September 2011FREE

Youth Sports MagazineNewnan•Sharpsburg•Senoia•Grantville•Moreland

GAME DAY

TM

9

All-American Doctors

New Office in Peachtree City

Doctors and Former All-American Athletes

Dr. George BallantyneDr. Michael CushingDr. Michael GruberDr. Chad Kessler

Dr. Jayson McMathDr. Jack Powell III

Georgia Bone and Joint is your source for the complete spectrum of musculoskeletal care. We offer patients board certified physicians and surgeons who are specialty trained in spine, hand, sports medicine, shoulder, pedi-atrics, and total joints.

Our state-of-the-art facility provides the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic technol-ogy and equipment. Our Summit location in-cludes an on-site outpatient surgery center. Georgia Bone and Joint offers an orthopaedic continuum of care unmatched in the south metro and west Georgia areas.

Affiliated With

4000 Shakerag HillPeachtree City, GA 30269

770-626-5340

The Summit Healthplex1755 Highway 34 East

Newnan, GA 30265770-502-2175

www.georgiaboneandjoint.org

Former All-American Athletes

9

All-American Doctors

New Office in Peachtree City

Doctors and Former All-American Athletes

Dr. George BallantyneDr. Michael CushingDr. Michael GruberDr. Chad Kessler

Dr. Jayson McMathDr. Jack Powell III

Georgia Bone and Joint is your source for the complete spectrum of musculoskeletal care. We offer patients board certified physicians and surgeons who are specialty trained in spine, hand, sports medicine, shoulder, pedi-atrics, and total joints.

Our state-of-the-art facility provides the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic technol-ogy and equipment. Our Summit location in-cludes an on-site outpatient surgery center. Georgia Bone and Joint offers an orthopaedic continuum of care unmatched in the south metro and west Georgia areas.

Affiliated With

4000 Shakerag HillPeachtree City, GA 30269

770-626-5340

The Summit Healthplex1755 Highway 34 East

Newnan, GA 30265770-502-2175

www.georgiaboneandjoint.org

Former All-American Athletes

Letter from the Publisher GAME DAYTM Youth Sports Magazine

PUBLISHERTom DeBole

cowetagameday@yahoo.com770-683-1142

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Susan CrutchfieldRyan Post

Shaun Dailey

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tom DeBoleSusan Crutchfield

Ryan Rowland

ADVERTISINGTom Debole

678-416-0220

CONTACT GAME DAY3159 East Highway 34

Suite 209 PMB#119Newnan, GA 30265

Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is not responsible for the return of submitted

photography, artwork, or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or similar

charges.

© Game Day Youth Sports Magazine 2011

Game Day Youth Sports Magazine is published 11 times a year. All contents are

copyrighted by Game Day Youth Sports Magazine. All rights reserved. No portion of this magazine, including publisher-designed advertisements, may be copied, scanned, or reproduced in any manner without prior

consent from the publisher. Unauthorized user will be billed appropriately for such use.

I am very happy to publish Game Day™ Magazine for the youth athletes and families in Coweta County. Game Day™ is a community based publication that will focus on the youth athletes in our county, from our recreational leagues, middle school programs, as well as all 6 local high schools.

I have been involved in youth sports since the age of five. My experience in sports are as a player, a parent, recreational coach, travel team coach, high school coach as well as running youth sports programs for a

non-for profit for over 15 years. Growing up in Western New York, I played many organized team sports such as baseball, soccer, golf, skiing, football, and lacrosse. I have coached high school lacrosse as well as youth soccer, basketball, baseball, and football.

I live in Newnan with my beautiful wife Kelly and our three boys Jay, Brian, and Owen. Our boys stay busy throughout the year playing youth football, high school lacrosse and starting this fall our son Jay will be playing Division I college lacrosse.

We have some very skilled and talented youth athletes here in Coweta County and I am very excited to highlight many of them throughout the year.

Game Day Magazine is a local publication relying solely on sponsorships and advertising for publication costs. Game Day™ is available free of charge each month at numerous locations throughout the county.

Tom D eBo l e

STUDENT SUMISSIONSPlayer Talk – Students can submit stories from their point of view as an athlete. These personal essays can tell of a sports memory, describe what you have learned playing a sport, or any humorous, inspirational or fun sports related story. Include name, age and school you attend. cowetagameday@yahoo.com

CLIPBOARD EVENTSSend upcoming events in Coweta County, sign-ups for recreational leagues, fundraising/charitable events or other programs of interest to youth athletes. Must be sent at least one month prior to the date of event to cowetagameday@yahoo.com

SUBMISSIONSReaders are encouraged to send in photos, stories, upcoming sporting events, and any other submission you would like to see on the pages of this magazine. cowetagameday@yahoo.com

PHOTOSSend action shots or “fans in the stands’” to cowetagameday@yahoo.com. Note what the photos cover and provide names if you would like.

STORIESDo you have a story idea? Send story ideas or written stories to cowetagameday@yahoo.com. Story possibilities include:Inspirational storiesThe story behind an athleteA “where are they now?”Coach’s cornerStories on healthy living and active lifestyles

0000-PR-STWN CowetaGamedayMag.pdPage 1 7/14/11 11:09:59 AM

www.susancrutchfieldphotography.comscrutchfieldphotography@gmail.com

Student Athlete of the Month

Jordan Rivers is a senior at East Coweta High School. He is a two year starter at left guard for the Varsity football team. Jordan is a positive player and has made an impact on this team by pushing his teammates to their best potential. Jordan makes an impact not only on the field, but in the classroom as well. Maintaining straight A’s all throughout high school, he plans to have a productive future in whatever field he pursues. Coach Wade explains, “Jordan is very dependable and we can always count on him being involved in whatever takes place.” When asked how he feels about his job on the football field, Jordan responds, “As a lineman, nothing gives me a bigger rush than moving someone from point A to point B against their will.”

By SaraCatherine Sykes

Kemoy Anderson is a sophomore at Northgate High School who plays Varsity and Junior Varsity basketball, but she is better known for her abilities in track and field. She is a three time competitor in the Junior Olympics. This year she competed in a four-man relay in New Orleans, where she took third place to earn a bronze medal. In previous Junior Olympics, she has placed first in the one hundred meter dash during the semi finals and fourth in the one hundred meter finals. She is a calm and confident runner who loves competing. One day she hopes to participate in the World Olympics in the four by one hundred relay, the one hundred and two hundred meter dashes, and the long jump.

