shoulder pads are 35 percent lighter. They feature antibacterial foam padding that eliminates odor buildup

by not absorbing moisture from per-spiration. The lighter weight and cool-

ing design features of Z-Cool shoulder pads contribute to enhanced perfor-mance on the field. Z-Cool shoulder pads are used by all-pro players, top-50 NCAA Division I college programs, and high school state champions.

Circle No. 573

Z-Cool compression girdles from Gear 2000 have moisture-wicking hip and tail pads sewn into them. The hip pads are strategically placed to protect the iliac crest (top of the pelvis). Scientific studies indi-cate that compression garments enhance muscle stability and increase athletic performance by as much as 12 percent. The fabric in Z-Cool compression girdles is moisture-wicking 75-percent nylon/25-percent lycra or spandex for cooler per-formance.

Circle No. 574

Reebok888-898-9028www.reebok.com

Rbk NFL 4 Speed III SD2 cleats fea-ture NFL-tested upper materials and the

unique TPU Speed out-sole design. They feature a Play Dry lining that wicks mois-ture away from the foot

to keep the athlete cool and comfort-able. Some of the world’s top football players, including Steve Smith of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, wear the 4 Speed III SD2 cleats to take their game to the next level. Visit Reebok’s Web site to learn more.

Circle No. 575

Reebok’s Speedwick training apparel is made with antimicrobial yarns that

prevent odor by inhibiting the growth of bacte-ria. Less bacteria and less smell means longer-last-ing apparel. For coaches, Reebok offers clothing featuring Play Dry moisture-man-

agement fabrics. A unique base layer moves moisture and accelerates evapo-ration for enhanced ventilation and a cooler, dryer feel. Coaches won’t get worn out by the heat of the game with Play Dry.

Circle No. 576

Stromgren Supports800-527-1988www.stromgren.com

Stromgren’s 1291 Padded Protective Performance Compression Shirt com-bines compression and moisture man-agement with perfo-rated EVA foam pad-ding. It’s lightweight and comfortable, and provides the athlete with additional torso and AC joint protec-tion. The 1291 also offers sleek, form-fitting protection for the rib and kidney area with torso and cut-out clavicle shoulder padding. Ask for it at your local team sporting goods dealer or visit Stromgren online.

Circle No. 577

Stromgren’s 329 Heel-Lock Ankle Support offers excellent injury pre-vention for the ankle. Permanently attached heel-lock straps help control severe eversion and inversion of the ankle complex. This device emulates the effects of a professionally taped ankle and gives top-notch support. The

level of support stays the same over time, and the Spandex sock applies comfortable and even compres-sion to the entire foot complex. The 329 fits either the left or right ankle. Visit Stromgren’s Web site to learn more.

Circle No. 578

Village Sports888-5-SPORT-5 [email protected]

Village Sports is a privately held com-pany located in southern Alabama. Ever since opening in 1984, it has been

owned and operated by the found-ing family. In 1991, it established itself as

a true team dealer. Located in a rural area, the company’s overhead remains low and the staff gives you personal attention, but as a member of the larg-est buying syndicate in the U.S., Village Sports has extensive buying power. The company’s service, prices, and delivery are second to none.

Circle No. 579

Wizard Sports Equipment888-964-5425www.wizardkicking.com

Since 1984, Wizard Kicking has been manufacturing and designing quality foot-ball kicking prod-ucts, includ-ing football holders, tees, kicking nets, snapping targets, and much more. Make sure to check out Wizard’s newly designed football kicking and punting shoe: the +3 Kicking Shoe. It gives your kicker or punter that extra level of confidence. Wizard Kicking also stocks the popular Spotbilt Square-Toe Kicking Shoe.

Circle No. 580


More Products

Catalog Showcase

BallQube, Inc.800-543-1470www.ballqube.com

When you have a collectible sports item, you want to preserve its appearance,

keep any autographs intact, and display it for all to see. BallQube has an entire line of sports

display cases just for you. Whether you want to put your item on a shelf or hang it on a wall, you’ll find the right UV-protected sports memorabilia case for the job. BallQube cases will look great in your home, office, or athletic depart-ment display area. Visit the company’s Web site today to learn more.

Circle No. 581

eFundraising.com866-235-9660www.eFundraising.com

New dry-mix cookie dough from eFund-raising has a low minimum order, is

easy to store and deliver, and requires no refrigeration, making it a convenient fundraiser. It’s an ideal product for

teams looking to cash in on the sell-ing power of cookie dough without the expense and hassle

of frozen products. Cookie dough is an easy way to raise profits of up to 50 percent, and with new dry-mix dough, it’s easier than ever.

