Soccer: The New U.S. Quick Fix

www.syracuse.com

The success of the 2011 U.S. Women’s Soccer Team has sparked an increased interest in a sport that in other countries is as big as “American Football”.  However, no one can really pinpoint why professional soccer hasn’t caught on in popularity in the U.S. and why each year it continues to take a backseat to other major sports.  CBSSports.com columnist, Ray Ratto, answers this question with, “Soccer as an event has made it.  Soccer as a sport…not quite so much” (cbssports.com).  As a culture of quick fixes, we will invest a couple of hours to watch an event where the best of the best compete and are guaranteed to be entertained.  But, it will take more than a quick fix like the one we saw at the Women’s World Cup to gain a permanent audience.

While Major League Soccer (MLS) and Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) have had difficulty capturing the attention of the majority of the U.S., youth soccer has found a way to hold its own.  Formed in 1974 with a little over 100,00 registered players, the U.S. Youth Soccer Association reported in 2010 growth of more than 3,000,000 registered youth players between the ages of five and nineteen.  The organization’s objective, “The Game for All Kids”, is to provide a “fun, safe, and healthy game for ALL KIDS…big kids, little kids, short kids, young kids, older kids…kids who want to play for one season, kids who want to play for twenty seasons, kids who play strictly for fun, and kids who want to compete at the highest level possible” (U.S. Youth Soccer).  They offer programs ranging from regional, state, and national tournaments to a development program designed to form a national team to compete internationally.  They also introduce soccer into communities that do not yet have a league through Soccer Across America as well as TOPSoccer, a training program intended to give children with disabilities the opportunity to learn and play the sport.

The unanswered question remains, what will it take for soccer to advance to the next level in professional sports? How will the MLS and WPS turn those 3,000,000 youth soccer athletes, their parents, their family, and their friends into more than short-term fans? While 2011 may not be the year that changes it all, each year of small growth brings the U.S. that much closer to making the international sport of football more than a must-see event.

Related Articles:

http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/15330305/face-the-facts-soccer-has-found-its-niche-in-us

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/763489-soccers-popularity-in-america-still-likely-unaffected-by-wwc-win

http://detroit.sbnation.com/2011/7/17/2275146/womens-world-cup-2011-usa-mls-detroit

Coaching For Success

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.”

Wilma Rudolph

It was a cold, snowy afternoon when their story began to unfold and the first crack of a bat was heard at the ball fields this season. With a young team, only ten players, and for most, the first year of kid pitch, the coaches knew there was a tough road ahead.  Practices started and no matter the unpredictable northeast weather, snow, rain, or shine, the team could be seen catching or hitting balls.  As games began, their dedication and determination continued.  And throughout the entire season, they practiced hard, gave it their all in every game, and never once stopped believing that they could and would win the next one.  When I asked one of the players on the team, what do you like most about playing baseball this year, his eyes lit up, he got a big smile, and he said “everything”. 

The questions many coaches in youth sports should ask themselves are what determines greatness and success and how do they guide their players to grow into not just better players but people too.  As Rutgers Youth Sports Research Council at the State University of New Jersey describes, there are two extremes when it comes to the topic of winning.  The first is the belief that winning is unimportant in youth sports and the other is that winning is the only thing. The ideal is to find a medium between these two extremes because the essence of sport is, after all, striving to win (Feigley).  When asked about what defines success, Jerry Saxion, youth baseball coach with the Southington Baseball Organization, had this to say:

“Success is about how you take losing and even more about how you act when you win.  It is not about beating the other team, it is about executing and playing the best you can.  You aren’t winning or losing to the other team, it is about winning or losing to yourselves.  If you do not play to the best of you ability and win on the scoreboard, you actually lose to yourself and the same is true if you play the best you can and lose on the scoreboard, you win. So when I say winning, it is not a score on paper or on a board, it is the accomplishment and knowing you did the best you could as a team.”