By Sr. Ryan Rowland and Sr. Jon Perry

The senior QB has high hopes for himself and the team this year. Nick has been playing football since he was in the third grade and has played on every recreational or school team possible since then. He is an extremely hard worker on the field and in the classroom, a quality he has picked up from his parents who constantly remind him of the “No Pass, No Play” rule. He is involved with church activities at Zion Hill Baptist Church, and he loves spending time at home him with his family. This focus has allowed him to develop a gregarious personality and provided the spark for his main goal in life—to be a “future leader in America.” Nick’s immediate hopes for college and a career also show his ability to set and achieve goals. He wants to major in Political Science, possibly at Morehouse or Howard or any accredited university with a scholarship offer. He then plans to further his education in law with the eventual goal of becoming a lawyer. Even though he is known most for his football skills, Nick also has a passion for basketball. Since middle school, he has gone straight from football season into basketball season and has maintained a high GPA through both sport seasons. He thinks playing both sports helps him stay in great shape, and he loves the challenge

associated with going directly from one sport into the other. In fact, there are not many challenges in school or sports that Nick won’t gladly tackle. Senior Nick C. Smith displays the characteristics of a winner and is the appropriate choice for a leader on the gridiron. By Sr., Ragan Whitlock

Photo by Sr. Ryan Rowland Proudly Sponsored by:Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads

Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf House

Kemory AndersonNorthgate High School

Nick SmithNewnan High School

Jordan RiversEast Coweta High School

Student Athlete of the Month

Micayla Patterson, born in Laguna Beach, California on the 26th of May in 1995, is a junior this year and an important part of Trinity Christian School’s volleyball team. Her interest in volleyball began when her uncle attended the Junior Olympic Games, and since then Micayla has played on both school and club teams for over three years. She has been playing as a setter for two years. One of her favorite professional players is Mary Ashley Tippins, a setter for Georgia Tech who is scheduled to graduate in December of this year, and like Tippins, Micayla plans to continue playing volleyball throughout her college career. Says head coach Joe Camp of Micayla.: “I never have any doubt she is giving her best… It normally takes an athlete three to four years to become a top-notch performer at this position. Micayla has been able to accomplish this task in only two years, as she has become one of the best setters in GISA [Georgia

Independent Schools Association].” Micayla is also a strong Christian and has a bright future ahead of her. By Rachel Hess and Olivia Brewer

In Heritage Christian School’s 2011 home opener against a strong Community Christian team, senior Noah Parkerson started his season in outstanding form. With 120 yds. rushing, three touchdowns on offense and 9 tackles on defense, his gifted leadership qualities were manifested

on the field in high profile. He is also an excellent student, maintaining an “A” average, and exhibits exceptional leadership qualities on and off the field. As a Homeschooler, Noah is afforded the opportunity to play on the Heritage Christian School’s varsity football team. Noah plans to continue his education at a US Service Academy in pursuit of becoming a Pilot.

Candler Rich is a junior at The Heritage School in Newnan, GA. As a running back Candler is a two time All Region, All State and All County performer. In his first game as a junior Candler set the school record for rushing yards in a career, surpassing his brother Christopher. As a sophomore Candler was responsible for 30 touchdowns (rushing, receiving, passing, returns) while also pulling double duty as the Hawks starting free safety. “He is a special one, that’s for sure,” says Hawks head coach Kevin Prisant. Candler is also an All Region performer in baseball where he was a member of the 2010 State Championship team. On the basketball court Rich has been a starter for two years and is what Coach Rusty Evans calls “relentless” on defense. Off the playing fields Candler is SGA vice president while carrying a 4.0 + GPA. At the young age of 16 Rich is unsure of athletic plans after high school, but does know he will major in Pre-Med or Engineering. “I would like to play college football, but it has to have great academics.” With two years left of playing time look for Rich to rewrite the record books at The Heritage School until graduation in 2013.

Proudly Sponsored by:Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads

Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf House

Micayla PattersonTrinity Christian School

Candler RichThe Heritage School

Noah ParkersonHeritage Christian School

Student Athlete of the Month

Will is 12 years old and in 7th grade at Arnall Middle School. He started playing football when he was five years old. He is now the starting quarterback for the Arnall Knights. Will says that football has taught him leadership, and sportsmanship that he carries with him each time he touches the field. His says his favorite part about being a quarterback is when he gets to throw passes during the game. He says eventually he wants to play in the NFL, but his immediate goal is to win the Coweta County Middle School football championship.

By Robyn Clarke

Matthew is in 8th Grade at East Coweta Middle. He plays football for EC and baseball for the Senoia Sluggers. Matthew has played baseball for nine years and recently joined the East Coweta Middle football team. Matthew plays wingback and outside linebacker for the team. His favorite thing about playing sports is being part of a brotherhood and having friends to count on. Matthew is an Honor Roll student and received the Presidential Gold award on Honor’s Day. In his free time Matthew enjoys hunting and fishing. Matthew plans to attend Auburn University when he graduates from high school.

According to Coach Amber McClure, Hannah is a born leader on and off the court. As a 7th grader at Smokey Road Middle School, she is playing volleyball for the first time. In the first month she has picked up the game very quickly. She quickly acclimated to the position of setter, which is likened to a quarterback in football or a catcher in baseball. Hannah loves the rush of the fans cheering for her during a game. When not on the court, Hannah enjoys participating in any outdoor activity. Hannah takes her academics just as serious as her athletics. Her coach as well as other teachers at Smokey Road Middle School are impressed with her leadership qualities. Hannah gives credit to her parents for influencing her the most. Hannah’s infectious smile and positive attitude, is very contagious among her fellow students and teammates. By Javoris Taggart

Proudly Sponsored by:Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads

Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf House

Matthew RaganEast Coweta Middle School

Hannah HaugenSmokey Road Middle School

Will LaguardiaArnall Middle School

Student Athlete of the Month

Riley is a seventh grade member of the Lee Timberwolves volleyball team coached by Robert Doyal and Shele Ferry. Last season her sister Casey Padgett was a member of the undefeated CCMSAL Volleyball Champions at Lee. Riley has been playing volleyball since she was nine years old. She plays on the Tsunami Club Team in the south metro Atlanta area. In volleyball she mainly plays outside but occasionally she is a “setter”. Riley has also played travel softball for 6 years. This includes playing in the USFA World Series 3 times and the ASA Nationals one time (ASA being the highest level of softball) She also enjoys playing basketball and has played organized ball for 6 years. She plans to try out for the Lee basketball team this year. First, she hopes to follow in her sister’s footsteps and guide this year’s Timberwolves Volleyball team to another league championship.

Not only is Caroline a great player on and off the court, but she also starts for the Lady Cougars volleyball team, is a member of Beta Club, and she is a straight A honor roll student. Caroline starts as an outside hitter for the Evans volleyball team, and she is always

making some awesome saves! Coach Horton said, “Caroline Thomas is a great person to have on the team! She is such a good player and very encouraging to all other members of the team, and she always helps them out.” Usually she makes five or six saves per game, those five or six points

sometimes saving the Cougars from a loss! So, anybody that comes to the Evans volleyball games, watch out for Caroline Thomas, #2 on the court

An eighth grader at Madras Middle School, Lauren is a not only a standout volleyball player but an accomplished student as well. Her academic teachers describe her as “driven, detail oriented, and creative,” while Coach Kelly Benton says her “killer serve, aggressiveness, and dedication to the team” make her a Madras standout. According to Lauren, hard work is a key component to her success. “Nothing good would be achieved without the hard work you have to put into it. Even on the days when I don’t feel like practicing, I show up and give my best.” When she’s not playing with the Lady Eagles, Lauren can be found on the tennis court or riding her horse, Admiral.

