Most student-athletes and their family will let the college coach dominate the interview process. The students and their parents should begin to control the process by asking the right questions and understand the coach is making hundreds of calls to other prospects, so find out quickly if there is interest on both sides.

Below are the top 10 questions the student-athlete should ask any college coach or one of their staff members during the one-on-one interview before making a commitment:

1. Based on what you know now, what are my earliest opportunities at playing my position?

2. How many athletes are you recruiting that play my position?

3. How many strong undergraduates are ready to move into the position I play?

4. Do you intend to play me at another position than what I played in high school?

5. What allowances are made for class and exam preparation?

6. Does the athletic program have an off-season schedule?

7. What is the breakdown of the staff, coaches, and their specialties and who will I be working with if I decide to commit to play for your college?

8. If I am offered a partial scholarship, what do I need to do to get a full scholarship?

9. How much money is a typical athletic scholarship worth?

10. If I get hurt, and cannot play anymore, what provisions are available for me in order to keep my scholarship?

The college coach’s main intent is to get the student-athlete to commit, it is very important you ask the right questions so both parties have a clear understand as well as a comfort level before moving to the next step.

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Baseball season is upon us. Young baseball players, especially pitchers, may experience “Little League Elbow.”

The elbow is a joint where the upper arm bone (humerus) meets the two bones of the lower arm (Ulna and Radius). The elbow is a hinge and pivot joint. The hinge part of the joint allows the elbow to bend; the pivot part allows the lower arm to rotate. The throwing motion combines elbow flexion/extension and rotation. The repetitive forces from the above motion may pull tiny bone fragments away from the humerus. This can disrupt normal bone growth resulting in deformity.

This occurs when repetitive throwing creates a strong pull of the tendons and ligaments at the elbow growth plate. Growth plates are made of soft cartilage, and therefore are not as tolerant to forces as ligaments, tendons, or mature bone. It is generally the weak link for young pitchers.

The young athlete will complain of pain at the bump on the inside of the elbow. They may also complain of decrease range of motion. Pain is generally worse during and after pitching.

To help prevent ‘Little League Elbow’ all children should be limited in the number of pitches thrown per day. The USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee have
published guidelines for maximum pitch counts based on age.

Maximum number of pitches/day

AGE (PITCHES PER DAY)

17-18 (105)

13-16 (95)

11-12 (85)

9-10 (75)

7-8 (50)

American Sports Medicine Institute 2008

How much rest do youth pitchers need?
Rest is a critical part to preventing injury. Below are charts to indicate proper rest time. Rest time indicates rest from pitching only. The athlete may play other positions on their ‘rest days.’

For pitchers age 7 to 16:

Pitches in a Day (Rest Time)

61 or more (3 days)

41-60 (2 days)

21-40 (1 day)

1-20 (0 days)

For pitchers age 17 to 18:

Pitches in a Day (Rest Time)

76 or more (3 days)

51-75 (2 days)

26-50 (1 day)

1-25 (0 days)

Little League International, 2008

If a child is complaining of elbow pain and/or restricted range of motion you should have them rest for a few days. If symptoms persist or reoccur when throwing is resumed discontinue throwing and consult a Sports Medicine Physician. The earlier an injury is diagnosed, the earlier treatment can begin. The result is everyone’s goal; shorter healing time and faster return to pitching.

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Source:
Jeannine K. Hurst MS, ATC is a Certified Athletic Trainer at Providence Athletic Medicine. She holds a Bachelors degree in Sports Medicine and a Masters degree in Sports Medicine/Biomechanics

Great Message and something every child should see….

McDavid’s Hexpad Technology is a padding system that bonds dozens of individual athletic foam pads permanently into fabrics. Hexpads are machine washable and cost effective allowing the development of a new generation of apparel that incorporates protection right into the shirt or pant, unlike anything seen before. Hexpad Technology allows the replacement of your existing undershirts, pants and sleeves with true performance products.

Comfort: Hexpad Technology utilizes super- lightweight athletic foam that conforms to and stretches with your body. It doesn’t pinch or bind like traditional sports padding. It breathes for comfort and maximizes the benefits of our Ultra hDc™ moisture management technology, keeping you cool and dry.

Protection: Hexpads use high quality closed cell athletic foam padding, the same padding density and impact resistance that is used in pads for football and other impact sports. The lighter weight Hexpads allow for greater coverage at the same or less weight than traditional padding systems.

Compression: Incorporated into compression (spandex) shorts and shirts, Hexpad products also offer all the benefits of this snug fitting fabric. It supports large muscle groups to help reduce pulls and fatigue. It moves with your body to prevent skin irritation, chafing and abrasions.