Most of all coaches of organized youth teams should keep in mind that they have the choice to be a positive or negative influence on their players.  Coaches need to remember that the lessons their players learn from them or the examples of how they act will be lessons players will remember their entire life and although players often do not understand why a coach has them run or do a certain drill now, later in life many realize the real meaning and how it not only made them a better player but a better person (Saxion). 

Inspirational Story

Bear’s Motivational Baseball:  The Father’s Eyes

http://www.infosports.com/baseball/arch/1511.htm

Earn Community Grants For Your Team Through Responsible Sports/Liberty Mutual

http://responsiblesports.com/community_grants/community_grants_closed.aspx

Resources:

http://youthsports.rutgers.edu/resources/general-interest/the-role-of-winning-in-youth-sports

Sarah Kay-Embrace Life and Inspire Others

If you have not visited the website TED.com, it is well worth the browse to find inspiring stories and “ideas worth spreading”.  Its’ two annual conferences “bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers and doers, who are challenged to give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes or less” (TED.com).  Many of these performances are made available for free on TED.com.

One speech that I found particularly inspiring was by Sarah Kay at the March 2011 conference in Long Beach, California.  Sarah Kay is a spoken word poet from New York City who began performing at the age of 14 years old at the Bowery Poetry Club.  She has since competed in national poetry competitions, appeared on the HBO Def Poetry Jam, and performed internationally.  She is also a published author as well as founder and co-director of Project V.O.I.C.E. (Vocal Outreach Into Creative Expression), a “national movement that celebrates and inspires youth self-expression through Spoken Word Poetry” (project-voice.net).

As Kay describes, “Spoken Word Poetry is the art of performance poetry.  I tell people it involves creating poetry that just doesn’t want to sit on paper.  That something about it demands it be heard out loud or witnessed in person.”  Kay begins her talk with, If I Should Have a Daughter, an original poem that makes evident the influence that her own parents had on her outlook and passion for life.  The message she conveys is that life should be embraced and no matter what gets thrown at you and what struggles are faced, you don’t need to be discouraged. Life is a continuous lesson and the challenges you encounter make you who you are.

Later in her talk Kay divides her “spoken word journey” into three steps.  The first, was when she said, “I can do this!” The second, when she said, “I will continue”.  Finally the third was when she realized she could write poems that infused the work she was doing with her own experiences.  Kay uses poetry to work through what she doesn’t understand while at the same time using her knowledge and experiences or “backpack full of everywhere else that she’s been” (Ted.com).

In her work to entertain, educate, and inspire, Kay encourages students to let down their guard, be open to the world around them, share their stories and learn from each other’s experiences.  In this huge world where it is easy to feel alone, “spoken word teaches that if you have the ability to express yourself and the courage to present those stories and opinions, you could be rewarded with a room full of your peers or your community who will listen” (Ted.com).  Personally, Kay has reminded me that we have to continue to grow, explore, take risks, and challenge ourselves in order to truly experience life and inspire others.

http://www.ted.com/pages/about

http://www.kaysarahsera.com/

http://www.project-voice.net/

Inspiration Is Just Around the Circle

Images By Plain Dealer Photography Staff

What does a small town girl from Ohio do for fun?  After a weekend of being inspired by the sites, sounds, and most of all people of New York City, I had to remind myself that inspiration is found around any corner no matter how big or small.  Cleveland is by no means a NYC and in comparison I would describe it as having small-city charm with big potential.  Of course our Sports teams struggle and are the continuing punch line to jokes but there is a creative, artistic side of the city that is understated and often unrecognized.

Culture and arts are displayed every year, as communities and local organizations come together in an artistic presentation of talent, which I experienced for the first time in 2010.  This year marked the 22^nd annual Parade the Circle event presented by the Cleveland Museum of Art and University Circle Inc. Each year is a different theme-last year was A Door Opens-celebrating doorways as the means of cultural exchange while this year was Voices Among Voices.  As Positively Cleveland described, Parade the Circle “celebrates the diverse cultures of the citizens who comprise our city”. Handmade costumes, colorful floats, stilt walkers, puppets, dancers, and musicians entertain visitors to Wade Oval while sponsors provide activities around Circle Village such as creating a colorful instrument at the Cleveland Institute of Music booth or making shadow puppet creatures with the Cleveland Institute of Art.

