dublin youth sports: spring 2011

Girl Power!

MadJo and Haley Break The Mold

PAGE 10

Coaches CornerDrills For Skills PAGE 18

The Central OhioMiracle League

A Special PlacePAGE 4The Memorial’s

Clubhouse KidsJunior-Sized GolfExperiencesPAGE 23

VISIT WWW.DUBLINYOUTHSPORTS.COM TODAY!

DUBLIN SCIOTO’SERIC STAMETS:

DUBLIN SCIOTO’SERIC STAMETS:PURPLE ACEPAGE 14

Celebrating The Spirit

MARCH/APRIL, 2011

2 Dublin YOUTH SPORTS March/April, 2011

www.dublinyouthsports.com 3

Dublin Youth Sports is a registered tradename with the state of Ohio and is published quarterly by Community Publishing Group, 5930 Wilcox Place, Suite J, Dublin, OH 43016, (800) 592-7760. More information about CommunityPublishing Group can be found at www.communitypublishinggroup.com. Copyright 2011. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any written material, photographs or graphics contained herein is prohibited withoutthe express written permission of the publisher. The opinions and views expressed by the contributors are not necessarily that of the Publisher or related entities. Articles contained herein are not designed to and do not providemedical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual and should not be used as a substitute for medical consultation with your doctor or health care provider. All editorial andadvertisements for products or services contained herein do not constitute an endorsement by Publisher. Publisher assumes no responsibility for the truth or accuracy of advertisements. Publisher assumes no liability for errorsor omissions in content but will make every effort to prevent and correct them.

Publisher/EditorJason LeveridgeVP Advertising/

Director Of MultimediaAmy Leveridge

WritersMaureen Moxley

David LiftonSandy John

PhotographersScott TernaMark LynnKirk Fisher

Editorial ContributorsCity Of Dublin

The Ohio State UniversityNationwide Children’s Hospital

Lee Taft, CSCSNate Fugitt, CSCSTodd Kays, Ph.D.

Bill DorenkottLarry DornischSarah LookerMike James

Tim SaundersJosh Jackson

Advisory BoardMatt Earman

Director of Recreation ServicesCity of Dublin

Jim LinkAthletic Director

Dublin Youth AthleticsDr. Tom Best

Sports MedicineThe Ohio State University

Dr. Richard Rodenberg Sports Medicine

Nationwide Children’s Hospital Lee Taft, CSCS

PresidentSports Speed, Etc., Inc.

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ERICSTAMETS

14

FROM THE EDITOR

Visit www.dublinyouthsports.com today!CONNECT WITH EXPERT ADVICE AND FELLOW PARENTS THROUGH BLOGS AND LINKS

ACCESS LOCAL CONTENT • REGISTRATION REMINDERS AND MORE!

As you can imagine with the launch of any new publica-tion, days are long, and full. However, with the necessaryenergy and dedication, the results can be highly rewarding.Accordingly, I'd like to wholeheartedly thank our sponsorand contributor partners, and all those who make DublinYouth Sports possible.

Since the first issue, we continue work on expanding yourresource pool and are excited to bring the results of theseefforts to the pages of this issue. You will see new names andnew perspectives, as we strive to provide the very best sup-port for our kids and their athletic, as well as life, endeavors.

We continue Celebrating The Spirit as we visit withorganizations and individuals who inspire us all. The goodnews—Girl Power and volunteerism are alive and well inDublin, as is The Central Ohio Miracle League—a shiningexample of what a youth sports organization can achieve.

I'd also like to extend sincere thanks to everyone who contacted us regarding the first issue. The response was over-whelming. We value your feedback and encourage you tocontinue sharing thoughts at [email protected] a related note, please read more of Dublin Youth Sportswebsite and social media launches. These media outlets aredesigned to provide 24/7 access to the local content andexpert counsel you seek.

4 Organization Profile: The Central Ohio Miracle League10 Athlete Profile: Girl Power!17 Well Being: Throwing Guidelines For Young Players18 Coaches Corner: Drills For Skills20 Well Being: Concussion Part II - Optimal Recovery23 Events: The Memorial’s Clubhouse Kids28 Conditioning: Learning To Train

Contents

Jason [email protected]

Exuberant celebration of the moment is not uncommon on the Miracle League diamond. First-year league member, and Rockies player, Trevor Lanning does it with style.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARK LYNN


Organizations

Everyone—team members and spectatorsalike—cheers for both teams. The gamelasts two innings, and each player batseach inning—always making it safely to abase. The last batter in each inning hits agrand slam to clear the bases, and thegame always ends happily in a tie. Pinch

me, I'm dreaming! No smack-talking catcher harassingthe batter, no over-zealous coach admonishing his pro-tégés, no crazed parent heckling the umpire … no, it'sjust another day in The Central Ohio Miracle League.

Each Miracle League player has a disability—physical or developmental—that keeps the child from playing on atraditional baseball team. The Miracle League makes thegame accessible to players from across the entire CentralOhio region by providing a specially-adapted playing fieldthat is completely flat, so even those in wheelchairs cannavigate it. And each player is assigned a “buddy” whoassists the player at whatever level the child needs help.This, of course, means the diamond is filled with hoardsof humans. That simply adds to the supportive, fun-lovingatmosphere found at the Miracle League field in DarreeFields Park on Cosgray Road.

The Central Ohio Miracle League was formed in 2004,inspired by the original Miracle League founded in sub-urban Atlanta, Georgia, in the late 1990s. In a few shortyears, the Central Ohio Miracle League has come a longway, developing not only the field but an adjacent acces-sible playground and picnic area. It has also become anasset to local schools and organizations, being used foradapted physical education classes and as a gatheringplace for groups associated with organizations such asNationwide Children's Hospital. Most importantly, it hasallowed hundreds of children a pleasure their familiesthought they would never experience—the joy of playingthe national pastime on a warm summer's day.

Batter Up!There's a lot to gain from participating on a MiracleLeague team, said Christy Fields, a special education

teacher at Dublin Jerome High School who has beeninvolved with the league since the beginning, mostrecently as executive director. “For many of these chil-dren, this is the first time they are able to be independentand come out and play and be like their siblings or peersat school. For the first time, they have a team and a uni-form, and it gives them something to talk about with theirpeers. It also allows them to build relationships. Manyhave the same buddy for multiple years, and the buddiesgo to their birthday parties and picnics. The players alsomake friends at the playground and picnic area.”

For parents of disabled children, this may be the firsttime that they can sit back and watch their children play,without being the one who is assisting the child, Fieldssaid. “And sometimes, a cousin, aunt or uncle will volun-teer to be a buddy, so they can spend special time withthe child.” Or, it may be the first time they are able to inter-act with their child in an organized sports environment.

"Miracle League has been a wonderful opportunity forour family to be involved with our daughter, Grayson, ona whole new level,” said parent Brian Bell of his family'sexperience with the League. “My wife Denise, youngerdaughter Ainsley, and I have become very involved in theleague, drawn in by the kids and their love of the game.New parent volunteers naturally experience some level ofapprehension—whether becoming a buddy, a coach, aboard member etc.—but that quickly subsides once youhave a chance to interact with the kids on the field. Therewards and memories are priceless,” he added.

The vast majority of the Miracle League's 250 playerstake part in the Saturday League, Fields said. These arechildren ranging in age from 3 to about 20, and each isassisted by a buddy. True to baseball tradition, eachgame starts with the National Anthem, and an announcerbroadcasts the child's name and nickname (which runthe gamut from “Slugger” to “Bullfrog”) before each at-bat. And, true to Harry Caray tradition, choruses of the1908 Norworth/Von Tilzer baseball anthem “Take Me OutTo The Ball Game” ring out during a second-inningstretch. After that second inning, the game ends and the

The Central Ohio Miracle League

Diamonds AreFor EveryoneBY SANDY JOHN


Dublin Office: 250 W. Bridge St., Dublin, OH 43017 • (614) 889-7613Upper Arlington Office: 1570 Fishinger Rd., Columbus, OH 43221 • (614) 451-1240

PEACE OF MINDAs fellow parents, our children are everything to us. Whether choosing a doctor, an orthodontist or a coach, we want the best for them—the most knowledgeable, experienced and dedicated. Dublin parents have trustedMonfortZwick Orthodontics for 32 years, and you can too.

Don’t take chances with your child’s smile.Call MonfortZwick today For A FREE Consultation.

Dr. Jared Zwick attended The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Additionally he completed fouryears of advanced and specialty training before receiving his Master of Science and SpecialtyCertificate of Orthodontics from The Ohio State University in 2009.

Dr. Zwick is also a member of the American Dental Association and the American Association ofOrthodontics. Dr. Zwick's enjoys the time spent with his friends and family, especially his twin boysAsher and Jensen. His interests outside of the office include watching sports, golfing, traveling,running, swimming and biking.

