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Summer school — Off-season programs help prep football players stay sharp, fit
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Re:Good and Bad | 9:34 a.m. July 5, 2008
Your right football has turned into a year long sport and some of the players I
know absolutly hate it!. They will be glad when football is done too. It's
sad that coaches will turn something enjoyable into something that is dreaded
Big Picture | 11:41 a.m. July 5, 2008
Nothing like turning sports into a 9-5 job. I don't think we are too far
from a Capitalism version of the old Soviet Union sports system. Kids sports
are so specialized these days they can't appreciate the other sports that
are out there for them.
All these programs churn out are more ME ME ME thinking from our youth, who already are self-absorbed and think the world is centered around them. No wonder the American dream is failing. Kids never learn the real skills the will help them make it in the world. They can bench press 450 lbs and run a west coast offense but couldn't turn around and tell you where Iraq is on a map. America's obsession with sports in going to be its downfall.
All these programs churn out are more ME ME ME thinking from our youth, who already are self-absorbed and think the world is centered around them. No wonder the American dream is failing. Kids never learn the real skills the will help them make it in the world. They can bench press 450 lbs and run a west coast offense but couldn't turn around and tell you where Iraq is on a map. America's obsession with sports in going to be its downfall.
Comments continue below
Anonymous | 2:01 p.m. July 5, 2008
I am a high school athlete and any sport requires you to stay in shape. I
understand that kids need to appreciate other things in life, but most families
are gone at work till 5 or 6 at night. What should these kids do? Go home and
watch TV? The kids are benefitting from working out after school. The majority
of America is getting more and more lazy. Tht fact that kids are being fit is
something to be proud of.
I understand that America is dedicated to sports and it has taken away from othere aspects of life. Many states force players to be academically competant. I am a 4.0 student and tutor players that need help. It frustrates me that the public sees football players and idiots. Trust me that is not the case
I understand that America is dedicated to sports and it has taken away from othere aspects of life. Many states force players to be academically competant. I am a 4.0 student and tutor players that need help. It frustrates me that the public sees football players and idiots. Trust me that is not the case
Shaking my head.... | 3:50 p.m. July 5, 2008
It amazes me how some people in this community can take a simple positive,
uplifting article about local kids who are working on improving themselves &
turn it into a forum for complaints. Complaints about sports, about our
education system (our kids can't point to Iraq on a map? - my kids can!),
about partents involvement in their kids lives, about parents NON-involvement in
their kids lives.. & that was only in the first 3 posts!! What is wrong with
kids dreaming of going to a D-1 school & what is wrong with sports being an
avenue to help them achieve that dream? Yes, it takes a toll on siblings,
parents, & family time, but ultimately if it can help a kid who otherwise
wouldn't have the opportunity to go to college & earn a degree, why all
the complaints? Certainly it is better having them go to an after school or
summer school program vs.having them just hanging out with friends, watching tv
or getting into trouble. Often we hear the complaint that the news only reports
on the negative - from the comments above it seems like that is what we want.
That is the sad thing...
We'll See | 4:42 p.m. July 5, 2008
Let's see if this "Discipline" learned from the martial arts
class helps Cottonwood's head coach Cecil Thomas. If anyone needed this
training in Cottonwood's football program it is him. He was one of the few
football coaches last year that had to be ejected from a game.
Coach | 5:27 p.m. July 5, 2008
To all parents, take it easy it's still a game. It is not life or death.
As a coach 99% of these kids will never ever play one down of college football.
So let them enjoy the sport, and if they want to make it a 9 to 5 job let them.
After H.S. they will be just like everyone else. Time to go to camp God bless
you all.
JoAnn Widney | 7:12 p.m. July 5, 2008
Being ejected from a game is not the worst thing in the world. Cecil was ejected
because he stood up for what he thought was right-he is all about the kids. Give
the guy a break!!! You have to know the man before you can judge him. Walk a
season in the shoes of any ooach. They coach because they love the sport, it is
NOT about the money. If you figured in the time spent coaching and the moeny
paid it would probably amount to just a few cents on the hour. Come on people,
there are more serious things to worry about in this world. Keeping kids busy
and in shape---it is all good.
Re: Ms. Widney | 7:58 p.m. July 5, 2008
How about assertively communicating with the referees in a non-threatening way?
Coaches' ultimate responsibility is to be a model for the student-athletes
in their program. How does getting ejected from a game translate to the real
world? Let's see, how about getting fired from your job for blowing up on
someone because things didn't go your way? That's how.
we know | 8:06 p.m. July 5, 2008
We saw how two players from Cottonwood, got ejected from the 5a vs 4a game.
This is what they learned and I hope the Cottonwood and Timpview kids play fair
this year.... NO CHEAP SHOTS.
He's trying | 8:29 a.m. July 6, 2008
Good job Coach. Cottonwood has been an undisciplined team in the past.
I'm glad you are finding creative was to add more descipline to your
program.
Re Coach Thomas | 1:52 p.m. July 6, 2008
His "ejection" was improperly called and it was later reversed after
game. (even his "ejection" was for another coach getting called) Cecil
never got a penalty.
He was later suspended for comments made to a SL Trib. reporter.
SO, there are 2 lessons there.
1) sometimes what seems to be, isn't
2) Never talk to a reporter that thinks he's the next coming of Woodward & Bernstein. Because even if you don't say much they will turn it into something major.
He was later suspended for comments made to a SL Trib. reporter.
SO, there are 2 lessons there.
