Musing from a middle School Coach

Well are record is 2 and 2 in a very competitive league.  The Coaches understand the balance of letting the players play under a non restrictive system based on fundamentals and instinct.  The biggest barrier is break apart the earlier training of me first !   For most of my athletes athletics is the only place where the understand the  highest percentage behavior HPB: unselfishness !!!  With that awareness the likely hood of winning goes up significantly.  They feel , see and experience HPB.  My job is to build the bridge of trust so that I can open them up to change behavior most importantly off the court !

Musings from a Middle School Basketball Coach

In the beginning of the year I had 5 possible Division One basketball players.   After the 3rd game I am down to 3 !  We have installed a week to week probation program.  The players must have a clear slate in order to play in the up coming week games.  The two players that are not part of the program anymore ; one has withdrawn form the school and the other chooses not to play.  The reason the one player has withdrawn from the school is that the teasing from other students was relentless.  Our schools are a direct reflection of our society.  The physical and verbal abuse is a daily occurrence !
As a Male African Decent Coach I am trying to show how to be strong and compassionate.  We are also trying,  by example,  to instill unselfishness .  We are in the process of breaking down the players psyche in order to rebuild a more evolved way of thinking.  A slow and arduous task . The hardest part is to make sure my EGO and motives are altruistic and not lower myself to the norm .  Which is putting some one down in order to boast  myself esteem.  Coach J

ABC Camp at Largo Middle

Starting in July, Project Uplift Tampa, Inc. (PUT) will be running the first ABC Camp at Largo Middle, a title one school in Largo Florida.

A stands for Academics, B stands for Basketball , and C for Character.  All three will be combined in a unique curriculum for at risk boys ages 11-13 attending Largo Middle .  Academics will emphasize Science, Math and Literacy.  The Basketball will be coached by John J. Johnson a former professional basketball player and college coach.  The character curriculum will be taught by all. 

The camp numbers will not exceed 25 students, so that we have a 5-to-1 teacher to student ratio.  2 hours of academics/character curriculum , lunch and two hours of basketball.   Most of the staff will be certified teachers that will be at the school year round. 

Thanks again to our sponsors , Chemed Corp.  Morgan and Morgan , and Amscott !!!

Character Centered Coaches Clinics

             
 "Character Education is not another thing on your plate 
                  
                     IT IS THE PLATE"
     
The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically.  Intelligence plus character that is the goal of True Education.  MLKing Jr.-Nobel Prize Winner

Character is a life long endeavor and requires a developmental approach.  Three spheres are needed, cognitive, emotional, behavioral for character development.  Knowing the good, desiring the good and doing the good.  By first seeking to understand character development, coaches are better equipped to help student/athletes develop good character.  The percentages state that the athletic field or court is the best place to start while in the school environment !  Our clinic goal is to jump start the educational process for the coaches and to give them the tools needed to be successful.  Coaches are  the place to start because they have the ultimate carrot, "Playing Time".  With this carrot the student/athlete will be motivated to learn more about Character and how it can play a role in making the right choices.  At the end of the day we are the sum of our choices please give these young adults a fighting chance to make better ones !!!

We just completed our summer Pre-Stem At-risk Educational Camp !  To see some coverage look at Youtube; Projectuplift39

For more details call or email Coach J ; 813-447-4887 or Projectuplift39@yahoo.com

    

PSALMS

    Hallelujah
Praise G-d in His sanctuary;
    praise Him in the sky, His stronghold.
Prasie Him for His mighty acts;
    praise Him for His exceeding greatness.
Praise Him with blasts of the horn;
    praise him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dance;
    praise Him with Lute and pipe.
Praise Him with resounding cymbols;
    praise Him with loud-clashing cymbols.
Let all that breathes praise the Lord.
    Hallelujah

The Baal Or Tov, the Master of the Good Light wrote :

To the open sea, to the open sea.
May G-d magnify my soul...
That it may never be enclosed in a prison,
Neither material nor spiritual.
My soul is like a ship,
under the expanse of the heavens.
The walls of my heart cannot contain it.
Nor can those which are made
Those of morality, of politeness
The soul surpasses all this and flies away...
It is above everything that one can name
Above all pleasure
Everything that is pleasant and beautiful
It transcends that which is exalted.
O my G-d, may your help come to me in my pain
Give me a tongue and an expression
Together I shall speak my truth and your own.

Pre Stem Summer Science,Literacy and Math Camp

Project Uplift Tampa, Inc. will target and serve youth living in a high crime neighborhood of Pinnellas County. This neighborhood is known as North Greenwood (33755). The neighborhood Community Center is a nucleus of the neighborhood and a natural gathering place for adults and youth. Many community agencies provide services out of this site because of the accessibility(within walking distance to many of the homes). There are mostly African American families, youth from this group tend to be over represented in the juvenile justice system as well as at risk for failure in the school system. To get a quick peek of last years camp look on U-Tube , Projectuplift39

This is the 5th year of Pre-Stem Science,literacy and Math skill Camp. The Program will serve 75 youth ages 6-12. The youth will participate in academic tutoring and life skills programming three times a week for one-half hours per day.  Academic tutoring will be provided by endorsed science,reading and math teachers, adult and high school volunteers. Volunteers will be screened. Our Goal is to have a 5 to1 ratio.  Life Skills groups will focus on commitment to character, on cultural diversity, substance abuse, building a value system, self esteem and good decision making.


The program will see the following objectives (directly related to goals above);

95 % of program participants will not be involved in juvenile delinquent activities while in the program.

70% of programming participants receiving tutoring will either maintain their average GPA or will increase if it is below average in core academic courses while in the program

70% of program participants will either maintain or improve school attendance while in the program

90% of program participants will be able to identify adult role models and support persons.


Pre-Stem has expanded to 75 clients. Project Uplift is currently seeking funding to make it a year round program with teamsports, acting/ modeling programming to be added.