Dr. David R. Monfort has been providing outstanding orthodontic care in Central Ohio since 1978.He attended the University of Notre Dame, then received both his Doctor of Dental Surgery andMaster’s Degree from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry.

Dr. Monfort maintains professional memberships with the American Dental Association and theAmerican Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Monfort enjoys skiing and golfing with his three sonsand bicycling with his daughter. Being both a Notre Dame and Ohio State graduate, he is an avidfan of both fine schools.

Jared C. Zwick, DDS, MS

David R. Monfort, DDS, MS


Organizations

players enjoy a snack provided by a team parent.On Monday and Thursday nights, about 40 players on

four teams take part in the Night League. These playersare a little older, from 12 up into their 40s, are moreskilled and don't require buddies. While everyone safelyreaches first base, they can be called out at second, thirdor home. “These games go on for hours, because theyjust don't want to stop playing,” Fields said. “There aresmiles everywhere.”

Volunteer CentralKeeping the games moving and the players smiling

requires an army of over 300 volunteers. The League issupported by, and has a continuing need for, volunteers… with a variety of volunteer positions available.

“Our biggest need is for buddies,” Fields noted.“Buddies show up 15 minutes before the game and helptheir player during the game. The time commitment isabout one-and-a-half hours every Saturday during theseason, May to the end of July. We offer buddy trainingevery April, where we tell them what to expect, what towear and what to bring to the game.” Returning buddiescan watch a quick refresher video online rather thanundergo training again.

Over 250 buddy volunteers hail from all across Central Ohio, with the majority—as many as seventy-five percent—coming from Dublin. They must be at least 12 years old. Many return year after year and are assignedto the same player to maintain consistency in the child'slife. Service groups such as Rotary and Knights ofColumbus provide many adult buddies, and high schoolstudents earning community service hours frequently volunteer. College students are also enthusiastic volun-teers. Irrespective of where they come from, volunteers areinvariably touched by the experience and rewarded withlifelong memories.

“I have volunteered as a buddy and, currently, as a gameannouncer,” said Doug Fox, a 6-year volunteer veteran ofthe program. “It has been a wonderful experience getting toknow the kids and watching them have fun and develop onso many levels. It's hard to leave this diamond without abig smile on your face. I played competitive baseball forover 15 years and have some great memories … but nonelike those of my time here. It truly is a magical place.”

Each team also needs coaches and buddy leaders.These positions require a more significant time commit-ment because coaches and leaders contact the playersand buddies each week, communicate with parents,

create the player lineup and keep things organized.“The Miracle League board of directors is all-volunteer

as well,” Fields said. “They are the heartbeat of the leagueand put in an enormous amount of time, planning andpreparing for the year. It's a huge undertaking, and boardmembers donate their time to make the League what it is.”

Preserving the LegacyPlayers in the Central Ohio Miracle League also

come from all corners of the greater Columbus area, with support and donations coming from a wide range of sources—individual families, civic groups and serviceorganization—Fields noted. The City of Dublin providedthe land for the field/playground/picnic area, and citypark crews handle maintenance such as cleaning restrooms. But the League does have a continuing need forfunds to cover operational costs, upkeep on the specialsurface on the field, and to purchase equipment.

“We try to keep the costs reasonable for the players,so subsidizing the registration costs eats up funds aswell,” Fields said. “And we're always looking to upgrade.We want to add more to the playground, for example.”

Sometimes, donations come from unexpectedsources. Last year, for example, a Boy Scout troop builtan announcer's booth to protect the public address system from the elements.

Whether you give time or money, the League will use itfor just one goal, Fields said. “It's all about the kids andcreating an experience they haven't been able to have inthe past. Our main goal will always be to provide a posi-tive experience for the kids. We expect to keep growing,and I don't see us going anywhere but up. Our goal is tocontinue extending the League's positive impact.”

The Central Ohio Miracle League helps provide ourcommunity's, and neighboring communities', kids with arare opportunity to be the “Boys and Girls of Summer.”As a result, laughter and smiles abound. The thrill andlove of the game are palpable to any casual onlooker.Take time this summer, or on April 17th (1 through 4 p.m.) at the League’s Fun Day, to visit a truly miracu-lous place and experience baseball in its purest form.Witness a shining example of what can be.

The League’s registration period runs from Februarythrough early May, with program costs of $42 for theSaturday League and $49 for the Night League. Visitwww.ohiomiracleleague.org to find out more about registering your child, volunteer opportunities and how to contribute to the League and its mission.

Whether your inter-est in the waterincludes swim les-sons for your childor a competitive

swimming program, the City of Dublinhas developed a swim continuum thattruly has you covered. And, if all youwant is a place to cool off in the summer, the city's pools are availablefor that too.

Dublin has two swim teams for chil-dren ages 6 to 18—the Dolphins andthe Sea Dragons. The Dolphins, themore socially oriented of the two teams,has about 300 members. To join, chil-dren must pass an evaluation of basicwater skills. The Dolphins practice andcompete for about eight weeks in thesummer, taking part in the N.E.W.League, said Dave Kuck, head coachfor both teams. Meets are in Dublin andthe surrounding communities.

The Sea Dragons is a competitiveprogram with two major seasons peryear, fall/winter and spring/summer.About 240 swimmers participate in thisprogram, and swimmers must know thebasic strokes. Many older members ofthe Sea Dragons swim for local highschool teams as well, concentrating onthe school team during the three-monthschool swim season, then returning tothe Dragons for the rest of the year,Kuck said. The high school teams allpractice at the 11-lane competition poolat the Dublin Community RecreationCenter (DCRC).

The Sea Dragons compete in meetsaround the state and even in somenational competitions—some Dragonshave qualified for Junior Nationals or

have gone on to swim for collegeteams, Kuck noted.

For many Dublin children, the swim-ming experience begins with lessons atone of the city pools. The city offersprograms for children as young asthree months, when accompanied by aparent. A myriad of different levelclasses teach children everything fromthe basics of being safe in the water tothe finer points of the butterfly stroke.

“We have as many as 1,000 peopletaking lessons during a given session,and have over 4,400 participants eachyear,” said Courtenay Chaffin, pro-gram coordinator, with some classesfilling up on the first day of registra-tion. “We've done everything we canto maximize the number of classesand slots available. We also give priorityto city residents,” Chaffin said.

The city's swim classes follow guide-lines for the American Red Cross Learnto Swim Program. For parents who areunsure what class they should sign theirchild up for, Chaffin offers a free swimassessment on Tuesdays between 4 and 7 p.m. at the DCRC.

No matter your skill level, a seasonpass to the City of Dublin pools is asmart buy. The passes allow access toboth community pools —the SouthPool on Woerner Temple Road and theNorth Pool on Dublinshire Drive. TheDCRC center also has two indoorpools—a 25-yard competitive pool anda shamrock-shaped leisure pool.

Noodles of opportunity for as muchaquatic fun as your fins can handle …come rain or shine or snow! Call 410-4550, or for more information go to www.dublin.oh.us/recreation.

City Of Dublin

BY SANDY JOHN

Swimming … ALifetime ActivityBy: Bill Dorenkott

I have a close friend who runs a swimschool in Australia. The school's unwrit-ten mantra: From the womb to the tomb.While a tad crass, the mantra alludes toan undeniable truth—swimming is alifetime activity.

Professionally, I have had the goodfortune of coaching swimming for 20years. Personally, I have spent almostevery day of my life, since the age offive, swimming in or standing next to apool. Whether swimming for recreation,fitness or competitively, the benefits ofswimming for exercise are abundant.

Water has an almost-magical capacityto sooth and relax while still providingthe benefits of exercise. How often haveyou spent a joy-filled day in the wateronly to get home and realize that youare physically exhausted? Swimming isa whole-body activity that is hearthealthy from a cardiovascular stand-point. Swimming is friendly on jointsbecause of the low-impact nature ofwater-borne exercise. Across the spec-trum of physical activities, few canmatch the cost-reward benefit of timespent in the pool.

Exercise in the water can take manyshapes and forms. From swimming,diving, water polo, synchronizedswimming, water aerobics to simplyplaying with friends.

As the parents of four young chil-dren, my wife and I place a premiumon activities that get kids out of thehouse, and keep them coming back.One of the best ways to introduce yourchild to swimming is through a local,summer-league team. Typically, a summer team serves to teach soundstroke mechanics, improve fitness andmost importantly have fun.

I encourage you to take a plunge …the odds are good you will keep coming back.

Bill Dorenkott is the Head Coach ofWomen’s Swimming at The Ohio StateUniversity, and is a Dublin resident.

SwimTown USA!



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Look for the 24/7 button throughout the magazine to indicate further information, or access to interactiveexpert opinion, on www.dublinyouthsports.com.

In the realm of sports, it hasbeen reflected in great figuressuch as Jackie Robinson—breaking the color barrier inMajor League Baseball—and in Ila Borders and Katie Hnida,who both showed that women

can play alongside men in highly-competitive sports environments.