Written by Mrs. Cochran’s 8th grade students

Proudly Sponsored by:Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads

Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf HouseRiley Padgett

Lee Middle School

Lauren HandleyMadras Middle School

Caroline ThomasEvans Middle School

Sports Concussions

Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads & Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf HouseProudly Sponsored by:

Sports ConcussionsGeorge Ballantyne, M.D. Georgia Bone and Joint

A new high school sports yeAr is fAst ApproAching, bringing with it exciting gAmes And unfortunAtely new injuries. One of the injuries receiving the most attention in the media is that of concussions. Though football players have the highest incidence of concussions, concussions can occur in all high school sports with girls soccer players having the second highest incidence of

concussions (there concussion rate is 68% higher than their male soccer

players) A concussion is an injury to the brain that causes immediate impairment of neurologic function as the result of a forceful blow to the head. Symptoms can include disorientation,memory loss, nausea, headaches,loss of consciousness or vision changes.

Concussions are classified as

Grade 1; confusion secondary to mild head injury, but full memory of the event;

Grade 2; confusion with difficulty recalling, the event, but no loss of consciousness;

Grade 3; confusion with loss of consciousness and no memory of the event.

Athletes who sustain a concussion are four times more likely to sustain another concussion. If an athlete sustains any of the symptoms of a concussion they should be thoroughly evaluated by a certified athletic trainer or physician. Thirty states have enacted concussion laws requiring clearance by a physician before the athlete can resume athletics, Though there are rough guidelines for resumption of sport participation each case should be treated on an individual basis. Typically an athlete has to be asymptomatic for at least a week before being allowed to resume athletic participation. Special diagnostic tests such as CT scans or MRIs are warranted if there is a loss of consciousness longer than 5 seconds,concerns for a fracture or a focal neurological deficit.

There are many unanswered questions about the etiology of concussions, ways to evaluate them, and the long term effects they have on our brain. We do not understand why some athletes are more susceptible to these injuries than others. Screening tests involving both cognitive skills and reaction times are being incorporated in sports physicals to better assess the effects of concussions on athletes and to provide better guidelines as to when the athlete can return to play. All head injuries should be treated with great respect and caution,and the athletes best long term heath and safety must be the priority of everyone involved in their care.

Shaun

My name is Shaun Dailey and I am a husband, father, teacher, coach and athlete. I am very fortunate to

be in a place in my life teaching where I can influence young people in a positive way to become who they aspire to be. I have played sports my entire life and have learned many lessons through sports that have helped me become a productive citizen, good husband and father. I played football and baseball for the better part of my life and it is what has helped mold me. I rely heavily on the values that were instilled through sport and those are the things that I feel are important to pass on to my athletes. I attended the University of West Georgia and that is where I met my wife Heather. I didn’t play college ball due to the onset of a muscular disorder in my calf muscles that limited my agility and speed. I did not like being stagnate and not being active so I began doing something that didn’t involve running but was still a very aggressive sport, motocross! I pursued this for many years achieving many goals and loved being competitive again. At that time in my life I was traveling across the country chasing

races and trying to pursue my goal of being the next Ricky Carmichael, a pro racer. My motocross career soon turned into another type of racing called Hare Scrambles which I was guided into through my brother in law. I still had the goal of making my name in the sport and I did but never got a paycheck for it. All the while I was still in college and soon graduated which was a milestone in my life. My first job after graduation was for Upson County at Upson Lee Middle teaching P.E and coaching football. I really enjoyed the small town scene and had a great time coaching football. I aspired to get into Coweta County as soon as I could since I lived in Senoia and dreamt of coaching and teaching in my own community. I eventually got an offer at Smokey Road Middle teaching P.E and coaching track and helping with football. While at SRMS I got an offer to coach cross country for Newnan High and accepted. I enjoyed coaching a varsity sport and had good success with this as well. During this time Heather and I had kids and my motorcycle career had to come to a stop due to finances and travel time away. Even

DaileyCOACH SHAUN DAILEY’S STORY OF PERSONAL CONVICTION WILL INSPIRE ALL THAT READ HIS STORY. COACH DAILY IS A TEACHER AND COACH AT EAST COWETA MIDDLE SCHOOL. IN THE WORDS OF PRINCIPAL, DR. NANCY COOK; “SHAUN HAS OVERCOME A PHYSICAL HANDICAP TO BECOME ONE OF COWETA COUNTY’S GREATEST COACHES. COACH DAILY INSPIRERS ALL THAT KNOW HIM.”

though the racing filled a void in my athletic life it never completely satisfied the desire for me to be able to run. The little things in life like running around the yard or jogging to pick up a ball that my son threw over my head are often taken for granted. Not by me, I dreamt of being able to do those little things. I could not accept the fact that physically I was unable to run. With my disorder my calf muscles lose their ability to fire and eventually weakened to nothing and I had to figure out a way to overcome this. I am a very mechanical minded person and started drawing plans to modify shoes and leg braces that would enable me to run. I sat many nights thinking and hoping that something would come of my plans and my dream. I began to put my plans in to action and eventually came up with a normal shoe that had to be cut in half with a band saw and created this Frankenstein looking shoe. I had my friend that owns a p r o s t h e t i c company to assist and he made my leg braces that I’m sure many of you have seen me wear. The time came for me to try these contraptions out and it was like the clouds parted and God shined his light on me. I wasn’t able to run normally but it was more than a walk! With my completive spirit I immediately set what seemed to be an unreasonable goal, to do a small triathlon. I trained and trained for this short 400 yard swim, 13 mile bike and 3.1 mile run and race day was coming quick. The day was finally upon me and it was time to perform. I did well that day and was extremely proud of

my accomplishment and during the race saw a guy with a tattoo on his ankle that looked weird but later found out that it meant that he had finished the biggest triathlon, the Ironman. That image stuck in my head and I soon had a new goal! My mother who also has this disorder always blamed herself for handing it down genetically and I would always tell her that I was as happy as I could be but it didn’t help. I wanted

to show my mother and anyone else who doubted, that adversity was

just a wall to be climbed and conquered. I trained for two years “ R o c k y Balboa” style and would not

let up no matter what kind of pain I was in, with the goal of finishing the Ironman. Often times I would put myself in the most adverse

conditions just to make sure I was doing enough so there would be no question of failure. I would swim in Lake Peachtree when it was

freezing cold, run in the nighttime after my boys went to bed and ride a stationary bike in a cinder block room with no fan or

