Mark “The Speakerman” Wiggins – Shake the Haters

In Texas at a youth to work conference.

Effort Learning and Mistakes are Ok, Sometime you Fail, ask MJ

Effort Learning and Mistakes are OK,, Ask MJ

Even in Failure, there should be growth for an athlete. Watch the video below of one of the greatest to play the game. You have to want to have the ball with the knowledge that you might fail. But without trying how will you know. A persons character is not defined by how many times they get knocked down, but rather how many times they get up.

“move from the bench to the starting line-up of life”

Tennessee reports recruiting violations ‘ by their own coach, Kiffin

Top501 Sports: Tennessee reports recruiting violations ‘ by their own coach, Kiffin.

A WAC (Win at All Cost) Culture seems to be the norm: College Football Recruiting Violations: Michigan Informs Fans of NCAA Rules Regarding Recruiting

The major schools are taking a hit when it comes to NCAA Rules Violations.  What is the cause for this? Just the other day Roooolllll  Tide got caught (Univ. Alabama). Athletes were scaming free books for students.  The NCAA states it was the Alabama’s  fault for not monitoring their athletes. I agree, colleges need to do more. But in a WAC (win at all cost)  culture, it is easy to not to pay attention to things that fill the vacuum.  Read the link below about BIG Blue and what the the NCAA says about them. If you student athlete is being recruited by any college get involved and ask questions. If not, it could cost your athlete.  The college.. well… a slap on the wrist. 

College Football Recruiting Violations: Michigan Informs Fans of NCAA Rules Regarding Recruiting.

Speaker Man headed to TX

Virginia Speaker is Moovin4ward to Motivate Texas Youth to Pursue Success
Moovin4ward National Team member, Mark Wiggins, to participate in presenting the Journey to Success Pep Rally for the Texas Neighborhood Services Youth Leadership Conference hosted by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas.

Mark “The Speakerman” Wiggins, Leesburg, VA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRLog (Press Release) – May 26, 2009 – Leesburg, VA – Mark Wiggins is part of the Moovin4ward national team that was invited to speak at the annual Texas Neighborhood Services Youth Leadership Conference hosted by Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas. The conference is scheduled to be held on June 24, 2009 in Grand Prairie, TX.

The team will present its Pep Rally program that covers the 3Ps of Success (Possibility, Planning, & Persistence), P+O=S (Preparation + Opportunity = Success), and Permission to Succeed: 5 Things You Need to Accept It.

Wiggins, is a business executive, author, national speaker, and America’s # 1 Youth motivational Coach. As a former college basketball standout at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Mark understands the importance of starting now and preparing for the future. Wiggins also conducts workshops on NCAA Clearinghouse entitled your Eligibility is your Responsibility. He also facilitates a Game Planning for Stress to help college athletes adjust to their new life as student-athletes and provide information on how to handle the transition.

Wiggins is also a certified contract speaker for Monster Worldwide’s Making it Count Programs for high school and college students, which prepares them to make the most of their educational pursuits.

Other speakers participating on the Moovin4ward team are Jonathan Oliver, Dallas, TX, Damon Nash, Raleigh, NC, and Sharon A. Myers, Huntsville, AL.

# # #

Moovin4ward is an assembly of dynamic youth motivational speakers from across the nation that are experienced and effective with youth and young adult audiences. Our mission is to influence, enlighten, and motivate students to dream and achieve success.

“Kids are the losers in recruiting scandal” This is W.A.C. “Win at All Cost” culture

This the 5th of 5 articles to discuss youth culture. The article blow by the New-Record.com  makes the case that the culture of youth sports will continue to get worse, if the parents do not stand up and demand it be better.  Nature does not like a vacuum. So if something is void, it will be filled with something else.  The same is true for sports culture. If the youth sports culture is not filled with positive skills development, and life lessons to help  players be better people, then it is filled with a WAC culture. A Win at All Cost culture. That means, things that people (coaches, players, boosters, parents, schools) will do what ever is necessary in order to get the win. Because that’s whats ultimately important in a WAC culture, the WIN.  This causes everyone to lose perspective on what the real goals are…. The Kids, and having fun.  In the midst of this, what usually happens, is the adults get a slap on the wrist, and the Kids get the label as cheaters, having poor attitudes or spoiled.  In short, the ones who should be protected from these types of things get the blame . I feel that is unfair. Especially, when the youth have now real say as to what happens between “grown folks”  As parents we must continue to advocate for our children and speak up on their behalf. This may include that you withdraw your child if situations do not get better. Culture can change, it will change based on the forces that drive it. Your choices,  a culture that allows youth to develop and grow or one that is WAC, you have the power to make the change.  Start by looking at the current culture your children are playing in and take notice of what is going on, if you don’t like it, do something about it. If you like what is going on, then get involved and make sure it continues.

