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NBA Vs FIBA BAll

September 24, 2019 Dr. Mark Robinson Blog archive, No Ordinary Blog

This summers FIBA World Cup wasn’t a wake-up call for the USA, it was a Shock and Awe for the world. I have never heard the USA make excuses for losing, so this was shocking to me. The other “teams practice more; they have been playing together for years; FIBA basketball is different than the NBA.” None of these excuses was present over the years when the USA dominated the international competition.

The experience of a seventh-place finish behind countries such as Spain, France, Argentina, Australia (who beat the USA in a friendly) Serbia and the Czech Republic. Should illustrate to the basketball community that athletic ability will no longer win games at the highest level. Fundamental basketball skill, tactics and teamwork all overshadowed athletic ability.

USA basketball needs to make a few fundamental changes or at the very least should consider the following:

Consider hiring Top European coaches as assistants.

The USA coaches were all American NBA or college-level coaches. Much was said about the lack of international experience of the NBA players. I would say the same discussion could be made regarding the knowledge of the coaching staff. Adding European coaches that know the FIBA game would give USA Basketball a tactical advantage.

Consider adding American players who are currently playing in the top Euro-leagues.

Americans have been playing in FIBA competition for decades. Some of them are good enough to be in the NBA but for many reasons are playing abroad and playing well. NBA scouts know who the best American players are in Europe. Its a matter of inviting the right guys to camp to see what they can do. But more importantly, giving them an opportunity to make the team.

Mark Robinson

The Five I’s of Athletic Identity: Initial

November 19, 2018 PPD Mag Magazine?Archives

The first perspective of the athlete?s worldview is termed the Initial Perspective. At this point, the athlete has usually played club sports, youth sports, Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) sports while in high school, and has entered their first year of college. These athletes believe they have a very good chance of competing in professional or Olympic sports once they complete college. The entitlement contributors reinforce this belief as discussed in the previous chapter.

The mentality of these athletes relates to the sports they play. This mentality began in elementary school, and in many cases continued on into college. Once in college, these athletes see school as a way of fine-tuning their athletic skills to enable them to play professionally. As far as the athlete is concerned, attending college is only a means to an end. Academics and any non-sport related activities are of no real interest to athletes in this stage, primarily because the main reason they are attending college is based on their athletic ability. The elements that make up the athlete?s mindset in the Initial Perspective are outlined in the figure below. In this perspective, athletes possess a serious thought process focusing on athletic development, a feeling of personal freedom related to being away from home for the first time, and a cautious approach towards academic and professional development.

Although their academic pursuits assisted these athletes in gaining entry to college, athletics was the number one reason they were recruited. More importantly, athletics is ultimately the reason they will continue to persist on campus. Lack of academic or athletic performance could result in the loss of a scholarship, unless the student is attending college on an academic scholarship. Therefore, the number one priority for college student athletes is maintaining a mental focus on their sport.

The student athlete attending college on an academic scholarship also has a state of mind connected to the Initial Perspective. According to Athena Liao, a former student athlete at Yale University in swimming from 2009-2013:

All of the Yale athletes are smart and work hard in the classroom, [and] although they don?t give athletic scholarships, people still complain about being so busy in sport. But at the end of the day, we are really students first, and that?s a big difference between scholarship athletes and non-scholarship athletes. Another difference is how the scholarship athlete is tied to the university through sport. If I wanted to quit the team and just continue to go to school, I could have at any time and my decision would not have affected my status at the institution. This is something that happens with non-scholarship athletes all the time. I guess the pressure is less to perform in some cases, because you know your sports participation is something you can walk away from at any time. People come and go all the time. If someone decided to leave, there?s really nothing the coach can do, and you can continue to attend school.

The Initial Perspective of the student athlete is compounded by the desire to please the coach or coaches. These student athletes will virtually do anything the coach asks because in their mind the coach or coaching staff is their ticket to the next level. Attending extra film sessions, shooting extra shots, running extra sprints, etc., are all done with one goal in mind: to play as much as possible. In certain situations, athletes will agree to redshirt or not play their first year of college just to stay in good standing with coaches. They will ignore the fact that coaches will still recruit athletes for the following year. This places the redshirt athlete in a position to battle for a starting spot or playing time, reinforcing the fact that nothing is guaranteed.

The Initial Perspective of the athlete?s worldview can be deemed as genuine and normal for student athletes, particularly competing in signature sports such as football and basketball. Athletes who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to compete in these environments worked hard to get there. Through hard work, they deserve the scholarships offered based on their athletic ability. Student athletes in the Initial Perspective are still naive to the realities of sport.

