I counseled with my boss, college teammates, fellow High School Varsity Coaches and college coach friends and acquaintances regarding strategy and preparation.  I took all of their advice and combined it with my own knowledge of executive recruiting to answer all of my questions.  The result: I got the job.

Q: How does one prepare for a Head Coach interview?

Prepare a coaching book, ideally a 3 ring binder including:

-Detailed practice plans with objectives and coaching notes, draw out your drills.

-Drawn out offensive and defensive strategies

-Offensive plays drawn out

-Goals and game plan for the season including: County / State Championship, highest GPA, implement a study hall for student athletes, create a relationship with teachers to ensure grade accountability, community service project to promote teamwork off the field.

-Letters of Recommendation

-Professional resume including ALL coaching experience

Talk to your friends who are coaches and players, pick their brains, talk to parents of student athletes you have coached – ask them what concerns they have for you coaching, they will have some and stress that you want to hear them to overcome them.  Create a coaching philosophy and write it down.

Q: What is the Athletic Director looking for?

An accountable, responsible, assertive individual, who is confident, articulate, strategic, plays by the rules and values sportsmanship.  Always speak and think in the best interest of the school.  Read the school’s mission statement and be sure your coaching philosophy is in alignment with that.  The AD wants strong student-athletes and he wants a coach who will be there long-term, not one season.

Q: Who will I be going up against?

You may be going up against another Varsity Head Coach, the JV Coach, the Assistant Varsity Head Coach or a parent.  Whichever the case, do your homework on the other candidates and cater your strengths to eclipse their weaknesses.  Think strategically and be careful to NOT mention their names.  Any advertisement is good advertisement; do not waste your precious time in front of the panel by addressing your competition.  Take the high road and focus on yourself.

First round:

#1 vs. #12, #2 vs. #11, #3 vs #10, #4 vs #9, #5 vs #8, #6 vs #7

Based on the winners of those games, #1 seed plays the winner of the #6 vs #7 game.  Usually teams aim to go into playoffs being seeded #1 so that you are guaranteed an “easier” game to face off against the lowest seeded team.  This is an earned position, the #1 team has performed well all season to dominate the field and have a stronger chance of advancing.  Of course we have all witnessed the upsets in March Madness where the #15 team takes out the #2 seed at which time the debate arises, should the #1 seed play the #2 or #15 team to decide the true “Champion?”

In May 2009, our #1 seeded HS Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse team went up against the #2 seeded High School team in the county.  The #2 team was clipping at our heels all season and the regular season games were tied 1- 1, they beat us away and we beat them at home.  It was an incredible match up of talent and will and a cross town rivalry.  The CIF playoffs culminated in a Championship game of #1 vs #2, the winner would truly have earned the CIF title this year.  Our #1 team squeezed out a 6-5 win at the end of a game riddled with checks, interceptions, incredible saves, perfectly placed shots and some of the best girls lacrosse the fans, the Head Coach and I had every seen.  It was an incredible sense of accomplishment and pride for the girls, it was a true championship and they felt they had beaten the team who challenged them and pushed them the most.  I don’t think the 2009 CIF victory would have been as sweet against any other team, both teams have a great deal of respect for one another, they pushed each other to play beyond their normal capabilities and stretch their limits.

It’s important for coaches to teach their players, and for parents to teach their kids, that in order to BE the best you must BEAT the best. It’s a lesson that applies throughout life.  In academics, in business, in any area in which your goal is be the “best.”  Push and motivate yourself and your team to continuously improve your skill level, your game, and consistently challenge yourself to compete against the very best competition the field has to offer.  You may lose at first but you learn lessons to improve and better prepare for the next time.

Baseball is an amazing game. For as long as I can remember, it has been an integral part of my life. I’m reminded of all that is has done for me everyday. I have pics of myself holding a ball before I was able to sit up unassisted or pics of myself dragging a bat before I was able to walk. The game was taught to me at an early age and helped me grow as a person. With the buzz about Parkview Little League’s run at the World Series (http://www.parkviewlittleleague.com/), I’ve found myself really looking back at my days back in little league and all the game offered me throughout my life. All of the opportunities I have been blessed with were through baseball. I see the passion that they play with and the camaraderie they have and it really hits home. That’s what you’d expect when they’ve been a TEAM for over 7 years. For most of those kids that’s half of their life. That’s when I really reflect on my life and what baseball brought me.