 

If artistic expression is not for you, maybe you would have enjoyed a little music instead?  While the hometown Cleveland Indians were struggling against the New York Yankees, fans were going country at the Indians Music Festival held on Saturday at Progressive Field.  Featuring star of The Voice and CMA male vocalist of the year, Blake Shelton, and Grammy award-winner, Brad Paisley to name a few, the music fest had concert goers remembering why Cleveland Rocks! 

http://www.universitycircle.org/userfiles/file/Parade2011_booklet_web.pdf

http://www.universitycircle.org/uci.aspx?page=122

http://positivelycleveland.wordpress.com/2010/06/01/what’s-in-store-for-parade-the-circle-2010/

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2011/06/cleveland_indians_first_music.html

Developing Your Professional Network in Public Relations

Having a strong interest in public, media, and community relations, I have been researching some of the best professional associations in the industry.   At the top of the list and a leader in the public relations field is the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).  Chartered in 1947, PRSA is the world’s largest organization for public relations professionals and currently has more than 21,000 members.  (PRSA.org)

PRSA offers three major benefits: Learning, Intelligence, and Networking.  With a section dedicated to Entertainment and Sports, PRSA is a valuable resource offering “great opportunities to connect with peers who understand your issues and are willing to share solutions”.  (PRSA.org) PRSA offers networking opportunities through industry conferences and professional development programs and they have the only industry accreditation program (Accredited in Public Relations Program).  In addition, PRSA keeps you up to date on industry information through daily news updates and blogs as well as a career advice library and job mentoring.  PRSA’s job center also allows job seekers to post resumes, search jobs, and view average salary information.

There are several membership options with annual dues ranging from $60 for current graduate students to $225 for professionals with two or more years of public relations experience.  While much of the information online can be accessed without a membership, there are benefits such as free professional development, preferred pricing on seminars, workshops, and boot camps, and a database of case studies and other various research available only to members.

Colleges and students also have the option of joining the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).  The PRSSA is made up of over 10,000 students and advisers in 300 plus Chapters in the United States and Argentina.  (PRSSA.org) PRSSA helps students to launch their career in Public Relations through connections to internships, competitions, scholarships, news, and social media such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.  Also included in the PRSSA membership is access to the PRSA job center.     

PRSA and PRSSA have proven to be valuable resources to professionals of all levels.  While I have not yet become a member, I am considering suggesting that my university start a chapter.  Doug Hicks, Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for D.C. United, spoke to students at the PRSSA 2010 National Conference Professional Development session, “Creating a Career in Entertainment and Sports”.  He said it best when he advised, “Find something you love and find out how to make it your career.”  If public relations and communication is your passion, joining PRSA and PRSSA is a good start to developing your professional network.

http://www.prsa.org/AboutPRSA/

http://www.prssa.org/about/

http://www.prssa.org/forum/article.aspx?issueid=176&id=699&utm_campaign=PRSASearch&utm_source=PRSAWebsite&utm_medium=SSearch&utm_term=Sports

Walk, Run, Stand...In the Fight Against Cancer

Angels for Hope at the 2011 Relay for Life in Niles, Ohio

With Spring in full swing, so are the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraisers.  What began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt ran/walked around a track for 24 hours, now boasts more than 3.5 million people in 5,000 communities helping to raise money all with the common goal of finding a cure for cancer.  This year, I had a very personal reason to participate.  My father and grandfather both lost their battle with cancer in 2010.  As the importance of further research hit even closer to home, I began to realize there are very few people who can say they have not been affected by cancer.  Whether you are part of the community, a caregiver, friend, or family member walking side-by-side a person facing cancer (or a survivor of the disease) you must feel the impact of their amazing aptitude for hope and strength.