Well, it appears that very sameblind-to-any-barrier aspiration isalive and well today in our very ownDublin, Ohio. As is likely the case

with their historical predecessors,Madison Hyzdu and Hayley Devinedidn't necessarily set out to be trail-blazers. They just wanted to playball—football in Madison's case,and baseball in Hayley's. As they'vegrown older, following their passionhas meant being the only girl on theteam—and in the entire league.

Meet “MadJo” …A seventh grader at Grizzell

Middle School, 13-year-old Madison,

affectionately known as “MadJo” (a combination of her first and mid-dle names), played tackle football in the Dublin Football League for fiveyears, including on an end-of-seasontournament team, before an injurysidelined her last season.

DYS: Why did you want to playtackle football?

MadJo: “I was always a daddy'sgirl, and my dad and I would playfootball in the backyard. I grew to


Athlete Profile

BY SANDY JOHN

It shouldn't come as any surprise that, in a nation founded on pioneeringspirit, boundless aspiration continues to surface, generation after generation.It’s simply part of the national, cultural fabric.

love the game. I played flag footballmy first year, and loved it, then wenton to play tackle, and now it's mypassion. I wasn't able to play thisyear because I broke my leg, but Iwant to play next year. I've beengoing to a gym every day and liftingweights to be big enough andstrong enough to play. I give God allthe credit and glory for giving methe ability to play football.”

DYS: Is there any limit to how faryou think you can go playing with,and against, the boys?

MadJo: “I want to go as far as Ican. I also play basketball and soft-ball. I would like to go to collegeand play football. I don't know aboutthe NFL … I kind of want to go tothe WNBA and play. Maybe that'smore realistic.”

DYS: How do boys treat you on the field?

MadJo: “The boys treat me well.They kind of think of me as a guy,because I've been in the league along time—one girl out of 600 boys.On the tournament team, we playedteams from other places in Ohio[and when the other team madecomments about playing against agirl] my teammates told them toback off, that I was one of them andI would show them up on the field.”

DYS: What advice would you give toa little girl who wanted to play tacklefootball?

MadJo: “Don't let people tell youwhat you can and cannot do. Back in first grade boys would tell me thatgirls can't play football, that therehad never been a woman in the NFL.I would always say you can't saythat, a girl will show you up someday. Stick with your dreams anddon't let anything get in your way.”

DYS: Who is your sports hero?

MadJo: “Pete Maravich. He justproves you can't measure heart. Yousimply can't judge their athletic abilityby how large they are or by whatmould they come in. It's measuredby the heart and how determinedyou are.”

DYS: Do you think boys benefit fromhaving a girl on the team?

MadJo: “I haven't ever asked them,but I think they have more respectfor us girls because of it.”

DYS: What has been the highlight ofyour football career so far?

MadJo: “Going into overtime at aTroy tournament and winningagainst Hilliard. It was so exciting.We had just scored and gotten thetwo-point conversion. The opposingquarterback had the ball on fourthdown—the final play of the game. Iwas the defensive end and I wentup the corner and kept taking himfurther back. When he finally threwthe ball it was just a little bit short.”

Meet Hayley …A sixth-grader at Sells Middle School,Hayley has been playing organizedbaseball since starting T-ball at agefive and has been selected to multipleAll-Star teams by her team mates. Asshe moved to coach-pitch ball, shenoticed girls were dropping out of theleague. By the time she had reachedthe kid-pitch level of baseball, sherecalled, she was the only girl in theBronco League.

DYS: Why play baseball with the boysrather than softball with the girls?

Hayley: “I just grew up playingbaseball. I played in the backyardwith my dad. I tried softball and Ithought baseball was more fun. It'sa faster game, the pitches are fasterand you can hit it harder. It's justmore fun and that's why I've contin-ued to play baseball.”

DYS: What is your favorite position?

Hayley: “I like playing catcher, andpitcher is pretty fun too. As the

catcher, you can really see what'sgoing on in the field, and as pitcheryou can control the game. But theposition I play really depends on thecoach and where I fit in best on theteam.”

DYS: What's the biggest challengein being the only girl on the team?

Hayley: “Sometimes I think theboys on the other team look downon me because they think I can'tplay, but I always prove them wrong.One time, the other team had awoman coach who told her playersnot to worry about me when I waspitching because I wasn't thattough. I ended up striking them out.”

DYS: What's your favorite pitch as apitcher and a batter?

Hayley: “My best pitch is a fastball onthe inside corner. A lot of batters like afastball down the middle, but I'm abetter hitter with outside pitches.”

DYS: You have played on all-girlsteams in soccer and basketball. Isthere a difference between being onan all-girls team and being the onlygirl?

Hayley: “It's not really that different.You have to get used to it, and notcare about what others say aboutyou and how everyone will react.Sometimes boys on another teamassume I can't play. They'll pitch tome soft and I'll hit it hard. They'll allbe shocked that I can play. But myteammates are proud that I am ontheir team.”

DYS: Do you have a sports hero?

Hayley: “I admire Jackie Robinsona lot because everyone would tryand bring him down but he wouldstand up for what he believed in.”

DYS: How do other girls react toyou being on a boys' team?

Hayley: “My friends support me.They don't even ask why I'm notplaying softball.”

DYS: Do you plan to keep playingbaseball?

Hayley: “I am taking a break frombaseball this season so I can volun-teer with the Miracle League, but I



Athlete Profile

might try out for the Sells MiddleSchool baseball team next year.”

No doubt it helps that Hayley andMadJo both play their sport at a level,and with a passion, that earns therespect of other players and coaches.

“MadJo has a passion for playingfootball, and there's no tougher per-son at whatever level she was playingin,” said Jerry Prochko, who coachedher for five seasons in the DublinFootball League. “MadJo not onlyearned respect as a player duringgames, but she was a leader duringpractices. It didn't matter what kind ofdrill or what part of practice, she wasalways full-go and 100 percent. Alongwith that hard work ethic, her ‘coach-ability’ made her a standout player,”he said.

Hayley exudes a quiet confidenceand doesn't let anything rattle her,said Brian Swisher, who coached herin both the DYA Bronco Minor and

Bronco Major Leagues While havinga girl on the team didn't change theteam dynamics much, Swisher foundthe boys on the team did rally aroundher and defend her if need be. “Thenshe'd strike out the other team andher teammates would razz the otherteam because a girl struck them out.Boys, huh?,” Swisher said, smilingand shaking his head.

“Hayley is a heck of a player and agood kid,” said Swisher, who madeher his first draft pick for his BroncoMajors team. “I would rather have ateam with heart and a player with agreat attitude.”

The MadJo/Haley story is undoubt-edly a testament to “Girl Power.” Thatsaid, the hope isn't for every younggirl to scamper off and sign up for thenearest boys' team. Indeed not. Infact, reading between the MadJo/Hayley lines, the real message here isabout “Dream Power”—your dreamsand your aspirations. And by “your,”

read any girl, any boy, any gifted orimpassioned player, or any “doer-of-anything-at-any-level.” Follow yourdreams, with desire and energy.Neither the sky, nor the glass ceiling,need any longer be the limit.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?Should we encourage girls to compete in traditionally male-dominated sports?

Share your thoughts on this subject on Facebook.com/

dublinyouthsports.

POLL QUESTIONDo we, as a community, provide the environment

necessary for girls to compete with the boys on a level playing field?

Cast your vote on thewww.dublinyouthsports.comhomepage today!

The Female Athlete Triad was firstidentified about 25 years ago, andformally defined in 1997. It is aserious health problem thatinvolves inadequate energy balance,amenorrhea (cessation of the men-strual cycle), and low bone mass infemale athletes. The condition ismost common in (but not limited to)sports that emphasize leanness,such as cross country running, gymnastics, dance, and figure skat-ing. In the past 25 years, much hasbeen learned about symptoms, riskfactors, causes, and treatmentstrategies for Female Athlete Triad.

The Triad can happen in femaleathletes without the athlete knowingof the underlying damage and injuryrisks. When the female athlete doesnot match fuel intake with energyexpenditure, the body enters a stateof low energy availability. As a result,the female will often have irregularor absent cycles. Energy imbalanceis not necessarily intentional, as isthe case with dieting or eating disor-ders, but can be the result of intensetraining without intense eating. Whenfemale athletes add a grueling practice schedule to a busy life, and regularly forget, or fail, to eat

enough, they end up not havingenough fuel to help the body carryout normal functions. This placesathletes in a state of chronic lowenergy availability.

Fuel/Energy-Expenditure MismatchWhen energy availability is low,estrogen levels wane. When estrogen is low enough to stopmenstruation, the lack of estrogenwill also affect bone mass similar tomenopause. Estrogen is protectiveof bone so lower estrogen maymean lower bone mass. When thishappens in a growing female, itmeans she may not accrue bone aswell as she would if she were moreoptimally fueled. The bottom line isthat when a female athlete does nothave a regular menstrual cycle, it isin her best skeletal interest to figureout why. It is not a normal conse-quence of hard training to lose themenstrual cycle; it is a metabolicsignal that needs attention. Theaverage menarcheal age in the U.S.is about 12.5-years-old. Femaleswho have not menstruated by age 15are considered to have “primaryamenorrhea” and should also be evaluated by the physician.