windows. The one question that I feared the most was that question that you ask yourself when no one is around, did I work hard enough? Race day finally came and the location was Panama City Beach, lucky for me because these races are far apart in location and I was practically raised in the gulf. I was in the best shape of my life and my whole family was there to support me. The race was full in capacity at around 2000 entries and we all started in a coral

about the size of a basketball gym. With my toes in the water and the sun just breaking the coast, the cannon went off and it was a physical fight just to find space to swim. People often die in this portion of the race due to the number of athletes and the tight quarters as you have to swim in a certain area. The swim portion is 2.4 miles and if you have ever swam in the gulf once you get to that dark water, it gets eerie!! At the furthest point of the swim looking back at the beach was like looking at a thin white line with the condos looking like little cereal boxes. It’s a long way out! The swim went great for me and at one point I saw a

soft-shell turtle swimming about 15 feet below me, pretty neat! The bike portion was next and it was a long 112 miles towards north Florida and back. The bike was hot and straight like Florida roads typically are but I tried to enjoy some of the scenery. It took me about 6 or so hours to finish the bike portion and then come back to the place I left from to lace up my shoes for the 26.2 mile run. The run portion was a full marathon and went from one end of the beach to St. Andrews State park and back. We had to do this twice. The sun set on my second loop of the run and it was pitch black with nothing but the sound of my shoes hitting the ground at times. During this portion I became full of emotion in reflection of all of my training and the joy that my family would have if I could make it. Honestly, I heard that Rocky music in my head, you have heard it too at times I’m sure!! I had finally made it to the final stretch of road after 13 hours and 40 something minutes and began to hear the fans cheering and the finish line lights get brighter and brighter. When I came across the finish line I could not begin to tell you the feeling I had, it was indescribable. My family was there as well as hundreds of others and I had achieved the goal that was so unreasonable at one point in my life. The greatest feeling was the look on my mother’s face; it was as if a weight had been lifted from her. Aside from my mother, I also wanted to

prove to my own sons, 3 of them, Lucas, Connor and Alex that no matter what life throws at you, you CAN overcome with hard work and belief. My boys are small now at the ages of 6, 4 and 2 and probably don’t understand my message to them, but one day they will remember or might just rummage through some of dads old stuff and come across a copy of Game Day Magazine and read this article? Now, present time I am teaching P.E and coaching Football and Track at ECMS. My personal goals and accomplishments are fuel for me to inspire our young folks. I have high hopes for our young people and am honored to be in a position to achieve a goal much bigger than Ironman, which is, changing lives! I am a person full of hope and motivation and hope that I can instill this trait in our young people. I believe in hard work and pride in what I do. I appreciate this opportunity to share a little bit of myself with you. See ya round!!

Sincerely,

Shaun Dailey

I wanted to show my mother and anyone else who doubted that adversity was just a wall to

be climbed and conquered.

By Ryan PostAssistant Football Coach, East Coweta High School

Gaining Exposure During the Recruiting Process

Madonna never made a bad career decision in her life. That is a profound statement for an article concerning the exposure kids need in order to get recruited. There’s an old saying that goes, any publicity is good publicity. It has worked throughout Madonna’s career, but I’ll be a bit tamer with my suggestions for the college recruiting process.

With over 300,000 high school seniors playing football annually, there is a need for a player to get his name out there for the college scouts to see. What are the options available, and which avenues create the best exposure?

First, Get started in the recruiting process early. Before the Internet, varsity playing time was a prerequisite for entering the recruiting process. Nowadays, the variety of players in a recruiter’s database is huge. A younger sibling or son of a current or former player will demand interest at an early age. Also, players who dominate their peers, or show extraordinary skill, will provide cause for seeking exposure. Even if that’s not the case, you don’t want your son to be left behind while others leap ahead and gain exposure.

One of the easiest ways to get

the recruiting process started is attending a nationally recognized combine. What is a combine, you might ask? A combine will usually test your son’s strength, speed and agility along with recording his height and weight. A few internet based companies have been around for years and will include a player profile and a player rating on their website. These combines work for college coaches because they are able to compare the ability of one athlete to many others at a single event. The cost of these combines range from $40 to $120+.

Camps are another way to gain exposure for your son and are usually held on the campus of a college or university. These may be position specific or team camps. If your son would like to gain exposure at a specific university, then attending that program’s camp is definitely the way to do it. Like a combine, a camp will measure height and weight, but they typically

don’t test strength or speed. Many camps will supplement their own staff with qualified high school coaches, but make sure that the college coaches will be involved in the direction of the skill drills. The coaches will evaluate players during these drills to see not just how they perform, but also to see how well they handle coaching, in other words, how coachable they really are. During the freshman and sophomore years, a player may benefit more from a team camp where he has the opportunity to spend more time with the coaches while learning a variety of skills.

During his junior year, a player should consider attending a “One-Day Camp” at a school where he has the ability and likelihood of playing. The One-Day Camp offers smaller skill groups. Also, many universities offer One-Day Camps that are position specific or position limited. A “linemen only” camp will focus on the skills and techniques necessary for playing along the offensive or defensive line. The players will be placed in groups and run through drills that emphasize good technique for their position. The coaches will narrow down the players to a few prospects to see how they perform during a best on best session later in the day. Even without pads, a player should be

able to demonstrate his ability to execute those techniques taught during the camp.

There is a lot of discussion amongst college coaches in the media concerning the use of so called “street agents.” Typically, this is a person who will, for a fee, create a highlight tape of your son and shop him around to various programs. If you are a parent in a situation where you don’t have the time to invest in the recruiting process, or you don’t have knowledge about the process, then this may seem like a valid solution to help your son. College coaches view dealing with a “street agent” as a necessary evil, because if a prospective student athlete is talented, the only way to deal with him may be through this intermediary. The negative aspect is that these individuals have no certification, association, or legal responsibility that controls their actions. As a parent, you are giving up your voice to this person and letting them speak on your family’s behalf. Since amateur athletes may not hire agents, there is no fee contract between you and I NCAA: “Estimated Probability of

Competing in Athletics Beyond the High School Interscholastic Level” the “street agent.” You need to ask, “What is the incentive for this person to help my son?” Universities, coaches, and players may face repercussions if there is any impropriety, as the “street agent” walks away clean.

How can you tell if a program is interested in offering your son a scholarship? Attend the Spring Game. A program’s Spring Game is usually a big festivity for players and fans. It is the culmination of Spring Practice, and it is an opportunity for fans to see the faces of their favorite team. It is also an opportunity for the coaches to show off the facilities to prospective players. If, during this visit, your son is receiving more attention than most of the other prospective players, you can bet the coaches are interested. Introducing your son during lunch will give his position coach an opportunity to size him up. If a coach says that they are looking at several different players at his position, it usually means their interest in your son is low.

