Great News :-) / NEW INDEPENDENT COMPONENT

I went to my old middle school yesterday with a friend of mine to watch her little sister play softball. I stayed to help the team pick up and the coach started talking to me asking what high school I went to and the subject of my senior topic came up and he said if I wanted to make hours by coaching his softball team, i'm more than welcome to! So of course I said yes, which means I have a new independent component!
Coaching these middle school kids is perfect because what i'm learning with my mentor I can apply them and plus doing my hours at Southland's was getting complicated since the coach would never let me know when to go and what times were good for him. 

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. 

- Vincent T. Lombardi

Blog 18: Third Answer

"You spend your life gripping a softball, but in the end it was the other way around the whole time."

EQ: what is the best way a girls softball team can win CIF (California Interscholastic Federation)?

Answer #3: Softball players are constantly practicing trying to perfect themselves but without the commitment set by themselves, practice won't ever make perfect.

3 details to support the answer (facts & example):

• Commitment involves tenacity which is the ability to continue on despite difficult circumstances or obstacles. For example, in April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson was one of the first male African Americans to play baseball and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers. Obviously at the time they did not except the fact that colors could do a white mans job just as well, or in this case better, and was given such a hard time but he stuck through it because he knew this was a passion of his. 
• Life skills can be learned through commitment to sports. Individuals can learn the value of teamwork. Understanding that when you are part of a team you lose some semblance of individualism. Being committed to your team, teammates and the sport is essential for overall success.
• Success does not occur overnight, it's an ongoing process. Some people and organizations who were exemplary in exhibiting commitment in their respective sports: Vince Lombardi (legendary football coach), Michael Jordan (superstar basketball player), New York Yankees (baseball team). These individuals and organizations are the perfect examples for commitment to winning and excellence. It is something that has been earned over several years of dedication.

Research sources:

• "Be Committed." Elite Sport Leadership Central RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.elitesportleader.com/themes/be-committed/>.
• "ARTICLES." Sportsmind. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.sportspsychology.net.au/index.php/articles/motivation/the-power-of-commitment>.
• "The 6 Key Components of Commitment." Janssen Sports Leadership Center. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. <http://www.janssensportsleadership.com/resources/janssen-blog/the-6-key-components-of-making-a-serious-commitment/>.

Concluding Sentence: These lessons can be transferred into life skills that coincide with relationships, business, and social matters.

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Blog 17: Fourth Interview

“The greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart.” -Robert G. Ingersoll

1. What are a few things that standout for you when you notice a player is committed to the team?
2. When losing a big game, how do you handle the team's emotions?
3. Does a coach's body language affect the way a player performs?
4. Can you describe a situation where a player showed lack of teamwork and what you did as a coach to resolve it?
5. Can you describe a situation where a player showed commitment to the team?
6. Describe your most effective effort to create or promote a positive image for your team.
7. Can you tell me about a situation that best illustrates your ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people?
8. As a coach what are some qualities you want your team to represent?
9. How do you make sure your players stay humble during a winning streak?
10. What are some things you do to motivate your team to do better?
11. From experience what do you believe is a skill a player should have when it comes to sports?
12. How do you get a play to do more than what they believe they can when it comes to their skill level?
13. How do you find the talent of each individual on your team?
14. How high do you set goals for your team?
15. How are coaches suppose to handle pressure under stressful situations?
16. How important is character for a player to have?
17. Is consistency important in coaching your team?
18. What are certain things you do to make sure your players are relaxed and ready for a game day?
19. Do you notice a change in attitude when a player is out of the field?
20. Can you name a time frame that you've noticed your players improve in the sport?

GUESS WHAT SEASON IT IS?

For all you guys keeping track on sports, it's SOFTBALL SEASON :-) which means I can get my mentoring hours on!

Jennifer, my mentor, and I have discussed the upcoming schedule for softball and the times I'm free and it looks like for the first month I will be going to practice every Tuesday and Thursday's. Not bad at all considering that I will soon be able to go Wednesday's too. Practice will take place at La Puente High School around 3:30 and no later because they should be on the field running by 3:45. I start next week and I actually can't wait to go because my best friend Karissa is on the team so these practices should be really fun.

I'm going to make a spreadsheet so that Jen can sign off every practice to confirm my hours as my proof.