RebalancingTeaching athletes that food is fuel,and fuel is necessary for good healthand performance is critical to bonehealth and, potentially, reproductivehealth. Positive body image is also key as it often drives dietingbehaviors and eating habits forthese athletes. This condition oftenbegins with simple dieting to controlbody weight. Red flags for parentsmight be things like changes in eating habits, weight loss, anddecreased performance alongsidemenstrual changes. Just as physi-cians can evaluate the metabolicreasons for amenorrhea and bonemass decreases, registered dietitianscan help an athlete evaluate energybalance and facilitate nutritionalhealth. An excellent resource formore information on the conditionis www.femaleathletetriad.org.

Nutrition


Jackie Buell Ph.D., RD, ATC Dr. Buell is a sports dietitian for OSUSports Medicine and consultant tothe OSU Department of Athletics. Herbackground includes a Bachelor ofScience in Sports Medicine, aMasters degree in Exercise Science

and a Ph.D. in Nutrition from The Ohio State University.Dr. Buell is currently also a researcher and clinician inthe Labs in Life at COSI, Columbus.

THE FEMALE ATHLETE TRIAD:KEEPING THE BALANCEBY JACKIE BUELL

14 Dublin YOUTH SPORTS January, 2011

PHOTOGRAPH BY SCOTT TERNA

Eric Stamets, #8Height: 6'Weight: 190 lbs.Position: ShortstopYear: 2009 GraduateSchool: Dublin Scioto

FACTS:

Dublin's EricStamets is aforce on thebase pathsand in thefield: He wasnamed to the

2010 Missouri Valley Conference(MVC) Baseball All-ConferenceFirst Team and snagged honorsas the first-ever Evansville playerto be named Freshman of theYear. The accomplished D-1shortstop took some time to talkabout his experience in Dublin,and his passion for baseball.

As a freshman at Evansville,Eric held a school record 41stolen bases—and ranked amongthe nation's leaders. He led theleague in assists with 214—exceeding his closest competitorby 50 assists. Eric helpedEvansville to the nation's third-highest total of double-playsturned, as he was a part of 51 ofthe Purple Aces' league-best 65twin-killings. Eric was one of 30freshmen from across Division Ibaseball to earn 2010 Pro-LineAthletic NCBWA Freshman All-America honors, while beingselected as the only first teamchoice at shortstop. Eric startedall 59 games for UE at shortstop

as a true freshman last spring; hehit .321 with 15 doubles, fourhome runs and 27 RBI, whileleading the team and rankingfourth in the MVC with 57 runsscored. Here's what Eric has tosay about living his dream ...

DYS: Let's roll back the clock ...when did you start playing organ-ized baseball?

ES: I was about three or fouryears old. I started in T-ball,moved up to machine-pitch,played coach-pitch, and thenLittle League. When I was eight, Iwas invited to play on an All-Startournament team—that was thestart of my travel experience. Istarted playing in Worthingtonand when I was in fifth grade, myfamily moved to Dublin and I gotinvolved in the league here.

DYS: Did you have older siblingswho played? How did you getinto the game?

ES: As a kid—even as an olderkid—you want to be like yourdad. My dad played softball andbaseball when I was little; I gotinterested in the game fromwatching him. Baseball has beensomething that the two of us have always shared and enjoyedtogether.

DYS: Any anecdotes?

ES: When I played in my first All-Star game, I wore a special neck-lace under my uniform. My unclehad passed away and my momwore his ring on a chain aroundher neck—she let me borrow thatnecklace for the game. I knew Iwasn't supposed to wear anyjewelry, but I did it anyway. As ayoung kid, I felt like I had gottenaway with something really big. Wedid win that game, so, obviously, itbrought me good luck (smiles).

DYS: Have you had any influentialfigures in your life over the years?

ES: Sure. One of my first travelcoaches, Mike Kellenbarger had abig impact on me. He was veryencouraging and motivating—andhe still is. I keep in regular con-tact with him even today. DannyWilliams was my travel coachwhen I first came to Dublin andreally reinforced the little detailsof the game. He also taught mehow to pitch and perfect mybunting. Another influence wasmy high school coach, ScottMarple, who actually played withCoach Carroll's brother, Jamey,and initially contacted the staffhere at Evansville. And of course:My dad. He has taught me so


#8Purple ReignBY MAUREEN MOXLEY

Athlete Profile

Eric Stamets was a standout on the Dublin Scioto High School baseballteam. He has now taken his talents and love of the game to the Universityof Evansville where he is no longer an Irish ace … but a Purple Ace. Wecaught up with Eric between spring training sessions.

much about the game over the years.

DYS: Any lessons learned that youcontinue to carry with you today?

ES: Try your best. And hustle every-where—you never know who's onyour heels, or who is watching.

DYS: What do you view as the realbenefits of being involved in youthsports?

ES: You make lifelong friendshipsalong the way. And if you decide thatyou want to go on and play thegame competitively, youth sportsgives you an excellent base ofknowledge. Learning the game earlyis a big advantage.

DYS: What is your training schedulein college?

ES: It's different in the fall than inthe spring, but essentially we go sixdays with one day off. There is teampractice, weights, conditioning andindividual sessions—and then we arerequired to go to study tables, whichis a big help on the academic side.

DYS: How do you keep it all in balance?

ES: Some of my closest friends arealso teammates so even when I'mworking on my game, I'm still withthe people who I enjoy hanging with;we also do things outside of prac-tice, like going to basketball gamesto support the others' teams. Youcan strike that balance if you try.

DYS: You played many differentsports until recently. What did youplay?

ES: When I was little I played soccerin addition to baseball; in middleschool at Davis, I added basketball.In high school it was a little crazy:Freshman year I played baseball andfootball; as a sophomore, just base-ball; junior year I did baseball andbasketball; and senior year I playedbaseball, football and basketball. Myschedule was a little hectic, but itwas a great experience.

DYS: DYS: You were obviously agood enough athlete to play all of

these sports in high school ... so whybaseball?

ES: I love doing what my dad did—we have such a bond through thegame. We sit and talk baseball andstrategy for hours. I also picked upbaseball at an early age and so I ampretty knowledgeable about thegame. There is a real comfort leveldue to that experience.

DYS: What are your off-the-fieldinterests?

ES: I'm like any other teenager—Ilike to hang with friends, play videogames, shoot hoops.

DYS: What have been the biggestchallenges and rewards of the pathyou have taken?

ES: It is a big challenge making theleap to Division 1 ball—everyonethat you play is good and there is areason they are here. There is no dayoff. You have to work harder thanyou ever have before to be competi-tive. The benefit is that after all of


Athlete Profile

CONTINUED ON PG. 30

Well Being

There is an increasing rate of shoulder/elbow injuries seenin young throwers. Parents and coaches have legitimatequestions/concerns in keeping their kids safe. “Shoulderand elbow growth plate injuries have become commonas young athletes are playing in leagues with high game

volumes. These players often don't receive enough recovery timeprior to their next outing and may subsequently play through pain.Adolescent growth plates are vulnerable to stress up through the laterteen years,” said Dr. Richard Rodenberg, Sports Medicine Physicianat Nationwide Children's Hospital. “Injuries to these areas are oftenseason ending due to the amount of healing that needs to takeplace,” he added.

Below are some of the unique challenges faced by young throwerswith some guidelines for success. So let's play ball!

1ST INNING: Season preparation! To reduce therisk of injury, conditioning drills should be initiatedprior to the start of the first practice session.Concentrate on lower body flexibility, upper bodyand core strengthening and cardiovascular drills.This combination will help ensure that the player’sbody is ready to accept the demands of the season.

2ND INNING: Time to stretch! Light conditioningat the beginning of practice warms muscles makingthem easier to stretch. Stretching should include theupper and lower body as well as the hips and back. Inflexibility candecrease force production andspeed, and can limit the power ofthe throw.

3RD INNING: Mechanics, mechanics, mechanics! Youngpitchers are often more concernedwith how hard or fast they canthrow rather than their efficiency. Avoid using radar guns!Throwing hard combined with poor, or inefficient, form almostalways predisposes injury.

4TH INNING: Put me in coach, I'm ready to play! Youngplayers incorrectly think that arm soreness is part of the game—abadge of honor. Soreness can alter mechanics as they try to avoidpainful positions. Early intervention and activity modification candecrease healing time and reduce the risk of more serious injury.

5TH INNING: Role of Pitch Counts? Pitch counts/limits areused in order to reduce the amount of stress placed on a pitcher'sarm. These take into account both the age of the thrower and theamount of rest needed between outings, as well as the maximumnumber of pitches that should be thrown during the season andthroughout the year.