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A Change in Athlete Behavior

November 6, 2017 PPD Mag Blog archive

A highlight of Dr. Mark changing athlete behavior in one of his presentations.

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Athletes Chasing The Idea Of Perfection

May 13, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

The pursuit to become proficient in every aspect drives athletes to eat, sleep and breath excellence. Since a young age, the idea that ?practice makes perfect? is drilled into their mindset, but where does striving for perfection draw the line between healthy and unhealthy?

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. ?Vince Lombardi

There is no doubt that sports carry many benefits including discipline, team work, decision making, goal setting, and dedication. Nevertheless, this competitive environment also has the ability to aid in the downfall of the individual. For the athlete that spends countless hours seeking improvement, they have become their own worst critic. Left dissatisfied when the outcome doesn?t meet their expectation, instead of recognizing their ability to progress. What athletes really mean to say is that they seek perfection, the unreachable notion of being flawless. But what is perfection? Is it the no hitter? Is it the ideal body image? Is it doing what we never thought we could?

Vince Lombardi said, ? Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence?. To the athlete seeking perfection, communication and education is key. We are so fixated on the little things that we fail to see the bigger picture of having a healthy, balanced and positive lifestyle as individuals. That includes letting go of what we cannot control. Behavior such as this is more common than we realize, especially in athletics.

Sports culture is obsessed with perfection; from performance to appearance, athletes are statistically evaluated and under the constant pressure to meet expectations. The higher the level of competition, the more pressure there is, and while we understand that less than 2% is what separates the good from the great; when do we reach a point where we are satisfied with ourselves?

The combination of various factors can lead athletes to partake in unhealthy behavior that is self-destructive. High-risk drinking, drug use, and eating disorders are just some of the better-known behaviors that athletes fall vulnerable to when they internalize stress and don?t know how to properly approach these situations.

In an environment that prides itself on mental toughness, any sign of weakness that could impact performance is negatively looked upon. Athletes feel too proud, fear, or deny that they are struggling and in return it becomes internally damaging to the individual and the athlete. The inability to be perfect does not discredit them as a person, it only allows them opportunity to develop and progress.

Let us redefine how the sports culture views perfection. Perfection is the point where a person?s satisfaction starts and ends with them. As an athlete you cannot allow others to define your success or your self worth. Sports are about your passion and ability to reach your full potential, no one else?s. So should we stop trying to achieve perfection? No, chasing perfection gives us direction and motivates us to do better. For some, that athletic identity may extend for a longer period of time than others, but at the end of the day they all eventually come to an end. When that day comes we want athletes to continue to view perfection as their distinct ability to live a positive, balanced and healthy lifestyle.

As for our imperfections, they are what make us perfectly imperfect. They make you the athlete that you are, but more importantly they make you the person you are. Vince Lombardi was right, perfection is unattainable, but teaching athletes to reach their full potential, that is its own model of excellence.

Article written by?Danielle Gleason,

Founder of DNG?and?Personal Player Development Specialist

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Danielle Gleason, and the IPPD Specialist Certificate Experience

May 3, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

Danielle Gleason is a former collegiate swimmer for Colorado State University. ?She has a?Bachelor of Science in Health Exercise Science and a?Master of Education in?Higher Education. ?Danielle was a graduate assistant in the Student Athlete Development office for Arizona State University, which is where she realized her true passion is working with athletes in the personal development arena. ?Since then, Danielle enrolled in the Institute for Personal Player Development?(IPPD) and has received her Personal Player Development (PPD) Specialist Certificate. ?We wanted to get feedback on her IPPD experience.

Dr. Mark: Why did you enroll in the IPPD, PPD Specialist Certificate program?

Ms. Gleason:?I was originally referred by Jean Boyd, Sr. Associate Athletic Director at ASU?to contact?Dr. Robinson?and after speaking to him, I decided to enroll in the IPPD, PPD Specialist Certificate program.

I felt that the work that was being done would have of not only benefited me greatly during my time competing, but more importantly after. This program has the endless possibility to help former, present, and future athletes. By enrolling in the program, I was?able to gain the proper knowledge to assist athletes?live the positive, balanced and healthy lifestyle that the IPPD program so adamantly teaches.

Dr. Mark: What did you think about the program curriculum?

Ms.?Gleason:?I thought that the program was very well researched, it was relevant, and it provides a lot of value to those who are taking the course. The curriculum allowed me to learn from a number of professionals in the field and apply the concepts in multiple ways.

Dr. Mark: Would you recommend this program to other people who want to or are working with athletes??

