So you want to be a professional coach? UEFA has been asking this question of students at its innovative UEFA Pro licence student exchange courses in recent times. Participants are confronted with a number of issues which make them reflect not only on the pleasures, but also the pitfalls of a job which brings its major share of pressure.

The latest edition of the official UEFA coaching publicationUEFAtechnician looks at the implications of becoming a coach, and how coaching is perhaps not so much a job of work but ultimately a life choice.

In his column, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh recalls the challenging question put to UEFA Pro student exchange candidates by eminent English technician Howard Wilkinson "Are you obsessed by the subject [coaching], and are you ready to commit the rest of your life to it?"

Roxburgh emphasises the particular demands on a professional coach, and how they can endanger a person's well-being and family life due to the requirements of players, media, sponsors and owners. "In professional football," he explains, "the to-do list is exacting, but it is the pressure that is wearing. The constant demand to produce results, the burden of dealing with elite players, the stress of trying to satisfy hungry media, and the multifarious difficulties imposed by time restraints, crisis situations, intrusive agents and all-powerful owners take their toll."

This notwithstanding, Roxburgh considers that for most top coaches, the highs outweigh the lows. And for those UEFA students who do go into the profession, the realities will soon become clear. "It will be a job which quickly becomes a way of life."

Once into the job, coaches develop and mature, both as coaches and as people. UEFAtechnician analyses how many of the great coaches have learned through education, work experience and the invaluable advice given by mentors on their path towards the summit of their profession. In addition, the coaches did not necessarily have to be leading players Real Madrid CF boss Jos Mourinho is one shining example but they all count on special life experiences, qualities and personal characteristics that have moulded them into successful technicians.

"It is a mixture of coach education, playing the game, coaching teams, making contacts, using mentors and working with football people which combines to produce the mature coach," says Roxburgh.

"Coaches, then, need to know how to coach, teach, manage, lead, learn, communicate, organise, plan, prepare, analyse and select. But this will not be enough, as Vicente del Bosque, Spain's reigning world and European champion coach, said at a UEFA coaches' gathering: 'If you only know football, you are lost ... Top technicians Jos Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and the others know football, but they also know about life ...'"

Women's football is flourishing in Europe, andUEFAtechnician spotlights coaching in the female game. Two women who are vastly respected, former Germany coach and triple EURO winner Tine Theune and current Scotland manager Anna Signeul, give a fascinating insight into the state of women's coaching as this area of football evolves constantly in tactical and technical terms.

The two technical observers at the recent UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Slovenia, Ross Mathie and John Peacock, survey the evolution of youth football and especially how the balance must be found between creating a winning, creative mentality in youth teams while also placing priority on player development rather than results.

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UEFA•technician – what makes a coach?

So you want to be a professional coach? UEFA has been asking this question of students at its innovative UEFA Pro licence student exchange courses in recent times. Participants are confronted with a number of issues which make them reflect not only on the pleasures, but also the pitfalls of a job which brings its major share of pressure.

The latest edition of the official UEFA coaching publicationUEFAtechnician looks at the implications of becoming a coach, and how coaching is perhaps not so much a job of work but ultimately a life choice.

In his column, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh recalls the challenging question put to UEFA Pro student exchange candidates by eminent English technician Howard Wilkinson "Are you obsessed by the subject [coaching], and are you ready to commit the rest of your life to it?"

Roxburgh emphasises the particular demands on a professional coach, and how they can endanger a person's well-being and family life due to the requirements of players, media, sponsors and owners. "In professional football," he explains, "the to-do list is exacting, but it is the pressure that is wearing. The constant demand to produce results, the burden of dealing with elite players, the stress of trying to satisfy hungry media, and the multifarious difficulties imposed by time restraints, crisis situations, intrusive agents and all-powerful owners take their toll."

This notwithstanding, Roxburgh considers that for most top coaches, the highs outweigh the lows. And for those UEFA students who do go into the profession, the realities will soon become clear. "It will be a job which quickly becomes a way of life."

Once into the job, coaches develop and mature, both as coaches and as people. UEFAtechnician analyses how many of the great coaches have learned through education, work experience and the invaluable advice given by mentors on their path towards the summit of their profession. In addition, the coaches did not necessarily have to be leading players Real Madrid CF boss Jos Mourinho is one shining example but they all count on special life experiences, qualities and personal characteristics that have moulded them into successful technicians.

"It is a mixture of coach education, playing the game, coaching teams, making contacts, using mentors and working with football people which combines to produce the mature coach," says Roxburgh.

"Coaches, then, need to know how to coach, teach, manage, lead, learn, communicate, organise, plan, prepare, analyse and select. But this will not be enough, as Vicente del Bosque, Spain's reigning world and European champion coach, said at a UEFA coaches' gathering: 'If you only know football, you are lost ... Top technicians Jos Mourinho, Sir Alex Ferguson and the others know football, but they also know about life ...'"