6TH INNING: What pitches are appropriate for young throwers? A fastball should be the first pitch to be learned and,

once mastered, a change-up can be added. Physicians atNationwide Children's Sports Medicine recommend young pitchersbegin to throw curve and breaking pitches once they are close toskeletal maturity; meanwhile focusing on proper mechanics andcontrol in the younger years.

7TH INNING: Player substitution. A pitcher should beremoved from the mound once they reach their allotted pitchcount. If they continue to play in the game, they should not beplaced at 3rd base where long hard throws are required on analready fatigued arm. Pitchers should never be catchers on thesame team—this combination results in too many throws andincreases the risk of injury. The safest place is moving to 2nd or1st base where the throws are shorter and less stress is placed onthe arm.

8TH INNING: Knowing when to rest. The American SportsMedicine Institute has recommendations for rest periods associatedwith the relative amount of pitches thrown. They also advocate theuse of ice on a pitcher's shoulder and elbow after they throw for 20 minutes to reduce the inflammation associated with activity, andspeed recovery.

9TH INNING: Multiple leagues. Young baseball players that compete on multiple teams may need increased recovery time. They should consider pitching on one team and play a fielding position on the other team. There should be no competitive pitchingfor 3-4 months in a year cycle to ensure optimal recovery and allowfor normal growth processes.

DAYS OF REST REQUIRED WITH PITCHES THROWN IN A DAYAGE 0 DAYS REST 1 DAY REST 2 DAYS REST 3 DAYS REST 4 DAYS REST

14 & Under 1-20 21-35 36-50 51-65 66+15-18 1-30 31-45 46-60 61-75 76+

*There is no evidence to support pitching limits for these specific categories and age groups. Remember to stopthrowing if fatigue, pain, or injury.

Information and Guidelines adapted from the following: 1. Medical Safety Advisory Committee Special Report, USA Baseball®, 2006;2. Little League® Baseball & Softball, 2010; 3. Position Statement for Youth Baseball Pitchers, American Sports Medicine Institute, 2009

M A X I M U M P I T C H I N G L I M I T SAGE PER DAY PER WEEK PER SEASON PER YEAR

10 & Under 50 75 1,000 2,00011-12 75 100 1,000 3,00013-14 75 125 1,000 3,00015-16 95 * * *17-18 105 * * *

Throwing Guidelines for Young Players:

Let's Play Ball!

Richard Rodenberg, MD is a Sports Medicine Physician, and TravisGallagher, ATC is a Sports Medicine Athletic Trainer, with NationwideChildren's Hospital.

BY RICHARD RODENBERG, MD and TRAVIS GALLAGHER, ATC


Coaches Corner


GolfBy: Larry DornischHead Golf ProfessionalMuirfield Village Golf Club

The most fundamental skill for anygolfer is the golf swing, and the mostimportant concept you can convey toa child is that the swing isn't about picking up the club and hitting the ball.

Great golf teacher, John Jacob,describes the golf swing as “two turnsand a swish.” The body turns to theright on the backswing, “unturns” onthe forward swing, and swishes thehead of the club with the arms andhands at the bottom.

Start kids out swinging with no ball,to keep the focus on swinging ratherthan on hitting the ball. Have the childlisten for the “swish”—the crisp soundat the bottom when the acceleratinghead grazes the grass. If the childloses balance, he or she is swingingtoo fast. Have them practice findingthe optimum speed—swinging as fastas they can while maintaining balance.

Next, put a tee in the ground andhave the child swing to clip the tee.Finally, have them progress to includea ball, but continue to use the tee asa reminder that they are still trying toclip the tee rather than hit the ball.You want to keep it really simple atfirst so the child is primed for success.

As with most sports, young golfersshould rote practice core mechanics so they develop confidence in theirswing. To break the monotony and further develop balance, I like to alter-nate swing practice with basic athleticskills—throwing or even skipping—and have kids work their “off” arm tomaintain symmetry in the swing.

Softball By: Sarah LookerHead Varsity Softball CoachDublin Jerome HS

In softball, one of the most impor-tant offensive weapons is an effectivebunt. There are two common buntingtechniques. The first technique issquaring your entire body and feet to the pitcher. The second is pivotingyour feet to put yourself in a running-like position while angling the bodytowards 1st base. To grip the bat, thebottom hand should be next to thebat knob and the top hand should be“pinching” the bat where it becomesa full barrel. The bat should be held at a slight upward angle and at thesame level as the player’s nose, thishelps the bunter stay on the top halfof the ball. Due to the layout of thefield; the bunter should position them-selves in the front 1/3 of the batter'sbox to have a better chance of theball staying in fair territory.

Dry Bunting Drill:This drill has three different

variations and can be used for allages/hitters improving hand-eyecoordination.1. Have the bunter in their preferred

bunting technique position with nobat. Coach does a light front toss to them. Barehanded, the bunter must use their top hand to catch the ball.

2. Have the bunter transition from their regular batting position into their bunting technique.

3. Have the bunter go through the bunting process, catch and drop the ball, then run to 1st base.

LacrosseBy: Mike JamesDirector Of LAX (Gr. 1-6)Dublin Youth Athletics

Lacrosse catching is a fundamental,stick-handling skill that takes regularpractice and needs to be masteredearly. The best lacrosse programsspend a lot of time with repetitive throw and catch drills.

Catching a lacrosse ball takes con-centration and eye-hand coordination.The player needs to focus on the ballas it comes in, and watch it all the wayinto the pocket. Once the ball hits thenet, there has to be give in the stick sothat the ball doesn't bounce out whenit hits the net. To do this you have torelax your grip on the stick and allow itto move in the direction of the ball, sothat you cushion the blow of the ballinto the pocket and catch it softly.Imagine trying to catch a water balloonor an egg without it breaking. In fact,you can use small water balloons toteach this by gently tossing them intothe kids nets and telling them not to letthem break.

For the first week or two, catchingcan be taught in a stationary set-up, inthe “ready position” with the stick heldat the ear—an area known as “thebox”—facing the passer. If catchingwith the right hand, the player’s left footshould be forward and visa versa.Unless you are dealing with very youngplayers, I’d recommend quickly pro-gressing the stationary drill to catchingwhile in motion. Stationary targets getchecked, so motion allows players toadjust to the ball as it flies in, and toavoid their opponents.

Drills For SkillsThe Spring sports season is finally upon us. For all the parents and parent-coachesout there ... tips and drills that work, from some of Dublin’s coaching experts.

If you found these tips useful, be sure to visit The Clubhouse at www.dublinyouthsports.com. Both Larry Dornish and Tim Saunders will be available to field your coaching questions.


BaseballBy: Tim SaundersHead Varsity Baseball CoachDublin Coffman HS

Importance Of ConfidenceBuilding confidence comes from suc-

cess. Building success comes from repetition. Drills lasting no more than 3-5minutes maintain the attention span andallow players to focus before becomingmentally tired. Instruct players when theymake mistakes and praise them whenthey execute correctly.

Note: “Mistakes” are when players donot use good form, rather than when theydo not achieve the desired results.

Throwing/Catching DrillsThrowing and catching is all about repeti-tion so muscles can be trained. Teachkids the right way from day one but letthem develop at their own pace. Thelearning process will eventually take hold.

FORM:1. Point the throwing shoulder toward

the target. 2. Step with the glove foot toward the

target. 3. Throw with 4 right angles: 90 degrees

in arm pit; 90 degrees in the elbow; 90 degrees in the wrist with fingers behind the ball; 90 degrees in the wrist at release point. By using 4 rightangles you are throwing over the top and putting less stress on the arm.

DRILLS:1. Use tennis balls with no glove from

20-30 feet. This removes the fear factor and teaches the players to use their hands.

2. Throw back and forth with glove and baseball. Tell players to stay in front of the ball. Turn a potentially bad throw into a good throw by moving the feet.

3. Hot Potato Drill: Stand 20 feet apart and try to move the feet, point shoulder, step, to target and throw back as fast as you can. Key: Players are not throwing hard but they are throwing quick.

Finally ... remember, playing in the backyard is just as important as, if not moreimportant than, an organized practice.

It is a heated topic of discussion on sports talkradio, a feature in national news magazines, andan issue debated among parents in the bleachersat youth sporting events: Concussion in competitive sports. From Little League to themajors, there is growing awareness and concernabout concussion in sport, and the treatment,

recovery protocol and long-term effect of head injuriesamong today's active youth. For the sake of our children's health and safety, it is a subject worthy of continued discussion—and greater understanding.

Concussion DiagnosticsDiagnosing a concussion, and the level of its severity, canbe like hitting a moving target-challenging, at best. That'sbecause there are few prognostic indicators that apply toall cases, according to Dr. Logan, MD, FAAP, MedicalDirector, OSU Sports Medicine Concussion Program.