The recruiting process has changed over the last 15 years dramatically. Gone are the days where the high school football coach was the only source of information about a player. Some internet based recruiting services have become trusted due to their longevity and diligence in improving their product which is providing reliable information about recruits. College coaches now are faced with the challenge of sorting through all of the information about players available, regardless of their source. The more exposure that you can provide for your son through trusted sources, the better the chance that he will be noticed by these recruiters, and increase his opportunities to earn that revered scholarship.

Ryan Post is in his third season as a coach at East Coweta High School. He has been coaching high school football since 1991 in both Florida and Georgia including time spent as a varsity offensive and defensive coordinator. More information on recruiting can be seen on the East Coweta Indians Football website at: www.eastcowetafootball.com under the tab ”Recruiting.”

Game Day

Game DayQ

&AWho are your favorite college and pro football teams? What is your favorite tailgate food?

Sara Herdaage 11

UGA BulldogsVikings

When I tailgate I like Chesseburgers.

Camero Handage 10

GT Yellow JacketsFalcons

I like Ribs and steak when I tailgate.

Jonathan Klaustermeyer

age 5Auburn Tigers

ChiefsI like Pizza.

Colt Donleyage 6

U of Kentucky WildcatsColts

When I tailgate I like to eat hotdogs.

Austin Roystonage 14

Oklahoma SoonersColts

My favorite tailgate food is pizza.

Zaurionne Crowder

age 14Duke Blue Devils

PatriotsBuffalo Wings are

what I like to eat when tailgating.

Tanesha Dorseyage 14

GT Yellow JacketsSaints

When I tailgate, I like to eat chips.

Emma Barronage 7

UGA BulldogsFalcons

My favorite tailgate food is chip and dip.

Braden Blevinsage 11

UGA BulldogsEagles

When I tailgate I like Hamburgers.

Garrett Loweryage 10

UGA BulldogsJets

My favorite tailgate food are hotdogs.

Aldo Rodriguezage 10

UGA BulldogsSaints

When I tailgate, I like pizza.

Owen DeBoleage 10

Mercer Bears (2012)Saints

I like lemon pepper chicken wings from

Peoples Choice.

Do You Remember ...........Harvest Gold

For many parents living in Coweta County today, attending a high school football game brings back memories of our own experiences. For me those memories are every Newnan High School football game from the mid-seventies until I graduated in 1986. Living in a town with less than 30,000 residents, Friday nights were spent at Drake Stadium or following our team to play rivals such as LaGrange or Griffin. But it wasn’t just about the football team. We loved our band, we loved our cheerleaders and we loved our coach.Newnan High School football has decades of history. History can be traced back to the 1921 season when Newnan went undefeated, untied and even unscored upon. Their only loss that year was in the state prep championship. Then there was the 1927 team. That team was the last team to beat our long standing rivals, LaGrange, until 1950. When the 1950 win came the fans went crazy wild and drove their cars in circles around the courthouse square, blowing horns in a fit of celebration.

It can be said that a new era of football began at Newnan High School when Max Bass was hired as both the athletic director and head coach. His first season was in 1966 and he coached the very first game ever played in Drake Stadium - a stadium that is 45 years old. That team went 9-0-1 and won the region title. But to some, the best times in Newnan High

S c h o o l

football history coincide with the Harvest Gold Uniform era. These were the years when the Cougars wore uniforms the same color as a football. We will never know whether the jerseys were a calculated move to camouflage the football or if it just sort of happened. Either way, these jerseys were worn for several years before being discarded for a more traditional color pallet, but they will forever remain the memories for those who followed the Cougars during this time. A time when things were much less driven by rules.

These years are not really about the uniforms, but about a time when football in Newnan was king. Living in a town with less than 30,000 residents most of us found ourselves relishing in the Friday night lights. It was a time when cheerleaders cheered for the team, the band played and marched without special effects and majorettes twirled in flashy costumes. In Newnan, it was a time when everybody supported the team.

I have some of my fondest memories about the high school homecoming parade. These were grand affairs. Each class took weeks to build their floats and many times hid them from other classmates. Downtown Newnan was completely full with a variety of shops. Every window downtown would be painted so elaborately that you couldn’t see inside the stores. The parade itself was grand. Before we all became so concerned about law suits, kids were allowed to ride on top of fire trucks, large flatbed trucks would carry the football team, a hundred kids strong. The best part was the candy. Every float carried teenagers armed with candy, and they threw it! Yes, they threw it at people on the side of the road. As far as I know, no

o n e was ever maimed. Memories of NHS football will always remain with me. It was an institution that took many parts to succeed – Johnny Brown (Newnan Times Herald Sports Editor), Coach Bass, the band, the cheerleaders and the Harvest Gold Jerseys that still

make all of us laugh.

I played for Newnan High School during the 1979, 1980, and 1981 seasons. In fact I played for Max Bass who coached at Newnan High School from the mid 1960’s until the early 1990’s. Coach Bass won more than 200 games at Newnan high school and I r was honored to be a part of his 100th win. The 1981 season was the last time that Newnan played for a state championship. We lost to Warner Robins. We finished that year 13-2, with the only other loss that year to LaGrange. Back then you played two post season games to determine the Region Champion so we were re-matched with LaGrange. Needless to say it was a very high profile game in the state. Newnan was the underdog. Callaway stadium was packed with people flowing out of the stands and standing around the fence on both ends of the field. The LaGrange faithful would sit behind the Newnan bench and taunt the players before and during the game. We won this game which ended a two year losing, which at the time was coached by Danny Chronic (another hall of fame coach) of EC fame. Griffin was another rivalry and a tough place to play a football game. The crowd was known to be rowdy and they sat literally just feet from the field on the visitors and side and end zones. During the late 1970’s and early 1980’s they were known for their speed and size. They would frequently have several world class sprinters on the offensive side of the ball and a few monsters on defense. In particular players like Willy Gault and Freddie Gilbert.

My senior year we played Griffin in Newnan, at the time we were both undefeated and state ranked. The game was hard fought. Drake Stadium was packed out and all the seats were filled with people standing all around and the big bank full of people. Newnan was leading in the 4th quarter 14-7 and holding on for all we were worth. Griffin scored bringing the score to 14-13 but failed on the PAT. Later in the game they drove the ball to inside the 30 yard line but were faced with a 4 and long situation. Their coach decided to go for it instead of making the field goal attempt. As I remember it our corner back, in a spectacular play, knocked a pass down in the end zone ending the Griffin threat. The game would end 14-13 and that also ended Griffin’s perfect season hopes and started a 2 or 3 game losing streak. The story goes that the Griffin fans were so angry about the loss that they hung the coach’s dog in his front yard that night. The harvest gold jersey scandal is a great Georgia football story and just one of many stories about Coach Bass. The jerseys in question were worn against North Clayton. The North Clayton coach decided that the jerseys were the same color as the football and that they gave the Newnan running backs an advantage that was unfair. Now I know you have to be thinking what was Newnan doing wearing “harvest gold” (Texas Orange, actually). Well Coach Bass was known for looking for and getting “deals” on all kinds of stuff but in particular jerseys. We would have multiple game jerseys each year and might look very different from year to year. As a matter of fact my senior year we

wore silver helmets and pants but of course only Blue or White jerseys because our harvest gold (Texas orange) had been outlawed.We did not throw away the harvest gold though. In fact we used them against one team in warm ups and what I remember the most about that game was how the other coaching staff and team spent the warm up time demanding that we not wear the Harvest gold and protesting the outcome of the game before the kickoff. We went after warm ups, put on our navy blue home jerseys and beat the team. I learned a valuable coaching lesson from this game. In particular to focus on your team preparation for the game and to not get carried away with the hype or shenanigans of the other team, and of course sometimes it pays to divert the attention of a gullible coach from the task at hand. I do in fact still own my #57 harvest gold jersey. The only one of many that I once owned. Over the years I gave away the others, but this one is special. It came back to me a few years ago when my friend Coach Black at Smokey Road asked if I would like to have it. He knew the significance of the jersey.

