Sports Good or bad, our reactions speak louder than...
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South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Page 25 Sports WE WANT YOU!!!! Join our Eastern Colorado Services team in supporting adults with developmental disabilities. Pay up to $10.00 per hour after orientation/training period plus an excellent benefit package. (With Satisfactory Performance) Hiring in Sterling, Ft. Morgan and Julesburg. If interested call 970-522-7121 to receive an application or e-mail [email protected]. EOE **SUPPORT OUR TROOPS** "We serve those who love and remember." • Monuments • Cemetery Lettering • Granite & Bronze Markers • Sandblast Signs • Historical Markers SINCE 1918 STERLING MONUMENT COMPANY 522-0537 Ben’s Beat By Ben Blecha I had the privilege last weekend to spend some time at the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) clinics. As a non-coach, it’s not something available to you. But since I’ve worked with CHSCA to help provide video for their clinics, I get the chance to take in the knowledge right alongside some of the best coaches in the state. I was talking to a Hall of Fame coach on Friday night and that coach told me they were excited for a certain presentation the next day. The first thought that ran through my mind was, “You’re in the Hall of Fame. What more is there to learn?” Then I remembered a speaker from earlier in the day that had been at it for over 30 years. He said, “When I have three boring days in a row, three days where I don’t gain anything from coaching, I’ll quit.” He’s not had it so he keeps at it. There’s always something to learn and there’s always something to gain, no matter how long you’ve been at it. So with that fresh perspective, I was excited to take in this speaker so exciting that a Hall of Fame coach felt they could gain something. Now this presentation was to volleyball coaches so it is based in that sport. But really it applies to all sports (and life, since sports serves as a metaphor for life in my world). The presenter offered this statistic – as a college coach, his team plays “in system” less than 33% of the time. Even as top- notch players, who have been spending the last decade of their lives committed to the sport, they still can only do things as planned one third of the time. The whole presentation was on how coaches could best practice their team for game-like situations. Long story short, many coaches practice with perfection, “in system” situations, as opposed to game- like, “out of system” situations. With teams playing twice to three times as much “out of system” to “in system,” the concept makes sense. The Sterling Xpress saw their summer season come to a close Monday night. In spite of planning and preparing for every situation possible, things happened that prevented the execution from leading to a win. But there’s more to that than just sports. When we started the season, Bull and I talked with the coach and the players about not only what it takes to win but also what they wanted to gain from this summer. If you’ve not experienced off-season sports before, it’s not always about winning and losing It’s about improving. Just like a Hall of Fame coach being excited for a presentation by another coach, there’s always something to learn and gain, especially when you’re still forging your path in life. It was fun to watch the players improve on the field and work toward the goals we’d talked about in late May. But what was more exciting to me was to watch the team react to the things they didn’t come here in search of. They came for the baseball but left with so much more. Take Bodie Cooper, who came as an offensive catcher wanting to improve himself heading into his sophomore year. He gained so much more than baseball knowledge this summer. He gained a large amount of confidence in a coach that believed in him enough to play him 39 of the 41 games this season. And for a guy who was sorely lacking that confidence, he took it. But it wasn’t just individual success from a baseball standpoint. That group of 20-something guys got to live together, spend virtually all their time together, and pick up an understanding for how team chemistry works. They didn’t just play baseball. They lived life, from trips to Wal-Mart, to fishing, to meals and everything that goes with everyday life. I don’t think any of them saw that coming in. They say actions speak louder than words. And every single one of these guys took everything in stride, both on the field and off. And that’s what living life is all about. How we respond to the unexpected, both good and bad, truly defines who we are. We may get some unexpected “treats” and we’re going to experience many unexpected “tricks.” Good response to the bad stuff is the easy one to put our minds too. But having the right response to the good stuff is also important. We can’t shrug our shoulders at something good just because it’s not the good we wanted. Good is good, no matter if it was the intention or not. It’s not our actions that speak louder than words. Not everything goes 100% to plan. Therefore, we react more often than we act. Good and bad, our reactions truly speak louder than words. (Ben Blecha is Owner and Talent at Big Time Small Town Media LLC). Nineteen couples played at the Riverview Golf Course on Fri., July 25. Game of the night was a 2-person Scramble with the men’s tee shot being used on the odd holes. Winners with the high score of 50 were: Derek and Johnna Harris. With a low score of 35 was Jim and Rosie Meeker. Next play-date is Fri., Aug. 1. Registration is from 5-5:30 p.m. with tee off at 5:45 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Pat Schweitzer at 522- 1537 or Riverview Golf Course at 522-3035. Couple wins golf scramble Friday The Department of Parks, Library and Recreation is currently accepting team registrations for a new, fun and recreational, Teen/Adult Kickball Leagues. All participants must be at least 14 years old before participating. An eight (8) game season will begin Tues., Aug. 26 and end September 30. Games will be scheduled Tuesday evenings at the Pioneer Park softball fields. To register, go online to www. teamsideline.com/sterling or registration forms are available at the Sterling Recreation Center, 808 Elm Street. The cost is $50 per team. Make checks payable to the City of Sterling. The entry fee must be paid in full before a team is considered entered into a league and it’s due by Mon., Aug. 20. Open Co-Rec. is offered consisting of a 10 person team. Teams must have an equal ratio of women to men and teams can play with as few as 6 players. All participants must be at least 14 years old before participating. Teams officiate their own games. The Field Supervisor will make the final decision if teams cannot agree. For more information please call the Sterling Recreation Division at 522-7883 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Signups for Teen/Adult Kickball Leagues begin Good or bad, our reactions speak louder than words
Transcript of Sports Good or bad, our reactions speak louder than...