Women's football is flourishing in Europe, andUEFAtechnician spotlights coaching in the female game. Two women who are vastly respected, former Germany coach and triple EURO winner Tine Theune and current Scotland manager Anna Signeul, give a fascinating insight into the state of women's coaching as this area of football evolves constantly in tactical and technical terms.

The two technical observers at the recent UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals in Slovenia, Ross Mathie and John Peacock, survey the evolution of youth football and especially how the balance must be found between creating a winning, creative mentality in youth teams while also placing priority on player development rather than results.

Read the original post:
UEFA.technician - what makes a coach?

Her author profile indicates that Elizabeth Squires has been devoted to those in the entertainment industry, providing life coaching and management services as well as an ever-ready shoulder to cry on. It's apparent from her new book, Seasons, that she cares about the people she meets and attempts to help. In this fictional novel, based in part on the stories of those she has encountered and counseled, she introduces the reader to a group of four men who coincidentally are each faced with trauma in their lives at the same time. Their shared problems test each one of them individually, and simultaneously challenge their longtime relationship as a "family." Age-old issues between men and women run throughout the current of this contemporary story of young adults-a cheating wife, grieving the loss of a spouse and mother killed in a car accident, and second guessing important life decisions made in the inexperience of youth.

One of the premises on which the story is based is the possibility that four very different people, with seemingly little in common in terms of life goals and career paths, could maintain a close relationship over the years. I found this premise to require a considerable leap of faith which I was never able to fully make, despite the hard work of the author to forge this basis. As a result, I spent much of my time trying to understand why the author was taking a character down a particular path. I also continually wondered why several of the character's seemingly dysfunctional behavior went unnoticed by the other characters.

Readers should note that while neither the front cover nor the back cover comments make any reference to religion, the book is very much steeped in the Christian genre. But, in the author's Acknowledgements, one gets a clear sense that Squires is a person of strong faith. The matter of Christianity is used by the author in a clearly "black and white" manner, with all good things coming to the designated "good" Christians, while those who have strayed experience God's displeasure. In some instances, this device was almost absurd, and overall, God does not disappoint any of those who heeded his word. The result of the author's choice to develop the stories on this basis is the serious undermining of the book's reality, unless you are a person of faith.

For me, perhaps the most significant take-away from reading Seasons is the realization that life has in fact outpaced the old notion of seasons. Today, people develop and mature at different paces, they are subjected to intense and rapid changes that break down the walls of traditional "life periods," and they are often ill-prepared throughout their entire lives to deal with what happens to them. In essence, much as nature's seasons are changing, Squire's book suggests that so are our human seasons of life.

As a writer, Elizabeth Squires comes across as a caring, loving person. Seasons reflects the spirit of a person who loves to write. Squire's profile says that "Uplifting others through life application and storytelling is her passion and purpose." Her challenge now is to connect with readers who share that need and that passion.

View the original article on blogcritics.org

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Book Review: Seasons: A Fictional Novel by Elizabeth Squires

Brett Favre lines up at the 40-yard line and takes off in a dead sprint, juking briefly to his right before heading left.

He turns and lifts his arms just before quarterback Kirk McCarty's wobbly pass hits him in stride, right on the hands.

"Nice," Favre said with a grin before firing a spiral back to McCarty. "A little ugly, but that will work."

The three-time NFL Most Valuable Player made his living as one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. Now he serves as an assistant coach. Or receiver. Or the film editor. Or anything else he thinks needs to be done to make Oak Grove High School a better football team.

Favre is beginning his coaching career in humble surroundings as the offensive coordinator of a 1,500-student high school near his home in south Mississippi. He receives no money for the job, but that doesn't mean he's taking in lightly.

"The stress is already getting to me," Favre said, laughing. "I'll wake up in the middle of the night saying, 'Hey, maybe we can do this? Maybe that will work?'"

Favre has kept a low profile since retiring from the NFL in 2010. It's been a stark contrast from his final few years in the league, which were filled with nearly constant on- and off-the-field drama. After a couple years to decompress, he's emerged at Oak Grove, working under veteran high school coach Nevil Barr.

During his playing career, Favre would often work out at Oak Grove in the offseason, throwing passes to the receivers or lifting weights. Barr was always impressed with the way Favre interacted with the players, serving as a mentor even when he could have been aloof. So when Favre returned to Mississippi, Barr always kept in touch to see if the quarterback would be willing to join his staff.

This fall, the timing was right. And the 42-year-old was obviously having a good time Monday morning under the steamy July sun.

One moment he'd be firing passes to receivers. The next, poring over play charts with other assistants.

