CALLING ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACHES

[MyPSTC]

Public School Coaches;

Philadelphia’s City All-Star game is now complete and its time to start looking forward to the upcoming season. For the past 4 years that our company has operated in Philadelphia, we have opened our doors to instructing sports performance training for your student-athletes. Unfortunately, we have had some opposition to acquire the opportunity that we have provided to over 10,000 student-athletes in my personal 15 years of sports training experience, college football coaching experience, and over 85% success rate of student-athletes that have received athletic scholarships and academic scholarships. Nevertheless, I want to work with your school and your team to help the kids have love for the game, pride for themselves and the school, and give the student-athletes an opportunity to have options on taking their game and their education to the next level.

It was unfortunate to see that the score was 40 – 0 versus the non-public school team. But what was more objectionable was that from the 48 public school athletes that played in the game, less than 3% are going to be playing college football next year and only 5% are going to college. As compared to the non-public school roster of only 43, that have 75% of their athletes playing college football next year and 90% going to college. How can that statistic be overlooked?!?!?! I know personally from those that participating in last years Passing Football League and attending several games with college coaches in 2008 that we identified over 70+ student-athletes that could play at the division I-A level and at least get a scholarship to a division II school. Somewhere between freshman year through senior year, the kids in the public league are getting a late start on the importance of college recruiting and why grades are critical

The purpose of going to school is to get an education. The student-athletes that play on your team have made the decision to be a part of the football program (not just the team). The program is based on being a “Student” first and then an “Athlete” second. If a student-athletes plays high school football for one year, two-years, or all four years; he should have the opportunity to decide if he wants to play at the collegiate level. From the past 5 years, a majority of the student-athletes don’t have the chance because they don’t quality academically, they don’t get registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse their junior year, they don’t have the minimum test score required by the NCAA to get a scholarship athletic or academic, and then they don’t have the proper sports performance training that others have done to get bigger, faster, stronger, and more athletic.

From speaking with several of the catholic schools, 100% of them last year participating in a professional strength and conditioning program, either Velocity Sports, Aspiring Champions, Transcend, PSTC, and several actually have their own strength coach and speed coach during the entire year. I believe that public school student-athletes deserve the same. Of course, everyone says they don’t have money to pay for something like that. However, every catholic school that has those benefits performs fundraisers, have developed a booster club, or have found sponsors to cover the costs from parents’ employers. If you have a toothache, you don’t goto a pediatrician or pull it out yourself…if your players sprain their ankle, you don’t send them to an accountant. This is 2009 and there are professionals, such as Philadelphia Sports Training Center that work with student-athletes, collegiate, and professional athletes to help them improve their sports performance. So don’t let the excuse that you’ll do it yourself, unless you’ve been certified by the National Strength & Conditioning Association or the USA Weightlifting Association and have a college degree in Exercise and Sports Science. Let a professional get your team to the next level and help your kids improve their quality of life by getting to the collegiate level.

For the second year, I will be a clinician at the Philadelphia Eagles / USA Football Coaches Clinic. My session will be on the “Implementation of the I-Formation Offense” that has various formations. There will also be a field demonstration on “Instruction on WR route running (Passing Tree). The date is Saturday, June 6th from 8am – 5pm. To view the link for the flyer, click here. To register for the coaching school, click here. They expect over 400 coaches this from throughout the region. Last year, I only know of three coaches that attended…ironically, Damond “Smash” Warren (Bartram Head Football Coach) was the coach of the Public All-Star team and also attending was his assistant, Mark Effendian (Bartram Assistant Coach). In addition to Head Football Coach, Ken Sturm (Overbrook High School). Clearly the benefits of attending this instructional coaching school can help any program with new philosophies and coaching cues to improve a teams success.

Also, Philadelphia Sports Training Center will be hosting the Speed Training Seminar for middle school and high school coaches, parents, personal trainers, sports performance coaches, and select student-athletes. This seminar will provide those coaches that want to conduct their own sports performance training program with their student-athletes. Along with the topics to be covered, attendees will receive an 8-week sports performance training program that can be conducted this summer. As an attendee of the Philadelphia EAGLES / USA Football Coaching School, if you register for the Speed Training Seminar you will receive a discount of $25 for each coach attending from your school. Additional discounts available, contact the office for details. To view the flyer for the Speed Training Seminar, click here. To register for the Speed Training Seminar, click here.

I know you want the best for the student-athletes that you are responsible for on the field and off the field. The above-mentioned seminars and coaching clinics are available for your opportunity to help your teams as they look up to you for guidance.

If you haven’t already reserved your teams speed training program to be conducted by PSTC for the summer starting June 22, please do so at your earliest convenience. Space is limited and time slots are based on first come first served. Optional programs available are speed training 2-3 days per week for 60-90 minutes for 8-weeks or one-week (5 days) speed training for 60 minutes. Training can be conducted at Temple University or our 80,000 square foot facility in Aston, PA. For more information, email [e-mail] or call 267-940-PSTC. Don't forget if you have players to enroll in our new summer school enrichment program that begins June 22, please distribute this flyer and nominate your players by going to our website and clicking the link for the Sports Training Academy. For the flyer, click here.

As always, we value your feedback and we want to work with you to help these kids improve their quality of life. But its evident that we need to work together or the ones that suffer are not you, the coach, its the kids - the student-athletes, the ones that want guidance on their lives. Don't give up on them!

[Damond Warren]

Maine,

You do a good job of bringing various things to light. I'm not sure if the numbers of young men going to college from the Pub Squad is only 3-5% (3 of my guys that played in the game are going to school in the fall & at least 1 more is pending based on an Act 101 program). Comparing the number of Non-Pub kids going to school vs. the Pub Kids is not fair. Many of the guys on the Non-Pub roster pay or receive scholarships to attend their high schools. Their parents are involved in their education. In most cases they are allowed to be children.

The Pub Kids (especially those in the Comprehensive Neighborhood High Schools) have very little parental support, have to work to support the family, may have legal issues, and are generally overwhelmed with adult-like responsibilities. All of these things adversely affect their ability to perform academically at a high level.

In some cases the problem is coaches, teachers, & administrators whose agendas aren't student athlete friendly. However, the main problem with our student athletes' deficits start in the homes with the parents. Example: We lost the All Star Game 40 - 0. We coached what was available to us. There were several student athletes (8 to be exact ) that would have been chosen that were better than others on the squad at their position. At least 5 of them were academically ineligible. How can a student athlete be eligible all season (every season) & then become academically ineligible each year once that season is over? We had various kids miss or were late to practices due to work or family related obligations.

This is becoming a disturbing norm in urban public high schools schools, not just with the athletes
with mostly all of the student population.

The Non-Pub squad was superior across the board (Size, Strength, and now Speed). The coaches, Athletic Directors, & in some cases Admission's Director's from the non-public schools actively, recruit the best talent our middle schools & youth programs have to offer. I have a nephew that played in the game (from St. Joseph's Prep) and I know the type of parental supports that he and his teammates (most of who live outside Philadelphia) are afforded. Based on these factors it is truly unfair to compare the type of student athletes that come from each league.

There is no doubt that the bar must be raised morally, culturally, academically, and athletically for the Public School Students/ Athletes. However, that has to start in the home.

In my opinion the government should start by creating some sort of "tie - in" for those that receive any sort of Public Assistance or unemployment benefits, which mandates that they must be an active participant in their child's education, on all levels.

Start a program to educate the Parents... That is where we all who work with public school children could use the support.

Peace,

Smash
Head Coach
Bartram H.S
P.L.P. Forever! (Public League Pride)