Ms.?Gleason:?Definitely! Regardless?of?the capacity that a helping professional works with athletes, it is always a great opportunity to get professionally trained to help athletes?develop as an individual in a positive, balanced, and healthy way.

Dr. Mark: What was one of the most important things you learned through the program?

Ms.?Gleason:?One of the?most important things I learned was that, PPD specialists help athletes?realize their maximum potential as an individual, not just as an athlete. IPPD has provided the framework to assist would be helping professionals?in the best possible way.

Dr. Mark: What are your plans moving forward within the PPD industry?

Ms.?Gleason:?Moving forward, I plan to start my own consulting service as a Personal Player Development Specialist. I also plan on developing workshops and presentations geared towards the female athletic identity and transitional phases.

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Damany Hendrix, The Pain and the Game

April 21, 2016 PPD Mag Magazine?Archives

Damany Hendrix is currently the varsity head basketball coach for the Justin-Siena Braves.? As a player he has experience at the high school and collegiate level.? As a coach he has experience with club development, AAU and NCAA coaching. ? His experience as a player and now a coach influenced him to publish a book, The Pain and the Game.? We wanted to know more about the book, coaching and AAU basketball.

Dr. Mark: Why did you write a book?

Coach Hendrix: I started writing the book because I was in a really bad space at the time mentally and I thought it would be therapeutic.? As I got into my story I thought that this could be a good tool to help young athletes navigate through the ups and downs of high school and college athletics.? Many young athletes have no idea what it takes to be prepared for college in the classroom and in their respective sports.? Many of them have never even thought that their preparation may not be sufficient.? I believe that my story could be a tool for them to use in order to be better prepared for any obstacles that may be put in front of them.? If my journey can make these young people take an honest look at themselves and evaluate where they are academically, and athletically, and say ?I need to buckle down to get where I want to be?, then the book was used for its proper intention.

Dr. Mark: What message can readers expect from your book?

Coach Hendrix: I believe there are a few messages that readers can take from my book and the first one is perseverance.? I have been through a lot because of the game of basketball, but I still devote lots of time and energy to the game because it?s what I love to do.? I love to teach the game, and help young people become better players.? The message I took from writing the book is that life is not perfect.? There will be things outside of your control that may attempt to block you from getting to your goals, but you have to learn to deal with those situations and not let anything stop you.? It also teaches that even if you put your all into it, you may still have to take an alternate route to your destination.? Lastly, we should always take an honest look at ourselves, evaluate the part we played in the outcome of all the decisions we make, and learn from our mistakes.

Dr. Mark: You took a run at D1 coaching, what happen?

Coach Hendrix: I could write a ten-page paper on all of the things that happened while I was pursuing a college coaching job, but I will try and summarize what happened.? College coaching is a network, and if you are not in the network or highly connected within the network, it is very difficult to get into the business. There are hundreds of guys that hold all the spots in the network, whether they perform well or not.? If one staff gets fired for not doing well at a particular school, many times all of those coaches land on their feet at another school where they have a connection.? It makes it difficult for any new coaches to get jobs because all of the available jobs are filled by guys who just got let go, want to move schools, or guys who were in part time positions such as graduate assistants, or director of operations.

The best way to get in as a new guy is to take a Grad assistant job right after graduation, and grind your way to the top.? I didn?t attempt to get into the coaching game until I was 3 years removed from college.? I had an interview with my old college coach who was going to hire me, but the athletic director made him hire another guy that was a graduate of that school.? That is another obstacle, politics play a big part in who a coach can hire.? It has to ?make sense? to the institution to hire a new coach that?s just getting into the business.? So, it is very difficult to get hired unless you can hand deliver a high level prospect, which is how many guys get into the business.? I wasn?t going to attach myself to a player to get a job because once you do that, you have to be able to deliver a player at all times and I think your basketball acumen becomes devalued.? You become a ?recruiter?.? I have put in too much time mastering my craft as a coach to be simply a ?recruiter?.? After 9 years of chasing it, I decided to take a high school head coaching job and put all of my energy into becoming the best coach possible.? It was very rewarding being able to put into practice all of the things that I had learned on my journey, and it further let me know that this is my gift and I need to continue to put my all into becoming a great basketball coach.

Dr. Mark: Is AAU basketball good for the players and the college game?