You see back in the day (no I won’t mention the long walks to school 10 miles away in the snow as most stories seem to go when sentences start that way), we were that team. Our team had been together for years and we were finally coming into our own. The problem with us was we didn’t complete the journey as they did. What we did do, was STAY friends from that time forward. Our group of guys went onto to play Pony, High School, College, Professional, even had a guy reach the big leagues. Those times directed us along the paths that we took. Each of us still live in the same area and, of course, still remain close friends. In fact, most of us would take a friend label as a slap in the face, since we’re all more like brothers.  Having brothers like that because of a game we loved is special. I’m sure there are stories all over the world about the friendships that were created from amateur sports. You never seem to let those times go. With all of the great people that I have been blessed with in my life because of baseball, there’s a deep reflection of what these kids will face in the coming years.

Teammates possibly going to different schools, guys not making the jump to the next level, whatever the circumstances, there will come a time when the next level will not be realistic. That is something that no player who loves the game ever wants to hear. The reality of the game is a tough pill to swallow. I truly believe that is a driving factor in the minds of all the SportsForce team. We’ve all been faced with that reality whether it was the high school to college process or the AA to AAA jump in professional baseball. There are times in your life that having the insight and experience there to help you, can drive your decision making in a manner that will better suit your long term goals. I know looking back; I wish I had more information about the process by friends who had been there. I’m not saying that my career would have turned out any differently, but I know the journey could have.

I can only hope that these young ballplayers will be guided the right way. I am a firm believer that you “always have a chance, when you put the uniform on.” You just never know. I’ve played against the David Eckstein’s of the world who wouldn’t let their size be a roadblock to their long term goals. I see a lot of that in these kids. I’m actually motivated more in my life because of what they’re doing. I look back at all my brothers, even sisters that I’ve played against and truly thank them for all of the memories. I hope every player in every sport that aspires for something greater gets that opportunity. Watching these kids play the game with passion and without a care in the world is special. I know there’s a great community rallying behind their every pitch and every swing. I know I am. Win or lose, these kids have succeeded. I hope they go on with their lives and keep these friendships to reflect upon when they’re my age, but give back to the game in any way they can. That way someday, the next group will experience it all again, with all of it made possible because baseball is an amazing game…

College Coach Communication

It is a standard procedure for athletes who are going to be playing Surf Cup to send an email to their prospective school’s coach ,complete with their Surf Cup schedule, schedule for the remainder of the summer, and a video, if they have one.  The coach is allowed to respond to this initial communication at will, but is banned from talking to the athlete or their parents at the event itself.  If the coach likes what they see, they will follow up with the player.  If the coach views the athlete as a potential recruit, they might ask for transcripts for review, ask for further game video, or ask them to make a visit to the school.  It is important to note that none of the follow up will happen unless the athlete makes the effort to contact those coaches of those schools they are interested in attending.

Coach’s Presence

Everywhere you turned at the 2009 Surf Cup you ran into a different college coach, each one decked out head to toe in their school’s gear.  A stroll in between fields would seem to reveal that there were more coaches than players.  At any one time, there might have been 25 coaches watching one game.  Can you imagine the pressure?  The coach from your dream school sits there scrutinizing your every move.  If you’re not the first one to a loose ball or you miss a pass even by just a couple inches, that coach does not hesitate to furiously write some sort of comment next to your name.

The worst part?  They all sit in a neat little row armed with their easy flip, portable chairs, drawstring backpacks, and yellow notepads.  The Duke coach who is sitting directly adjacent to the Georgia coach is looking very quizzical.   The UCLA coach who sits in between the Michigan and Cal coaches is sneaking a peek of his rival’s notes.  The Syracuse coach is minding her own business but scribing what seems to be a novel on one of her players of interest.  All of this is going on while these 16-18 year old kids are trying to make a play for their team.

While it seems impossible for any one of these players to focus on the field, JP Scatterday of the U19 Mustang Ajax told me that it is easy for him to zone in.  Because the field is so big and the action is so intense, he finds it easy to stay focused and is usually surprised when he finds out the number of coaches that were watching his game.  The amount of composure these teenagers are able to display despite such overwhelming pressure is impressive.

The Action

Accompanying the perennial powerhouse club teams of Southern California (San Diego Surf, So Cal Blues, So Cal Real, West Coast FC, Irvine Strikers, So Cal United, and Slammers FC) were teams from all over the country and all over the world.  Aside from the continued dominance of the Southern California teams across the board, the Northern California teams had the next best showing.  While Southern California teams won 3 of the divisions and had a presence in 8 of the 12 finals, Northern California teams won 4 of the 5 divisions in which they had teams in the finals.  The best international showing goes to the Vancouver Whitecaps of Canada.  Their Girl’s U19 team made it to the finals of the super division while their Men’s U19 team was able to advance to the semifinals.