“Parents know their child's everyday temperament,habits and academic aptitude,” Logan said, so they arebest suited to identify any mental irregularities or changesfrom the norm. If your child has sustained a head injury,even if it seems minor at the time, you should watch forsymptoms of a concussion. Although many of thesesymptoms can be associated with other illnesses or situations, in the context of head trauma, special attention is required. “When your daughter seems to be more irritable ... if she becomes withdrawn fromfriends, is extremely drowsy during the day, or her gradestake a sudden dive-behavior or activity that is clearlyuncharacteristic—these could be warning signs of concussion,” she said.

Your Child Has A Concussion ... Now What?Once a parent establishes that his/her child is demonstrating symptoms, the first step is to consult

BY MAUREEN MOXLEY


Optimal Recovery:Role of The Parent

Concussion Series: Part 2

At the International Symposium on Concussion in Sport, Zurich 2008, a panel of experts concurred on a quantum shift in the treatment of concussion.

a concussion specialist. Assumingthere are no immediate risk factorsassociated with a skull fracture orbleeding—which a doctor evaluatesthrough history and thorough exami-nation—then a recovery/treatmentplan can be outlined, Logan said.Generally, this would include limitedphysical activity; mental and physicalrest; no cognitive stressors includingaccommodations for school work and studies; no video games; and frequent follow-up visits with thephysician. Once the doctor can verifythe brain is functioning properly, thechild can then, and only then, resumenormal activity.

It is important that parents under-stand what to expect when dealingwith concussion in children, Logancautioned. “It takes longer for achild to recover from a concussionthan for an adult, because the youngbrain is still growing and changing.The good news though, is that children almost always fully recoverfrom concussion.” The unpredictablenature of the recovery phase can bedifficult for parents to manage dueto the inconsistency, and fear of theunknown. Parents can, however, beprepared for the experience by beingprovided with the following: a con-cise overview of concussion-relatedsymptoms, realistic expectations forthe recovery process, supportresources such as case reviews andsupport group contact information,and expert medical guidance inmonitoring their child's recovery.

That recovery process is typicallynon-linear; with no absolute protocolor recovery cycle that applies uni-versally. For example, a child whohas sustained multiple concussionsmight exhibit inconsistent recoverypatterns, even if the injuries presentas similar in scope and severity. It is important to note that kids whohave suffered multiple head injurieswill likely require extended time tofully recover.

“Each case is different based onthe extent of injury and the child's

pre-existing conditions,” sheexplained. “Neuro-psychologicaldisorders and conditions affect therecovery process, as well.” Childrenwho have ADHD, depression,seizure or anxiety disorder, chronicheadaches—all of these conditionsaffect everyday brain function.These issues make it difficult toknow when and if the brain has fullyrecovered to its normal state.”

The general criteria for that cleanbill of health and return to play iswhen the child is symptom-free atrest and experiences no symptomsduring mental or physical exertion.That estimated recovery periodtakes about 7-10 days for a college-aged athlete; two weeksfor a junior or senior in highschool; 2-3 weeks in athletes inmiddle school through 10th grade;and 3-4 weeks for elementary-school aged children. “This time-frame may not be true for every person. However, these are the bestestimates that we have to date,”Logan said.

How We Treat Concussion In SportsAt the International Symposium onConcussion in Sport, Zurich 2008,the consensus panel concurred thatthe diagnosis of acute concussionusually involves the assessment of a range of domains including clinicalsymptoms, physical signs, behavior,balance, sleep and cognition. It alsodetailed that concussion history isan important part of the evaluationboth in the injured athlete and whenconducting a pre-participationexamination for return to play.

“These findings established base-lines that will continue to becomemore conservative as we learn moreabout concussion and its long-termrisk,” Logan said.

In addition to these indicators,the Zurich panel also brought to theforefront of discussion the notion ofglobal rest—both physical andmental—thereby reducing metabolic

demand on the brain to allow aquicker and more complete recovery.This represented a quantum shift inthe treatment of concussion.

Despite these widely-acceptedguidelines, parents may find thatthey receive inconsistent recoveryand return-to-play recommendationsfrom multiple sources, includingpediatricians, ER doctors and concussion specialists. “The bestadvice is to seek professional medical attention immediately,” saidLogan. And from there, parents mustbe vigilant in monitoring that recoveryprocess and sticking to a strict regi-men of mental and physical rest.

“Rest”, however, defies theunspoken rules of the hard-headedsports culture that our kids experi-ence in America today: The take-one-for-the-team mentality. This isan issue that has taken center stageamid the release of recent NFL injuryreports. Parents today face the chal-lenge of working with their childrento encourage full disclosure ofsymptoms and injuries, whilerespecting their child's competitivespirit and will to play.

“There is an assumption that ifkids know that they exhibit symp-toms of concussion, that they willhide them,” Logan said. “But Ibelieve that kids are smarter thanwe give them credit for ... when weexplain the criteria for return-to-playrecommendations along with thepotential dangers of ignoring thosesymptoms, kids step up,” she said.

“As a culture, we need to supportour children and encourage them to speak up and advocate on theirown behalf. At the end of day, we—doctors, coaches, trainers, parents—are all on the same page: No onewants to see a child get hurt.”


Well Being

NEWS!Learn more of recent legislation on concussion education, and visit with Dr. Logan in The Clubhouse atwww.dublinyouthsports.com


Psychology

The start of the new athletic season for spring sportsis upon us. Pre-season conditioning for athletes haslong been underway, as it should have been for

coaches and parents. Pre-season preparation leads togreater success during the season for everyone. A goodexample of useful pre-season “conditioning” for coachesand parents is the pre-season meeting. This meeting canhelp set the tone for the season and can make the differ-ence in both the win-loss column and the enjoyment andgrowth of all involved.

WHY MEET?Why have pre-season meetings? Effective pre-seasonmeetings manage and clarify expectations among mem-bers of the entire TEAM—athletes, parents, and coaches.With increased clarity comes less conflict and misunder-standing. Valuable energy, formerly spent coping withstrife and dissension, can now be channeled into morefun, more learning, and a more rewarding season overall.And yes, better athletic performance as well. The lessstress and problems on a team, the more focus is thenplaced on improving performance.

KEY AREASIn constructing a successful pre-season meeting, thereare specific areas that should be addressed. Beyondoverall coaching philosophy and practical matters suchas organizing the time and location of practices; keyareas to address include:

Playing Time: This is a frequent area of conflict amongparents, coaches and athletes. To reduce this conflict,coaches must communicate either the pertinent league ruleor how they define “playing time.” If competing to win isthe top priority, the team needs to know. If all athletes aregoing to play consistently and equally, however, thisinformation needs to be shared as well. The goal is thateveryone knows what to expect and there are no surprises.

Appropriate Fan Behavior: Everyone needs to be remindedof appropriate behavior in the stands. One important

rule—let the coach do the coaching. Do not yell at thecoach during the games or instruct athletes to not followthe coach. If there is a major issue, it can be addressedoff the field of play either after the game or betweengames. Remember, as a parent, you are an important rolemodel for your child. Demonstrating respect for coaches,referees and opposing team members is important if youare to reasonably expect this from your child in future.

24-Rule: Sports create intense emotions; it's the negativeones that create the problems on teams. To reduce prob-lems, make sure that everyone agrees to wait 24 hoursbefore discussing negative emotions and situations. Ifmutually agreed upon, this rule may be waived in certainsituations, but these interactions will likely be more pro-ductive after waiting 24 hours for emotions to settle.

TEAM EFFORTFinally, remember that although the coaching staff isresponsible for organizing the pre-season meeting, parents and athletes must be just as engaged in it to getmaximum benefits. Parent emails to coaches before thepre-season meeting, regarding questions they may have,are always a good idea. The success of the season doesnot simply depend on the coaches and athletes, butrather to the overall teamwork and synergy of all mem-bers of the TEAM. Do the work now and enjoy smoothsailing all season long.

Smooth Sailing This Season? Pre-Season Preparation for Parents and Coaches

Dr. Todd M. KaysDr. Todd M. Kays is a sport and performance psychologist who hasworked with Olympic to high-school-level athletes. He is adjunct faculty and consultant to coaches and student-athletes at The OhioState University, as well as athletes and coaches from Major LeagueSoccer, Professional Hockey, the PGA, the LPGA and the ATP. He hasauthored or co-authored 4 books and is a respected speaker across

the United States. Visit www.athleticmindinstitute.com for more information.

BY TODD KAYS

Dr. Kays is available in The Clubhouse atwww.dublinyouthsports.com to answer yourquestions about this topic and many others.


Events

The Memorial’s Clubhouse Kids

Have Fun Discovering Golf … Just A “Short Drive” Away

Every year, late spring bringswarm weather and beautifulblooms to Dublin, signaling the

season's most anticipated profes-sional golf experience: the MemorialTournament presented byNationwide Insurance. Contributingto the event's success is the enthu-siastic support of the local commu-nity, including the participation ofarea youth. The Memorial'sClubhouse Kids programmingreaches out to children, exposingthem to golf, educating them aboutthe lifelong sport—and about theenduring values that golf instills inthose who play the game.

