Answers to Middle Blog Questions: I want to begin this week by describing how the experiences have related to my academic studies, I would have to say that it does not match. The academics I received from the course has taught me the business aspect, which I had no previous knowledge of. Also, the sports management studies have opened my eyes to different situations from athletes and different sports. This component has shown me the challenges that clubs have when an they sign on athletes and mess up to cause public controversy. The club has to go through a series of steps immediately to clear up and fix the situation. My experiences have been more hands on and behind the scenes of an professional athlete who has lead a life of working hard and dedicated to his studies and athletic professionalism. The academic components of the program were dealing with athletes who are still playing or situations of when they were playing.
My experience with the mentorship has been a success for me, due to it bringing me back to some of my beginnings and reminded me of why I competed when I was in high school. It was also a success because I had the opportunity to shadow Derrick on many of his speaking engagements at schools and see the students and staff reactions to him. Although, he has not been competing for years, he is still seen as an icon and they were excited to meet an Olympian and to hold a real Olympic Gold Metal. Derrick as an individual is very calm, humble and inspirational.
Mentorship Hours:
This week, I spent time at the Armory assisting the staff with some of their functions, for example updating the Armory Prep Roster with the new students who come to the program because all students need ID cards to come into the facility. This took some time because it had to be cross referenced with the attendance sheet, and once that was completed. I needed to look at another list, in order to place the name of there schools next to their names. This is for cataloging reasons for the front desks online system they use.
In addition, I was getting some information on their own mentoring program and structure they use for the students, that is part of my mentoring blogging.
Adult Practice Observation:
During my time going to the Armory, I have seen and observed high schools practice on the track at the same time. I found it intriguing with the number of schools the order and the respect that was occurring while practicing. When you observe adults practice, it is a totally different atmospheric tone. Since it is not many of them there is more space for them to practice, and they are much calmer and focusing on their technicals. The drills are exactly the same to warm up and cool down. i enjoyed seeing the difference between to two types of practices held at the Armory.
Guest Speaking Engagements at Schools:
On Thursday, I attended a middle school with Derrick where he spoke to the students about his experience of where he started, how he succeed through school, and through the Olympics. Prior to him ever thinking he was going to the participate in the Olympics, some athletes he looked up to were Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and etc. He also speaks about, some specifics about the Olympic trials, how they invite 40 athletes and only the top 3 athletes make the official Olympic team for the United States. In addition, he closes out the session with questions from the students they he did not speak about. Some of the questions for this session were how did he feel when won the Olympics? The answer was: he was relieved that it was over, due to the pressure he was experiencing prior to the race. Does he still run today? Answer: yes, not for competition because he retired as a runner when he was 32 years old. He only runs to stay in shape and to relax and clear his head. One thing I did learn that many adults run to relieve stress presently, even if they did not run as a youth.
On Friday, he was invited to a high school to speak to the students, this approach was different because the school does not have any athletics but are working towards having athletic teams. The schools atmosphere is structured like a college campus, where they class groupings are called "bands" and they rotate to different rooms for their classes. I believe this approach will definitely prepare them for their future of attending any college campus. So, when Derrick spoke to these groups, he took the approach of academics and studying through his own personal experience. If they want to participate in sports on a college level they have that capability to do do.
He did speak about the pressures of using performance enhancing drugs that he experienced. He was approached with it through coaches and other athletes, by them saying that everyone who wins an Olympic Gold Metal is doing it. His approach was no thank you, he felt everyone was not doing it and he could win on his own strengths. So, he stuck to his own principles and ignored those who where pressuring them. The message to the students were, peer pressure even exists as an adult, not only on their level. It is okay to say No to your peers, this shows a sign of the individual being strong and you will be respected more.
He also mentioned that, when he was competing his thought process was on the technicals of running, proper formation, stride length and his angles from his coach. Many track athletes peak from the ages for 22 to 26 years of their running career.
PSAL Jim McKay Memorial Indoor Season Meet Observation:
This is meet that took place in Saturday and Sunday, it features a team of challenge events designed for the teams who are developing their programs. The second day of the games are focused on the power-rated teams in the Public School Athletic League. The eligibility requirements to participate in the PSAL's is to be on a power rated girls teams. The boy's team did not score at the PSAL Indoor Championships the year before are required to participate. It was enjoyable watching the students participate in their individual or team categories. I was also able to see the potential in many of the athletes, if they would decide to continue to participate on a college level. Many of the athletes were freshman, so they have the next three years to master their running techniques and skills. During my observation, I was impressed with one school where the girls were very good, with their technique and skills, it was Paul Robeson HS. If they continue for the next 3 years they will be very good athletes in there college years to possibly receive a track scholarship.