Coach Hendrix: I used to think AAU was hurting the game, and it was a bad thing for the game.? My views have changed slightly, but I still think it is doing more harm than good.? AAU basketball has become more of a business and has taken away from the development of 95% of the kids that play it.? The top 5% are taken care of.? They have the best resources to improve their game ie. Trainers, elite camp, great instruction, and many of them good quality high school coaching.? For these kids, I believe that AAU has it?s place.? It gives them an opportunity to compete with and against the best players in the country consistently, and it gives the college coaches and accurate assessment of these kids abilities.? With that being said, it also has created the pampered athletes that we see today.? The best high school players get treated like royalty.? They are pros from the time they are 16 years old and are treated as such.? It causes entitlement issues among the kids, and they have trouble taking criticism, being disciplined, and small failures.? I believe that this has led to the 700+ transfers that we have seen at the division 1 level this year.

The EYBL is the greatest and highest level of high school basketball I have ever witnessed.? Nike has organized it in such a way that every game counts and winning is a bit more important, where in the past it wasn?t, it was more about showcasing your talent. Coaches want winners, and when you devalue the importance of winning it?s hard for coaches to see which kids are truly about getting the W.

For the other 95% I believe we are spinning our wheels, creating bad habits, and creating bad basketball players.? I am not saying that these kids aren?t talented, I am saying that they are playing a bad brand of basketball.? Over the course of the summer kids play up to 50 games, vs 30 high school games where there is a little bit of structure.? Hopefully, the high school coaches are teaching good defensive principles, and rotations because on the AAU circuit (outside of the EYBL) they are not.? Many of them sit in a zone and rarely even play man.? There is very little offense being run, and it?s mostly 1 on 1 iso on each end.? It?s hard to watch.? The ball doesn?t get reversed, it doesn?t go in the post, and now with all of the warriors success, most of the time it?s a bunch of kids jacking 3?s.? It?s the worst brand of basketball I have ever seen.

Many high school coaches have to spend the first few weeks re programming their kids to buy into a structured setting.? You have to re teach the good habits, and try to eliminate all of the bad habits they picked up over the summer.? Most high school coaches do not like AAU for this reason.? There is a disconnect between the two, and I am on the side of the high school coaches because if it?s not high level AAU, most times they aren’t? being taught to play the right way.

Middle school basketball is almost like recess.? It is hard to find quality basketball minds who want to teach at that level so most times it?s a dad who coaches these teams, and many times they know very little about the game on a technical level.? This isn?t a bad thing all the time because the elite talent gets scooped up by the better programs who have some decent instruction, but the other kids are left to fend for themselves.

I have a great passion for the game, and I am a bit of a purest, so my opinions may come of as the old guy screaming ?get off my lawn?, but I have been observing all levels of basketball for over a decade now and I can see the change in the athlete.? I can see the change in the game at the college level as well.? I watch all levels of college basketball, and I have seen a decline in the skills, mainly the shooting at the college level.? There is also a lack of back to the basket scoring, a lack of ability to create your own shot, and poor knowledge of how to move without the ball and get open.? I have seen the emergence of the specialist, which isn?t a bad thing.? Every team appreciates and can use a ?3 and D? guy on their roster to spread the floor and hold his own defensively.

I hope that the game moves more towards skill development of our young athletes and less playing games.? It hurts the non elite athlete and produces kids that are less prepared for the next level whether that?s Junior college or the four-year level.? With the emergence of the ?trainer?, kids are getting skill instructions, now whether they are getting useful instruction or not is a case by case scenario, but I do know kids are working on their skills. I am encouraged by this movement.? But there are still too many unorganized, yet, organized games being played which is hurting basketball overall.

Dr. Mark: The biggest problem facing HS coaches today??

Coach Hendrix: I believe that the biggest problem facing High school coaches today is a combination of AAU, parents/handlers, some skill guys and the limited amount of resources and funds.? Parents have become the biggest thorn in the side of the high school coach.? Parents have a different lens and feel like every coach needs to cater to their child.? A coach?s job is to do whats best for the group, not one individual.? Parents and players often believe that they are better than they are.? This isn?t a problem unless a parent of a player believe that the coach doesn?t value their skill set.? A player that believes that his coach should let him shoot more three pointers, but is shooting 28%, is a problem.? A parent that says a coach isn?t using his son right is a problem as well.? Players need to understand, you are your skill set, and your production.? If you are shooting in the 20?s from 3, any coach in their right mind will limit your ability to continue to shoot from behind the arc, not because he doesn?t care for the play, but because it?s whats best for the team, and more than likely the player.? I see dad?s coaching from the sideline which is my biggest pet peeve.? The problem with this is, it can confuse the kid, but more importantly, it could directly contradict what I work on daily in practice.? It could contradict the play I just drew up coming out of a huddle, and we need a basket because we are down two points.? Parents should be there to support the coach, and cheer on their child along with his or her teammates, PERIOD.