While communities across the United States are holding Relay for Life and other events, the sports and entertainment industries are also contributing in their own way.  As part of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure initiative, the Major League Baseball organization is “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” once again with its 2011 Honorary Bat Girl Contest.  Honorees stories were shared on MLB.com and one winner per MLB team was chosen.  One of those honorees, Beth Ann Vanek, is from my hometown and will be representing the Cleveland Indians at an upcoming game.  Beth Ann’s story reminds us all that we don’t have to fit a certain mold to be a cancer patient.  Young or old, healthy lifestyle or not, we are all at risk.

In addition, more and more celebrities are also beginning to endorse cancer research.  Many are doing this through an organization called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).  SU2C is a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation united to raise funds and stimulate cancer research by “bringing together the best and the brightest in the cancer community, encouraging collaboration instead of competition” (SU2C.com).  Started in 2007 by a group of women profoundly affected by cancer, they began using the resources of the media and entertainment industries in the fight against the disease.  Celebrities and organizations joined together in a 2010 in an overwhelming show of support of SU2C. Their stories, backstage footage, and the entire show can be found at http://www.standup2cancer.org/sutv.

The fact is cancer is fast becoming the leading cause of death worldwide.  Whether it is walking an hour in a community relay, sponsoring a team, or simply taking the time to share your story and promote awareness, get involved, make a difference, and become a part of something big.

Related Links:

http://mlb.mlb.com/sponsors/komen/index.jsp

http://www.tribtoday.com/page/content.detail/id/556792/Mom-chosen-as-Indians-bat-girl.html

http://www.eifoundation.org/

http://www.standup2cancer.org/

http://www.cancer.org/index


http://ww5.komen.org/

Women Playing Soft...I Mean Baseball?

Mark Duncan/Associated Press

Anyone who has seen the movie, A League of Their Own, knows the story of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, the first nationally recognized women’s league started in 1943.  Although disbanded in 1954, the league gave over 600 women the opportunity to play professional baseball and still inspires female athletes today.  While the league began with a mix of softball and baseball rules, eventually underhand pitching and larger balls gave way to the “male” version of overhand pitching and smaller balls.

Today, women such as Justine Siegal are following in the footsteps of these great women and inspiring the next generation of ballplayers.  Siegal’s professional history includes becoming the first female, first base coach of a men’s professional baseball team in 2009 and the first female college baseball coach from 2007-2010.  Adding to her firsts for women, Siegal found herself pitching at the Indians, Athletics, Cardinals, Astros, and Mets Spring training camps this year impressing coaches and players alike with her talent and skill. (Swain, NY Times)

While these are great accomplishments, Siegel is doing much more outside of the professional arena.  As Founder and Executive Director of Baseball for All, Siegal states, “If we tell girls they can’t play baseball, what else will they believe they can’t do?  But better yet, if we tell a girl that she can play baseball, what else will she believe that she can do?”  Siegal began her quest for girls to be accepted in the sport of baseball at the age of 13 with a coach who didn’t believe girls should play the sport.  Her determination kept her playing with the boys through high school and in men’s leagues.  Today through her non-profit organization, Siegel encourages the belief that baseball is for everyone regardless of race or gender.  She “envisions a day when girls will have the same opportunities as boys to compete in baseball at every level of play.”  Currently, Baseball for All holds the country’s only girls baseball tournament, offers national clinics and an International Baseball Academy.  They also sponsor All-Star Teams and participate in the World Children’s Baseball Fair.

So where is the future of girls baseball headed?  Are we closer to seeing a new generation of the All American Girls Professional Baseball League?  With role models like Justine Siegal, one never knows!  I for one would buy a ticket to see women play a little baseball!

Support the Throw Like A Girl Documentary

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/throwlikeagirl/re-launch-of-throw-like-a-girl-a-feature-length-do

http://baseballforall.lockerdome.com/p/HOME(D)

http://www.athleticsnation.com/2011/5/4/2152108/justine-siegal-launches-baseball-for-all-first-online-sports-network

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/22/sports/baseball/22pitcher.html?_r=1