1) sometimes what seems to be, isn't
2) Never talk to a reporter that thinks he's the next coming of Woodward & Bernstein. Because even if you don't say much they will turn it into something major.
"Shaking my Head" back | 4:22 p.m. July 6, 2008
So, according to Shaking my Head, we need these extra programs so our kids
don't "go to an after school or summer school program vs.having them
just hanging out with friends, watching tv or getting into trouble."
This is another example of parenting gone wrong! Don't enroll your kids in every program you can find or buy into the "fact" that kids need to do something every minute of every day. A parent should supervise their kids, we shouldn't just pay someone to do that job for us! If kids get into trouble because they have too much free time, then teach them to work!
This program sounds like a good one and is teaching the boys things they need to know, but I agree with Good and Bad. I remember the days when we learned discipline from our parents, team play because we were expected to get along with our siblings, got stronger in the off season because we might actually have had to use a tool around the garden or yard and held jobs in the summer. Too bad that old-fashioned stuff isn't respected anymore!
This is another example of parenting gone wrong! Don't enroll your kids in every program you can find or buy into the "fact" that kids need to do something every minute of every day. A parent should supervise their kids, we shouldn't just pay someone to do that job for us! If kids get into trouble because they have too much free time, then teach them to work!
This program sounds like a good one and is teaching the boys things they need to know, but I agree with Good and Bad. I remember the days when we learned discipline from our parents, team play because we were expected to get along with our siblings, got stronger in the off season because we might actually have had to use a tool around the garden or yard and held jobs in the summer. Too bad that old-fashioned stuff isn't respected anymore!
Quickly we forget | 6:01 p.m. July 6, 2008
Yes sports are moving in the direction of year around programs mostly to stay
ahead of the next program or what they believe the next program is doing. We
have truley forgotten as parents that we trained all year around as athletes in
high school only what most of us did it in a way to that helped out our
school's athletic programs more then most of these private clubs or weight
training programs do today. An example from my days was Hillcrests all-star
athlete Marty Haws who played football, basketball and ran track thus keeping
his athletic edge, conditioning and getting competition. We tryed out for
several different teams in high school and participated all year around in one
sport or another. Thus we were year around athletes and we even spent time with
our families. But I believed we help ours schools to be that much better.
So, Quickly? | 12:07 a.m. July 7, 2008
What would Marty's son being doing today?
If it was so good "back then"?
While it saddens me to see the demise of the 3 sport athlete, I see it as more kids actually PLAYING for their HS (instead of the same group of kids being THE team for every season).
ACTUALLY, all this specialization has increased the amount of involvement as kids focus on one sport.
If it was so good "back then"?
While it saddens me to see the demise of the 3 sport athlete, I see it as more kids actually PLAYING for their HS (instead of the same group of kids being THE team for every season).
ACTUALLY, all this specialization has increased the amount of involvement as kids focus on one sport.
Just Curious | 6:08 p.m. July 7, 2008
Where do teams like Bountiful and Skyline take their players every year to get
them disciplined. I've never heard. I could only assume that those kids
have so much respect for their coaches that discipline isn't much of a
problem internally. Coaches like Cottonwood's NEED to turn to someone else
to teach his players discipline because he's not cut out for that role.
Grand | 11:21 p.m. July 7, 2008
For a few years now, Duchesne H.S. and Grand County H.S. have held week long
summer camps together. Duchesne would always come down and visit and camp in
really a classroom, and then all day in the southern heat it was lifting
weights, running plays and scrimmaging. By weeks end, both teams would come to
know each other very well. On the last day, it would be GCHS v. DHS, since we
would not play each other in the season or even tourneys since our
classifications separate us. These summer workouts are a plus! These athletes
are staying fit, learning leadership, and steppin it up. If 5A/4A teams acted
like those of 1,2,3 A teams and played for more than themselves. Not only would
they be good players and a good team, but an all around good person with good
traits. Small schools, my hats to you!
Skyline??? | 7:21 a.m. July 17, 2008
I think they turn to drugs not martial arts
jgfkls | 6:17 p.m. July 23, 2008
What a joke...if you don't join in the off season programs you will be
relagated to mop up duty or shifted to second or third string. For xeample
Brock Whitney at Bingham and Justin Campbell at Alta. Two total studs who were
shot down by coaches who didn't like the fact that these boys preferred
baseball to football and didn't have the time to do all the summer football
crap. High school coaches are the dumbest lot I've ever seen.
TO: JGFKLS | 7:19 p.m. July 28, 2008
You have hit the nail on the head. Year-round football (basketball and baseball
as well) has turned off many talented athletes and made them pick one. Soccer is
the worst. No comp soccer at age 5 and you won't get scholarship. At
Bingham and Alta, there are many other good athletes to take their place but
Whitney and Campbell were and will be missed.
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However, I'm glad my boys are almost done with high school and their football playing days. Not because I haven't thoroughly enjoyed it, but because gradually high school football is becoming like basketball and baseball - year round. Those sports require year long commitments and lots more money. And where does your family time go?
Yeah, I know, taking trips to tournaments, 7 on 7's, camps and competitions can be made into family time, but it's also expensive and the siblings that aren't playing can't do "their" sport while you're away in Timbuctoo.
I miss the days when kids worked at home or on a job and learned team spirit, respect, and worked hard enough to build muscle. When parents challenged their kids so they didn't get out of shape. Now it seems we parents opt out of our responsibilities, pay a "professional," dream of D-1 glory and pray for perfection. It's sure a different world than it used to be and I'm not sure it's better.
However, congrats to the kids who do learn these lessons. You'll certainly benefit!