By Robert Skinner

#54 Keith Carroll

All children of the South know that football is almost a religion in itself. Because I was a girl and couldn’t play football, I chose the logical solution to learn to play an instrument and join the band. I will never forget trying out for what was then called junior high band at O.P. Evans. On that day, Mr. John Ritch gently removed the xylophone mallets from my hands, offered me a clarinet instead, and said, “Try this.” During my sophomore year I traded the clarinet for a baton and began practicing tosses and twirls. Being a majorette in that era was an opportunity to be involved in an essential element of high school life. We lived for the weeks of football season, which actually began during the summer with band camp and summer practice. Each afternoon we endured hours in the sweltering sunshine to prepare our routines for the upcoming games, with the grunting, panting sounds of strong young boys on the nearby football field filling in the pauses between the music. The decision of what uniforms to order each year was a crucial one—would it be black velvet with rhinestones, or gold lamé, or Cougar blue with sequins? Add to that our dramatic black capes and white leather

boots, a staple to each year’s couture. And yes, it is true, we twirled fire. I remember one particular game when a certain majorette dropped her fire baton and her pantyhose briefly sparked into life. She put out the sparks and went on with the routine. During those years we had regular pep rallies where Max Bass would do his best to stir up a fighting spirit in the entire student body. And it seemed we always won. Of course I remember the “harvest gold” football jerseys, which did indeed appear to be the exact color of a football (much to Coach Bass’s righteous disbelief). Each Friday night from August to December promised a football game, whether home or away, and band competitions along with football playoffs served as end punctuation to the season. Before participating in band, I was a very reserved, shy girl; band offered me the opportunity to make new friends, learn leadership skills, and develop self-confidence. I learned many lessons from being in the band—that teammates help each other out, that perseverance always pays off, and that if you play the game well, you win no matter what the score. And also, that you can never have too much glitter.

Do you have a story you would like to share with Game Day Magazine?

Contact us at cowetagameday@yahoo.com

“Some say the uniforms were ordered to camouflage the football from opposing teams, but I remember differently.” Rick Barnes, a member of the 1978 team, fondly remembers the distribution of the jerseys. “They really weren’t the same color – that is – unless they were wet. I remember Coach Bass calling me aside at practice and holding the football up to my jersey, no match unless you sweat a lot.” Although such a controversy might have been news for the local paper and rival teams, Rick only remembers the things that Max Bass and booster club did for the team. “It’s funny the things you remember but I just remember how great Hoss was to us and how the team always had everything they needed during the season. Barnes’ recollections are mostly of chartered buses for away games and Santa Claus Thursdays, but only if we won the week before.“

Santa Claus Thursdays would be the last practice before game day and Coach Bass would let us wear funny hats during practice and would let the cheerleaders serve us Coca-Colas and brownies in the end zone as a reward. The cheerleaders were considered a part of the team. “Today these things probably would never happen because money is always an issue, but back then booster club members would make sure every player had what they needed. I even recall Coach Bass buying cleats for players who couldn’t afford them.” Rick remembers how the bus would always stop on the way home for a steak dinner after each away game. No players were ever asked to pay. Most remarkable were the tear away jerseys that the team had. They were so expensive, but we had them. “Mostly I just remember how the community provided for us”

Dr. Julie DurranceNewnan High School Marjorette

Rick BarnesNewnan High School Football

Chick-fil-A at Thomas Crossroads & Chick-fil-A at Newnan Dwarf House770-254-9140 770-502-9502

Birthday Parties

Team PartiesFamily Fun

Miniature Glow Golf

Arcade with 60 games

Cosmic BowlingFull Service

Cafe Come after

the Game

•Fundraiser Events•Free Wi-Fi•On line reservations•Family Discounts

141 Newnan Station Drive•Newnan•770-683-2695

www.junctionlanes.comClose to Peachtree City and Tyrone

Plan some fun at the areas Best Family Entertainment Center

Friday & Saturday 9 am - 1 amSunday-Thursday 9 am - 11 pm

FREE BOWLING1ST Game Free

One game per person per coupon. Up to 4 people in each group can bowl one free

game. Coupon good for 4 free games.

FREE BOWLING1st Game Free

One game per person per coupon. Up to 4 people in each group can bowl

one free game.

T he atmosphere is electric under the bright lights of Garland Shoemake Stadium. The fans are pleased that their football team is up by 17 points at halftime. Suddenly a hush falls across the stadium as the East Coweta High School Marching band falls into position on the field. Music floats out over the stands and mesmerizes the audience as the band goes through their carefully choreographed routine. High schoolers dressed in purple and gold uniforms are an extension of the hard working players on the East Coweta field on this hot Friday night.

Chandler Workman seems like an ordinary tenth grader talking about school and homework. Oh… except for the over twenty seven hours per week he spends practicing and playing with the East Coweta High School marching band. Chandler plays the alto saxophone and is the treasurer for the Marching Indians.

According to the East Coweta Marching Band website the primary objectives of the band program are cultural, educational, service, citizenship and recreational. The Marching Indians are led by Robert Owens, who has been with the band for ten years, and Chris Neidhardt who has been with the band for five years. There are great opportunities when you are in the marching band. During the 2010 Thanksgiving holiday the band traveled to Hawaii and a few years before that, they were invited to perform in Rome, Italy. They also take part in competitions every year such Bands of America. They perform in parades on Christmas and Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Chandler played in the Arnall Middle School band in sixth through eighth grades and

was recruited by Owens and Neidhardt to play for East Coweta High School. His sister Breanna was also a member of the Marching Indians before she graduated in May. Chris

Neidhardt says that Chandler started out playing several different instruments before settling on the alto saxophone which meant he had to work that much harder than the other band

members to learn his chosen instrument.

