Kids, sports, literacy and coaches

.
When we are up to our eyeballs in sports for kids, we might come to believe that it is the single most important thing that our youngsters can do. Like you, it thought that this was the case for many years. Then you get slapped upside the head with the importance of reading and writing. Take a look at the data below.

- One in five Americans functions at the lowest level of literacy.

- Workers without a high school diploma earn 60 cents compared to the dollar earned by a high school graduate, and only 34 cents compared to the dollar earned by a college graduate.

- Six out of ten inmates in America function at the lowest levels of literacy.

- 85 percent of juvenile offenders have reading problems.

- Five billion dollars a year (estimated) is spent in public assistance to people who can't get a job due to low literacy.

- The average kindergarten student has spent more time in front of the TV than it takes to earn a bachelor's degree.

* Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education, National Institute for Literacy, National Assessment of Education Programs, Laubach Literacy Action

Based on these data, do you think that it might be worthwhile for you to spend a little time in your coaching life to see that your players are doing their homework. To test their readiness for the real world, give each of them a short paragraph to read aloud to you. Then ask them what they just read. The results will astonish you.

If you want to take this another step forward, create a tutoring program for your team and your league. There is absolutely no excuse for a 4th or 5th grader to not be able to read and write. Want more. To be successful in life, our youngsters must have good reading, writing, speaking, math, science and computer skills. Just knowing sports will not cut it.

When our youngsters can read and write, the entire world is an open door. Maybe you can discover an additional coaching opportunity when you get slapped upside the head.

A Graduation Letter to our Granddaughters

.
A Graduation Letter to our Granddaughters

What will the next 45 years be like for you? Well then, how about next year. You may have heard that your life is what you make it. It is so very true. Do not be limited by what some other person or group says and believes about you or what is right for you.

As a student, there are several life shaping events that will occur as you move toward your 20s. These events will either hold you back or set you free.

The first event, since this is mostly about graduation, is to graduate from high school. Finish strong. This piece of paper will open doors for you that those who fail to receive their diploma will find very difficult if not impossible to open.

The second academic event of great significance is to earn your college degree. Even more doors will be opened with this piece of paper. It puts a very good stamp your college experience and will continue to open doors for you.

If you do not know what you want to study, then just get a degree in as short a period of time as possible. Here is a hint: Select a field of study that interests you, excites you, and motivates you. Others will suggest that you follow this path or that, which is fine. Listen to them, however, you are the one who must decide what you want to do with your life.

Please understand these two academic concepts of life. The more you learn, the more you earn. Secondly, knowledge is power. It sets you free.

Third, here is the “biggie fries” of the young life. There is absolutely nothing that will change a young life more than having your first child. The impact of this event is even more life changing, or better yet disastrous, for young girls who are unmarried mothers.

Raising a child as an unmarried mother puts every thing else you want to do on the back burner. In fact, it may even take it off the stove. A baby brings your social life to a screeching halt along with all of your other plans. It changes how your friends and family react to the new responsibilities of motherhood. So, do not have a baby until you are married. Even then, see that this blessed event occurs at the best possible time.

As a teenager, please etch these three events into your mind. Other than some kind of accidental injury, there are no other events that shape your life now and in the future that can compare to receiving your high school diploma, earning your college degree, and giving birth to your first child.

Here are a few other ideas that will help you over the next 45 years. Do it right and you will enjoy the ride.

Enjoy your school and college days. Life after college is different.

Spend less than you earn. It is a key to financial success.

Understand the time value of money. Start a financial growth plan now. If invested wisely, at 7% interest or more, your savings will double about every 10 years. At 10%, your wealth will double every seven years. You do the math.

Drive the same car for 10 years and you will save over $400,000 in car payments. That could grow to well over $400,000 in your retirement account.

Find a role model and a mentor who you can confide in and help you make the best possible decisions. Sometimes this is a relative. In other situations, it may be a business colleague or leader who knows what is going on.

