General/News

News: 

• CONGRATULATIONS - To the Mens and Womens Varsity Tennis teams both of which qualified for the AIA State Team Tennis playoffs.  The boys succumbed to #2 ranked Estrella Foothills last Tuesday after a hard fought 4 - 5 battle.  The girls received an unexpected bye into the 2nd round after #8 Douglas HS had to forfeit their 1st round match due to roster problems.  The girls face the #1 seeded team from Miami HS in Miami, AZ, on Tuesday, April 30, at 3:00pm.   Go Titans!

• CONGRATULATIONS - To the JHS Girls Track & Field team on their GHMSL Championship.  All the girls that participated in track this year contributed to the team victory.

• CONGRATULATIONS - To the JHS Co-Ed Tennis Team on their runner-up finish at the GHMSL Team Tennis Championships.  This really was a team accomplishment as everyone that played earned points and allowed us to finish two points behind Anthem Prep and one point ahead of Scottsdale Prep.

• Individual Sport Webpages for the Winter 2012 season of sports are being updated with information on coaching staff, preliminary schedule information and even initial posts from coaches to their Blogs.
• Athletic Trainer's Fee - Bottom line we had to make a choice between charging a $15 Athletic Trainer Fee (less than a typical co-pay) and keeping our certified atheltic trainer (Bobby Fennell) on staff, or not charging the fee and losing the position.  For numerous reasons we chose the first option.  The year every HS and JHS participant in athletics will pay the participation fee for their sport and an additional $15 Athletic Trainer. When submitting your fee, please write two seperate checks, one for the sport and one for the Athletic Trainer Fee.
• All High School Athletes in Arizona must complete the State law mandated "Brainbook"concussion test before the first day of practice (July 30th for Football and August 6th for volleyball and X-Country). Student's that do not complete the test that comes at the end of the online module are not elligible for participation in their sport, including practice. Please see the Participation Information tab on the individual sport home page for instructions on how log on and complete the "Brainbook" course.

JHS Sports

Fall	Winter	Spring
Cross Country (co-ed)	Baseball (boys)	Basketball (boys)
Football (boys)	Soccer (boys)	Basketball (girls)
Volleyball (girls)	Soccer (girls)	Track and Field (co-ed)
Golf (co-ed)	Softball (girls)	Tennis (co-ed)

HS Sports

Fall	Winter	Spring
Cross Country (co-ed)	Basketball (men)	Baseball (men)
Football (men)	Basketball (women)	Softball (women)
Volleyball (women)	Soccer (men)	Tennis (co-ed)
	Soccer (women)	Track and Field (co-ed)

Participation Info

Participation in athletics is optional both on the high school level and on the junior high level. There is no P.E. requirement for junior high students in the AZ State Standards. Please refer to the Chandler Prep Family Handbook on this issue, which encourages participation in extra-curricular activities including athletics, but does not require it.

In order to participate in athletics at CPA, the following are required:

1. CPA Participation Forms - click on the link to submit online
2. A copy of family health insurance card
3. Participation Fee: ($165 for junior high; $250 for high school). Please make checks out to Chandler Preparatory Academy and put the student's name and sport on the memo line (e.g. Joe/Jane Doe - HS X-Country)
4. Athletic Trainer Fee:  $15 per participant (paid for each sport)
5. AIA Physical (required EVERY YEAR)
   1. page 1 (filled out by parent and student)
   2. page 2 (filled out and signed by physician)
   3. page 3 (HS students ONLY)
6. Any high school athlete must complete the online concussion test before the first day of practice. Instructions are as follows:
   1. Student athlete will go to www.aiaacademy.org
   2. Enter all the fields in the "name" section
   3. Answer all the fields in the "student demographic information" section
   4. Click on "register" at the bottom of the page
   5. Student athlete will now be taken to the Brainbook concussion course
7. Review Parent's Code of Conduct Form (viewable here) before they submit participation forms online. All parents are expected to abide by these guidelines

A note about participation fees:

Because participation is completely voluntary and the athletic department does not receive state funds for its programs, participation fees paid by families are essential to our operation.  We understand that this requirement presents a challenge for some families who face financial difficulty but would still love to participate in this area of our community. In this situation, the athletic department is happy to work out a payment plan to help ease the burden somewhat. Please contact Mr. Polley ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information.

Also, as noted in the Family Handbook, families who are unable to pay at all might also qualify to have their fees waived. Please note the following from The Family Handbook:

"The administration of the school is not in a position to determine fairly which families should receive full or partial fee waivers. As such, if a family wishes to apply for a fee waiver, they may apply to the FAIR system (Financial Aid Independent Review). The family may complete a financial aid application, which is then processed confidentially by this outside company. The family must pay the application fee (approx. $20) and submit all required information, including Federal Tax Returns and W2 and/or 1099 forms. FAIR will then review the family's financial position to determine what level of discretionary income is available for fee payment. Depending on the level of discretionary income, we will then be able determine if a family is eligible for 100% fee waiver, or a percentage waiver thereof.
The family need not apply for a waiver determination every year. Once a calculation has been made, subsequent waivers may be granted over the student's tenure at the Academy by application directly to the Headmaster. Families who seek a waiver are wise to apply well prior to the start of a season due to the processing time required."

Schedules

Directions

Click on the school/park listed below for directions to Venues

• Arizona Lutheran Academy
• Arizona Premier Basketball Academy (AZP)
• Biltmore Church of the Nazerene
• Bogle Junior High School
• Bourgade Catholic School
• Broadway Rec Center (BRC)
• Canyon State Academy
• Cibecue High School
• Crossroads Park
• Discovery Park
• EdOptions High School
• Espee Park
• First United Methodist Church - Gilbert(FUMCG)
• First United Methodist - Mesa (FUMCM)
• Fountain Hills High School
• Gene Autry Field
• Gilbert Boys and Girls Club (Desert Hills gym)
• Gilbert Christan School (formerly Surrey Garden)
• Gilbert Classical ( Southwest corner of Gilbert and Elliott (next to the district office complex bldgs))
• Golden Eagle Park
• Hohokam Stadium
• Hoopes Park
• Joy Christian
• Kingdom Courts
• Kiwanis Park - Tempe
• Lehi Recreation Center (Salt River/Pima Recreation Center)
• Mesa Baptist Church (MBC)
• Metro Tech
• Monterey Park
• Mormon Interstake Center
• Mountain Ridge  Baptist Church (Glendale Prep)
• NFL Yet
• Palma Park
• Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC)
• Paradise Valley Park
• Phoenix Christian (PCHS)
• Phoenix Christian K-8 (GHMSL BASEBALL)
• Phoenix Country Day (PCDS)
• Red Mountain Park
• Rip City Batting Cages
• Road Runner Park
• Salt River High School
• Sequoia Charter
• Snedigar Rec Center
• Superior High School
• Skyline (District 5)   (If you pass the water tower, you've gone too far) Gym is on the left
• South Mountain Community Center (NFL Yet)
• South Mountain Community College (Softball Playoffs)
• South Valley Junior High (EVAC GYM)
• St. Katherines Greek Orthodox Church
• Kingman Academy of Learning
• Teleos Prep Academy
• Tempe Canal
• Tempe Sports Complex
• Thunderbird Adventist
• Tri-City Baptist School
• Valley Lutheran High School
• Valley Union High School
• Vicky A. Romero High School (VARHS)

Athletic Director's Blog

AD Blog - April 21, 2013:

AD Blog - April 14, 2013:

I came across the following this week and thought I’d pass it along.  The information comes from the livestrong foundation’s website.

 

“Playing sports is an important element in the lives of many American children. More than 40 million kids between the ages of six and 17--both male and female--participate in athletics in the United States. Most engage in sports to simply have fun, but the benefits of such activities go far beyond the love of the game. Some benefits can be seen, others felt, while several occur without even being noticed at all.

 

Physical Health

The health benefits of sports are numerous, especially for kids. In 1997, the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) published the "Guidelines for Schools and Communities for Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity," where the agency noted that regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

 

Psychological Health

Children who are actively involved in a sport are more likely to describe themselves as being in good physical health than students who do not participate in sports, according to a 2006 article published in the "Journal of Community Health." A 2006 article published in the "Journal of School Health" found that the interaction a child has with her coach helps to improve self-esteem as well as lower the chance of depression.

 

Social Skills

Social responsibility and leadership skills are two other reasons why sports are good for children. According to "Youth Sports in America: An Overview," sports can provide excellent educational opportunities for social development because many of the social and moral requirements for participation in sports are parallels to how individuals must function in a law-abiding society. The "Handbook of Research on Sports Psychology" states that understanding the competitive process entails an appreciation of the social nature of competition, particularly with regard to the cooperative and strategic aspects of sports and an awareness of the nature of individual roles within a cooperating group.

 

Academic Benefits

Kids can also show the benefits of sports in the classroom. A 2002 study published in "Sociology of Education" concluded that participating in athletics helps high school students perform well academically more than any other extracurricular activity. A 2007 study published in "Educational Psychological Review" stated that systematic exercise programs may actually enhance the development of specific types of mental processing known to be important for meeting challenges encountered both in academics and later in life.

 

Future

Many adults credit their ongoing participation in sports and their adoption of a healthy lifestyle to the love of the game they cultivated as kids.

AD Blog -  April 7, 2013:

“I try not to be overly serious about this game.  I believe you have to enjoy yourself to get the most out of your ability”

 

                                                           Baseball Hall of Famer – George Brett

AD Blog - March 31, 2013:

 

a)Don’t be an absent parent.  Do attend your child’s games and support them as a student athlete.

b)Don’t be an uninvolved parent.  Find a positive way to be involved in the athletics program.Cheer for all the student athletes on the team, not just yourHelp with fundraising.  Assist with logistics. 

c)Never talk bad about your student’s coach in front of your player.Do encourage your athlete to meet with their coaches and address any issues or concerns that arise.

d)Do not shout advice to your player during theDo shout encouragement to your player, their teammates and even opposing players!

e)Do not harass or belittle the referees. Do allow your coach the leeway to address officials and the calls they make as he/she sees fit.

f)Never direct negative commentary about the opposition toward them or the field ofDo cheer for your player, their teammates, and good play in general. 

Go Titans!

AD Blog:  March 24, 2013

  

AD Blog:  March 17, 2013

  

AD Blog:  March 10, 2013 - No Post - Spring Break!