Durability: Products using Hexpad Technology have been designed and tested to be durable. They have been used in some of the most rugged sports like football and rugby and wear well through at least one full season. They may be machine washed and dried. Follow directions on the label.

Acceptance: Hexpads are being embraced by athletes in virtually all contact and collision sports including most college football and basketball, all NBA teams, elite soccer teams, lacrosse, rugby and volleyball to name a few.

Source: McDavid

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Significant changes in the body core temperature cause conditions ranging from mild weakness and fatigue to decreased athletic performance, coma and death. Cool, compressed air enters the pad then flows through vertical air flow channels that are open next to the chest and back of the player.

Athletes, coaches, and even armchair quarterbacks know that successful athletes need conditioning. But did you realize that they need ‘air’ conditioning?

One of the most dangerous health risks to football players has always been the risk of heat stroke. Two years ago, after having gone through the tragedy of losing an athlete to heat related complications during practice, Physicians and scientists from the University of Florida immediately began researching a means to prevent this dangerous and sometimes fatal condition.

It was determined that the air temperature under the players’ shoulder pads often reached dangerously high levels leading to severe dehydration through perspiration. Although players frequently removed their helmets, this only fooled their bodies into thinking that they were cooler, when in fact, the temperature surrounding the player’s body remained dangerously elevated.

It was farther determined that the way to alleviate this condition was to lower temperature of the body’s core. The researchers found that they were able to successfully cool the body core by passing cool air over the strategic areas of the player’s shoulder and back.

Dr. Nik Gravenstein from the University of Florida came up with the concept of a pad that players could wear that would address the real issue of heat-related illness. This invention was brought to Fred Williams of Williams Sports Group, LLC of Jacksonville, Florida. Mr. Williams has invented numerous protective designs which are being used by numerous NFL and college football programs.

Fred Williams developed an ‘air flow channel system’ which, when built into the protective cushion of an existing shoulder pad would provide a unique system of air delivery. This system is the revolutionary new ‘Temperature Management System’ (TMS).

In the TMS system, cool, dry air effectively lowers his core body temperature, keeping it from rising to dangerous levels. The device was field tested by University of Florida research scientists and has been incorporated into the Douglas Custom Pro and Riddell Power Shoulder Pads.

• Heat related illness is second only to head injuries as a cause of death among athletes in the United States.
• The TMS system will replace the air across a players chest and back over 100 times per minute.
• A rise in body temperature is also associated with a decline in athletic performance.

Source: Williams Sports Group

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Iwerk completes Easton Sports’ HitMatrix microsite: The Royal Oak, Michigan software development company Iwerk recently completed a highly interactive microsite for Easton Sports’ revolutionary new HitMatrix – the world’s first complete hitting system. Built for every swing, the HitMatrix is a unique system of baseball and softball bats available in all-composite, composite handle-aluminum barrel and all-aluminum options. Using compelling visuals, the microsite, www.hitmatrix.com, showcases the Stealth IMX, Synergy IMX, SV12 and V12 bats in addition to video featuring Major League Baseball talent, detailed technology graphics and statistical descriptions. It includes a streaming video series titled “Hardball Made Easy,” plus a register-to-win sweepstakes for Easton gear. Working closely with Easton Sports’ advertising agency, Omelet, Iwerk helped to bring their designs to life on the microsite.

Source: GLITR

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Gatorade Athlete of the Year Award winner Matt Barkley, center, shakes hands with Matt Leinart, 2001 California Football Player of the Year, left, as Greg Oden, 2006 Gatorade Athlete of the Year, looks on after Barkley was named the top prep male athlete, Wednesday, July 16, 2008 in Los Angeles. Introduced in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year award honors high school athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exceptional character.