I have already addressed High school coaches having to break the bad habits of the kids coming back from playing AAU.? They also have to change the mindset as well.? AAU is about showcasing, and less about winning.? The high school season is about winning first, and then showcasing your talents within the framework of a team.? There is some reprogramming that needs to be done, and I have seen coaches not have success to the detriment of the team and the season.? It can be very frustrating.? It makes players difficult to coach when they do not put the team ahead of their own personal agenda, and on top of that you have the parents reinforcing this selfish mindset.? It can tear a team apart.? I have seen it happen.

We all know high school coaches put in countless hours for very little compensation.? There are some coaches that have the passion to push through this and still strive for greatness.? But who can blame a coach who is only receiving a $1200 stipend for 5 months of work for just making it through a season and not giving it his all.? It is a thankless job unless you are winning big, and you have to deal with ungrateful kids who give you attitude, and parents who think you are the scum of the earth because you don?t play their 5?5 son 32 minutes per night.? I have seen coaches get burned out, run off by parents, and frankly quit mentally mid season because of the factors I mentioned previously.? It can be very difficult to power through these things and bring it every day.

Dr. Mark: What does the future hold for you in the basketball arena?

Coach Hendrix: I feel like I have a wealth of knowledge, and I see myself educating young people in many ways.? I believe one day that I will be a division 1 Head Coach.? I believe that I will also travel around the country, and maybe even the globe speaking to young people? about what this game has meant to me, how to achieve their goals, and motivating them to be the best human beings that they can possibly be.? I see my self motivating young athletes to achieve 4.0?s and seek higher education beyond their Bachelors degree.? I believe I will be a household name among coaches. I truly believe that I have the basketball acumen, and the drive to become one of the great coaches this game has ever seen and I will not stop until I achieve my goal.? Everyday I strive to unlock my genius, which I believe to be coaching and educating people on the game of basketball. Whether they are young athletes, or coaches.? I want to share my gift with the world.

Damany Hendrix is currently the varsity head basketball coach for the Justin-Siena Braves.? He graduated from Vallejo High in 1998 and was an All-Monticello Empire League player. After high school, Hendrix accepted a scholarship to play for Gonzaga University. At Gonzaga he redshirted as a freshman, then transferred to Junior College, where he was the conference MVP and an All-State selection.? Hendrix completed his collegiate basketball career at Lamar University where he was selected All-Southland Conference, twice.

Social media links

Instagram:coachdamany

Twitter: @coachdamany

Facebook

The Pain and the Game link

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Brandon Sweeney, On his IPPD Specialist Certificate Experience

April 20, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

Brandon Sweeney is a former college athlete who experienced depression and thoughts of?suicide, as a college athlete. ??Mr.?Sweeney shares his story of the setbacks he had to overcome when his dream of going to the NFL was shattered by a career ending injury in his current book,?Loving The Game When The Game Doesn?t Love You Back. ?Mr. Sweeney recently completed his Personal Player Development (PPD) Specialist Certificate, from the Institute for Personal Player Development (IPPD) and we wanted to get his thoughts on the IPPD Specialist Certificate program.

Dr. Mark: Why did you enroll in the IPPD, PPD Specialist Certificate program?

Mr.?Sweeney:?Being a former athlete, I thought I truly understood athletes and how to help them because of what I went through. However, after working with athletes, I discovered I did not have the necessary tools in order to assist them.

Therefore, I enrolled in the IPPD because I wanted to truly understand athletes, the issues they were facing, and how best to assist them. I was looking to understand Athletic Identity, Athlete Behavior, and how to help athletes holistically. Most of the things I?ve researched and studied prior to enrolling in the IPPD,?did not address helping?athletes holistically.

Dr. Mark: Give us your thoughts regarding the?program curriculum??

Mr.?Sweeney:?I thought the curriculum provided relevant and valuable information. It was a lot to chew on. The curriculum gave me great knowledge and access to the minds of experts who work with athletes on a daily basis.? It also provided me with concepts and frameworks that I could use when?working with athletes.

Dr. Mark:?Would you recommend this program and why??

Mr.?Sweeney:?Absolutely,? for two reasons. First, I believe those who want to truly understand and help athlete?s, need training on how to do that. Second, there aren’t program that specifically focus on the holistic development of student and professional athletes as it pertains to the issues and challenges they face.

Dr. Mark: What aspects of the program will you use in the future when working with?athletes??

Mr.?Sweeney:?How to specifically help athletes in two areas. ?One, assisting them in maneuvering through the sports transition process. Two, a better way of working with?athletes towards achieving success outside of the playing environment.