There are more ideas to grow on but please understand these two ideas. Help your children stand on your shoulders and move beyond where you are in life. Finally, many people will move in and out of your life over time but your family will always be with you. Now go get ‘em.

Drugs, Dogs and Defections

by
Jack Hutslar

The reporters who earn their keep by following our big time Revenue Sports have had a cornucopia of subject matter in recent months. Drugs have served up endless story lines as footballers have been suspended for varying lengths of time while others have been coming off suspensions. There are too many names to mention.

Then Marion Jones got caught with too much of the wrong kind of juice in her system. That was followed with the steroid and human growth hormone scandals in Major League Baseball. Writers and talking heads have been able to dine with glutenous delight at this unending banquet.

While all of this has been going on, a tarnished college and professional football star faced the music created by his self-destructive passion for dog fighting. I found it interesting that some of his peers and even some of the talking heads were not overly concerned about this type of transgression. In fact, some of his teammates were wearing Free Michael Vick t-shirts to show him support. So, it appears that dog fighting does not attract the same level of media attention as does drugs.

More recently, the coaching carousel has been spinning under the table out of the sight of pundits. A few coaches at the big schools were fired before the end of the season. At the same time, several high profile bowl coaches were in the news every day defending themselves against accusations that they were jumping ship for more attractive jobs.

It has been interesting to me that, among drugs, dogs and defections, defections generated the greatest animosity against the birds who flew the coop. Bobby Petrino was really dragged through the mud by some of the big name football analysts as well as his former players. Rich Rodriguez was body-slammed for leaving WVU for Michigan. There seemed to be mostly vile comments by the media and the fans directed toward those who were seeking more attractive coaching situations.

At the same time, there was almost no words of sympathy for those coaches who were released or fired before their terms were up - Duke, Georgia Tech, UCLA to name a few. While Petrino in particular was really roasted by the media folks, there was very little criticism of those players who were under contract and then held out so they could renegotiate more favorable contracts. Interesting the differences, is it not.

None of these happenings in the sporting world were good happenings the people involved or the sport. Yet, the coaches who bolted for what they considered to be better or more satisfying jobs seemed to get toasted the most. Unlike the juiced up athletes, these coaches did not play havoc with the record books. These coaches did not engage in any animal or human slaughter. These coaches did not go on strike for higher wages as many players do. Yet, they took the brunt of the slings and arrows from the Big Time sports media.

What do these actions have to do with youth sport. Nothing, you say? Wrong. Youth players and coaches model a lot of their behavior after that of the big time high school, college, Olympic and professional athletes and their coaches. In fact, people of all ages tend to imitate the behavior of those who do what they do, play what they play and dress like they dress.

Youngsters may spend 10 to 20 hours a week with a coach figure or spend endless hours watching these highly visible figures play on television. They will pick up the behaviors and attitudes of these role models. Adult players and coaches can shout from the pedestals as much as they want that they are not role models - - But They Are Role Models. They cannot avoid it. It comes with the territory because of the positions they occupy.

Youth leaders and parents must see that their children know the differences between good models and poor models. Furthermore, parents in particular must model good behavior for their children. Failure to do so will lead to uncounted negative incidents involving drugs, dogs and defections. When parents do not take a positive leadership role in the rearing of their children, others will. When others occupy that leadership position, leaders and parents end up gambling with the directions their children take in the months and years ahead.

Teaching Teens How to Gain Financial Freedom

.
.
Teaching Teens How to Gain Financial Freedom

7 tips you can use now to secure financial future for your children

Huntington Beach, CA, January 2008 - In an age when foreclosures are at a record pace, credit card debt is hitting new highs and personal savings are at an all time low, millions of American families are worried about their children’s future. While they’d like to teach their kids about finances, the sad truth is many parents are not skilled enough with their own money to offer solid guidance. And financial literacy - a skill young people desperately need - isn’t taught in high school.