Junior-Sized Golf

Experiences Engage Kids

The Memorial Tournament presentedby Nationwide Insurance will be heldMay 30 through June 5, 2011, atMuirfield Village Golf Club. OnJunior Golf Day, Wednesday, June1st, children 18 and younger will beadmitted free with a ticketed adult.(Every other day during theTournament, kids 12 and youngermay enter at no charge, with a paying adult.)

Elementary Day is an exciting component of Junior Golf Day thatengages around 500 students. “Thiseducational component utilizes theMemorial Tournament as a field tripenrichment experience that actuallyturns the event into a non-traditionallearning environment,” said HeatherBaxter, Director, Marketing &Community Relations for theMemorial Tournament. “We work inadvance to create lessons and

experiences relating to the materialteachers are covering in the class-room, incorporating a golf theme intocore subject matter such as math,science, and English in exciting newways that resonate with kids.”

Onsite at Muirfield, teachersassemble their classes in privatechalets that serve as home basethroughout the day-long program.Students receive tour-guide packetsthat provide direction for the educa-


tional discovery process—and then kids are free to explore. Thestudents meet for lunch and participate in the related activitiesand lessons. “The experience is funand educational—and it exposeskids to the sport, helping to instill a life-long appreciation for thegame of golf,” Baxter said.

The Junior Golf Clinic is a free,family-friendly Memorial event thatannually attracts more than 500 kidsand adults to learn golf tips fromPGA TOUR professionals and enjoyentertainment by a trick shot artist.Held on June 1st at 5:30 p.m. atSafari Golf Club across from theColumbus Zoo and Aquarium, thiscommunity event has in the pastfeatured PGA TOUR professionalssuch as Davis Love III, BillyAndrade, Jason Gore, BrandtSnedeker and Aaron Baddeley.

“Every year it proves to be an exciting extension of the Memorial

Tournament,” Baxter said. “The prosare happy to get involved and helpkids and their families gain a greaterunderstanding of the game.”

For Kids Only

“Other child-friendly componentsinclude the annual coloring contestwhich leads up to the Tournament,”Baxter said. “The contest featuresvarious age categories and winnersfrom each level are then invited to theJunior Clinic to receive their awards.”

Treasure maps are available everyday during the Memorial Tournament.The maps offer clues and hints to ascavenger-hunt-type game thatleads kids on a discovery activity asthey navigate the course. “Whenthey have completed the game, kidscan bring their map to the SpectatorRelations area to enter to win a prize.”

New this year, parents and kidsalike will be pleased to see kids'menu items offered. “This is just one

of the additions that we've made tocreate more opportunities for fami-lies to experience the Tournamenttogether,” Baxter said.

Events

The Memorial's ClubhouseKids membership and website

(www.memorialclubhousekids.com)keeps kids engaged in golf beyondthe Memorial Tournament. Thewebsite contains interactive pagesand links; a members-only LockerRoom full of interactive games, e-cards, golf tips, etiquette, and more.Children who become ClubhouseKids members receive lanyards,backpacks, autograph markers,Memorial Tournament golf balls,flying discs, an annual birthday cardand invitations to the Junior GolfClinic. Membership comes with aone-time $5 shipping and handlingcharge and automatic annual mem-bership renewals until age 16.


Giving Back

Sells Middle School basketball coach Michael Blakebelieves what happens off the court is as importantas what happens on it. This year, he provided the

8th grade girls team a valuable experience by asking themto help out at a breakfast for the homeless.

All 12 girls on the Sells 8th grade team joined Blakeand assistant coach Shanley O'Neil over New Year’s towork at the Sunday morning breakfast ministry for thehomeless sponsored by New Life Methodist Church onFifth Avenue. The ministry serves 150 to 200 people,offering them a hot breakfast, access to a clothes closet,medical care and a sack lunch.

“The girls worked in the kitchen, helped serve traysand worked in the clothes closet. They were all fantastic atstriking up conversations with the people they wereserving, and at the end of the morning they also didsome crafts with the homeless children who werethere,” Blake said.

Blake, a coach for 13 years, said he had considereddoing a team volunteer project before, but this was thefirst he arranged. “Here in Dublin, we are so fortunate,and sometimes kids lose a little perspective. Some par-ents refer to it as the 'Dublin bubble.' It was nice to helpthe kids see that not everyone is as fortunate as we are.We are blessed and have an obligation to help. For a lotof the girls, this was the first time they had been in suchan environment. They got to see first-hand that not everykid has access to everything they do. Many situations inlife are win-lose, this opportunity was purely win-win.”

On court, the Sells team has been hugely successful,completing a 17-1 season, after going undefeated as

7th graders. Still, at the end-of-season banquet, many of the girls mentioned the volunteer outing as one of the season highlights.

Blake hopes to repeat the project next year, perhapswith the 7th and 8th grade teams working together,because some things are more important than a good win-loss record.

Sells Middle School 8th Grade Girls Basketball:

Teamwork When And Where It Counts


Recruitment

TheAcademicCombineAthletic ScholarshipsViewed ThroughA Different Lens

Many young athletesdream of attendinga prestigious univer-sity where they canearn their degree

and play the sport they love on thelarger collegiate stage. While oppor-tunities do exist for students to useathletic prowess to fuel their aca-demic aspirations; keeping athleticambitions, educational priorities andlife goals in perspective is crucial tohelping kids prepare for college,and well beyond.

“The number-one goal for kidstoday must be to get an education,because, at the end of their collegeexperience, they will most likely pursue a career in a field other thanprofessional athletics,” said JoshJackson, Regional Director of theCentral Ohio Market for CollegeProspects of America, Inc., a market-ing service for high school athletes.

While some view an athletic schol-arship as the ultimate goal, othersview the equation through an entirelydifferent lens, explained Jackson. “Forkids intent on applying to an IvyLeague school, for example: Whenthese institutions are considering a listof potential students—all with 4.3GPAs—it helps to have the baseballcoach in there pleading your case,”

Jackson said. “In certain circum-stances, the athletic ability backs upthe grades, not vice versa.”

This is where parental guidance andsupport comes into play: It is impor-tant for students to visit campusesfirsthand, meet coaches, and learnabout academic programs andrequirements. “Some kids watch agame on TV and decide that's wherethey want to go to school, withoutever stepping foot on campus,”Jackson said. “The more exposurekids have to different universities andprograms, the better frame of refer-ence they'll have for making thatimportant decision.”

With Dublin high schools sendingas many as 95% of their graduatesoff to college, opportunity aboundsif you understand the system. Whilefew will make careers as profes-sional athletes, many more will havethe opportunity to access a won-derful education by virtue of a com-bination of academic and athleticcompetency. Approximately 2,000American colleges and universitiesoffer athletic scholarships or finan-cial aid to gifted student athletesfrom the United States and othercountries. “There are opportunitiesavailable across 26 men's andwomen's sports,” he noted.

A PROACTIVE APPROACH BY THE STUDENT IS VITAL Understanding what colleges are look-ing for is the first step to maximizingthe recruiting process. Jackson sharesa list of the top five things that everycollege seeks:

#1. Top academic performers #2. Competitive athletic teams #3. Performing artists #4. Geographic diversity#5. Ethnic/cultural diversity

“The more the student has to offerin these categories, the better his orher chance,” he explained. “Kidstoday must be academically competi-tive and well-rounded.” Jackson said.“Know what you want and go after itwith resolve, always keeping the bigpicture in perspective.”

Next time … pointers for athletes looking to improve their chances ofbeing recruited.

BY JOSH JACKSON

Josh JacksonRegional DirectorCollege Prospects of AmericaCPOA is a respected sports marketingservice for high school athletes.Jackson was a member of The OhioState University 1997 Rose Bowl

Championship football team—a 3-year, starting place-kicker for the Buckeyes, with 254 career points. Formore information, visit www.cpoa.com

High School …

When deciding on a trainingprogram for your child,determining whether it is

designed for them to learn how totrain, or to train hard, is a key fac-tor. Here are some program compo-nents you should look out for:

It has to be fun. If it is not, the kids will lose interest.

The activities, exercises, skillsshould be at the appropriatedevelopmental level. If they are

too hard, the kids won't want to do it… too easy and they will get bored.

The coach should be controlled in his/her voice commands. When necessary,

calm, respectful instruction shouldbe used. Harsh treatment of thekids when they get out of control,including yelling and screaming,only serves to leave a negativeassociation with the activity.

Depending on age, sessionduration of 30 to 60 minutesis plenty. There should be

several activities to maintain thekids' attention.

The true goal for young kidsis to teach them how to train,not to hard-core train them.