Dr. Mark: What are your plans moving forward within the PPD industry??

Mr. Sweeney: I am going to start consulting and speaking with high schools and colleges to create a program/workshop that helps student athletes maneuver through the sports transition process. I also plan on writing a book that specifically contributes to the Personal Player Development industry.

Follow Braddon on Twitter- @BrandonLSweeney
Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn- Brandon Sweeney
Like Brandon L Sweeney page on Facebook – Purpose beyond the game

Get a download a FREE copy of Brandon’s current?book at www.brandonlsweeney.com

If you are looking for a hard copy?you?can purchase here.

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International Basketball Success Online Workshop

April 11, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

With over 4000 college basketball Seniors and only 60 available positions in the NBA, basketball players who don’t make the NBA have a great chance of playing international basketball, but many don’t make it. ?Why, because they lack the necessary information.

The Institute for Personal Player Development (IPPD) has launched the International Basketball Success Workshop. ?This online workshop provides athletes with the information they need in order to have successful and productive careers abroad.

Why is this workshop important or needed? ?Most college basketball players are never given the proper information to find employment playing abroad. ?Instead many of these players either:

Give up on the dream

Play abroad and have a horrible experience

Sign contracts with agents who don’t help them

Pay to attend exposure camps and never?get a job

Waste years doing it the wrong way

College basketball programs and USA Basketball do?not give basketball players?the information they need in this new and exciting journey, but the IPPD does. ?Enroll today and learn what you have always wanted to know.

Listen to?what previous athletes think about the workshop below.

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Erin Konheim Mandras: Athletes and Eating Disorders

March 23, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

Erin Konheim Mandras played college soccer at Michigan State University.? Following her collegiate career she played semi-professional women?s soccer and later became a collegiate soccer coach.? Erin is currently a motivational speaker, blogger and founder of www.kickthescale.com.? Kickthescale.com focuses on eating disorders, body image, exercise, and nutrition, particularly in athletes.? PPD Mag caught up with Erin to get her thoughts on athletes and eating disorders.

Dr. Mark: What is the purpose of kickthescale.com?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: Kickthescale.com is a website that provides my personal biography, my rock bottom, and my ongoing blog, all related to my story and experiences of developing, battling, and overcoming a significant eating disorder as a collegiate athlete at Michigan State University. Based on statistics, there is a widespread presence of eating disorders among all men and women, of all ages, but particularly prevalent in high level athletes. Therefore, my mission is to raise awareness and educate others on the issue, in hopes to prevent eating disorders from developing, or helping us to identify signs and symptoms early on, to prevent further damage. Kickthescale.com is a resource for people to use, as my writings and stories are relatable, real, and powerful.

Dr. Mark: Are female athletes under the same amount of pressure to perform as their male counterparts?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: Female athletes endure the same amount of pressures to perform as their male counterparts in all facets of life. Ultimately, males and females have the same goals, desires, and dreams to achieve great accomplishments, despite men’s sports earning more revenue. At the college level, a full ride scholarship is the exact same amount of money invested in an athlete, regardless of the sport or gender. Therefore, each athlete feels pressure to meet and/or exceed expectations, while an education is being funded. At the professional level, though there may be a significant discrepancy in salaries earned between men and women, each athlete signs a contract that promises results.

Dr. Mark: Is the subject of eating disorders a topic that needs to be discussed with high school and college athletes?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: Eating disorders are beginning to develop at a much earlier age, even before high school. Therefore, it is imperative to discuss, educate, and raise awareness on the topics surrounding eating disorders to all ages. Nutrition, healthy exercise behaviors, and a balanced lifestyle are all necessary components in helping to prevent eating disorders from developing. There is an intense desire to achieve the ideal body type that media and society is portraying as beautiful, in both men and women. And, as a result, many are finding alternative ways to attain that figure, whether through diet, exercise, or even surgery. It is so important to continue emphasizing positive body image. Also, we must continue discussing the details of eating disorders in hopes to bring attention to the signs and symptoms, and urge people to seek help immediately. Additionally, by sharing my story to all ages, my goal is to help eliminate the stigma attached to?these issues.

Dr. Mark: What are some other topics you discuss when you’re presenting to athletes?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: When I present to athletes, I share my story of the development of my eating disorder, and the reasons why I was destined to develop one of my own. As athletes, we have tremendous responsibilities off the field, as well; academically, socially, and religiously. Therefore, it can become extremely overwhelming and stressful to perform at one’s best in all areas of life.