South Platte Sentinel Wednesday, July 30, 2014 Page 25Sports
WE WANT YOU!!!!Join our Eastern Colorado Services team in supporting adults with developmental disabilities.Pay up to $10.00 per hour after orientation/training period plus an excellent benefi t package. (With Satisfactory Performance)
Hiring in Sterling, Ft. Morgan and Julesburg.If interested call 970-522-7121 to receive
an application or e-mail [email protected]. EOE**SUPPORT OUR TROOPS**
"We serve those wholove and remember."
• Monuments • Cemetery Lettering• Granite & Bronze Markers
• Sandblast Signs • Historical Markers
SINCE 1918
STERLINGMONUMENTCOMPANY
522-0537
Ben’s Beat
By Ben Blecha
I had the privilege last weekend to spend some time at the Colorado High School Coaches Association (CHSCA) clinics. As a non-coach, it’s not something available to you. But since I’ve worked with CHSCA to help provide video for their clinics, I get the chance to take in the knowledge right alongside some of the best coaches in the state. I was talking to a Hall of Fame coach on Friday night and that coach told me they were excited for a certain presentation the next day. The fi rst thought that ran through my mind was, “You’re in the Hall of Fame. What more is there to learn?” Then I remembered a speaker from earlier in the day that had been at it for over 30 years. He
said, “When I have three boring days in a row, three days where I don’t gain anything from coaching, I’ll quit.” He’s not had it so he keeps at it. There’s always something to learn and there’s always something to gain, no matter how long you’ve been at it. So with that fresh perspective, I was excited to take in this speaker so exciting that a Hall of Fame coach felt they could gain something. Now this presentation was to volleyball coaches so it is based in that sport. But really it applies to all sports (and life, since sports serves as a metaphor for life in my world). The presenter offered this statistic – as a college coach, his team plays “in system” less than 33% of the time. Even as top-
notch players, who have been spending the last decade of their lives committed to the sport, they still can only do things as planned one third of the time. The whole presentation was on how coaches could best practice their team for game-like situations. Long story short, many coaches practice with perfection, “in system” situations, as opposed to game-like, “out of system” situations. With teams playing twice to three times as much “out of system” to “in system,” the concept makes sense. The Sterling Xpress saw their summer season come to a close Monday night. In spite of planning and preparing for every situation possible, things happened that prevented the execution from leading to a win. But there’s more to that than just sports. When we started the season, Bull and I talked with the coach and the players about not only what it takes to win but also what they wanted to gain from this summer. If you’ve not experienced off-season sports before, it’s not always about winning and losing It’s about improving. Just like a Hall of Fame coach being excited for a presentation by another coach, there’s always something to learn and gain, especially when you’re still forging your path in life.
It was fun to watch the players improve on the fi eld and work toward the goals we’d talked about in late May. But what was more exciting to me was to watch the team react to the things they didn’t come here in search of. They came for the baseball but left with so much more. Take Bodie Cooper, who came as an offensive catcher wanting to improve himself heading into his sophomore year. He gained so much more than baseball knowledge this summer. He gained a large amount of confi dence in a coach that believed in him enough to play him 39 of the 41 games this season. And for a guy who was sorely lacking that confi dence, he took it. But it wasn’t just individual success from a baseball standpoint. That group of 20-something guys got to live together, spend virtually all their time together, and pick up
an understanding for how team chemistry works. They didn’t just play baseball. They lived life, from trips to Wal-Mart, to fi shing, to meals and everything that goes with everyday life. I don’t think any of them saw that coming in. They say actions speak louder than words. And every single one of these guys took everything in stride, both on the fi eld and off. And that’s what living life is all about. How we respond to the unexpected, both good and bad, truly defi nes who we are. We may get some unexpected “treats” and we’re going to experience many unexpected “tricks.” Good response to the bad stuff is the easy one to put our minds too. But having the right response to the good stuff is also important. We can’t shrug our shoulders at something good just because it’s not the good we wanted. Good is good, no matter if it was the intention or not. It’s not our actions that speak louder than words. Not everything goes 100% to plan. Therefore, we react more often than we act. Good and bad, our reactions truly speak louder than words. (Ben Blecha is Owner and Talent at Big Time Small Town Media LLC).
Nineteen couples played at the Riverview Golf Course on Fri., July 25. Game of the night was a 2-person Scramble with the men’s tee shot being used on the odd holes. Winners with the high score of 50 were: Derek and Johnna Harris. With a low score of 35 was Jim and Rosie Meeker. Next play-date is Fri., Aug. 1. Registration is from 5-5:30 p.m. with tee off at 5:45 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Pat Schweitzer at 522-1537 or Riverview Golf Course at 522-3035.
Couple wins golfscramble Friday
The Department of Parks, Library and Recreation is currently accepting team registrations for a new, fun and recreational, Teen/Adult Kickball Leagues. All participants must be at least 14 years old before participating. An eight (8) game season will begin Tues., Aug. 26 and end September 30. Games will be scheduled Tuesday evenings at the Pioneer Park softball fi elds. To register, go online to www.teamsideline.com/sterling or registration forms are available
at the Sterling Recreation Center, 808 Elm Street. The cost is $50 per team. Make checks payable to the City of Sterling. The entry fee must be paid in full before a team is considered entered into a league and it’s due by Mon., Aug. 20. Open Co-Rec. is offered consisting of a 10 person team. Teams must have an equal ratio of women to men and teams can play with as few as 6 players. All participants must be at least 14 years old before participating. Teams offi ciate their own games. The Field Supervisor will make the fi nal decision if teams cannot agree. For more information please call the Sterling Recreation Division at 522-7883 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Signups for Teen/Adult Kickball Leagues begin
Good or bad, our reactions speak louder than words
