Youth soccer program SCORES big in sportsmanship

From L-R: Solomon Alexander, Donay, Coach Hearn, and Coach Huffington

America SCORES St. Louis was the first organization to welcome the Sportsmanship Brigade to its games when the program began. The coaches, administrative staff and parents are very proud of their poet-athletes and they have ever reason to be. SCORES promotes health and activity through soccer and literacy through poetry. Thursday evening was the final game of the fall season for the teams in attendance. Walbridge and Patrick Henry Elementary schools went head-to-head and the young ladies did not disappoint. It was a spirited contest with Walbridge coming out on top. My new friend, Donay scored a goal from mid-field and scored bigger points with her leadership. During tense moments, Donay kept her composure and was the vocal leader of her team.

The old saying "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" applies to parenting and coaching. Athletes of character usually have coaches of character teaching and encouraging them. This is certainly true of the Walbridge staff. Coach Huffington and Coach Hearn specifically told their girls to "practice good sportsmanship" and "don't let the other team get into their heads" - possibly inciting poor behavior. The Sportsmanship Brigade was indeed honored to recognize Coaches Huffington and Hearn along with Donay as  tonight's sportsmanship award winners. It's uplifting to see youth teams display great skill and great character.

This Saturday, the Brigade will make its way to Grace Christian Church in suburban St. Louis for a 1:00 p.m. CYC volleyball match. It will undoubtedly be a contest of spikes and sportsmanship. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who visit youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Those who display acts of good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. For more information on the Brigade - including scheduling and volunteer opportunities - please visit our website at sportsmanship.org. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Penn State: A lesson in integrity

I'm sure by now most of you have heard or read about the situation at Penn State University. The topic quite frankly goes far beyond sportsmanship and certainly goes beyond what I am willing to write about in this forum. However, there are lessons to be learned even in the worst circumstances. Today's lesson centers on integrity. Bruce Brown, author of the booklet A Standard Higher Than Victory, addresses integrity in terms of the example coaches should set for their athletes.  To be honest, Brown lays out a guide for integrity that anyone can use. Multiple copies of the booklet A Standard Higher Than Victory are available through our Team Players Program which you can learn more about by clicking here. Here is what Brown has to say about integrity:

Integrity is a choice of behaviors displayed in small daily decisions. The [person] demonstrates actions that follow his or her words and beliefs. Yes means yes and no means no. [People] of integrity say what they mean and follow that exact path. Their word is good, their handshake confirms the deal, and their signature is worth something. They are worthy of of respect. The first step to building a successful team is surrounding yourself with people of integrity. 

Integrity is a simple concept, and for the person of integrity, life may not be any easier, but it is simpler. It is not always easy to do what is ethically correct, but it is simple to know which path is most ethical and then exercise that option.

 Brown then goes on to use several famous quotes regarding integrity. This quote is a personal favorite from educator John Holt. "The true test of character is not how much we know how to do, but how we behave when we don't know what to do." Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Youth coach breaks player's collarbone

Yes, you read the title right. I'm not sensationalizing this nor am I making this up. A Detroit area middle school football coach broke his own player's collarbone. When watching this video, I was reminded of something Missouri Hall of Fame baseball coach - Steve Nicollerat said at one of our Coach It Right! Baseball Clinics. "Whatever you do as a coach, make sure it has a purpose." What's the purpose of doing this to a kid? Watch the WJBK-TV story below and see if you can come up with some sort of explanation (email subscribers click here). Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

Video: Coach Delivers Bone Snapping Hit on Middle School Football Player: MyFoxDETROIT.com

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Good sportsmanship abounds in CYC

From L-R: Sophie Hibbard, Coach Missy Box, Christina Koch, and Coach Julie Council

The Sportsmanship Brigade began its November schedule Friday night with a visit to Immacolata School. The home team took on St. Peter in a volleyball match-up of eighth-graders. Immacolata won the match 2-1, but the attitudes of both teams guaranteed there wouldn't be any losers on this court. Sophie Hibbard of Immacolata ran to a teammate who had been having a bad game. She could be heard from the stands saying, "That's alright. Keep your head. We'll get the next one." Hibbard's encouragement helped her team in a match that could've easily gone either way.

