One of the web sites we keep active is http://addy.com/coachfree/1DailyDose.html. We used this idea with the kids we taught in our Be An 11 Class. Each day we would take motivational stuff gathered from numerous sources, copy it into MSword, one page front and back, duplicate it and give it to the kids at the end of the period; enough time to get it started, not enough time to read it all. There were other classes where they were given time to read things, so that would be the time they would pull it out and finish.

Each day's offering begins with a SuccessQuote and a response. Two of which follow, two of which I really feel are important for you to read. We are in the lifetime memory business. The things that you do will create lifetime memories for the kids that are in your program. You are in the making dreams come true business. I'm sure you remember "Remember The Titans," "We are Marshall," "Hoosiers." My little league baseball coach marred me for life with his comments about me and my playing ability; my high school football coach (Coach Herb Redding, a great leader of young men) boosted my self-esteem for a lifetime.

The Be An 11 Quote of the Day for Today states:

Haven’t seen Coach Graham since I was a teen,
But he keeps showing up in my head,

Forcing me to work harder whenever I feel like quitting,
Forcing me to be better.He gave me a feedback loop for life.

Randy Pausch on his Pop Warner Coach

Question of the Day?

Who is your Coach Graham?

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I keep my friends as misers do their treasures,

because, of all things granted us by wisdom,

none is greater or better than friendship.

Pietro Aretino

The FreebFactor: In her book Jesus: Life Coach, Lauire Beth Jones says the most important things are relationships and memories. Want proof? For you adults, do this. Take out a sheet of paper and write down the people who sat in the first row of your Senior English class in high school-front to back. For you student athletes, write down the first row of your fifth grade class-front to back. Stumped? I cannot do it. But FactorThis: How many of your teammates can you name? Pick the team that you played on that had the most meaning (Memories) for you and name as many teammates as you can (Relationships) . . . Dan Henry, Kim Morelock, Walt Shreffler, Dickie Balziner, Mickey Stump, Mark Newcomer, Wade Smith, Lupe Castillo, Billy Bell, Bob Pretzler. See, you just do not forget, do you? No matter how long it has been, you just do not forget. Memories and Relationships, of all things granted none is greater than friendship. Remember the last line in Hoosiers? “I love you guys.” Make more memories and foster more relationships this week!

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The great end of art is
To strike the imagination with the power of a soul

That refuses to admit defeat
Even in the midst of a collapsing world.

Friedrich Nietzsche

The FreebFactor: And what is athletic performance but art. It is the expression of what is important and vital for the soul of some. I remember seeing those kids in Sarajevo that were playing soccer amid the rubble that surrounded them. Certainly they had the souls of warriors, refusing to admit defeat while the world around them engaged in chaos. How many of us have that kind of determination? FactorThis: It is our job as coaches and teachers to offer up worthwhile programs where student/athletes may express themselves in a chaotic world. Everyone wants to be somebody special and it is our job to have programs where kids can express their specialness.

It is our job to offer up quality programs that kids can participate in which produce lifetime memories based on quality relationships that never are forgotten.