My experience with the mentorship has been a success for me, due to it bringing me back to some of my beginnings and reminded me of why I competed when I was in high school. It was also a success because I had the opportunity to shadow Derrick on many of his speaking engagements at schools and see the students and staff reactions to him. Although, he has not been competing for years, he is still seen as an icon and they were excited to meet an Olympian and to hold a real Olympic Gold Metal. Derrick as an individual is very calm, humble and inspirational.
Mentorship Hours:
This week, I spent time at the Armory assisting the staff with some of their functions, for example updating the Armory Prep Roster with the new students who come to the program because all students need ID cards to come into the facility. This took some time because it had to be cross referenced with the attendance sheet, and once that was completed. I needed to look at another list, in order to place the name of there schools next to their names. This is for cataloging reasons for the front desks online system they use.
In addition, I was getting some information on their own mentoring program and structure they use for the students, that is part of my mentoring blogging.
Adult Practice Observation:
During my time going to the Armory, I have seen and observed high schools practice on the track at the same time. I found it intriguing with the number of schools the order and the respect that was occurring while practicing. When you observe adults practice, it is a totally different atmospheric tone. Since it is not many of them there is more space for them to practice, and they are much calmer and focusing on their technicals. The drills are exactly the same to warm up and cool down. i enjoyed seeing the difference between to two types of practices held at the Armory.
Guest Speaking Engagements at Schools:
On Thursday, I attended a middle school with Derrick where he spoke to the students about his experience of where he started, how he succeed through school, and through the Olympics. Prior to him ever thinking he was going to the participate in the Olympics, some athletes he looked up to were Carl Lewis, Edwin Moses and etc. He also speaks about, some specifics about the Olympic trials, how they invite 40 athletes and only the top 3 athletes make the official Olympic team for the United States. In addition, he closes out the session with questions from the students they he did not speak about. Some of the questions for this session were how did he feel when won the Olympics? The answer was: he was relieved that it was over, due to the pressure he was experiencing prior to the race. Does he still run today? Answer: yes, not for competition because he retired as a runner when he was 32 years old. He only runs to stay in shape and to relax and clear his head. One thing I did learn that many adults run to relieve stress presently, even if they did not run as a youth.
On Friday, he was invited to a high school to speak to the students, this approach was different because the school does not have any athletics but are working towards having athletic teams. The schools atmosphere is structured like a college campus, where they class groupings are called "bands" and they rotate to different rooms for their classes. I believe this approach will definitely prepare them for their future of attending any college campus. So, when Derrick spoke to these groups, he took the approach of academics and studying through his own personal experience. If they want to participate in sports on a college level they have that capability to do do.
He did speak about the pressures of using performance enhancing drugs that he experienced. He was approached with it through coaches and other athletes, by them saying that everyone who wins an Olympic Gold Metal is doing it. His approach was no thank you, he felt everyone was not doing it and he could win on his own strengths. So, he stuck to his own principles and ignored those who where pressuring them. The message to the students were, peer pressure even exists as an adult, not only on their level. It is okay to say No to your peers, this shows a sign of the individual being strong and you will be respected more.
He also mentioned that, when he was competing his thought process was on the technicals of running, proper formation, stride length and his angles from his coach. Many track athletes peak from the ages for 22 to 26 years of their running career.
PSAL Jim McKay Memorial Indoor Season Meet Observation:
This is meet that took place in Saturday and Sunday, it features a team of challenge events designed for the teams who are developing their programs. The second day of the games are focused on the power-rated teams in the Public School Athletic League. The eligibility requirements to participate in the PSAL's is to be on a power rated girls teams. The boy's team did not score at the PSAL Indoor Championships the year before are required to participate. It was enjoyable watching the students participate in their individual or team categories. I was also able to see the potential in many of the athletes, if they would decide to continue to participate on a college level. Many of the athletes were freshman, so they have the next three years to master their running techniques and skills. During my observation, I was impressed with one school where the girls were very good, with their technique and skills, it was Paul Robeson HS. If they continue for the next 3 years they will be very good athletes in there college years to possibly receive a track scholarship.