AD Blog:  March 3, 2013:

AD Blog:  February 24, 2013:

AD Blog:  February 18, 2013:

AD Blog:  February 10, 201

   

1) The #19 Titan Varsity Mens Basketball team will play # 14 Pima High School this Friday (02/15/13) @ 4:30pm at Bradshaw Mountain HS in PrescottIf you are interested in riding the team bus to support the Titans please email Mr. Polley @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it – seats on the bus are limited. 

  

2) Athletes interested in participating in a spring sport should continue to turn in the items listed under the “Pre-Participation Information” tab for theirOnce they have turned in all of those items they need to make their way to the Athletics office before school or at lunch to pick up their Eligibility Clearance Card.  That signed card must be delivered to spring coaches before an athlete can participate in their first practice.

  

3) Winter Sports Pictures were not delivered last week by LifeTouch Sports Photography asPicture packets will be distributed to head coaches as soon as they arrive and then be distributed to the students.  More information on photos, including a winter sports picture make-up date, is available on the individual sports pages.

  

4) The final order date for official Chandler Prep spring sport practice gear has been extended to this Friday, February 15.  More information, including a link to the order form, is available on your Coach’s Blog.

  

5) Reminder:  There will not be a winter sportsPlease make plans to attend your team party.  More information on a year-end sports dinner in early May will be forthcoming.  If you’d like to volunteer your time toward the planning of this large honoring, please contact Mr. Polley.

 

Quote of the Week

“I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.” 
                                                                                   Thomas Jefferson

AD BLOG:  February 4, 2013

1. Thank you to everyone in the community that came out to support our seniors during their senior night soccer and basketballAll the Senior Night games were well attended and a couple had storybook endings including Senior Sarah Strong hitting a buzzer beating 3-pt shot at the end of the Varsity Womens basketball game, and the Varsity boys basketball team upsetting #10 Valley Lutheran.  Thank you for your support of our Titan seniors.

2. Last Friday’s upset win allowed the Titan varsity mens basketball team to finish regular season at #19 in the Division IV state rankings (top 24 qualify for the AIA State basketball tournament), and at # 8 in the Division IV, Section 1 rankings (top 8 qualify for sectional playoffs).    In so doing, the varsity mens basketball team becomes the first Chandler Prep team to qualify for the AIA StateThe young men begin their tournament action this Wednesday @ 7:30pm when they play #1 ranked Joy Christian School @ Peoria High School.  For more information on the AIA basketball tournaments click on the following links:

Division IV, Section I tournament bracket ; Division IV, State Tournament bracket ;

Addresses for Sectional and State Tournament sites 

3. Winter Sports Pictures are scheduled to be delivered by LifeTouch Sports Photography to our campus thisThey will be distributed to head coaches when they arrive and then be distributed to the students.  Students who took an individual picture, but did not order pictures on picture day will receive a small photo with instructions on how to order or you may contact Carolina Fuentes (7am – 3pm M-F) at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " target="_blank"> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,or (480) 296-2908.  

  

4. Chandler Prep practice gear is available to order from now to Friday, February 15.  All high school athletes will be issued official practice gear by the school.  Once issued, this practice gear is required at all HS practices.  It is recommended that all high school students purchase a 2^nd set of practice gear.  JHS students may choose to purchase practice gear, but are not required to unless their individual coaches that gear (see coach’s blog).  To order spring practice gear click here (Spring 2013 Practice Gear Order Form), for photos of the practice gear follow this link (Practice Gear Photos Spring 2013).  These links are also available on the individual sports webpages.

AD Blog - January 20, 2013:

As the end of the winter season draw nigh there are a couple of things I wish to share with everyone:

1) SENIOR Nights occur this week for all high school sports.  Please make an effort to support our seniors, many of which have represented Chandelr Preparatory Academy  in competition for their entire high school careers and many of whom have been instrumental in elevating their sport in the greater community.  It is important that younger atheltes attend the senior night for their sport and honor the commitment of those that go before them.  Senior Nights will occur this week as follows:

Mens Varsity Soccer - Tuesday night (01/22) @ 6pm vs. Gilbert Classical

Womens Varsity Basektball - Thursday night (01/24) @ 5:3opm vs. Joy Christian

Womens Varsity Soccer - Thursday night (01/24) @ 6:00pm vs. Gilbert Classical

Mens Varsity Basketball - Thursday night (01/24) @ 7:00pm vs. Joy Christian

2) Preliminary Information for spring sports is now available online.  Where available coach contact information, first practice dates, and preliminary schedules have been posted online.  (spring schedules are being added daily, so if only preliminary schedule information has been posted for your sport be sure to check back regularly.  

3) Playoff information for GHMSL and AIA sports will be posted in the next week or so.  Please consider the times and dates already posted as tentative in nature.  They are meant to placehold times on the calendar - exact dates and times may be slightly different when times are finalized and released.  Please avoid planning events on the dates reserved on the calendar until final times are posted. 

Thank you to all the fans that made the trip to Veritas Prep for last Friday's basketball games and thank you to all that made plans to stay the entire evening.  It was good to see the community support each other in such a vocal and meaningful way.

Quote of the Week

A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. 
                                                                                                                           Colin Powell 

“Be valiant and live!”                                      

                                   Shakespeare, Richard II, Act I, Scene 3

AD Blog – December 16, 2012:

 

While your thoughts and those of your family are on the holidays, and rightly so, the thoughts of Athletic Directors at the Great Hearts Academies are on their school’s annual Extra-Curricular Tax Credit campaign.   I’d like to take just one last opportunity to encourage you to give your E/C tax credit to Chandler Preparatory Academy.  As I noted in a previous blog posting, the athletics program at Chandler Prep is dependent on two sources of income:  1) Participation Fees, and 2) E/C tax credit donations.  Each one accounts for roughly 45% (90% combined) of the revenues that funds the athletics program with gifts, grants, gate, etc. accounting for the remaining 10%.  AS noted in that previous posting, it takes on average about one participation fee and one tax credit to cover an athlete’s participation costs in a Chandler Prep sport (roughly $600 dollars).   However, Arizona families are limited to one E/C tax credit of $400 (married filing jointly), and this is why I’m encouraging you to do three things over Christmas Break.

1)Give your E/C tax credit to Chandler Prep (if you have not already done so).   You can schedule your donation using the following.  Please note that as a school we prefer that your credit be given “undesignated” to allow for the greatest flexibility in covering program expenses.

  

2)Solicit your friends and family that are AZ residents to give their E/C tax credit to ChandlerThis is usually an easy sell once you explain that this is income tax money they will pay one way or the other (through withholding or payments) to the state of AZ.  In essence the state is giving taxpayers the ability to tell them to where to spend up to $400 of their income tax money.   You are simply urging them to assign their tax credit to Chandler Prep

 

3)Enjoy your Christmas Break and spend time with yourAthletics at Chandler Prep comes with a large time commitment.  Make sure over the break to schedule some time to reconnect with your family.

  

  

Quote of the Week:

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” 
― Mother Teresa

  

“Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.” 
― George Burns

  

Athletic Directors Blog – 12/09/12:

   

This week we conclude our discussion of Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” with a look at the pinnacle Competitive Greatness.  Recall that Coach Wooden defines Competitive Greatness as the ability to give your best when your best is required.  Those that possess Competitive Greatness are the individuals that love a challenge – the more difficult the better.  Many professional athletes possess this quality – but, many do not.  The important thing to keep in mind is that at Chandler Prep we wish to train our athletes to have the ability to “rise to the occasion” and be able to give their best when our best is needed.  They don’t have to become superstars or win championships to attain Competitive Greatness, all they must do is learn to consistently give their best effort and in so doing make those around them better.  In the end, Competitive Greatness is not about winning – it is about learning to give all we have to give every minute of every day.  It is hard to imagine a better lesson for young men and women to learn.

  

This week I’d also like to share a section of the new Great Hearts Athletic Director handbook related to the care and treatment of injured athletes.  The important ideas to note is that the only individual on staff at Chandler Prep that should diagnose injuries, pull an athlete from participation, prescribe and oversee treatment, and return an athlete to participation is our certified athletic trainer.

  

Care and Treatment of Injuries:

  

General Injury Policy Statement:

  

The goal of all athletic endeavors is for participants to be able to compete.  Occasionally this goal will be best accomplished when athletes discontinue practicing and/or playing for a period of time while they recover from injury.  It is the responsibility of the coaching staff to refer any student that receives a significant or potentially significant injury to the AT.  It is always the responsibility of the athlete (and their parents) to openly communicate injuries with their coaching staff and the athletic trainer (or other part-time medical personnel the school employs).  Student athletes must be honest with their medical professionals – including the academy’s AT, their coaches, their parents, and themselves - about the extent of their injuries.  Although every academy head coach is first aid and CPR certified, AD’s and coaches are not medical professionals and should not be expected to, nor should they attempt to, diagnose injuries or prescribe treatment for injuries.

  

Parents and athletes must keep the head coach and the athletic trainer (AT) informed of injuries that are sustained in practice and/or games. The AT will evaluate all athletic injuries and prescribe either treatment or refer the athlete to a physician.  In addition, the AT will clearly communicate with the athlete what has been done, and what will be done to heal the injury.  When it is necessary for an athlete and his/her family to consult a physician for the treatment of an injury, the athlete and family should be sure to pin down that physician down as much as possible how long he/she will be unable to participate and what level of activity, if any, is permissible during the rehabilitation period.  It is an athlete’s and their parent’s responsibility to open up the lines of communication between their physician and the school’s AT including singing any release necessary for the physician to communicate directly to the AT.  A physician’s note that communicates the nature and extent of the injury and the extent to which the athlete may participate must be passed from the athlete to the Athletic Trainer (or other medical personnel).  The AT will then summarize the findings and treatment plan for the coaching staff and provide regular written progress reports (likely email updates).   If at any time the Athletic Trainer or a physician pulls an athlete from participation that athlete must receive written clearance from the AT before resuming athletic participation.

Role of Athletic Trainer:

  

Chandler Prep provides its student athletes access to a certified athletic trainer who is responsible for the immediate care and treatment of injured athletes (i.e., triage).   An athletic trainer is not a physician, but rather a state certified medical professional educated in the diagnosis and treatment of commonly occurring athletic injuries.  The role of the AT is to provide an initial diagnosis of athletic injury and either refer student athletes to their family physician or prescribe treatment options.  It is also the job of the athletic trainer to file accident/injury reports with the Athletic Department for all injuries that they treat.  Athletic trainers will also oversee the rehabilitation process and are the only person that can return an athlete to participation following the policy below.

Clearance Policy for Return to Participation for Academies with an on-staff AT:

  

Injured athletes that have been pulled from practice or competition by their physician, the athletic trainer, or their parents must follow the guidelines set below for reinstatement to athletic activities.