Circle No. 582

K&K Insurance800-426-2889www.kandkinsurance.com

Protect your organization with K&K’s insurance programs for sports camps,

clinics, teams, leagues, associa-tions, and events. K&K offers cov-erage for both

amateur and professional activities, with plans designed specifically for the

sports industry. Sign up with the leader in sports, leisure, and entertainment insurance today—K&K’s credit card plan makes payment easy. Visit the compa-ny’s Web site for more information.

Circle No. 583

Optimal Nutrition Systems800-817-9808www.onsperformance.com

Critical Reload™ is a great-tasting, quick-dissolving recovery shake that complies with all collegiate athletic

association supple-ment rules. It’s for-tified with complex carbohydrates and whey proteins to meet the nutritional needs of athletes. Critical Reload is an effective choice

for facilitating muscle protein synthesis (growth and recovery) while optimiz-ing and replenishing glycogen (energy) stores. Contact Optimal Nutrition Systems today to learn about team dis-count pricing.

Circle No. 584

Web NewsPerformance Analysis

704-202-0416www.perf-analysis.com

Polymer shoulder pad inserts from Performance Analysis fit into most foot-ball shoulder pads on the market today. These pads utilize impact-dissipating visco-elastic polymer padding and

memory foam. This combina-tion of superior materials

provides increased shoulder protection while still being lightweight. The pads are strategically scalloped for AC pro-tection and isolation. They are designed to protect both injured and healthy play-ers. Velcro™ provisions are included for easy installation into most any pad sys-tem. These shoulder pad inserts can be purchased through Sports Health by calling 800-323-1305.

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Learn All About Z-Cool Shoulder Pads OnlineVisit the Gear 2000 Web site to see the company’s shoulder pads—in particular, the innovative Z-Cool equipment, which includes shoulder pads and performance apparel for varsity and youth players. Z-Cool shoulder pads are 35 percent lighter and offer better body cooling and impact absorption to help enhance performance. Antibacterial foam padding reduces perspiration and odor buildup. The interior high-impact poly arch design is vented to allow free air circulation and cooling.www.gear2000.com

Need Quality Equipment? Check Out Rogers AthleticGo online to see why winning teams turn to Rogers Athletic. The company’s user-friendly Web site directs you to all types of training equipment—for offense, defense, youth players, and even strength training. Also, for a limited time, see how you can get a Lev Sled in a custom color. You can also request a free training DVD and a Rogers Athletic catalog at the site.www.rogersathletic.com

Daktronics Scores Big on the WebThe Daktronics Web site offers a wealth of product information. Full-color images and technical specifications are available for electronic scoreboards, message cen-ters, and video displays in the Products section. The Customer Solutions section has additional information on how Daktronics customers use their systems, along with more pictures. One of the most popular areas of the site is the Photo Gallery, which contains thousands of photos of installed scoreboards and displays. Visitors can search by product type or geographical location. The Latest News section offers news about projects going back several years. Use the Contact Us link in the upper right-hand corner to request additional information from Daktronics.www.daktronics.com

Attacker

DominatorOver 200° rotation in the torque & turn exercise

The Attacker Radiates power from the feet out the hands in a rep per second exercise. The hips uncoil into a full hand separation. Football coaches will tell you the Attacker simulates the line of play like no other machine. The Attacker has a sports specific

carry over to the field.

The Dominator develops all the major muscles in the upper and lower torsos including the connectors and stabilizers in the hip area. The Dominator Radiates Power from your feet up through your hands in one continuous line. In this explosive torque and turn

exercise your athletes will dominate on the field of play.

Patented

Patented

Visit our NEW website for more information aboutThe Super Cat and our entire line of equipment at www.powernetics.com.

Box 329 Riverside, TX 773671 (800) 829-2928

www.powernetics.com

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Coaches

017LT

FULL FINGER LINEMAN

017JP

THE JAMMER™

017X

PRO-FIT™ RECEIVER 2.0

017

No other glove performs like this.

IT’S IN YOUR HANDS.cuttersgloves.com800.821.0231

Hey, Coach–What are your players wearing?

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Visit cuttersgloves.com to see our entire line of high performance products.

Cutters Outperforms

NikeSuper Magnagrip

CUTTERS ORIGINAL

Reebok Gryptonite

AdidasScorch Skill III

Under Armour

Cold Gear Possession

Original C-TACK™ RECEIVER

THE MINI C-TACK™ ARM SLEEVES

RAPRA TECHNOLOLGY, U.K. EVALIUATION OF THE DRY AND WET BEHAVIOR BETWEEN DIFFERENT

RECEIVER GLOVES AND TWO AMERICAN FOOTBALLS, AUGUST 2006. DOTTED LINE REPRESENTS

COEFFICIENT OF FRICTION THRESHOLD AS SET BY THE NFHS AND NCAA.

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Coaching Management 15.4

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Transcript of Coaching Management 15.4