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| Bears Youth Camp running back |
Our youth football camp coaches constantly state, “Don’t cheat yourself!” We say it before camp, during camp and at the final whistle.
What do they mean?
*Come mentally and physically prepared to get the most out of the camp day.
*Get enough sleep before the day.
*Eat a proper breakfast.
*Think about what you want to accomplish.
*Leave your problems behind and enjoy the moment.
*Leave your problems behind and enjoy the moment.
*Run out every play and give a 100% effort.
*Do things the right way.
Talk about a simple sports lesson that translates to true life skills! Consider NCAA football team violations, baseball players using steroids, golfer Tiger Woods, skater Tonya Harding and sprinter Ben Johnson. Then consider any coworkers, friends and family members that cheat their way through life. They take shortcuts, sandbag and use smoke and mirrors. But everyone knows the difference.
It makes me think everyone should be required to play team sports while growing up. It’s the best platform for learning how to compete with integrity. Note: I said “team sports” as I believe the environment is much more conducive to competitive integrity than most individual sports (golf excluded).
While many more cheat without getting caught, I suspect that every perpetrator big and small has significant regrets and would do things much differently if given the chance. We all make mistakes and fall to temptations of easy success and quick adoration. Nobody is completely innocent.
Pro Sports Experience tips its cap to Little League Baseball and their “I Won’t Cheat” jersey patch campaign. It’s a sharp message that is a more valuable takeaway than football skills or baseball skills.
More on the Subject
Tom Finks
Pro Sports Experience, LLC
Pro Sports Experience is the official management company of Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.
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