        High School Stars Share Stage on Sports’ Biggest Awards Day   – The biggest names in high school and professional sports convened in Hollywood today as Gatorade honored the top prep male and female athletes with the sixth annual Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards. Gatorade National Football Player of the Year Matt Barkley (Mater Dei HS/Santa Ana, Calif.) was named Gatorade High School Male Athlete of the Year, while Gatorade National Girls Track & Field Athlete of the Year Chanelle Price (Easton Area HS/Easton, Pa.) received Gatorade High School Female Athlete of the Year honors.       Barkley and Price received their awards at a luncheon emceed by ESPN’s Stuart Scott and attended by Matt Leinart of the Arizona Cardinals (2001 California Football Player of the Year), Greg Oden of the Portland Trailblazers (2005/2006 National Basketball Player of the Year & 2006 Gatorade Athlete of the Year), Candace Parker of the Los Angeles Sparks (2003/2004 National Basketball Player of the Year & 2004 Gatorade Athlete of the Year), Allyson Felix (2003 National Track & Field Athlete of the Year & 2003 Athlete of the Year) and soccer legend Mia Hamm.       Introduced in 1985, the Gatorade Player of the Year award was one of the first national awards to honor high school athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exceptional character. In 2003, the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards were established to identify and honor the nation’s top overall male and female high school athlete from among the 12 Gatorade National Players of the Year honored during the high school athletic season.       All Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year nominees will walk the ESPY red carpet and be featured as special guests during The ESPY Awards Show. The show will take place this evening and air on ESPN on Sunday, July 20, at 9:00 p.m. EDT.       “The Gatorade Athlete of the Year Awards stand apart in that they honor those who are not only the best on the field of play, but are also proven performers academically, and actively give back to their communities,” said Jeff Urban, Gatorade senior vice president of sports marketing. “Matt and Chanelle are outstanding examples of what a leader and a student-athlete should be.”       2008 GATORADE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS       Matt Barkley: The 6-foot-3, 220-pound junior quarterback threw for 3,576 yards and 35 touchdowns, completing 63 percent of his passes (214-of-340) against just nine interceptions. The first junior captain in Mater Dei history, Barkley averaged 325 yards and 3.2 touchdown passes per game in leading the Monarchs (9-2) to the quarterfinals of PAC-5 Division Southern Section 2007 Football Championships, where they fell to Serra League top seed Crespi Carmelite High. Barkley has maintained a 3.77 GPA in the classroom and enthusiastically donates his time, spearheading the team’s Monarchs for Marines initiative, lending tangible support and morale-boosting contributions to the Marines and Sailors of Camp Pendleton. As part of the effort, Barkley has helped raise more than $100,000 for a charity benefiting the families of wounded and fallen Marines.       –  First-ever non-senior to be awarded Gatorade Male Athlete of the Year         and Gatorade National Football Player of the Year honors     –  2007 PARADE Magazine Player of the Year     –  Earned All-CIF honors, All-League honors and All-Metro honors     –  Rated the No. 1 recruit in the class of 2009 by Rivals.com       Chanelle Price: No stranger to international competition, the senior half-miler placed sixth in the 800-meter run against a world-class field at the Prefontaine Classic earlier this month with a time of 2:01.61, clocking the second-best time in scholastic history and eclipsing a milestone set by track legend Mary Decker. Shattering the state record and winning her third consecutive gold medal in the 800-meter with a time of 2:02.90 at the PIAA Class AAA state meet in May, Price helped the Red Rovers to a seventh-place finish as a team. Price has maintained a 99.28 average in the classroom, placing her in the top five percent of her class. Price donates her time as a Special Olympics volunteer and as a local Vacation Bible School counselor.   <!–[endif]–>     –  2008 National Scholastic Indoor Championships 800-meter run champion         (2:05.93)     –  Ran 12th-fastest Open 800 preliminary-heat time (2:08.39) at USATF         Indoor Championships in February 2008 (running vs. collegians and         pros)     –  Three-time PIAA Class 3A 800-meter champion     –  2007 Nike Outdoor (2:02.76) and Indoor (2:07.43) Nationals 800-meter         champion     –  Set age 16 national record in July 2007, breaking Joetta Clark’s 1979         mark of 2:03.54       For more information on the Gatorade High School Athlete of the Year awards and the Gatorade Player of the Year program, visit http://www.gatorade.com/playeroftheyear.    

SOURCE Gatorade

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Pro-Trainer hardware systems represent the latest in technology for computerized motion analysis. Our notebook field systems are designed and built expressly for coaches, trainers and other professionals who require the convenience of a fully portable motion analysis system. Our portable systems consist of powerful notebook computers, high quality digital camcorders, video accessories and multi-camera video motion analysis software. This combination of hardware and software delivers high quality video images at a full 60 frames per second with total control over every aspect of motion analysis including instant replay, freeze-frame, angle, speed and distance measurements, on-screen graphics and more.

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FRS Health Energy Products offers a great way give your body a boost of energy at any time. Soft Chews are there whenever you need them. The soft chews are individually wrapped in a 30 chew bag and are ideal for travel or for a gym bag or briefcase. Two FRS Chews are equal to one serving of liquid or powdered FRS. Each serving of chews is powered by 250 mg of quercetin.

FRS Health Energy

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