1)All injured athletes must see the AT for a preliminary(This is true even if the student athlete has already seen a physician.)

2)An Athletic Injury Report is filed by the athletic trainer and filed with the Athletic Department.

3)Athletic trainer (or physician) prescribes and oversees rehabilitation of injured athlete.

4)Athletic trainer provides a written clearance of the athlete to the coaching staff for return to practice.  Even if a student athlete sees a physician and that physician clears them for participation, the student must be cleared by the AT to Return to Participation.

  

Bobby Fennell, Chandler Preparatory’s state certified athletic trainer, is available to students between 3 and 6pm and to parents between 2 and 3pm in the AT room next to the Chandler Prep gymnasium, or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Athletic Directors Blog – 12/02/12:

Thank you everyone for their thoughts, prayers and concern for my father.  He is recovering, slowly but surely, and they expect that he will be released on December 6^th (this Thurdsay) although whether that is to home or a rehabilitation center remains to be seen.

 

We continue our discussion on Coach Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” and are closing in on the top.  Before we discuss Poise and Confidence the two blocks on the 2^nd to highest tier of the pyramid, I’d like to go back to one of the cornerstones of the pyramid, Enthusiasm.  At this point in the season, coaches and athletes have four to five weeks of practices and games under their belts and it would be near miraculous if all participants have not experienced some disappointment.  The question is whether or not we let those disappointments dampen our enthusiasm and allow them to keep us from being our best.   A synopsis of Coach Wooden’s material on Enthusiasm follows as does some thoughts on Confidence and poise.

Enthusiasm:    We must enjoy to repeatedly do it well.  That simple fact is why Enthusiasm is a cornerstone of the pyramid.  Human beings are capable of phenomenal feats of courage, strength and athleticism if they enjoy the labor it takes to prepare them for these performances.  As athletic directors we must hire coaches that are obviously excited, even to the most casual observer, to teach and be a part of their sport.  If its drudgery for a coach to be at practice every day, it won’t be long until the joy  has been sucked out of the game for his/her players.  At the same time, it is imperative for Great Hearts coaches to build environments that are a refuge from an athlete’s busy day and the demands of their academic life.  Practice and games must be enjoyable – if for no other reason than that when athletes enjoy what they are doing, and have Enthusiasm for it, then they have a far greater chance of becoming the best they can be.

 

The next to highest level of the Pyramid of Success is composed of Poise and Confidence, and both are qualities that will be the natural outgrowth of having the previous blocks in their proper place.  As such they serve as touchstones and can used to detect flaws in the enactment of the block underneath them.

Poise:  Coach referred to Poise as “just being you”.  Poise is not acting, pretending, or faking – it is not trying to be something you are not, nor is it trying to live up to the expectations of others.  When we are poised we are comfortable being who we truly are – and this leads to a greater likelihood of functioning nearer our own level of competency.  A person with poise is at ease with themselves.  Poise depends greatly on two nearby blocks:  Self-control and Confidence.  The person with poise is quietly in control at all times because they are confident in their skills and abilities, and that confidence is born of thorough preparation and the discipline of self-control.

Confidence:  Confidence is solid respect for the task ahead without fear.  It is a belief in oneself and one’s abilities without being self-centered, intimidated or naïve.  It is not cockiness or blindness to obstacles.  In team sports the confident team often wins the pregame festivities – the opposing team is left to wonder “what have they done to prepare in such a way that they are confident in their performance before the game even begins?”.  Poise and Confidence cannot be taught.  Poise and Confidence come from proper preparation and hard work acquiring the proper skill and mindsets.  When we are as prepared as we know how to be, and we know that we’ve worked hard to acquire the tools and skills necessary to handle most of the unknowns that might come our way, we can go into any event, job, meeting, or venue with total Confidence.

   

  

Athletic Director Blog – November 24, 2012

One of the most important events in Titan Athletics each November and December is the annual Extra-Curricular Tax Credit drive.  We are off to a great start and we are already 33% of our annual goal.  Without boring you with numbers, here’s the bottom line:  It takes approximately one participation fee and one tax credit donation to cover the costs associated with one athlete’s participation in a sport.  For some sports slightly more… for others slightly less, but the above works as a general rule.  If you play multiple sports (and pay multiple participation fees) your family’s one tax credit donation is not enough.  We need you to ask your neighbors, friends, and relatives that live in Arizona to give their E/C Tax Credit to Chandler Prep to help cover the expense!

 For those of you who have given already, thank you!  For those who will give closer to December 31, I thank you in advance.  If you plan to donate by credit card I hope you will consider going to www.chandlerprep.org/supportcpa and scheduling your gift for the date that best suits your family.  It is difficult to gauge our progress with so many outstanding promised gifts that are not recorded.   

Please keep in mind that giving the tax credit undesignated gives the school the most flexibility in ensuring that all athletic programs at the Academy receive what they need to be successful.  In the three years I’ve been here, all E/C programs have received more tax credits than were designated for that activity/sport.  I can assure all of you that no team is treated unfairly.  Last, if your student both plays a sport and participates in another Chandler Prep sponsored E/C activity, and you choose to designate, please consider apportioning your credit between the two activities if you do decide to designate your credit.

Thank you for supporting The Titans.  We literally couldn’t do it without you.

This week our focus is the middle section of the pyramid.  This section has a primary connection to athletes and athletic endeavors, but it is not hard to imagine how all three apply to both individuals and teams of all kinds.

Condition:  Condition includes physical, mental, moral and spiritual fitness.  For athletes the first two are obvious, the second two less so.  But rest, exercise, diet and drills can only take one so far.  Moderation must be practiced – dissipation avoided.  A wholesome lifestyle will produce a more successful participant.  Remember that success is measured as “being the best it is possible for us to become”.  This high standard means the all-American that does not take care of his body properly, even if they win championships, is not a success.  You cannot be a success until you’ve made the effort to become the best you can be.

Skill:  Skill is both knowing what to do and being able to execute all of the fundamentals important to a given task.  A skillful person/player has a sense of timing and the ability to both quickly and flawlessly perform a skill.  Competency requires a command of the fundamentals.  It follows that a person with limited competency can become at least somewhat skillful if he or she works on the details of the fundamentals.  This last statement says much about the type of coaches that we should look to hire – particularly when they are working with our younger or less competent athletes.  These athletes need someone that can be enthusiastic about teaching the fundamentals to their athletes. Proficiency in executing the fundamentals of our craft and learning to do them quickly will go a long way toward making us a success.

Team Spirit:  Team Spirit is an eagerness to lose oneself in the group for good of the group.  Eagerness is the key, and indicates an “I’ll be happy to sacrifice personal accomplishments for the good of the team or program” attitude.  Put another way, an individual with Team Spirit, has the attitude that “what’s best for me, is what’s best for the TEAM!” Team Spirit is the ultimate expression of interdependence and it encompasses some aspects of Enthusiasm and Cooperation, but is also strong enough to stand on its own.  It is consideration, respect and dignity for others, and if practiced on a broad social scale there would still be problems – too many humans involved for it to be otherwise – but the scale of those problems would be greatly diminished.

 

Quote of the Week

“No boasting like a fool.”   Shakespeare, Macbeth, Act IV, Scene I

 

“It ain’t bragging if ‘ya done it.”  Yogi Berra, Catcher, New York Yankees

Alertness: As used by Coach, Alertness is a description of our ability to learn.  Except for those few things that we have garnered from personal experience, none of us knows anything that we didn’t learn from somebody else.  If we remain alert, not only can we improve ourselves, we can also learn from and not repeat the errors of others.   If we are attentive, we will learn from the example of others and have a model in mind when trying to master a particular skill or talent.  Modern brain science tells us that such attention to a proper model is the best pathway to building “hard” skills – those skills that are fundamental to a sport and must be repeatable at a near perfect level.  Each of us has a great capacity to learn and achieve… we must steel ourselves to be ever alert and attentive to the world around us if we are to function at our best. 

 

Initiative:  Initiative is having the courage to make decisions and to take action, and it is one of the principal attributes that Great Heart AD’s look for in coaches, and that coaches should be looking for in team leaders.  Initiative is not going one’s own way – rather, it is knowing the direction the program wishes to go and then taking action that leads in that direction.  People with initiative move forward without fear of failure, even though they might make mistakes or fail.  They have learned that we are all imperfect, and as a result we will all make decisions that will lead to failure.  That cannot paralyze us from making decisions.  Instead, we must learn from our poor choices, and that learning will learning enables us to avoid repeating our mistakes.  When we learn this process we have made a great stride toward being the best we can be.

 

Intentness:  Intentness as Coach defines the terms encompasses the ideas of determination, perseverance, tenacity, and persistence and more.  An intent person has a purpose in mind and they will stay the course and go the distance.  It is the mindset that will not allow us to quit before we reach our goal.  In athletes, it is embodied in player that will not leave the gym until mastering a skill, the one that begs for “one more go” during a drill, the one that pushes his body to the limits in the final minutes of a game.  Intentness gives an athlete the doggedness to hang in there and overcome impatience knowing that most worthwhile accomplishments and achievements take time and hard-work.

 

Athletic Director’s Blog – November 11, 2012:

It’s time now to build upon the solid foundation at the bottom of Coach Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success”.  Recall that at the cornerstones are Enthusiasm and Industriousness, keys to how we approach our work and play, and in the middle are the three blocks that concern how we treat each other, Loyalty, Cooperation, and Friendship.  The next level of the pyramid involves cultivating behaviors or mindsets that allow us to give our best.  The second level of the pyramid is composed of Self-Control, Initiative, Alertness, and Intentness.  This week we will take a closer look at Self-Control.

Too often the idea of self-control can come across to a teenager in a negative way –too often we associate it with curbing our actions to avoid punishment.  However, this is not how Coach uses self-control.  Instead self-control as used by Coach is the ability to discipline oneself and keep emotions in check so that through the exercise of good judgment and common sense we can perform at our best.  No matter the task – whether physical or mental  - if we allow our emotions free reign we will not perform any task up to the level of our competency.  And this is as true in our academic endeavors and personal relationships as it is in our athletic pursuits.  Seen in this light, self-control is fundamental to being able to give our best when our best is required.

 

NOTE:  If your just now joining our conversation related to legendary UCLA basketball Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success”,  please read the back issues of the TitanPride Newsletter found online at chandlerprep.org on the Athletics page or previous AD Blog postings below.