XKSanDiego.com

For more on this weekend’s Surf Cup including results, pictures, articles and more, visit San Diego’s one stop shop for soccer news at www.xksandiego.com.  Complete coverage of events, tournaments, and teams from around the San Diego area year round can be found at xksandiego.com.

SportsForce was able to capture some awesome footage, get plenty of quality interviews, and increase awareness of our brand throughout the soccer community.  All in all it was a great event and one that SportsForce hopes to do more with in the future.

The Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase Games extended into Monday, July 20^th and offered the top play of the entire showcase. In the Men’s U19 division, host team Albion narrowly defeated United Futbol Black in an intense meeting on Monday. The story was much of the same for the Women’s U19 as Albion White defeated the San Diego Surf White, 2-1. In the Boys U14 Puma V Elite, San Diego Surf Academy took top honors over Palos Verdes.

Albion Cup – Boys U15 PUMA VElite – Championship Game – 2009 from Sports Force on Vimeo.

Albion SC defeated the Fram CQ Vipers in the U15 Puma V Elite division, though both teams secured a trip to the USA Cup next year. For the girls Puma V Elite finals on Monday, Albion defeated PQ Premiere 1-0 in the U14 division. Close games were omnipresent in the finals and the U15 Girls were no exception as the SoCal Blues Draluck defeated Arsenal FC to take the finals.

For complete results from Monday, visit: http://www.gotsport.com/events/?eventid=4521

Opening Day at the Del Mar Races = ½ Day

With our website launch rapidly approaching, days off for the SportsForce team come few and far between. We took exception this past week for opening day at the horse races in Del Mar. With our office conveniently located very close to the track, we decided to take a half day for this Southern California tradition that has been going on for 70 years.

Testing the Soon to Launch SportsForce Site

The SportsForce team is working hard behind the scenes making sure our site will be the best experience for you when it launches. We are testing everything, making sure everything is in the right place, and most importantly, that it works!

So Cal Cup Features some of Southern CA’s best Baseball Prospects

SportsForce was at the So Cal Cup this past weekend. The event features Southern California’s Top Baseball Prospects. Director, Mike Viera, with San Gabriel Valley Baseball gave SportsForce open access to the event.  SportsForce also had the pleasure of interviewing Mike as part of the event to learn more about some of the top players in the event and what colleges were there.

“The So Cal Cup was created on bringing the best players in Southern California to compete against each other in hopes to see College Coaches and Major League Scouts see the best players we have to offer in all of Southern California. The idea worked, in our first So Cal Cup, rain and more rain, we still had a huge following by Scouts, National Crosscheckers and some staff from the Scouting Bureau. Now we are looking to get the exposure to these players by College Coaches. 2 Days 3 Games, Wood Bat, how will they perform? Are the best players from Orange County, Riverside, Los Angeles or San Diego? Let’s find out in a battle of Southern California’s best talent in the So Cal Cup II. Where the best will play in the best! You will play for the county you live in. We had 11 players get drafted in the 2004 Major League Draft that participated in our inaugural So Cal Cup I.”

Find more info on the So Cal Cup at http://baseballresource.com/socalcup/index.htm

ALBION CUP 2009 – Soccer Highlight Video from Sports Force on Vimeo.

The tournament offers both Showcase and Cup brackets for each age group with Showcase featuring elite teams. Puma also sponsored a special elite bracket, the Puma V Elite, for both Boys and Girls in the U14 and U15 divisions. The Boys in the U15 division were also competing for a chance to play in Tottenham, England at the USA Cup in 2010.

