Week 3 - Other Connections to Zander's Work as it relates to Competition

Anna Jobe - ski racer 

I am posting the following as a great guideline for those of us that are coaches, teachers and parents so that we remember to keep our perspective. I am spending the next few days watching the Junior Olympics and am reminded every moment of this competition of Benjamin Zander's words. He speaks about our "universe being alive with sparks" and that we have "an infinite capacity to light a spark of possibility". He also says that "passion, not fear is the igniting force". As I watch these young 8th and 9th graders, full of sparks, possibility and passion for their sport, I feel so very lucky to just observe. The advice marked in red below is the best I have found to help us keep our perspective and to help the children we teach, coach or parent to strive for their best, not to be afraid of failure, and to embrace the challenge. 

© 2006 USA Swimming and The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. All Rights Reserved.

Do's and Don'ts for Sport Parents

(this is just a portion from this article that fits in well with "The Art of Possibility" that we have been studying by Benjamin Zander)

Do for your Children:

• Provide guidance for your children, but do not force or pressure them.

• Assist them in setting realistic goals for participation.

• Emphasize fun, skill development and other benefits of sports participation, e.g., cooperation,

competition, self-discipline, commitment.

• Show interest in their participation: help them get to practice, attend competitions, ask questions.

• Provide a healthy perspective to help children understand success and failure.

• Emphasize and reward effort rather than results.

• Intervene if your child's behavior is unacceptable during practice or competitions.

• Understand that your child may need a break from sports occasionally.

• Give your child some space when need. Part of sports participation involves them figuring things out

for themselves.

• Keep a sense of humor. If you are having fun and laughing, so will your child

• Provide regular encouragement.

• Be a healthy role model for your child by being positive and relaxed at competitions and by having

balance in your life.

• GIVE THEM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: SHOW THEM YOU LOVE THEM WHETHER THEY

• WIN OR LOSE!!!

About the Author:

Michael A. Taylor an Instructor for the Stanford

University based Positive Coaching Alliance, a long-time member of the United States Elite Coaches Association

and a former gym owner.

Taylor, M. (2010) Do's and don'ts for sports parents. United States Ski and Snowboard Association
Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://www.ussa.org/magnoliaPublic/ussa/en/formembers/parents/about.html

Week 3 - Readings Ch 7-9 on Expectations, Passions and Sparks

I know someone who was born prematurely at barely 30 weeks, weighing under 5 lbs, but you would never know by her zest for life. She is my hero, and happens to be the hero of most of our family, including her brother and both her grandfathers.  She is one that lives what Benjamin Zander "preaches" and one that lives this sort of "Life of Possibility" if you will. This person NEVER settles, but she is also never overbearing, dramatic, or difficult. She has a passion for many things, and does them well, but i think ski racing is unequal to any other passion in her life.

 Heart of a Racer - Do You have a Dream? 
This video is about a small part of her life, but one that lights a spark. She doesn't just compete for herself, but she makes all those around her better. She doesn't just get excellent grades, but she helps others in the process. She is one of the people that Zander is talking about, and she was seemingly born this way. Everyone is her friend and everyone wants to be better at what they do when they are with her. Even I...so check her out. It would not surprise this Montana mom if her daughter was famous for just being an amazing human being some day. Although that is enough for me and her family, I think this young woman has bigger plans. 

Week 3 - My comments on Donna's post

Friday, March 12, 2010

WK 2 Blog Entry 4 - Random Musings

My world seems built on the concept of feast of famine this year. Either I have a few projects to complete with long deadlines and plenty of time or everything bombards me at once and all needs to be accomplished at the same time - usually in different places.

This month is a "feast" month: more like a binge. Work, school, and family commitments have all merged into one heady time-management nightmare! Makes me ever more thankful for my support network - how would I get through all this without it.

I know we are all under the same deadlines, but still, I have to ask; whose bright idea was it to have the thesis, media project and presentation all due at the same time?? I know that come midnight March 22nd I will collapse with relief in a hotel somewhere in Georgia, and hopefully will have had enough time to prepare the materials for the photographers I'll be training at 7 am on the 23rd. I take that back, on the 22nd I'm in North Carolina. Hmm. I see yet another late night road trip heading my way. I'm glad I love my work!

Note to self: Must remember Rule #6! :)