Athletic Director's Blog - November 5, 2012:

Coach John Wooden’s “Pyramid of Success” provides coaches and athletes a framework whereby they can achieve success.  This success occurs when a person is able to “give their best when their best is required.”  This is the pinnacle of the pyramid which Coach calls Competitive Greatness.  Over the last two weeks we’ve examined the cornerstones of the pyramid (Industriousness and Enthusiasm) and now I’d like to briefly discuss the three blocks at the bottom of the pyramid between those cornerstones.  Those blocks are Friendship, Loyalty, and Cooperation.  All three of the blocks deal with the correct way to treat others, and all three are vital for any organization (marriage, family, institution, or team) to function properly.  Cooperation has two key components, the first is for each individual to make sure they are doing their job to the best of their ability – never in comparison to how others perform their tasks or duties, but only in relation to their own ability.  The second part of cooperation involves finding ways to help others do their jobs better.  The Apostle Paul takes a similar tack in his letter to the Galatians when he exhorts them to:  1) Bear their own burdens, and then to 2) Bear each other’s burdens.  Cooperation is found when these two seemingly competing demands blend together so that individuals can accomplish common goals.  Cooperation finds its culmination in Team Spirit a building block  that we will discuss as we move up the pyramid.  Team spirit requires one to consider the “we” greater than the “me” – a thought almost antithetical to modern American behavior.

 

Friendship is another key component in how we deal with others – and though Coach occasionally substituted “camaraderie” for friendship he did so less toward the end of his life which is telling.   True friendship has many demands, but perhaps the key tests of whether true friendship exists is whether that friendship has the power to shape your character for the better.  One of the great friendships in literature occurs only after Robinson Crusoe sees Friday as a man and comes to realize he can learn as much from Friday as Friday has learned from him.  True friends are able to both correct each other when necessary and accept correction when applicable.  “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another” is a quote Coach Wooden uses to describe this balance between true friends.  While not all teammates will be the best of friends of the court or field, such a relationship must exist between players when they are “between the lines” if the team is to achieve greatness. 

 

(A personal aside:  I often say to my players that the single best thing you can do in your life is to make certain that you marry your best friend.  However, this necessitates that you find someone from whom you are willing to take correction on your bad habits.)   

 

The last of the building blocks that cover how we relate to each other is Loyalty.  Loyalty is not a quality discussed as often as it used to be, and, in fact, seems to have fallen out of favor in our society  - to our detriment.  My dad, for whom I am proud to be named, is perhaps the most loyal man I have ever known.  Married and in love  with the same woman for over 50 years, his loyalty to friends, family and employers has at times led to his being taken advantage – something he freely admits.  I can recall questioning my father’s loyalty to one his employers that had taken to a pattern of layoffs and rehires.  Why, I asked, would you work so hard for someone that has displayed no loyalty to you.  My Dad’s answer was simple and elegant, “Rich, if you take a man’s money you owe him your very best.  If you can’t give him your best, don’t take his money.”  (I heard versions of this same sentiment several times growing up - although Dad pointedly modified the statement to “If you marry a woman, you owe her your best.  If you can’t give her your best, than the problem lies with you – fix it” when discussing my upcoming marriage.)   The world would be a far better place if we placed a higher value on loyalty and took time and energy to mend our relationships with others.

Athletic Directors Blog – October 29, 2012:

 

This will be a very busy week for the athletes, parents, coaches and AD’s. And the first thing I want to get out of the way is a couple of housekeeping items.

 

1. JHS volleyball and football continue their seasons into the GHMSL tournament this Friday and Saturday.  Information on the tournament dates and times are available online and below. 
2. HS winter sports begin this week - please consult individual sport webpages for schedule information.
3. JHS sports continue to gear up for their first practices the week of October 5^th.  Start dates differ per sport so consult the webcalendar for your sport available online.
4. Athletes and parents interested in participating in a winter sport should have already attended their sport’s preseason meeting.  All families should consult the preliminary schedule information and coach’s blogs as well as to complete the items under the “Pre-Participation Information” tab prior to the first practice.

 

With those items out of the way I’d like to continue our discussion of Coach John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.  In Coach’s pyramid there are fourteen (14) building blocks that lead to Competitive Greatness which is at the pinnacle of the pyramid.  At the foundational level of the pyramid are two cornerstones, Industriousness and Enthusiasm and Coach is clear that absent these cornerstones a person can not experieince any true or lasting success.  This week's topic is one of those cornerstones - Industriousness.  Industriousness includes two key aspects:  The first is hard-work, and the second proper planning. One of the key skills that coaches can help athletes acquire through practice is the ability to work hard.  Most of us can recall a coach or teacher that pushed us beyond our self-omposed limits and we can remember the personal growth that resulted.  We didn’t always enjoy that process when it was occurring, but at some point we learned to appreciate the results.  However, hard-work by itself does not result in Industriousness.  Only when hard-work is coupled with proper planning is Industriousness produced.  For athletes proper planning includes diet and hydration as well as bringing everything necessary to practice or games.  You can work really hard during the week, but if you forget your uniform on game day you won’t be much use to your team, teammates or coaches!  In addition to the planning basics mentioned above, for athletes proper planning involves how they determine to use the skills that result from their hard-work.  It’s much easier for a young athlete to acquire a sport specific skill if they have a plan on how to implement that skill into their game.  Put another way, Industriousness is the correct combination of quality effort (hard-work) and quality preparation (proper planning).

 Quote of the Week:   “Hard-work is bred from an emphasis on the present moment.  Learning to work as hard as you can at this time and place – that’s the cornerstone of success.” 

                                                                                          Coach John Wooden

AD's Blog - Week of October 21:

1) Over Fall Break I had time to re-read a couple of books containing legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden's Pyramid of Success. Coach Wooden defined success in athletics and in life as: "Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable." Such a definition allows each athlete and each person to experience success, and while his definition might at first strike some as soft or easily attained, it is in fact a very difficult standard to attain as it requires that an athlete always give their best. The question then becomes, "How can an athlete always be ready to give their best. In hopes of consistently creating an environment in which athletes could flourish, Coach Wooden developed his "Pyramid of Success" (for the full pyramid http://www.coachwooden.com/pyramidpdf.pdf ). In my next several blogs I will discuss each of the building blocks of Coach Wooden's pyramid and connect them to the efforts our young men and women are making in Chandler Prep athletics.

One of the best parts of a job in athletics administration is the chance it provides to watch young people grow and develop and reach their full potential. We have had many examples of success over the years and I am confident we will have more. Such success may not always mean a championship, but when our athletes come through with their best effort and best performance when it is most needed, our young men and women are a winners nonetheless!

    

2)  Many of the winter coaches have begun to update their coach's blog or will do so this week in preparation for the upcoming winter seasons. Preliminary game and practice schedules as well as pre-participation information can be found online on the individual sports page. Please read below for information on pre-season meeting information for the winter season.

    

Mens HS Basketball: Coaches Polley, Almond and Hanson will host their pre-season meeting on Monday, October 22 immediately after school in the gymnasium.

Womens HS Basketball: Coaches Jenn Bradely and Lois Hillis will host their pre-season meeting on Wednesday, October 24 after school in room 310.

Mens HS Soccer: Coach Lindquist has already held his pre-season meeting. If you missed this meeting, please contact Coach Lindquist directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Womens HS Soccer: Coach Kendrick has already held his pre-season meeting. If you missed this meeting, please contact Coach Kendrick directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JHS Baseball: Coach Manna will host his pre-season meeting on Tuesday, October 22, beginning at 3:15pm in room 310.

JHS Softball: Coach Martinez held his pre-season last week. If you missed that meeting and wish to play softball for Chandler Prep this winter,

please contact Coach Martinez directly at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

JHS Boys Soccer: Coaches Greve and Schantz will host their pre-season meeting on Tuesday, October 23, during JHS lunch in room #223.

JHS Girls Soccer: Coaches Posner and Milton will host their pre-season meeting on Tuesday, October 23, during JHS lunch in room #222.

    

3) Parents of Fall Athletes: Please make certain that you check your coach's blog and the schedule for post season dates and times. Tournament times may not follow the regular season times that you have become accustomed to – please plan accordingly.

     

Quote of the Week:

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do the best of which you are capable."

                                                               Coach John Wooden

   

   

Athletic Directors Blog: (Week of 10/14/12)

 

It’s great to have everyone back from break - and there is a great deal going on in athletics. As Fall sports wind-up their seasons over the next couple of weeks, Winter sports are prepared to begin (HS week of October 29 & JHS the week of November 5^th)

 

1) Senior Nights: Congratulations to the Varsity football team and their successful Senior Night last Friday (10/12) vs. Superior (7pm start). The team was able to send off its senior captains (Jacob Clydesdale, Cameron Reed and Mark Strong) with an exciting 60-42 victory. We’d like the students and parents that attend to participate in a “redout” for the volleyball Senior Night on Tuesday night (10/16/12) vs. Horizon Honors (Varsity start at approx. 6pm). Please come out on this weekday night to support the Lady Titans!

 

2) Fall Sports Desserts: We will be trying something a little different this year. Chandler Prep will not be hosting sports desserts after each season of sport. Instead, we will be hosting one large Sports honor event in the spring. At that event a team’s three major awards will be presented and high school athletes receive their athletic letters. Absent the sports dessert, all sports teams are encouraged to host a season-end party where coaches can honor their athletes and volunteers within a week or two of the close of their season.

3) Great Hearts Middle School League Playoffs: The GHMSL playoff dates and times have been posted on individual sports calendars. More information will be forthcoming, but athletes and parents should respect the dates and the timeframes on their individual sport’s calendars. As more specific information is received it will be both forwarded to coaching staffs and posted online (i.e., specifics on the JHS golf championships have already been passed on and posted to the Google calendar). NOTE: The way that coaches choose to apportion playing time as teams head into playoffs may change as the coaching staffs seek to make their teams competitive in the tournament. If coaches choose to do so, these shifts are shifts that the school supports.

 

4) Team and Individual Pictures: LifeTouch photography was on campus on 10/03 and took both individual and team photos. If your son/daughter had their picture taken but did not have their envelope or money with them on picture day it is still possible to order photos at picture day pricing online at lifetouch.com.

 

5) Winter Sports: The start dates for Winter sports are coming up soon. As mentioned above high school sports (basketball and soccer for both men and women) will begin the week of October 29^th, while junior high sports (soccer, baseball and softball) will begin the week of November 5^th. Some preliminary information has been posted to individual sports pages. It is vital that all athletes, and in particular those that did not play a Fall sport at Chandler Prep, look through and complete the items posted under the “Pre-Participation Information” tab prior to their teams first practice date.