Athletes tend to be very high achieving individuals, who place an immense amount of pressure on themselves, and it is important to be aware of the health affects and ramifications this may have, such as, in my case, the development of an eating disorder. I emphasize the importance of positive body image, and the significance of strength, power, and health for optimal performance. Nutrition and exercise are two main contributing factors to optimal performance, and without proper and adequate attention to both, one’s performance may decline, like mine did.

Dr. Mark: What are the visible red flags of a student-athlete experiencing an eating disorder?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: In my case, I was identified by two major factors: a drop in body weight and my personality. These were clear signs of an issue. I had loss weight, but, also, appeared very lethargic, and distant in my close relationships. My dieting behaviors became noticeable, and my strict habits became worrisome. Additionally, I had lost my menstrual cycle.

Other signs and symptoms of all eating disorders can be found?here.

Dr. Mark: How can we be proactive in preventing eating disorders with athletes?

Mrs. Erin Konheim Mandras: We must talk openly about the issues, and signs and symptoms so people are able to identify the disorders early enough to prevent significant damage. Additionally, the more common people feel these are, the more open to help people may be regarding eating disorders or disordered eating. It is so important to continue educating others on the details of eating disorders in hopes of saving lives.

Follow her?on twitter @ErinMandras

Like Kick the Scale on Facebook

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Matt Blamey, Pioneering Lacrosse out West

March 21, 2016 PPD Mag Blog archive

Matt Blamey is the current Head Coach for the?Sierra Nevada College Men?s Lacrosse?program in Lake Tahoe. Currently the Eagles are 7-1 on the season and ranked #12 nationally in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association. We all know that lacrosse is the fastest growing youth sport but PPD Mag wanted to know how the impact and growth of the sport is being developed in the West.

Dr. Mark: Why did you start the California Junior College Lacrosse Association (CJCLA)?

Coach?Blamey:?Prior to becoming a college coach, I spent seven years coaching at South Lakes High School in Reston, VA. We had a ton of great athletes come out of the program who, for one reason or another, would end up going to the local junior college (Northern Virginia Community College). NOVA was, and still is, one of the most prestigious and largest 2-year colleges in the United States.

While I was very proud of seeing these student-athletes continue their education, I hated the fact that their playing careers had to come to an end. Over my final few years with South Lakes, I began writing a proposal of what it would take to run a program at NOVA. I’d say this is where my passion for junior college athletics began.

During my final season with SLHS, I sat down with Brian Anweiler, then Student-Wide Activities Coordinator for all of NOVA, to discuss the potential of a lacrosse program. They say timing is everything. My meeting with Brian was serendipitous to say the least. It just so happened that Brian was specifically hired to help make athletics a reality at the institution. Needless to say our meeting was very successful. Brian agreed bring me on to start the program at Northern Virginia Community College, the first JUCO lacrosse program in the state of VA.

After spending two fantastic seasons with NOVA, my wife and I came to the decision that it would be best to raise our family in her home state of California. Upon relocation, I started a new coaching position with Sonoma State University. Almost immediately, I began noticing how large the junior colleges are in CA and what tremendous athletics facilities that they possess. Junior college sports are very popular in California, but once again, lacrosse was rarely an option for graduating high school athletes.

I did some research and saw that there was one junior college who offered competitive lacrosse as an offering. Diablo Valley College, east of San Francisco, was running a club program who would compete annually against 4-year schools during the fall. I reached out to Terry Armstrong, founder of the program, and we worked together to come up with an umbrella organization that would aid aspiring junior college to create club programs at their own schools. The CJCLA was born.

The primary goal of the CJCLA is to assist student-athletes at junior colleges in getting club programs online at their own institution. We provide sample budgets, staffing needs and access to uniform and equipment discounts through quality vendors. We also will build a free website for new programs in order to assist them in getting the word out to prospective student-athletes about their programs.

Now in our third year, we have had a few programs come on board and fall off. It has been a rocky start. We are proud, however, that in addition to Diablo Valley College…Santa Barbara City College and Grossmont College have both come online and proved to be competitive and well-supported programs. This fall we are working with Butte College to get a new program running as well.

Some student-athletes will use JUCO athletics as a stepping stone to a 4-year school. For others, playing for the CJCLA will be the pinnacle of their career. In both instances we want to provide an organized and highly competitive playing experience for these young men. Lacrosse remains the fastest growing team sport in the country. One day, when there are CJCLA programs up and running all over the state, we hope the California Community College Athletic Association will see lacrosse as the next logical fit to their varsity athletic offerings.

Dr. Mark: Do athletes in lacrosse experience the same personal development issues as athletes in the sports of basketball and football?