That’s where Vince Shorb comes in. A self-made millionaire at age 32 and creator of the interactive multi-media course “Financially Free by 30,” Shorb is a young adult financial literacy advocate and expert. His goal is to teach teens and young adults how to avoid the ever-growing pitfalls of racking up debt by empowering them with the knowledge to become financially self-sufficient.

“Polls show that students, ages 15-21, feel unprepared to face the complex world of the 21st century,” says Shorb. “Most education efforts are focused on encouraging high school students to enroll in college instead of how to manage their future finances. The sad part is that all that misdirected preparation results in a third of these students ending up with a bachelor’s degree and the average college grad having over $20,000 in debt.”

Shorb offers 7 basic tips that you can share with your children in order to start them off on the path to financial freedom:

1. Learn to distinguish needs vs. wants. To counter the lifelong effects of advertising it is important you distinguish the difference between a need and want. A need is something you must have (like food, shelter and clothing). A want is something you would like to have that’s not a necessity such as designer clothes or an iPod. When you have enough savings to cover your needs, then you can focus on your wants.

2. Ditch costly everyday habits. A four dollar coffee five days a week equals more than $1,000 a year. Suggest they write down their everyday expenses, what Shorb calls the ‘money diary’ exercise. It’s a great way to show them how even the smallest expenditure can add up!

3. Develop a savings plan. Help your child compare what they make in a month verses how much they spend in a month. Then using this information, construct a monthly budget to help them start saving! Shorb says with simple investments and saving $250 a month they could be a millionaire by age 40.

4. Pay yourself first. With the average American spending beyond their means, teach your child to be a money rebel and not do what the average person is doing. It will seem tough to see the benefit of this at first, but if they automatically deposit a percentage of their paycheck into a savings account, they won’t miss it! As you know, a savings plan is the cornerstone for financial freedom.

5. Get Your Accounts in Order! At a bare minimum, young people should open 1 checking account and 2 savings accounts. Of the two savings accounts, one should be used for long term planning and the other for their fun money – things they want to do now. Shorb finds that young people that are able to set up and adequately manage these accounts gain the ability to not only save more but also learn some investment basics.

6. Start investing now. It is never too early to benefit from investments! Young people can make simple investments having little to no knowledge of the stock markets. Shorb says the S&P 500 Index could make a sound investment for young investors. It gives them the opportunity to own a little piece of 500 different companies. This will show them that investing is easy while lowering the risk and delivering consistent returns!

7. Write out your lifestyle goals. Young people are not motivated by money it’s what money allows them to do. Places they want to travel, toys they want to have and how they can make a positive impact in the world…Find out the type of lifestyle your child wants to live and help them find out what they need to achieve them. Have them be as specific as possible, including how much money they need to make every month to meet their savings and lifestyle goals.

There is nothing worse than seeing your child in their mid-twenties, toiling in more debt than you ever did at that age. By taking a proactive approach as a parent, you can have an instrumental role in providing a brighter future for your child. Shorb believes that if you can pass the above financial tips onto your children, and show them how to apply them to their everyday life, they will not only be able to start building a financially secure future, but escape shackles of life long debt.

Available at: www.FreeBy30.com

ABOUT VINCE SHORB

Vince Shorb, the leading financial literacy expert, is on a mission to give young adults practical money advice so they can afford the lifestyle they want now while securing their financial future. To combat the problem of financial illiteracy, Vince created ‘Financially Free by 30 Home Study Course’, the first multi-media course designed to provide high school and college age people a real world financial education.

Broke at the age of 26, it took him just six years to make his first million. Vince has personally reviewed the finances of over 10,000 people and advised thousands of clients on ways to better their financial future. Visit www.FreeBy30.com to receive a free copy of his latest book and complimentary instructional videos.

NAYSInote: This article was reprinted with the permission of the publisher. It has been reported that there is very poor economic education in our schools. This helps parents fill a gap in the education of our youth.