 

6)  Gate: We are charging gate at home games. We are attempting not to charge parents of athletes or those that are out for fall sports when they attend games. Simply put, we are trying to capture the revenue stream from other sources – namely the fans of opposing teams. Gate is $3 for adults and $2 for students which compares very favorably to gate charges at other schools. Students and parents that wear Chandler Prep spirit gear receive $1 off admission.

  

Quote of the Week: “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another” Proverbs 27:17

    

    

Athletic Directors Blog:  (Week of 10/07/12)

It is my hope that everyone (coaches, athletes, and parents ) are enjoying some well deserved time off and time away.

1. Great Hearts Middle School League Playoffs:  The GHMSL playoff dates and times have been posted.  More information will be forthcoming, but athletes and parents should respect the dates on their individual sport’s calendars.  As more specific information is received it will be both forwarded to coaching staffs and posted online (i.e., specifics on the JHS golf championships have already been passed on and posted to the Google calendar).  NOTE:  The way that coaches choose to apportion playing time as teams head into playoffs may change as the coaching staffs seek to make their teams competitive in the tournament.  If coaches choose to do so, these shifts are shifts that the school supports.
2. 2)Team and Individual Pictures:  LifeTouch photography was on campus this past Wednesday (10/03) and took both individual and teamIf your son/daughter had their picture taken but did not have their envelope or money with them on picture day it is still possible to order photos at picture day pricing online at lifetouch.com.
3. 3)Winter Sports:  The start dates for Winter sports are coming upGenerally speaking high school sports (basketball and soccer for both men and women) will begin the week of October 29^th, while junior high sports (soccer, baseball and softball) will begin the week of November 5^th.  While some preliminary information has been posted to individual sports pages, it is vital that all athletes, and in particular those that did not play a Fall sport at Chandler Prep, look through and complete the items posted under the “Pre-Participation Information” tab prior to their teams first practice date.
4. 4)Senior Nights:  Senior Night for the varsity football team will be the Friday Night of Fall Break (10/12/12) vs. Superior (7pm start).  We’d like the students and parents that attend to participate in a “blackout”.  For the uninitiated, a black out can only occur when all that attend wear black to theSenior Night for the varsity volleyball team will be the Tuesday night following Fall Break (10/16/12) vs. Horizon Honors (6pm start).  Please come out on this weekday night to support the Lady Titans!
5. 5)Gate:  We are charging gate at home football and volleyballWe are attempting not to charge parents of athletes or those that are out for fall sports when they attend games.  Simply put, we are trying to capture the revenue stream from other sources – namely the fans of opposing teams.  Gate is $3 for adults and $2 for students which compares very favorably to gate charges at other schools. Students and parents that wear Chandler Prep spirit gear receive $1 off admission.

Quote of the Week:  “The Star of the Team is the Team.  ‘We’ supercedes ‘me’.  Legendary UCLA Coach John Wooden

Athletic Directors Blog – Week of September 22

WOW!!!  What a fun time last night and what a great crowd!  Thank you to Kristin Jacobs for spearheading much of what we were all able to enjoy last night.  Thank you to all in the community that supported Homecoming 2012 through your attendance at the Homecoming football game and/or by volunteering your time, energy, and effort to make this such a great event.  It was a great example of what we can pull off when we work together as a community.

Thank you to the Chandler Prep dad’s that came out to the inaugural meeting  of the CPA Dad’s Club on Wednesday and then pulled together a Dad’s Cheering section at the Homecoming football game.  Dads – you accomplished two great things last night:  1) You created a noticeably different and positive environment that supported our young men and increased School Spirit, and 2) you may well have embarrassed your son/daughter (which I believe is in the list of Top Five responsibilities of every dad).  Dad’s Club information is included in this newsletter.  If you’re a Chandler Prep dad, please take the time to read that information and find away to be part of upcoming activities.

Please continue to read your Coach’s Blog on a weekly basis and to review the items on the current week’s calendar with your son/daughter.  If your coach does not post to their blog regularly, please drop them an email and let them know the types of things you’d like to see in their blogs.  Remember, the items in the Google calendar are clickable and many details about games (dates/locations/maps/early release info/etc.) are available to you online.

Hard to believe that there is a little over a month remaining in the fall 2012 season.  There are times as busy people that our focus can become myopic unless we purposefully extend our view and commitments to include the broader community.  I encourage each parent and athlete to find a way to support through your attendance each of the other fall sports before the end of the season.  You will be blessed as you discover that passion, commitment, and competitive excellence extend across the Titan community!

Quote of the Week – “The robbed that smiles steals something from the thief.”  Shakespeare, Othello, Act I, Scene 3

Athletic Directors Blog – 09/15/12

Homecoming Week 2012 is upon us! Please consider how you can be involved this week. There will be several opportunities to attend games and if you’d like to make a sign for the Titans or your favorite player, please feel free to do so. If you, as a parent/coach/student, would like to do something for a HS team this week, please check with me prior. It may well be that someone is planning or already doing something similar.

The Homecoming schedule of HS games for the week:

Tuesday – HS Volleyball vs. Tempe Prep @ Chandler Prep @ 4(JVB), 5(JVA), 6pm (Var)

Wednesday – HS X-Country @ Valley Christian Invite – 5pm @ Kiwanis Park, Tempe

                     - HS Volleyball vs. Valley Christian @ Chandler Prep @ 4(JVB), 5(JVA), 6pm (Var)

Friday – HS Football vs. Rancho Solano @ Chandler Prep @ 7pm

 

NOTE: Homecoming is a high school event. As such the activities that make up Homecoming Week are aimed at supporting our HS students.

 

The inaugural Chandler Prep Dad’s Club meeting is this Wednesday. If you are the father of a Chandler Prep student, please consider attending this meeting. The Dad’s Club is designed to help Chandler Prep dads connect socially with each other and in so doing foster a sense of community that helps promote involvement on campus.

 

If you are interested in helping out with any of the winter sports (JHS – boys baseball, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls softball; HS – Boys basketball, girls basketball, boys soccer, girls soccer) now is the time to begin the Great Hearts clearance process (including DPS fingerprinting). Please email me with your interest ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it "> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) ASAP.

 

We are still looking to fill winter coaching positions for HS JV Boys Basketball Head Coach, HS Varsity Girls Basketball Head Coach, HS Girls Soccer Asst. Coach, JHS Boys Soccer Asst. Coach. If you know someone you believe would be a good candidate for any of these positions, please email me their contact information.

 

Go Titans!

Athletic Directors Blog – 09/08/12

The fall seasons are off and running – a couple of them literally.  It has been a warm start to the season and there are many Titans representing Chandler Prep in football and x-country that are to be commended for the courage and perseverance in facing the Arizona heat.  As we get deep into the Fall season there are three things on my mind:

1. We continue to try to improve our communication to parents and the weekly athletics newsletter is a key piece of that communication is the weekly TitanPride newsletter.  Please take the time to read it through  - particularly those items that relate to the entire athletics program.  Frankly, the athletic department and your coaches do not have time to communicate all necessary information via email.  Instead, we have asked coaches to updates their online blogs on a weekly basis.  Please read the “coaches blog” and the “results” section of the webpage on weekly basis and check the google calendar available under the “schedule” tab on an even more regular basis.
2. Thank you to all the parents that have volunteered to help out with our teams this season.  There are many small jobs (from car pool to water to scoreboard to gate) that need to be staffed by parents on game days in order for Chandler Prep to be a good game host.  If you’re still on the sidelines hoping someone else will cover these responsibilities for you, it’s time for you to get involved.  Please email you’re coaching staff or team mom if you’re not sure how to help out  I suspect they will have no difficulty getting you plugged in.
3. There are many issues that arise over the course of the season and I’d like to offer parents some guidance in communicating and solving those issues:
   1. Playing Time – I have directed all Chandler Prep coaches that this is a conversation they should never have with a parent.  On the other hand, this is a conversation that all coaches must be open to having with individual players (at the appropriate time preferrably before or after practice).
   2. Safety Issues – Parents should bring safety concerns/issues directly to the coaching staff, the athletic trainer (Bobby Fennell), or myself.  These are issues we are very sensitive to, but we may not always see what you see or hear what you hear.  We are always willing to address such issues, but cannot address what we don’t know.  In all cases involving the safety of athletes never assume that staff knows what you know – instead assume the opposite and either communicate in person (if possible) or send an email immediately after the game to your coach and copy me ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
   3. Other Issues – Other issues that arise during the season (coaching style/philosophy, communication errors/oversights, equipment/uniform issues, sportsmanship concerns, player absences, etc) should be communicated directly to your head coach, preferably in writing (feel free to copy me on any email correspondence).  CAVEAT – Please do not approach a coach with any issue immediately after a game. I’ve asked them to maintain a 24 hour cushion between any games and parental conversations (beyond congratulations).  This cushion allows all concerned to approach a situation rationally and with the student athlete’s best interest in mind.  Safety issues are not subject to the 24 hour rule and should be brought to the attention of the athletics staff immediately.

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to Titan Athletics.  Go Titans!

Athletic Trainer's Blog

April 29, 2013

Ottawa Ankle Rules

One of the most commonly injured body parts is the ankle. Emergency departments all over the country treat thousands of ankle injuries, ranging from soft tissue ligamentous injuries to fractures of the ankle.  Differentiating between these two types of injury is not always easy.  The safety net for an inconclusive exam has always been radiography (x-rays).  However, this process has resulted in unnecessary exposures to radiation for patients.  With such an inconsistent and frequent use of radiology to diagnose ankle injuries, Stiell and colleagues developed the concept of a clinical decision rule to guide the assessment of ankle injuries and specifically to determine the indications for radiographs.

The following guidelines are known as the Ottawa Ankle Rules

-       A series of ankle x-rays are required only if there is pain in the malleolar zone (ankle bones)

1. oBone tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of the lateral malleolus (outside ankle bone) – 6cm
2. oBone tenderness at the posterior edge or tip of the medial malleolus (inside ankle bone) – 6cm
3. oInability to bear weight both immediately and in emergency department

-       A series of ankle x-rays are required only if there is any pain in the mid-foot zone and any of these findings.

1. oBone tenderness at the base of the 5^th metatarsal
2. oBone tenderness over the navicular bone
3. oInability to bear weight both immediately and in the emergency department

Click here for an illustration: http://www.bmj.com/highwire/filestream/405518/field_highwire_fragment_image_l/0.jpg

The Ottawa ankle rules are an accurate instrument at excluding fractures of the ankle and foot.  Be sure to use them before your next urgent care visit and save yourself unnecessary radiation exposure.