They are not physically or mentallyready for that. And, even if theyseem mentally ready for it, they willburn out over time. Simply providethem with the fundamentals and apositive feeling towards training.

It is key for young kids to learnthe basics of movement, even ifthey don't join a formal training pro-gram. Coaches, parents, or athletesthemselves can practice proper

skipping in all directions, lateral andlinear acceleration, and proper jumpand landing techniques. This can beaccomplished in 20-minute sessionsa few times a week. Sports areextremely important for young kids to play, for a multitude of reasons,but to improve all-around fundamen-tals of movement they must practiceathletic skills. Young kids will rarelyimprove pure movement ability bysimply playing sports.

If your youngster is involved in avariety of youth sports and wants totrain, that is great. However, thetraining should be even more fun-based and limited to one or two days per week. Generalization ofactivity is a key component in athleticdevelopment. Playing multiple differ-ent sports allows for greater athleticpotential and a diverse range of interests and movement patterns todevelop, reducing the threat of burnout and overuse injuries.

Kids need to learn to train whenthey are under the age of 12, andcan develop the basic skills that willhelp them when they do train harderas older athletes. The atmosphereshould be fun and inviting so theystick with it. As they develop astronger mental understanding of hard work, they will be able tohandle more intense training. Butwhen they are young and maturingmentally, they will simply relate thehard difficult training to no fun. Keepit fun and watch them enjoy it!

ConditioningStrength Training … Growth Plate ConcernsBy: Nate Fugitt

A common strength training concern forparents is the issue of how it will affect theirchild's growth plates? Misconceptions areplentiful … the most common of which islifting weights will cause growth plateinjuries and stunt the child's growth.

What are growth plates and where are theylocated? Growth plates are a region of carti-lage located near the ends of the “mature”bone. This region is weaker than the “maturebone” and therefore is more susceptible toinjury. This susceptibility remains a concernuntil the region is determined “closed,” oruntil full height potential is reached.

Recent IYCA and NSCA research suggeststhat the benefits of strength training far out-weigh the potential risks. In addition, correctapplication of resistance, recovery, technique,and qualified supervision is effective in elimi-nating growth-plate injuries. Most strengthtraining injuries incurred are primarily due topoor program design and supervision, inap-propriate work loads, and poor technique.

The qualifications and experience of yourchild's trainer are key. Don't be afraid toreview credentials and ask questions. This iswhat I would ask, and look for in a reply:

1.) Trainer qualifications and credentials?Look for higher-level education,including youth-oriented certifications or degrees, as well as experience and atrack record of healthy youth athlete clients.

2.) Programming: child versus adult variations?Once growth-plates have closed, work load can vary tremendously. However,open growth plates need to be worked at very light work loads. Research suggests 1-3 sets of 10-or-more repeti-tions, with a light load, is considered safe for youth.

3.) Most important of all, always run a background check. Make sure the trainer you choose can provide a safe and positive environment for our child.

Don't make the mistake of listening tohearsay. It's rarely accurate … and it's yourchild's health at stake.

Nate Fugitt is a Certified Strength AndConditioning Specialist with over 20 years ofexperience in youth fitness, and owns PowerPerformance Systems in Dublin.


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BY LEE TAFT

LEARNINGTO TRAIN

Lee TaftLee is a Certified Strength andConditioning Specialist, a SportsPerformance Coach certified by USAWeightlifting (SPC). He is also a certi-fied Level 1 Track and Field Coach bythe USA Track & Field (USATF level I).

Over the past 20 years, Lee has worked with youth toOlympic-level athletes. www.leetaft.com

Events


In order to meet growing sports medicine and orthopedic service needs,Nationwide Children's Hospital plans toopen a Sports Medicine and OrthopedicCenter in Dublin, Ohio by early 2012.The center will be one of only a handfulof pediatric-focused sports medicine andorthopedic centers in the country. Thetwo-story facility, planned at 25,000square feet, will include a two-lane track,basketball space, rehabilitation gym and aperformance center with state-of-the-artexercise equipment. Services offered willinclude sports and orthopedic physicaltherapy, athletic training, radiology andsports injury prevention instruction.

“The number of kids who participate inyouth sports has grown exponentiallyover the last 10 years, which, in turn,gives way to increased sport-relatedinjuries. This new facility will serve notonly as a place for treatment, but also as aplace for children and their families tolearn the best way to prevent injuries,”said Thomas Pommering, DO, medical

director of Sports Medicine atNationwide Children's Hospital and clinical assistant professor of Pediatricsand Family Medicine at The Ohio StateUniversity College of Medicine.

“Injuries among young athletes areentirely different from injuries among theadult athlete population,” said KevinKlingele, MD, surgical director of SportsMedicine, director of education and clini-cal research in the Department ofOrthopedics at Nationwide Children's anda clinical professor in the Department ofOrthopedic Surgery at The Ohio StateUniversity College of Medicine. “Along-side coaches, athletic trainers, primarycare physicians and parents, it is our commitment to provide the best possibletreatment and injury prevention for youngactive kids in our community.”

The new facility will be located onVenture Drive across from theNationwide Children's Hospital DublinClose To HomeSM, located at 5675Venture Drive, Dublin, Ohio 43017.

The Dublin Soccer League (DSL) willhost the Kohl's U.S. Youth Soccer AmericanCup—the largest recreational soccer tournament in the nation—in Dublin, Ohio,June 11 & 12, 2011. “The Kohl's AmericanCup is a natural fit for the Dublin SoccerLeague,” said John Muir, DSL ExecutiveDirector. “A tournament exclusively for recre-ational players is a great opportunity to offeranother aspect of soccer to our league regis-trants, as well as to recreational players inCentral Ohio and across the state.”

Participants will enjoy a minimum ofthree games with 25-minute halves, withparticipation certificates for all and awardsfor finalists and champions.

Darree Fields Park is the host site withregistration open to U8 through U15 recre-ational teams. Carded, competitive playersare not eligible. Team entry fees are $200.Entry deadline is May 14th. Please visitwww.dublinsoccerleague.com/KohlsCup.htmlfor tournament rules, entry forms and moreinformation.

Nationwide Children's Hospital To Open Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center In Dublin

Dublin Soccer League HostsThe Kohl's American Cup

Dublin Youth AthleticsWiffleball Sign-Ups Are Now

Underway, With Golf andVolleyball Registration in April.

Go Towww.dya.comFor Details

Dublin Football LeagueSign-Ups Are Underway.

Go Towww.dublinfootball.org

To Register

Dublin Soccer League Registration Opens May 1.

Go Towww.dublinsoccerleague.com

To Register

that grueling training and the hoursthat you put in, when you have thisgroup of guys that work hard andcome together as a team—and thentriumph—then it's all worth it.

DYS: Any adversity along the way?Injuries?

ES: I broke my right wrist my soph-omore year and then broke my leftwrist my junior season (both duringgame play). Both of those were prettymajor setbacks in that going into mysenior season I didn't have a lot oflooks by colleges because I was outfor part of those seasons. I just had to keep my head up and keepworking hard.

DYS: So then, what about your college recruitment experience?

ES: I had a really good season mysenior year. Playing D-1 baseballwas my goal, but at that point I wasentertaining the idea of going to aD-3 school (Walsh) to play footballand baseball. I played in a baseballtournament that summer and mycoach made the connection with

Wes Carroll at Evansville.

DYS: What drew you to the PurpleAces?

ES: Evansville has a great programand a stellar reputation. I was excited,and honored, to be a part of it all.

DYS: Talk about your relationshipwith Coach Wes Carroll. How has heimpacted the way you play thegame?

ES: He is a young coach, he is veryknowledgeable—and is very engag-ing. He played shortstop, so I canrelate to him easily. When I first metCoach Carroll and we discussed thestyle of baseball at Evansville—thatis exactly what I have played inDublin, so I knew it was a good fit.

DYS: Any advice for kids sitting inthe Little League dugout who wantto play in college someday?

ES: Keep practicing and work onthe little things. It's not as muchwhat you do, but how you go aboutdoing it that will turn heads.

DYS: Talk about the Freshman All-

America honors. Is it hard to put thisrecognition into perspective when itinvolves you, and not someone elseyou happen to read about in thesports section?

ES: Of course it's fun to have yourname out there. As a freshman, Ijust wanted to come in and play thegame hard and get good results.The rest just took care of itself.

DYS: What memories do your mostvalue/cherish from your time inDublin and at Scioto High School?

ES: In our senior class there were alot of guys who played against eachother on travel teams and then gotto be teammates on the high schoolteam. We got to be close. My junioryear on the baseball team, therewere no seniors, so our class got tobe seniors for two years in a row—that was pretty cool.

DYS: Thanks Eric ... best of luck!

PURPLE REIGN: CONTINUED FROM PG. 16

Athlete Profile


Registration Reminders!

Go to www.dublinyouthsports.comto read more from the full interview with Eric.

dublin youth sports: spring 2011

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