Christina Koch of St. Peter was the spark plug of her team. Through three 15-minute periods, this young lady never stopped cheering, playing and motivating. Even as Immacolata pulled away late in the third period, Koch never quit. She yelled out on match point for Immacolata, "C'mon guys! We can do this!" The coaches for both teams were outstanding as well. Julie Council of St. Peter and Missy Box of Immacolata implored their teams to play hard and play to win - but play within the rules. No one on either side argued with a referee or yelled at an opposing player. Both teams played a determined yet respectful match.

As a result, we were proud to recognize Christina Koch of St. Peter and Sophie Hibbard of Immacolata along with their respective coaches - Julie Council and Missy Box. The Sportsmanship Brigade is a group of Sports Commission volunteers who visit youth sporting events looking for acts of good sportsmanship. Athletes, parents, coaches and fans who exhibit good sportsmanship are rewarded with a certificate of recognition and a gift card to a local business. The Brigade will visit the poet-athletes of America SCORES St. Louis this Thursday and take in another youth volleyball tilt at Grace Christian this Saturday. If you would like to get your organization on the Brigade schedule or volunteer as a Brigade member, please visit our website - sportsmanship.org. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Page 2 - Sign up for hitting seminar with Hall of Fame baseball coach

The living legend himself - Coach Steve Nicollerat

It's Friday. That means it's time for Page 2. Here's this week's rundown.

• Kid in wheelchair scores TD in prep football game.

• High school football player with cancer defies the odds and takes the field.

• Soccer player kicks a ball into the stands and nearly injures someone.

• Missouri Hall of Fame baseball coach, Steve Nicollerat hosts a free hitting seminar.

• Sportsmanship Brigade begins its November schedule. 

Read. Learn. Enjoy. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Mocking your opponent can have painful consequences

Henrik Eriksson of Mora IK in Sweden scored the go-ahead goal in a recent hockey match with rival Leksand. Eriksson then proceeded to mock his opponents by hugging Leksand's Alen Bibic. Let's just say Bibic wasn't feeling the love. There's a pretty basic lesson in the video below (email subscribers click here.) When you seek to humiliate someone, prepare to be humbled. Please know that I do not in any way condone Bibic's actions, but I understand. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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Chiefs show leadership through service

Last spring was the most devastating tornado season in U.S. history according to experts. Midwest and southern states were hit extremely hard by massive storms. Here in St. Louis, damage to the airport alone has reached into the tens of millions of dollars. Homes and entire subdivisions simply blew away under the force of 200 mph winds. Thankfully, no lives were lost in the St. Louis storms. Unfortunately, the town of Joplin, Mo. suffered much greater loss. Joplin is a small community approximately 300 miles southwest of St. Louis. The town was all but wiped out by its tornado.

The casualties were catastrophic - 162 people lost their lives and thousands more lost their homes and businesses. Volunteers from all over the country descended on Joplin to help repair and rebuild. Trucks filled with clothing, food, and medical supplies made their way through the rubble to help the people. Missouri's sports teams contributed greatly to the effort as well. The St. Louis Cardinals, Rams, and Blues along with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Missouri Tigers sent people and resources to the area. Team executives worked alongside players removing debris and rebuilding homes.

Today's post focuses specifically on the Kansas City Chiefs and its efforts to help Joplin High School - which was completely destroyed by the storm. The Chiefs are part of an ongoing relief effort to aid Joplin's recovery. Watch the following ESPN.com video about how the Chiefs and its players live out the meaning of leadership (email subscribers click here). Anyone can stand in front. Real leaders know how to reach back and pull. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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