Bachmann LM, Kolb E, Koller MT, Steurer J, ter Riet G. Accuracy of Ottawa ankle rules to exclude fractures of the ankle and mid-foot: systematic review. BMJ. 2003;326:417.

Stiell I. Ottawa ankle rules. Can Fam Physician. 1996;42:478-80.

April 15, 2013

Patellofemoral Knee Pain

Have pain around your kneecaps?  Want to know what’s causing it?

Pain around the patella (knee cap) can be generally classified as anterior knee pain or patellofemoral pain syndrome.  The pain is usually brought on by activity and gets worse the more you play.  Pain usually on both sides of the patella, above or below and around the knee cap. 

Some people think this pain is due to muscular imbalance of the quadriceps.  A stronger vastis lateralis (outside quad muscle) and a weaker vastis medialis oblique (VMO).  The idea here is that the vastis  lateralis is stronger than the VMO and pulls the patella out of its groove causing knee pain.  The VMO isn’t strong enough to counter act the vastis lateralis.  The solution seems simple, strengthen the VMO by doing quad sets and straight leg raises.  But is there more to this common overuse injury.

Another thought and more widely accepted theory is that your hips and gluts are weak.  How does this affect your knee?  Stay with me here.  Think of your patella as a train.  It sits in between your femur (thigh bone) and tibia (leg bone) like a puzzle piece.  Every train needs a track, think of your femur as the track.  Wherever your femur goes, your patella will go.  What controls the femur?  Your hip and glut muscles.  If your hip muscles are weak you are unable to control your femur.  When you are running, squatting or being active your femur caves in, toward the midline of your body.  This puts more stress through the patella and brings it off the track.  In order to prevent this, you need to strengthen your hip abductors and external rotators.  These muscles allow you to control your femur and avoid the patella from slipping off the track.  These muscles are the conductor to the train.

See your athletic trainer for hip strengthening exercises!!!   

MARCH is National Athletic Training Month

Check out this article on athletic trainers

http://www.drdavidgeier.com/athletic-trainers-sports-true-heroes/

MARCH is National Athletics Training Month -- Every BODY needs an athletic trainer

 

An athletic trainer is an expert at recognizing, treating, and preventing musculoskeletal injuries.  AT's meets qualifications set by the Board of Certification, Inc., and adhere to the requirements of a state licensing board.  ATs practice under the direction of a physician and are members of a health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association.

 

Requirements to be an athletic trainer

- Must obtain, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in athletic training

- Must pass a comprehensive exam to earn the ATC credential

- Must keep their knowledge and skills current by participating in continuing education

- Must adhere to standards of professional practice set by one national certifying agency and to a national code of ethics

 

Daily duties of an athletic trainer

- Provide physical medicine and rehabilitation services

- Prevent, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate injuries (acute and chronic)

- Coordinate care with physicians and other health care professionals

- Work in schools, colleges, professional sports, clinics, hospitals, corporations, industry, military, performing arts

 

The following information is provided by  NATA.org

Athletic Trainers Blog 2/19/12 - - ATTENTION SPRING ATHLETES

Follow the CORE-AT instructions for registration in order to be seen by the athletic trainer!!!!  AND keep reading for information regarding shin splints.

CORE-AT PATIENT REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

 

As an athletic trainer, whenever I see a student athlete I need to keep documentation to ensure proper treatment is being performed, as well as a reference to keep on hand if ever needed by doctors or parents. I currently use an online documentation system called CORE-AT.  In order to use this I need to register each patient I see.  If I can have all athletes registered before the beginning of the school year it makes things run much more smoothly for both myself and the athlete/patient.  If you can take a few minutes and complete the registration following the directions below, with your son or daughter it would be greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions or run into problems please feel free to contact me.  If your son/daughter is positive they are already registered they do NOT need to re-register each year.  Please confirm with athletic trainer if you think you have already registered.  Thank you and I look forward to another great year at Chandler Prep!  GO TITANS!

 

Log on to https://www.core-at.com

Select the “patient” tab at the top of the screen

Click on Patient Self Registration

Search at the top box for Chandler Preparatory Academy

Continue to fill in your information

Click Submit! 

Athletic Trainers Blog 2/19/12

WHAT ARE SHIN SPLINTS?  HOW CAN I PREVENT THEM?  WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE THEM?

 

Shin splints are actually called medial tibial stress syndrome.  The exact cause of them is somewhat unknown, however a few theories have been investigated.  The most widely accepted theory is the traction theory.

 

Traction Theory

This theory involves pulling of various muscles on the periosteum (outer layer of bone) from the tibia.  Suspected muscles include: the soleus, flexor digitorum longus (FDL), flexor hallicus longus (FHL) and tibialis posterior.  The soleus is a smaller calf muscle under the gastrocnemius, its job is to point your ankle down (planterflex the ankle).  FDL and FHL curl your toes and assist with ankle planter flexion (pointing ankle down).  The tibialis posterior turns your ankle in (ankle inversion) and assists with ankle planterflexion.  All of these muscles originate on the medial border of the tibia (that’s where you feel the pain).  As you repetitively use these muscles during running, it is thought that they pull away from the bone, which causes pain.  General lower extremity weakness can contribute to medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints).  The entire lower body is one big kinetic chain.  If there is weakness in one part of the chain, the result of that weakness tends to manifest itself somewhere else in the chain.  For example, weakness in your hips and gluteals (butt), tend to put more stress through the knee causing pain around the knee cap and shins.       

Prevention of Shin Splints

In order to prevent shin splints its important to know what can predispose you to getting them.  You are at risk of suffering from shin splints if:

1. 1)You have excessive foot pronation (flat feet)
2. 2)You suddenly start running for long(should be gradual increase)
3. 3)You increase intensity of running without proper training (off season work outs)
4. 4)You run on hard surfaces (like concrete)
5. 5)You are a female
6. 6)You have strong calves with decreased flexibility
7. 7)You have a history of shin splints

The goal of prevention is stop the pain before it starts.  Foot orthotics have been proven to decrease the incidence of shin splints.  Make sure you have proper running shoes with good arch support.  You don’t need the best shoe on the market, you need the best shoe for YOUR feet. 

 

 Strengthen Your Lower Extremities

• Squats (90 degrees knee flexion)
• Standing leg abduction with band
• Side steps with band around ankles
• Lunges (knee over toes)
• Toe curls (towel crunches or marble pick ups)
• STRETCH or FOAM ROLL your calves!!!

See your athletic trainer for a personalized strengthening program.

It is vital to have proper form when performing squats and lunges.  See athletic trainer for proper form instructions.

Treatment Options

 You will not see improvement if you do not decrease the amount of running and intensity of running.  This is tough to do when you are in season. 

Ice can help decrease pain and inflammation.  Try an ice cup before practice and an ice bath after.  You will hate it at first but will learn to love it. 

Rest.  Ice.  Strengthening.  Stretching.  Proper foot wear (orthotics if necessary).

Try over the counter orthotics before custom orthotics.  I have no affiliation with any brand however I like the brand Super Feet.  You can find them at REI at Tempe Marketplace.  There are a variety of different colors which correlate to different levels of arch support.  Try them on in store and see how they feel in your running shoes.  It is also important to ease into wearing your new orthotics.  Starting with 2 hours at a time, progressing to 4 hours, 6 hours and so on.  Wearing them for an extended period of time right when you get them will shock your feet and cause more pain instead of relief.

 Athletic Trainer's Blog 1/18/12

Nutrition and Athletic Performance

Nutrition can help enhance athletic performance.  Eating a good diet with enough fluids can help provide the energy you need to finish strong in the 4^th quarter.  You are more likely to be tired and perform poorly during sports when you eat processed foods (fast food) and don’t get enough:

• Calories
• Carbohydrates
• Fluids
• Vitamins, and other minerals
• Protein

CARBOHYDRATES

They are important for providing energy during exercise. Carbohydrates are stored in the body in the form of glycogen, mostly in the muscles and liver.

• Complex carbohydrates are found in foods such as pasta, bagels, whole grain breads, and rice. They provide energy,fiber, vitamins, and minerals and are low in fat.

PROTEIN

Protein is important for muscle growth and to repair body tissues. Protein can also be used by the body for energy, but only after glycogen or carbohydrate stores have been used up.  Many people feel athletes need a high-protein diet to support muscle growth, yet researchers have found this to be false.

It is also a myth that a high-protein diet will promote muscle growth. Only strength training and exercise will change muscle. Athletes, even body builders, need only a little bit of extra protein to support muscle growth. Athletes can easily meet this increased need by eating more total calories (eating more food).

Too much protein in the diet:

• Will be stored as increased body fat
• Can increase the chance for dehydration and loss of calcium

Amino acid supplements and eating a lot of protein shakes are not recommended. They can increase calcium loss and put an added burden on the kidneys, which must remove the excess waste that protein provides.

WATER AND FLUIDS

Water is the most important, yet overlooked, nutrient for athletes. Water and fluids are essential to the body. Your body can lose several liters of sweat in a 1-hour period.

Clear urine is a good sign that you have fully rehydrated. Some suggestions for keeping enough fluids in the body include:

• Make sure you drink plenty of fluids with every meal, whether or not you will be exercising.
• Drink about 16 ounces (2 cups) of water 2 hours before a workout. It is important to start exercising with enough water in your body.
• Continue to sip water during and after you exercise -- about 1/2 to 1 cup of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes. Water is best for the first hour. Switching to a sports drink with electrolytes (Gatorade) at that time will help you replace lost electrolytes.
• Drink even when you no longer feel thirsty.
• Pouring water over your head might feel good, but it will not get fluids into your body.

Adolescents and adults should replace any body weight lost during exercise with equal amounts of fluids. For every pound you lose while exercising, you should drink 24 ounces or 3 cups of fluid within the next 6 hours.

References

Bonci L. Nutrition, pharmacology, and psychology in sports. In: DeLee JC, Drez D Jr, Miller MD, eds.DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2009:chap 8.

Position of the American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. March 2009. 109(3);509-527.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002458.htm

View these links for more information on athlete’s nutrition and supplements.

http://kidshealth.org/teen/food_fitness/sports/eatnrun.html#a_Athletes_and_Dieting

http://www.usada.org/about

Athletic Trainer's Blog - 12/09/12:

 

This week I’d also like to share a section of the new Great Hearts Athletic Director handbook related to the care and treatment of injured athletes.  The important ideas to note is that the only individual on staff at Chandler Prep that should diagnose injuries, pull an athlete from participation, prescribe and oversee treatment, and return an athlete to participation is our certified athletic trainer.