Coach?Blamey:?Just this week I read an article in Fast Company on how student-athletes entering the work force are at an advantage over those who have never competed athletically. I believe this to be true. Many of those advantages have to do with withstanding the challenges and pressures that come along with competing in college. ?In short to your question, the answer is yes. For every student-athlete who successfully navigates through the challenges brought on by stress, drugs/alcohol, technology, etc.. There will be another young man or woman who will falter.

Every year the NCAA puts out report a report on the levels of drug/alcohol use among collegiate athletes. Along with basketball and football, lacrosse consistently ranks high on this list. While substance abuse is an issue with many college students, I think the pressure on athletes makes them more at risk out of the need to ?check-out? or ?unwind.?

Social media has proven another challenge that I believe many athletes, at least in my experience, are learning to deal with much more intelligently. A few short years ago, I was often disappointed by the things that I would see posted by current players or even worse, potential recruits. While there will always be exceptions, I think the message that ?nothing is private? has made the rounds.

Overall, I strongly believe that the days of simply ?coaching? are over. In our profession we have to pay attention to our student-athletes in all areas of their life. It is our job to help these players successfully avoid making choices that can lead to disastrous consequences. It’s clich?, but frankly, I don’t want these young men to make some of the same mistakes that I did. Relationships don’t end when the whistle is blown at the end of practice.

Dr. Mark: In an ideal world, would it be advantageous for a coach to have someone on his/her staff to work with athletes on the personal development issues?

Coach?Blamey:?In an ideal world, absolutely. I am by no means an expert in personal development. I simply speak from life experience. Challenges with most institutions, mine included, will be budget dollars. We are constantly moving around the numbers so that we can hire adequate assistant coaches, athletic trainers, etc… Unfortunately, I feel that a personal development expert on staff is one that most athletic departments will relegate to the bottom of the priority list.

Dr. Mark: Do you believe specific training is needed for athletic staff members working with athletes in the area of personal player development?

Coach?Blamey:?This is my 14^th year of coaching. I have yet to have a single season where I haven’t had a player come to me with a unique personal problem or challenge. ?I think quality training could be helpful, but I would hate for it to turn into another mandatory webcast that the school or government mandates to all athletics staff. I think more valuable would be a professional consultant as an on-call resource. Google can only do so much.

Dr. Mark: Do athletes in lacrosse need support making the transition from athlete to non-athlete?

Coach?Blamey:?I’m not sure about this one. On those same annual reports put out by the NCAA, lacrosse athletes consistently rank among the highest in graduation rates. 99% of lacrosse players understand that they will not be earning a living playing professionally. I think that most realize that the cleats will be retired upon graduation and that Friday under the lights will now mean a late night at the office. ?That being said, I am an advocate of giving our young men and women all resources possible prior to heading into the ?real? world. If there are avenues available to ease the transition for our players, I’m all for it.

Dr. Mark: What are some of the issues you see at the professional level of lacrosse?

Coach?Blamey:?My personal experience within the professional ranks is limited. That being said, I am a huge fan of both Major League Lacrosse (Go Bayhawks!) and the National Lacrosse League. It’s amazing to see the growth of the professional game in both field and box lacrosse.

By all accounts, most professional players are still weekend warriors. They draw modest salaries and some fly into the city they represent on Friday for practice, game Saturday, and then fly back home to be at the office on Monday. It sounds like a grueling schedule, but from those I’ve chatted with, they wouldn’t trade it for the world.

As the growth of the game continues to explode for both players and fans, I think the salaries for athletes will grow into a quality living wage. Will it ever be a six or seven figure paycheck? I’m not so sure. Until then, however, there is something to be said for these guys. They are truly playing for the love of the game. I admire every one of them!

Dr. Mark: How much potential does the west coast have to develop lacrosse into a thriving sport?

Coach?Blamey:?This has?been an ongoing question for some time. I think it’s time to put it to bed. Lacrosse is already thriving on the west coast. From Southern California to Washington, the west coast is putting out some of the best players in the country and every year it continues to grow. Are there areas where lacrosse is still new? Absolutely! But no longer is our sport an unknown. ?This past season the University of Denver was the first NCAA program west?of the Mississippi River to win a National Championship. Right now they remain ranked #1 in the country. Their roster is littered with players from the west.

In the MCLA, west coast teams have been flourishing for years with home-grown talent. It’s not a secret anymore. West coast kids know how to play…

Follow Coach?Blamey?on twitter ?@coachblamey

Follow The California Junior College Lacrosse Association on twitter@jucolaxca

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