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Favre Coaching at Mississippi High School

JAMES R. BURNETT/THE WORLD-HERALD

Gary Bargen, who has been Nebraska's director of compliance, is retiring. He also coached NU basketball with Danny Nee from 1986 to 1995.

ATHLETICS

NU's Bargen found his life after coaching

Gary Bargen had reached a turning point in his professional career in the mid-'90s after nine seasons on Danny Nee's staff with the Nebraska basketball program.

He thought hard about returning to head coaching, something he had done well with a 339-124 record in 17 seasons at the junior college level.

But in his heart, he knew that his youngest son, Mike, was heading to Marquette, and Bargen's chances to see him play would be limited at best if he stayed in coaching.

So Bargen, then 53, chose to leave the bench, took up former NU Athletic Director Bill Byrne on an offer and joined Al Papik in the Huskers' compliance office in 1995.

Al said to me, You know, now that you're over here, you can go see him play,' Bargen recalled. I said, Well, I assumed that a little bit,' but he said, No, you go when you want to go.'

And I took him for his word, and we saw (Mike) play 72 times in four years.

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NU's Bargen found his life after coaching

The Indianapolis Colts coaches most directly involved with rookie quarterback Andrew Luck don't like the guy. They love him.

New Colts offensive coordinator Bruce Arians compared him to quarterbacks who he has worked with over the course of his 20 years in the NFL.

"He has such a little bit of Peyton [Manning], a little bit of Timmy Couch and a little bit of Ben [Roethlisberger]," Arians said as the Colts officially reported to training camp.

"It's scary how good he can be. I'm really anxious to see him develop and watch him grow. He's got the best of all three of those guys."

Arians is hardly alone in the preseason praise, however.

"He just has a maturity, a football maturity and a life maturity that we couldn't have anticipated," Colts quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen said.

Christensen said he expects Luck to take most of the snaps during practices, and probably even more than usual since the team is implementing a new offense with new coaches and players.

Luck said he is eager to get to work in camp and looks forward to the nearly 24-7 training schedule at Anderson University the next three weeks.

Raiders

After spending a decade as an assistant in the NFL, Oakland coach Dennis Allen is excited for his first training camp as the man in charge. "Jacked up about it," Allen said. "We're ready. It's a start of a long journey." The hiring of Allen as coach was part of the major change that went on with the Raiders in the first offseason since the death of longtime owner Al Davis. Reggie McKenzie was hired as general manager and made Allen the team's first defensive head coach since John Madden.

Excerpt from:
Luck already impressing Colts' coaching staff

By DR. RANDY CALE For The Saratogian

Recently, I was phone coaching a separated couple in Seattle as they are struggling with some challenging teen behavior.

The dad works 50+ hours a week, mows the lawn, transports the children to multiple sporting events. Mom works, also takes care of the home, and is struggling with a serious life illness. Together, they are over-whelmed with life.

Yet, their three teenage boys cant pick up their clothes, will not do a chore around the house and spend any free time with friends or playing video games.

Both parents are asking for help with the disrespect and lack of response to the simplest request.

When I began to dig into their philosophy on responsibility and parenting, an interesting and somewhat common comment emerged. Mom related, Well, at least they arent using drugs or stealing from our neighbors. Dad affirmed with, Yes, we are both happy about that.

More and more I work with families who have very few expectations of their children, as it relates to life responsibilities. And, at the same time, these parents are often living a hectic, hurried life with no time to enjoy their children.

In essence, these children are raised in a world where they expect to get it all while contributing very little to the family.

In my view, we have become comfortable with setting standards that are too low, when it comes to participation in the responsibilities of life.

Lets be clear; I am not suggesting that your child should spend every free moment mowing lawns, cleaning floors, and so on. No. I am suggesting that there is a serious consequence that comes from setting basis standards that are too low.

Read more from the original source:
Terrific Parenting: Parents' expectations are too low for their children

Geno Auriemma (Getty)LONDON Across a life of basketball, even as the victories and championships and perfect seasons piled up, Geno Auriemma always figured there was one goal out of reach: United States women's national team coach.

It wasn't just that he was born in Italy. It wasn't just that he was a man in a women's game. It wasn't just that he was from the college ranks and the trend lately swung to taking pro coaches.

It was Geno himself. He is, admittedly, an abrasive force. Unapologetic. Politically incorrect. Not at all a member of the inner cliques of the women's basketball. He's had longstanding feuds with any number of coaches, most famously Pat Summitt, the icon of the sport.

He wins games, not popularity contests. Getting to be national team coach is, quite often, a popularity contest.

"I did think that if there was a committee that picked the coach, then the chances of me getting picked were zero," Auriemma said Thursday.

[ Related: Kevin Love is not happy with his playing time ]

It turns out there wasn't a committee, at least not in a traditional manner. Carol Callan, the women's national team director had the most to say, and Auriemma isn't 804-129 (.862) by accident. So one day in April, 2009, Auriemma's phone rang in his office at the University of Connecticut, and Callan told him he was hired.