  

Care and Treatment of Injuries:

  

General Injury Policy Statement:

  

The goal of all athletic endeavors is for participants to be able to compete.  Occasionally this goal will be best accomplished when athletes discontinue practicing and/or playing for a period of time while they recover from injury.  It is the responsibility of the coaching staff to refer any student that receives a significant or potentially significant injury to the AT.  It is always the responsibility of the athlete (and their parents) to openly communicate injuries with their coaching staff and the athletic trainer (or other part-time medical personnel the school employs).  Student athletes must be honest with their medical professionals – including the academy’s AT, their coaches, their parents, and themselves - about the extent of their injuries.  Although every academy head coach is first aid and CPR certified, AD’s and coaches are not medical professionals and should not be expected to, nor should they attempt to, diagnose injuries or prescribe treatment for injuries.

  

Parents and athletes must keep the head coach and the athletic trainer (AT) informed of injuries that are sustained in practice and/or games. The AT will evaluate all athletic injuries and prescribe either treatment or refer the athlete to a physician.  In addition, the AT will clearly communicate with the athlete what has been done, and what will be done to heal the injury.  When it is necessary for an athlete and his/her family to consult a physician for the treatment of an injury, the athlete and family should be sure to pin down that physician down as much as possible how long he/she will be unable to participate and what level of activity, if any, is permissible during the rehabilitation period.  It is an athlete’s and their parent’s responsibility to open up the lines of communication between their physician and the school’s AT including singing any release necessary for the physician to communicate directly to the AT.  A physician’s note that communicates the nature and extent of the injury and the extent to which the athlete may participate must be passed from the athlete to the Athletic Trainer (or other medical personnel).  The AT will then summarize the findings and treatment plan for the coaching staff and provide regular written progress reports (likely email updates).   If at any time the Athletic Trainer or a physician pulls an athlete from participation that athlete must receive written clearance from the AT before resuming athletic participation.

Role of Athletic Trainer:

  

Chandler Prep provides its student athletes access to a certified athletic trainer.  Athletic trainers are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians to optimize patient and client activity and participation in athletics, work and life. (NATA.org)  Athletic trainers are nationally certified and state licensed health care providers.  Their purpose is to provide prevention strategies, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergency, acute, subacute, and chronic musculoskeletal conditions as well as certain medical illnesses in order to minimize subsequent impairments, functional limitations, and disability. (NATA.org)  It is also the athletic trainers duty to document accident/injury reports with the Athletic Department for all injuries they treat.  Athletic trainers will also oversee the rehabilitation process as well as supervise the Return to Participation Policy below.

Clearance Policy for Return to Participation for Academies with an on-staff AT:

  

Injured athletes that have been pulled from practice or competition by their physician, the athletic trainer, or their parents must follow the guidelines set below for reinstatement to athletic activities.

1)All injured athletes must see the AT for a preliminary(This is true even if the student athlete has already seen a physician.)

2)An Athletic Injury Report is filed by the athletic trainer and filed with the Athletic Department.

3)Athletic trainer (or physician) prescribes and oversees rehabilitation of injured athlete.

4)Athletic trainer provides a written clearance of the athlete to the coaching staff for return to practice.  Even if a student athlete sees a physician and that physician clears them for participation, the student must be cleared by the AT to Return to Participation.

  

Bobby Fennell, Chandler Preparatory’s state certified athletic trainer, is available to students between 3 and 6pm and to parents between 2 and 3pm in the AT room next to the Chandler Prep gymnasium, or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it " style="color:rgb(154, 10, 10)"> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Athletic Trainer's Blog 11/26/12

You sprained your ankle, now what?

After spraining your ankle it is important to follow these 4 steps, which will lead you to a healthy recovery

1)RICE

2)Restore ROM

3)Proprioceptive strengthening and neuromuscular control

4)Sport specific training.

Rice, Ice, Compression, Elevation (RICE) Why you should do it?

REST - It’s important to protect the injured tissues.  This means not performing painful activities, which may include simple tasks like walking.  Rest will minimize the amount of tissue damage and let the body start the healing process.

ICE – Ice will help to immediately reduce pain as well as control the amount swelling by constricting blood vessels.  Constriction leads to decreased blood flow.

Compression – A compression wrap will help to decrease inflammation by moving swelling out of the injured area.  Helps to decrease fluid accumulation in ankle.

Elevation – Elevation allows your body to use gravity to its advantage, slowing blood flow to the area and helps drain swelling out the injured area.

Restore Range of Motion

The natural position of your ankle is slightly pointed downward (planterflexion).  Being immobilized or holding your ankle in this position for a period of time can cause your calf muscles to become tight.  This affects the ankles ability to bring your toes up to the ceiling (dorsiflexion).  A tight calf muscle limits the amount of mobility in your ankle which may result in compensation by other muscle groups.  This is why stretching your calf muscles is important.  Stretch your calf muscles by sitting with your leg straight and putting a towel around your toes.  Pull gently until you feel a pull in the back of your calf. 

Perform ankle pumps or write the alphabet with your toes to gently increase ROM. 

Proprioceptive Strengthening (Activation)

Proprioception is the body’s ability to realize where your foot is in space and how to react to the forces placed on it.  For example, standing on a firm surface, which the body is used to, doesn’t challenge proprioception.  Standing on an uneven surface makes the body activate ankle muscles to regain balance.  During your sporting event your ankle will definitely be placed in uneven positions, you need good proprioception to activate your ankle muscles to maintain your balance and steer clear of injury.  Most ankle injuries don’t require much strengthening but rather teaching the nerves and muscles to activate properly.

Sport Specific Training

Athletes require fast explosive movements.  After an injury, it is important to re-train your muscles how to move.  Agility exercises can prepare your muscles for acceleration and deceleration forces.  Sport specific exercises also help you to regain confidence in your ankle.  The explosive fast twitch muscle activation is usually the last to return following an ankle sprain.  It is imperative this is fully restored in order to protect the ankle against future ankle injuries. 

10/18/2012

ATTENTION ALL WINTER SPORT ATHLETES

If you are playing a winter sport please remember to register yourself into the CORE-AT system.  You can find the link below on the Athletic Trainers Blog.  Registering yourself before the season begins will make it easy and faster for you to receive an evaluation, treatment, etc.  

10/8/2012

Article from usatoday.

Did the Redskins Handle RGIII's Concussion Properly 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2012/10/07/redskins-handle-rgiii-concussion/1619043/

10/1/2012

Sideline Etiquette

Should an athlete get injured on the field of play the athletic trainer will evaluate the injury on site.  Please do not bring it upon yourself to enter the field of play, even if the injured athlete is your son or daughter.  Should the athletic trainer need assistance he will ask the team physician onto the field for an assessment.  The team physician may not go onto the field everytime an injury occurs, this is to allow the athletic trainer to rule out serious injury or conditions.  After the initial on field evaluation takes place the athlete may need further assessment on the sideline.  Please refrain from interrupting this process and give the medical personnel time to evaluate the condition.  Once the injury assessment is complete, parents may be allowed on the sideline to facilitate proper communication between medical personnel and the family involved.  An athlete’s injury is no one else’s business except that of their family and they have a right to privacy so we ask bystanders to respect the privacy of the athlete and boundaries of the sideline.

Thank You

9/20/2012

When your son/daughter gets injured.

They should tell a coach and report to the athletic training room (located off the gym, next to Mr. Polley's office).  The athlete will be instructed to sign in using the CORE-AT system.  Following sign in the athletic trainer (ATC), that's me, will perform an evaluation of the injury.  The ATC will make a clinical decision as to the amount of participation allowed by the athlete.  Your son or daughter may be required to follow up with the athletic trainer after school, before practice, or during practice for treatment.  In the event a physician referral is recommended the athlete may not be allowed to participate until they have been seen and cleared by a physician.  Should you choose medical consultation before seeing the athletic trainer, the athlete must be cleared by that physician before return to play is allowed.  Regardless if you were referred to Chandler Prep's team physician or a physican of your choice, written documentation from the treating physician is REQUIRED for that athlete to return to play.  An athlete is not cleared and WILL NOT play until the athletic trainer has written clearance from the treating physician.

9/20/2012

Team Physician

William Meszaros, M.D.

Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon

Subspeciality Certified in Sports Medicine

Arizona Performance Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics

875 N. Greenfield Road

Suite 108

Gilbert, AZ 85234

480-553-7993

www.apsmo.com

9/7/2012

What is an Athletic Trainer?

Athletic Trainers are unique health care providers who collaborate with physicians and specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses.  Not to be confused with personal trainers or physical therapists, athletic training is practiced by athletic trainers. -- NATA.org

 

Athletic Training Room Hours

Athletes may receive treatment from the athletic trainer after school before their practice begins.  Athletes that need to be taped, stretched, iced, or evaluated should proceed to the AT’s office prior to practice. 

 

Monday - Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm Hours may vary due to athletic competition and current season.  The Saturday schedule is dependent on HS and JHS athletic competition.

CORE-AT PATIENT REGISTRATION INSTRUCTIONS

 

As an athletic trainer, whenever I see a student athlete I need to keep documentation to ensure proper treatment is being performed, as well as a reference to keep on hand if ever needed by doctors or parents. I currently use an online documentation system called CORE-AT.  In order to use this I need to register each patient I see.  If I can have all athletes registered before the beginning of the school year it makes things run much more smoothly for both myself and the athlete/patient.  If you can take a few minutes and complete the registration following the directions below, with your son or daughter it would be greatly appreciated.  If you have any questions or run into problems please feel free to contact me.  If your son/daughter is positive they are already registered they do NOT need to re-register each year.  Please confirm with athletic trainer if you think you have already registered.  Thank you and I look forward to another great year at Chandler Prep!  GO TITANS!

 

Log on to https://www.core-at.com

Select the “patient” tab at the top of the screen

Click on Patient Self Registration

Search at the top box for Chandler Preparatory Academy

Continue to fill in your information

Click Submit! 

S&C Blog

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Weight Room Hours May 20-31: Tuesday & Thursday 6:50-8:00 AM

Saturday, May 18, 2013

What is the purpose of the 300 yd shuttle and Lactate Threshold Testing?

Successful endurance athletes base their training regimens on their lactate and anaerobic thresholds. These thresholds indicate the physiological point at which the human body shifts from aerobic to anaerobic stress, namely when your body is no longer getting enough oxygen to perform optimally. Once anaerobic, the body cannot flush blood lactate as quickly as it is produced. When exercising, staying below your lactate threshold will prolong your energy reserves. When training, using heart-rate and wattage ranges based on lactate threshold testing will increase your aerobic fitness and can actually increase your lactate threshold for improved competitive performance.