Read the link below to see what happens when WAC culture takes over.   

 Hardin: Kids are the losers in recruiting scandal : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad’s most trusted source for local news and analysis.

What is a Secondary Violation in NCAA Recruiting

You must know the rules if you want to play the game. Students Athletes must know what is going on at all times during the recruiting process. Read this report about Maya Moore from Uconn. This report was done by the AP and listed at Zimbio to understand: The University of Connecticut said it self-reported a secondary violation of NCAA rules involving the recruiting of basketball player Maya Moore.

The violation occurred in 2005, when the women’s basketball office arranged for Moore to tour the studios of ESPN in Bristol.

It was first reported last week by ESPN.

“The school says it learned of the violation last year, and recently completed a review of the all the facts, resulting in the school reporting it to the NCAA. The school did not say when that report was made.

The NCAA defines a secondary violation as one that is inadvertent in nature or doesn’t represent a significant competitive advantage. Penalties are usually minor, and can include a letter in the school’s file.”

Part 4-5 Youth Sports Orginizations see the decline in the participation

The economy continues to affect youth sports on all levels.  More and more parents have to make the decision of letting their child play sports or pay the mortgage.  When budgets are reviewed cutting expenses like  youth sports could mean an additional  $500.00 to  $1500.00  per child per sport  back to the budget. Sports organizations are becoming creative in the way they are handling this. They are taking payments, doing fundraisers,  having teenagers work off their fees, etc.  So what are parents to do?  Travel teams and Youth Sport Organizations are the pathway to high school athletics. In Loudoun County Va, there is talk that the freshmen teams in basketball my go away due to budget cut backs.  Then what are aspiring athletes to do to get to the next level?  That is the question.  Well, there will be in an increase in playing the YSO’s and city leagues that will become more competitive. I believe the school systems hope this works to keep athletes playing.  It will increase the number of youth playing and stress the county support systems because there  are only so many fields, gyms and pools.  So parents must know their child, some not do want to play sports, many do. However,  as stated by the Positive Coaches Alliance, many children drop out of sports by the age of 13.  Budget cut backs, reduced access,  increases  stress on YSO’s, who depend heavly on the local schools and counties to provide access to facilities, but they have cut back staffing which impacts the YSO’s add that to parents pressuring their kids to get that scholarship,  gives kids and parents a few more reasons not to find  ways to participate.  If your athlete has potential, you  have to be creative in getting them exposure to colleges to recruit them. I have stated before the the recruiting game has changed even for top level athletes (refer to post 1-3 in this series).  But as stated in the Rival.com article below, the choices are now having your child sit on the couch with low or no self esteem, or participate in local skills events, pick up games, tournaments or on travel teams in order to get to play.  It all comes down to what you feel is important. You can find a way to get your child to exercise play sports and get to college. Will it cost yes. but it is an investment in their future.  Read the link below  by Rivals.com talking about the issues many familes and YSO are dealing with the economy and decreasing participation.  

Rivals High – Economy hurting sports participation.

Get your P.h.d

Get your Phd.. what is a Phd. , listen and find out.

more about "Get your P.h.d", posted with vodpod

Part 3-5 Private Schools feel the crunch. Chicagoland power closing its doors

As the economy continues to reach new depths,  private schools are now being affected.  What use to be a very good way to get exposure, recruited, prepared for the SAT/ACT and college courses, is now being threatened by budget cut backs, lower booster and donor support.  Private schools are seeing their numbers go down about as fast as the stock market.  Schools thought untouchable either academically or athletically are finding out that they are not.  So, now you have to weight out  if your son or daughter is being recruited to play at a  Private high school is that the way to go.  Will they be there in a year a two?  Will the money they offer now be available next year? If not will you be able to afford paying the tuition? Money and future support have to be part of your private school athletic education decision.  All the more reason to get involved with the recruitingprocess. Ask the tough questions.  Be sure you get the answers you seek. 

Click the link below to read about a power house Catholic school in Chicago closing its doors for ever. 

Rivals High – Chicagoland power closing its doors.