So here he sat at the Olympics' Main Press Center, talking about the women's teams' 33-game, four-gold-medals win streak, discussing six of his former UConn Huskies on the squad and basically revealing an opportunity he didn't see coming.

"I could never, ever, ever be here as an athlete," he said. "So you kind of live vicariously."

This is a culmination for an American original. He was an immigrant kid, moving to Norristown, Pa., at age seven, speaking only Italian. His parents weren't interested in sports, and Auriemma said he wasn't any good at them anyway. The only positive was since they never attended his games, he'd just tell them he played well.

Continued here:
Women's hoops coach Geno Auriemma on cusp of adding golden chapter to remarkable tale

LATROBE Ben Roethlisberger choked up. Mike Tomlin found perspective. Chris Rainey marveled at the display of cheating death.

To Kirby Wilson, it was just a jog. To the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers, it was, to use Tomlins word, a blessing.

Wilson, Pittsburghs running backs coach, was on the field barking at his players and even running with them from drill to drill on the first official practice day of Steelers training camp at St. Vincent College.

Less than seven months after sustaining life-threatening burns over almost half of his body in a house fire, Wilson is doing what he wants to do.

Its awesome, Wilson said. My favorite time of the year. The most rewarding camp Ive had.

Beloved by his players, Wilsons services are arguably needed more than usual for Pittsburgh this season. With starter Rashard Mendenhall recovering from knee surgery, the Steelers have a young, deep and talented running back corps for Wilson to work with and sort through. When asked about the competition for roster spots and increased roles at running back, Wilson used a pun that might have been in poor taste only a few months ago.

Its heated, Wilson said. Thats the only way I can describe it.

You have one guy on (the physically-unable-to-perform list) in Rashard (Mendenhall), and after that, (new starter) Isaac Redman and a bunch of young guys who really have a lot of ability but really havent done it over the long haul and are trying to find their niche.

Mendenhall is recovering from surgery after he tore the ACL in his right knee during the regular-season finale in January. Redman takes over as the featured back in the Todd Haleys offense, but roles for Jonathan Dwyer, John Clay, Baron Batch and rookie Chris Rainey are still largely a mystery.

Dwyer, in his third year, and Clay, in his second, were high-profile college backs at big-time programs but went undrafted and have scant NFL experience. Batch was briefly the darling of last seasons camp as a rookie until he tore an ACL, and Rainey, the speedster of the bunch, was drafted in the fifth round out of Florida.

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Wilson back coaching for Steelers

ROCK HILL, S.C. It was one of the saddest days of his life, one of the saddest in recent college basketball history, but Pat Kelsey will talk about it. He'll talk about it openly, eagerly, thoroughly even without being asked. He mentions every heartbreaking detail, including the part where he got into the driver's seat of an ambulance and moved it in front of the Wake Forest basketball offices in the vain hope that he could do something, anything, to help. He couldn't. His mentor, boss, father figure, former coach, Skip Prosser, was gone at age 56.

It was five years ago Thursday.

Kelsey, 37, wants to talk about it. He points to the couch in his coach's office at Winthrop University, reliving the moment. Let's say that's where Coach was sitting when it happened, he says. Prosser was just back from a run and was wearing his ratty yellow shorts. He loved old clothes. He had an opened newspaper on his face, and Kelsey never will forget the color of that face. It was blue.

Kelsey wasn't the first to find him. But Kelsey was close behind. He remembers what people said. First, "Where's Mr. Prosser?" Then, "Call 911!" Then, "Hurry! Hurry!" Then, "It's not good, Kels. Not good, Kels."

He remembers the paramedics saying they would do everything they could, which he knew was code for "There's nothing we can do." Driving the ambulance probably was illegal, and definitely useless, but Kelsey would do anything and everything to keep Skip Prosser alive.

And that's why Kelsey is talking about the day he died. He does it without reluctance or anger because Mark Prosser (left) and Pat Kelsey have a special bond. (Eric Adelson)that's part of his mission now, five years later. He needs to keep this man alive.

Even though doing so nearly cost him his own career.

"The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

Skip Prosser loved that saying. Thomas Payne wrote it in 1776, about those who fought for the American cause only during the good times. Prosser had no use for summer soldiers or sunshine patriots, and that message got through to Pat Kelsey even when he was a young director of basketball operations at Wake Forest.

Kelsey is a Cincinnati boy, the son of a car salesman who taught him how to think creatively until it hurt, smile until it hurt and work until it hurt. It was some sort of miracle that Kelsey found a coach and leader who had the same belief system.

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Skip Prosser's son, Mark, and protégé Pat Kelsey carry on his coaching tradition at Winthrop