Friday, May 3, 2013

Why is staying hydrated important for athletes?

Dehydration Decreases Performance

Studies have found that athletes who lose as little as two percent of their body weight through sweating has a drop in blood volume which causes the heart to work harder to circulate blood. A drop in blood volume may also lead to muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue and heat illness including:

• Heat Exhaustion

• Heat Stroke

Common Causes of Dehydration In Athletes

• Inadequate fluid intake

• Excessive sweating

• Failure to replace fluid losses during and after exercise

• Exercising in dry, hot weather

General Guidelines for Fluid Needs During Exercise

While specific fluid recommendations aren't possible due to individual variability, most athletes can use the following guidelines as a starting point, and modify their fluid needs accordingly.

Hydration Before Exercise

• Drink about 15-20 fl oz, 2-3 hours before exercise

• Drink 8-10 fl oz 10-15 min before exercise

Hydration During Exercise

• Drink 8-10 fl oz every 10-15 min during exercise

• If exercising longer than 90 minutes, drink 8-10 fl oz of a sports drink (with no more than 8 percent carbohydrate) every 15 - 30 minutes.

Hydration After Exercise

• Weigh yourself before and after exercise and replace fluid losses.

• Drink 20-24 fl oz water for every 1 lb lost.

• Consume a 4:1 ratio of carbohydrate to protein within the 2 hours after exercise to replenish glycogen stores.

• On hot days, consumption of beverages containing electrolytes and carbohydrates can help sustain fluid-electrolyte balance and exercise performance.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

What are minerals and how do they assist my body?

Minerals are elements that help to maintain structures in the body and regulate certain body processes. Examples of minerals at work are calcium and magnesium help keep bones strong while iron is important in oxygen transportation. Other minerals like sodium and potassium are crucial in blood volume. Vitamins act as nutrients that regulate metabolic reactions (life sustaining reactions) in the body. Some examples of crucial vitamins contributing to body processes Vitamins A and C are needed to assist the immune system. B vitamins aid the nervous system, and help with the cells burn energy. Water is very important in temperature regulation through sweating. Water is so important in that it constitutes 60 to 70 percent of body weight.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

  

Importance of Breakfast!

  

As its name implies, the purpose of breakfast is to break the fast between dinner and lunch. Here’s what happens when you don’t eat a morning meal: Your body enters into a prolonged fasting state. It starts to believe that you won’t be eating any time soon. When you finally eat lunch, your body stores it as fat because it thinks, “I’d better save this for later. I don’t know when the next meal will come.” That, of course, leads to weight gain. When you break the fast in the morning, on the other hand, your body can use that food to power you through the day.

  

Aside from kicking your body into gear and keeping hunger at bay, why should you bother with breakfast? “The research shows that, without a doubt, students do better in school with breakfast,” says Brown-Riggs. “It helps in terms of fitness. It affects the mind, too: Breakfast eaters are more productive at work, have better problem-solving skills, and increased mental clarity. Not only that, but people who eat breakfast tend to have a healthier diet overall."

Neithercott, Tracey. "The Importance of Breakfast." Diabetes Forecast Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2013.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Nutritional Keys to Success

Fats are Good!
Monounsaturated fat. This is a type of fat found in a variety of foods and oils. Studies show that eating foods rich in monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) improves blood cholesterol levels, which can decrease your risk of heart disease. Research also shows that MUFAs may benefit insulin levels and blood sugar control, which can be especially helpful if you have type 2 diabetes.
Polyunsaturated fat. This is a type of fat found mostly in plant-based foods and oils. Evidence shows that eating foods rich in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs) improves blood cholesterol levels, which can decrease your risk of heart disease. PUFAs may also help decrease the risk of type 2 diabetes. One type of polyunsaturated fat, omega-3 fatty acids, may be especially beneficial to your heart. Omega-3s, found in some types of fatty fish, appear to decrease the risk of coronary artery disease. They may also protect against irregular heartbeats and help lower blood pressure levels.

Protein build muscle!

Proteins are the building blocks of life. The body needs protein to repair and maintain itself. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. You need protein in your diet to help your body repair cells and make new ones. When proteins are digested, amino acids are left. The human body needs a number of amino acids to break down food. Amino acids need to be eaten in large enough amounts for optimal health. Amino acids are found in animal sources such as meats, milk, fish, and eggs, as well as in plant sources such as soy, beans, legumes, nut butters, and some grains (such as wheat germ). You do not need to eat animal products to get all the protein you need in your diet.

Amino acids are classified into three groups:

• Essential

• Nonessential

• Conditional

Essential amino acids cannot be made by the body, and must be supplied by food. They do not need to be eaten at one meal. The balance over the whole day is more important. The nine essential amino acids are:

• Histidine

• Isoleucine

• Leucine

• Lycine

• Methionine

• Phenylalanine

• Threonine

• Tryptophan

• Valine

Nonessential amino acids are made by the body from essential amino acids or in the normal breakdown of proteins. They include:

• Alanine

• Asparagine

• Aspartic acid

• Glutamic acid

Conditional amino acids are usually not essential, except in times of illness and stress. They include:

• Arginine

• Cysteine

• Glutamine

• Glycine

• Ornithine

• Proline

• Serine

• Tyrosine

Food Examples:

Fats: VERY IMPORTANT (good = monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats): avocados, almonds, peanut butter

Monounsaturated:

Olive oil, peanut oil, canola oil, avocados, poultry, nuts and seeds.

Polyunsaturated:

Vegetable oils (such as safflower, corn, sunflower, soy and cottonseed oils), nut oils (such as peanut oil), poultry, nuts and seeds.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids:
Fatty, cold-water fish (such as salmon, mackerel and herring), ground flaxseed, flax oil

Protein:

• Turkey or chicken with the skin removed, or bison (also called buffalo meat)

• Lean cuts of beef or pork, such as round, top sirloin, or tenderloin (trim away any visible fat)

• Fish or shellfish

  Fruit & Veggies: strawberries, blackberries, bananas, oranges, peaches, pineapple, broccoli, peppers, baby spinach, jalapeños (good for your heart believe it or not), onions

Extra Carbohydrates: Oats, sweet potato, brown rice, whole grain noodles, chocolate milk. If and when you consume carbohydrates (other than fruit and veggies) make sure they are whole grains!

Water! Drink Aguaa!! 1 oz for every kg of body weight! (lb/2.2=kg)
Dairy: Skim or 1% Milk
Greek Yogurt *****
Cottage cheese (casein protein)

Knowing Carbohydrates

Adding Good Carbohydrates

For optimal health, get your grains intact from foods such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, whole grain pasta, and other possibly unfamiliar grains like quinoa, whole oats, and bulgur. Not only will these foods help protect you against a range of chronic diseases, they can also please your palate and your eyes. Until recently, you could only get whole-grain products in organic or non-traditional stores. Today they are popping up in more and more mainstream grocery stores. Here are some suggestions for adding more good carbohydrates to your diet:

Start the day with whole grains. If you're partial to hot cereals, try steel-cut oats. If you're a cold cereal person, look for one that lists whole wheat, whole oats, or other whole grain first on the ingredient list. Use whole grain breads for lunch or snacks. Check the label to make sure that whole wheat or another whole grain is the first ingredient listed. Bag the potatoes. Instead, try brown rice or even "newer" grains like bulgur, wheat berries, millet, or hulled barley with your dinner. Pick up some whole wheat pasta. If the whole grain products are too chewy for you, look for those that are made with half whole-wheat flour and half white flour. Bring on the beans. Beans are an excellent source of slowly digested carbohydrates as well as a great source of protein.

Organic Chicken vs Frozen Chicken

No comparison. Did you know chicken has flavor? Yeah, bizarre, I know. Chicken raised properly (not shoved by the cluckload into dirty factories) is rich in EFAs and is one of the most efficient, lean sources of protein available.

Wild Salmon vs Farm Salmon

Fish is healthy, right? Don’t even bother patting yourself on the back for eating salmon if it’s from a farm. Farmed salmon is produced in a way that’s the seaside equivalent of a chicken factory. As a result, the fish are often sick and infected. They’re fed cheap feed that does not yield the desirable Omega-3-rich flesh. They’re miserable. Stick with wild only. Most restaurants use farmed salmon, so you have to get a little aggressive about this.

Grass fed Beef vs Grain fed Beef

The average cow is raised on cheap grain that will kill it after about six months (they’re conveniently slaughtered before this happens – but not always). Hardly something I want to put in my body. Grass-fed, organic beef won’t make the vegetarians happy, but this beef is rich in beneficial fatty acids that are missing from the factory-raised cattle. It’s cleaner, healthier, more flavorful, and richer in nutrients. And grass-fed beef is typically raised in humane conditions. If you eat beef, grass-fed is a must. It’s getting quite easy to find these days, but you can order online from many outlets as well.

Make sure that you eat breakfast and every 3-3.5 hrs to boost you metabolism. Starving yourself causes your metabolism to slow down and in return slowing down the breakdown of fat tissue. Eat lean and healthy often and you will see results. If your going to take protein, make sure it's whey during the day and casein at night! During your weight gain and bulk phase you will need more carbohydrates to your already high protein diet.

Questions? Please email me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

uesday, April 16th

The Chandler Prep Strength and Conditioning Center (S&C) will be staffed by Ryan Dawson. Please read the brief bio on Coach Dawson below:

"Ryan Dawson, a native of Warrenburg, MO, is the new strength and conditioning coach for the athletes of Chandler Prep. Before joining Chandler Prep, he has worked as a performance specialist and physical therapy technician at the Center for Athletic Performance and Physical Therapy (Scottsdale) and Foothills Sports Medicine (Ahwatukee). He recieved his Bachelor's Degree in Kinesiology at the University of Central Missouri where he was also a starting pitcher on a championship level baseball team. Ryan also played baseball at the University of Missouri. While preparing to graduate, he completed his undergraduate internship in the strength and conditioning program of the University of Missouri Men's and Women's Basketball teams in the summer of 2011. As a three sport (football, baseball, basketball) athlete in high school, he was named All-State, All-Conference, All-District in baseball and ranked among the Top 10 High School Prospects (Prefect Game) in the Missouri. As a starter, his collegiate accomplishments consist of an undefeated 8-0 record, two DII World Series trips, two regional championships, three conference championships, and MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors. Currently, Ryan's hobbies are hiking and exploring Arizona's beautiful landscape."