The marching b a n d is a huge c o m m i t m e n t requiring practices every day

of the week except Wednesdays. If there is a game on Friday night

they may not get home until 11 pm. On Saturdays the Marching

Indians practice from nine am to nine pm. All of this is in addition to school, homework and

family time. Chandler said there is little opportunity for a social life outside of band

but “there is time in band practice to hang out and have fun.” Band members don’t just

practice at school. They also have set aside time for practicing at home and memorizing

music. Being in band is also a significant financial commitment. Depending on equipment needed

a student and his family could spend $650 and up. Band members and their families also have to make a commitment to participate in fundraisers and raise a certain amount of money for the band. Chandler’s father, Brent Workman says, “It is a huge time commitment.” But he feels like his son is learning important life skills. “He has learned how to balance his time.” He feels when his son goes to college he

Half time entertainment…full time commitment…

By Susan Crutchfield

will be better prepared to be independent and work on his own. “Some people think in band we just practice two hours a week but the football players they are out here twelve hours a week,” Chandler said. “We are out here just as late as they are, sometimes earlier, sometimes later. We both practice really hard.” Neidhardt says the band members work really hard because they aren’t just in band. “Several of our kids participate in other activities besides band such as sports and other organizations.” Neidhardt says band members are multi faceted and in spite of the time commitment can participate in other activities.

Chandler says the best part about playing in the band is “meeting new people and Friday nights.” A typical Friday game night consists of band members being at the field by five pm. They practice in the parking lot and then put their uniforms on and

march to the stadium. They play “The Star-Spangled Banner” before the game starts and then they hike up the bleachers to play the stand tunes throughout the game. They put on a big production at half time. They usually are not finished until 10 or 11 at night.

Chandler suggests that any youth in middle school interested in being in a high school band should come out and watch the Marching Indians practice and observe their performances during games. Neidhardt agrees with this advice and says it is important to join the middle school band and practice a as much as possible, as often as possible.

Although being in band is a huge commitment one can sense the joy and excitement of all the Marching Indians when they are on the field or performing among the fans in the bleachers. They truly enjoy what they do. Chandler said it best when asked what his least favorite part of marching band was, “There isn’t one.”

Half time entertainment…full time commitment…

Photo by Susan Crutchfield

A Word from GloerTrash Talk

“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” [Matthew 12:34-37]

It is plain, it is simple, and it is Biblical: Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks. The things that come out of our mouths are in direct relation to the things we have stored up in our hearts. In other words, what we are saying is an indication of what our heart is really like. Gossip, slander, filthy language, and things of the like do not just flow openly out of our mouths for no apparent reason; they are flowing from the source in which those things were put, the heart. Sometimes it may be simple to watch your mouth around a certain crowd of people or you may be able to clean up your speech for a short period of time; however that still cannot solve the problem of your heart. We must humble ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us and fill us with new attitudes from within. Then, and only then, will our mouths and the words that proceed from them be cleansed at the source.

A few weeks ago I was sitting in Starbucks drinking some coffee and studying God’s Word when a man and a woman came and sat at the table right next to me. With that famous coffee shop being my normal study hole, I always seem to observe or meet very interesting people. I had my headphones in as I was rockin’ out to Jeremy Camp and thumbing through the Sermon on the Mount in the book of Matthew. Due to the music that was blaring in my headphones, I could not hear what the people were talking about, but when the CD came to an end, my ears were in for a surprise.

I continued to read and study while taking some notes from the commentary I had come across, but through overhearing their conversation, I could no longer think straight. The two that sat just a few feet away from me were apparently leaders at a church in this town. They were talking in a very religious slang and began to embark down a trail of gossip. It turned into over an hour of complaining, slandering, and utter negativity, all while having a smile on their faces as they laughed about it. Here are some of the things I figured out: They were both married. They were not sitting with their spouses. They did not like their church leadership. They complained about the organization of the church. The music wasn’t what they wanted it to be. Shall I say more? I cannot recall a single reason why I would ever want to visit that church.

The book of Second Timothy tells us to avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Thankfully I never got the name of the church that these leaders were representing because I’m sure my opinion would be scarred because of their nonsense. If there was an unbeliever sitting in the chair next to them, I think they would continue to be an unbeliever. There is no way that Jesus or anything of the church would seem positive or loving after overhearing an hour long rambling of gossip.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we must be careful with what we choose to put into our bodies because at some point it is going to eventually come out. Our words carry far more of an influence than we may ever realize. “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” [Proverbs 10:19]

Ryan Gloer is the Campus Director for

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Each year thousands of high school athletes participate in sports competitions resulting in bodily injuries, ranging from sprains and strains to concussions. The health benefits of engaging in organized sports are conducive to maintaining an active and productive life; there is always a risk, however, for sustaining an injury with such intense physical interaction. Keeping the injury frequency at a minimum while encouraging the participation in contact sports, is an important area for further study.

The High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study conducted by Dr. Dawn Comstock during the 2009-2010 high school sports season involving 117 athletic trainers examined exposure data regarding frequency of participation in athletic activities including training, practice, and competition 1. The results of the study were used to develop injury prevention methods such as changes in coaching habits and increased use of protective equipment. Most of the studies conducted previously involved collegiate athletes with obvious biophysiological differences such as lower muscle mass and immature growth plates invalidating the generalization to the high school population.

Some of the relevant findings of Dr. Comstock’s study include: the most frequent injuries over

all types of sports were strain and sprain

i n j u r i e s ; body site of

i n j u r y w a s m o s t

frequent at the ankle, followed by head/face, knee, hand/wrist, high/thigh/upper leg, and shoulder; most commonly injured ankle structure was the anterior talofibular ligament followed by the calcaneofibular ligament; most common knee injury was the medial collateral ligament (MCL) followed by the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL); time loss for competition and practice averaged 3-6 days; overall surgery required was 8% ; recurrence of injuries was 6-7%. For football injuries findings include: body site of injury was most frequent for the head/face followed by the knee, shoulder, hand/wrist, ankle, and hip/thigh/upper leg; recurrence of injuries was 5-6%; and most injuries occurred from being tackled followed closely by tackling 1.

As a practicing physical therapist for over 30 years, I would like to transition from the pertinent study findings of injury facts and address the practical issues of prevention for injuries and recurrence of injuries in the high school athlete population.

Taking the BODY first we need to consider the athlete’s health in terms of exercise regimen, amount and type of food consumption, quality of sleep, and daily schedule. The athlete goes to practice for his particular sport and performs stretching, aerobic exercises, endurance performance, and throwing, catching, blocking, etc. He also has special dietary concerns to eliminate fatigue and promote stamina, and remain hydrated, especially on game day. The amount and quality of sleep may make or break the athlete’s ability to concentrate on performance during the game. A daily schedule incorporating all of these components will facilitate excellence of performance on game day and structure the athlete’s bodily regimen.

Moving to the SOUL (life, seat of the feelings, desires, and affection 2) we consider the athlete’s self-perception, ambitions, mental discipline,

attitudes, love of the game, etc. These components will affect the performance

of the game, even with the most fine-tuned physical body.

The SPIRIT (that part related to worship and divine

communication 3) involves the

a t h l e t e ’ s

belief system and the inner part that drives him, albeit the God of the Bible or some other divine perception.

Combining the parameters of body, soul, and spirit the athlete needs to focus not only at practice and on game day, but on every day of his life. A disciplined regimen should include:

1. Adequate sleep to restore energy and brain function renewal. Establishing a constant bedtime each night should improve the sleep cycles and body’s natural rhythm.

2. Eating a diet rich in essential nutrients with moderate portions. Avoidance of a diet high in fats, sugars, and starches will help to maintain a trim and healthy body. Eating large portions will increase the body weight and interfere with coordination and efficiency of movement during the game. Drinking sufficient water to maintain hydration will avoid potential heat stroke on the field.

3. Stretching all the large muscle groups used for stability, balance, and power to facilitate elasticity and adequate resting muscle tension, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. A tight Achilles tendon at the ankle and tight hamstrings at the knee could set the player up for a serious injury during the game. The most common injury to the ankle is to twist or turn the foot inward when placing the foot on the ground at an awkward angle or by stepping in a hole or on uneven ground.

4. Strengthening muscles which control the knee, ankle and hip in the legs and the shoulder, elbow, and wrist in the arms, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. Strong quadriceps and hamstrings muscles at the knee and adequate muscle strength in ankle muscles controlling movements in all planes will provide protection and facilitate reduction of potential injuries.

5. Increasing muscle bulk through controlled resistance exercises in previous mentioned groups as well as the neck and trunk areas, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. Resistance to a muscle will increase the microfibers and cause the volume of the muscle to expand providing a shield of protection for the joint as the athlete performs running, jumping, twisting, and

PREVENTING SPORTS INJURIES

Gail Erwin Hale PT, DPT, Physical Therapist

belief system and the inner part that drives him, albeit the God of the Bible or some other divine perception.

Combining the parameters of body, soul, and spirit the athlete needs to focus not only at practice and on game day, but on every day of his life. A disciplined regimen should include:

1. Adequate sleep to restore energy and brain function renewal. Establishing a constant bedtime each night should improve the sleep cycles and body’s natural rhythm.

2. Eating a diet rich in essential nutrients with moderate portions. Avoidance of a diet high in fats, sugars, and starches will help to maintain a trim and healthy body. Eating large portions will increase the body weight and interfere with coordination and efficiency of movement during the game. Drinking sufficient water to maintain hydration will avoid potential heat stroke on the field.

3. Stretching all the large muscle groups used for stability, balance, and power to facilitate elasticity and adequate resting muscle tension, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. A tight Achilles tendon at the ankle and tight hamstrings at the knee could set the player up for a serious injury during the game. The most common injury to the ankle is to twist or turn the foot inward when placing the foot on the ground at an awkward angle or by stepping in a hole or on uneven ground.

4. Strengthening muscles which control the knee, ankle and hip in the legs and the shoulder, elbow, and wrist in the arms, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. Strong quadriceps and hamstrings muscles at the knee and adequate muscle strength in ankle muscles controlling movements in all planes will provide protection and facilitate reduction of potential injuries.

5. Increasing muscle bulk through controlled resistance exercises in previous mentioned groups as well as the neck and trunk areas, under controlled supervision of a qualified trainer. Resistance to a muscle will increase the microfibers and cause the volume of the muscle to expand providing a shield of protection for the joint as the athlete performs running, jumping, twisting, and

dodging maneuvers. This is very effective for prevention of an injury recurrence

6. Strong mental concentration to execute quality athletic skills during the game. The player needs to focus on his particular contribution to the team while being vigilant with all aspects of his fellow players to avoid mistakes that might contribute to an injury.

7. Positive attitude towards importance of team work regarding safety for all. A player needs to avoid taking the spotlight for himself by interacting with other players in a spirit of cooperation and consideration for each team member.

8. Respect for authority of coaches and trainers. Following instructions regarding rules and order of the game will provide an atmosphere of harmony and discipline necessary to avoid mistakes and possible injuries.

9. Faith in ability to perform with reliance upon God by acknowledging where the talents and abilities actually originate.

10. Participation in prayer with teammates before the games to prepare each individual for direction and focus.

Although there is no guarantee that adherence to this type of daily disciplined regimen will eliminate high school sports injuries and recurrent injuries, following these guidelines may help to assimilate the body, soul, and spirit and achieve a reduction in the risk of sports injuries and recurrence of injuries.

Dr. Gail Erwin Hale is currently employed as a physical therapist with the team at ProHealth Physical Therapy and Pilates Studio

1. Comstock, R. Dawn, Collins, Christy L., McIlvain, Natalie M.: National High School Sports-Related Injury Surveillance Study 2009-2010 School Year. Center for Injury Research and Policy, 2010.2. Unger, M.F.: Unger’s Bible Dictionary. Moody Press Chicago. 1957. Page 1040.3. Ibid. Page 1043.

PREVENTING SPORTS INJURIES Barry K. Marcum, D.M.D.Eric D. Mobley, D.M.D.

Kale T. Gray, D.M.D.Kim J. Mathews, D.M.D.

Where Every Smile Counts!

Comprehensive care for Infants, Children,

Adolescents and Teenagers

www.peachtreepediatricdentistry.com

Peachtree City 770-486-0054

310 Stevens Entry

Newnan 770-252-2700

84 Jefferson Pkwy., Suite A

SG17N, SG18N, SG19N, SG20N, SG21N

As a long time resident and volunteer for SummerGrove, I focus a great deal of my time and energy on our wonderful community. I welcome any opportunity to work with you in selling, leasing, short selling, or just advising you on your home.

SCOTT COSBY—THE COSBY TEAM2010 REALTOR OF THE YEAR 2010 PRESIDENT—BOARD OF REALTORS

678-378-8452 • scott.cosby@metrobrokers.comwww.thecosbyteam.comRelocation and Short Sale SpecialistTammy Manint (Client Relations) 678-731-6974

communityInvesting in our

The Cosby Team wishes to thank and congratulate all those volunteers, coaches, players, and other supporters of our rich Coweta County athletic programs.

Fans in the StandsDo you have a “Fans in the Stands” photo?

Send it to us at cowetagameday@yahoo.com

Athletes in ActionDo you have a “Athlete in Action” photo?

Send it to us at cowetagameday@yahoo.com

THE HOTTEST BAG FOR MOMS THIS SEASOn.

Carside Carry-Out is now even easier with Online Ordering.

You barely have time to think about dinner, let alone prepare it. With online ordering for Carside Carry-Out, a delicious handmade meal is just a few clicks away. Order any of our signature Italian favorites, select a pick-up time and we’ll have your dinner ready when you are. Let us take one thing off your plate, so you can enjoy one of ours. Visit www.Carrabbas.com to place your order.

Peachtree City • 500 Commerce Dr. • 770-631-1057