Championship Results

Men’s U19

Showcase Champions: United Futbol Black

Cup Champions: PQ Premiere

Women’s U19

Showcase Champions: Albion SC White

Cup Champions: Laguna Hills Eclipse

Boys U17

Showcase Champions: FC San Diego Gold Quinn

Cup Champions: Legends FC Black

Girls U17

Showcase Champions: SD United Futbol Black

Cup Champions: Laguna Hills Eclipse Blue

Boys U16

Showcase Champions: Central California Aztecs

Cup Champions: Folsom Galaxy

Girls U16

Showcase Champions: Laguna Hills Eclipse

Cup Champions: Fontana United

Boys U15

Puma V Elite Champions: Albion SC

Cup Champions: United Futbol Black

Girls U15

Puma V Elite Champions: SoCal Blues Draluck

Cup Champions: United FC

Boys U14

Puma V Elite Champions: San Diego Surf Academy

Cup Champions: Albion SC

Girls U14

Puma V Elite Champions: Albion White

Cup Champions: El Dorado United Eclipse

Boys U13

Showcase Champions: CV Manchester Red

Cup Champions: Aztecs FC Juarez

Girls U13

Showcase Champions: Oranje Voetball G960

Cup Champions: San Diego United Futbol

Boys U12

Showcase Champions: FC Heat

Girls U12

Showcase Champions: SoCal Infinity 97

Cup Champions: Livermore Soccer

Boys U11

Showcase Champions: FC Barcelona

Cup Champions: Vaqueros Green

Girls U11

Showcase Champions: Corona United Blue

Cup Champions: Albion SC

Boys U10

Showcase Champions: FC Man United

Cup Champions: Encinitas Express White

Girls U10

Showcase Champions: Albion SC White

Cup Champions: Carlsbad Wave FC

Boys U9

Showcase Champions: Chula Vista Rangers

Cup Champions: Chula Vista Pumas

Girls U9

Showcase Champions: El Dorado United

Boys U8

Showcase Champions: Encinitas Express White

In order to get the word out about SportsForce and engage athletes, coaches and sports parents in person, SportsForce has put together a group of talented college students who are former competitive athletes and passionate sports enthusiasts to act as the SportsForce street team. The street team was an integral part in the planning and execution of our partnership with the Albion Cup Soccer Showcase and will be helping with upcoming events and our grassroots awareness campaigns.

Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase

SportsForce spent the last half of the week all over San Diego filming games for the Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase. The Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase was open for teams to play in either the Top Showcase Group or the Cup Group for Boys and Girls U8-U19. The event is an important soccer showcase for athletes looking to showcase their abilities to college coaches in attendance. Here’s a list of some of the college coaches in attendance: http://www.albioncup.org/CC/index_E.html.

Spread out of over several different top quality venues, the SportsForce team spent their days and evening at UCSD, Robb Field, and Hickman Field soccer fields just to name a few. Teams ranged from the U8 – U19 age groups for both girls and boys.

The Showcase was an amazing opportunity for the athletes who attended and there was quality play for the entire three-day event. Puma, the event sponsor, put on a special Puma V Elite Bracket for U14 and U15 teams, and also a chance for the Boys U15 team to advance to play in London. SD United Futbol Black took the top honors for the U17 Girls Showcase, while Laguna Hills Eclipse Blue took the title for the Cup in the same age bracket. For the U19 Women’s group, the host team, Albion SC White won the Showcase title, and the Laguna Hills Eclipse took the Cup in the U19 Women’s as well.

As for the upper age groups for the Boys teams, FC San Diego Gold, coached by top coach and former professional player Brian Quinn won the Showcase for the U17 Boys, while Legends FC Black took top honors for the cup division. The host team once again took Showcase honors for the Men’s U19 with Albion SC winning, while PQ Premier won the U19 Cup division.

Expanding Our Coverage in SoCal

Dennis Wyrick a former Arizona State baseball teammate with Andrew Beinbrink visited the SportsForce office to catch up and talk sports. Dennis was a two-sport star in high school, and went on to play Division I baseball in college and was a 35^th round draft pick in 1999, and a 23^rd round pick by the Orioles in 2003.

Dennis hung around to learn about the benefits that SportsForce is offering athletes, sports parents and coaches. Dennis talked about plans for the Orange County and Los Angeles areas and expanding SportsForce’s presence there. Dennis knows the world of sports as an athlete, and also as a coach as he is currently coaching football for the Orange Country Patriots Junior Midget team in his spare time.

19^th Annual Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic

SportsForce was meeting with coaches and filming at the 19^th Annual Alex Spanos All-Star Football Classic where some of San Diego’s best graduating senior football players are showcased before heading off to play college football. Many of the players at the showcase have signed with college programs including SportsForce alum, La Jolla’s Robbie Beathard who will be playing at the University of San Diego. Jerik Davis of Mira Mesa who will be playing at New Mexico State and Robbie Rouse of Madison High School who is signed with Fresno State.

San Diego High School Baseball Showcase

The San Diego Showcase sponsored by the San Diego County Baseball Coaches Association was held July 12 at Poway High School. The event showcased top baseball players from around the county who are entering their senior year. Over 20 college coaches (including USD, Long Beach State, Univ. of Oklahoma, LMU and more) and MLB scouts were at the event while SportsForce filmed the entire pro-style workout and games.

Champions Cup Softball 16U Tournament

SportsForce was able to see top softball players at the Champions Cup Softball 16U Tournament in Irvine, CA this weekend as well. Over 50 college coaches attended the event, which was the first of a two-weekend tournament. The 18U Tournament will be held next weekend.

Top Soccer Tournament – Albion Cup

SportsForce is partnered with the Albion Cup for this weekend’s National Soccer Showcase. The tournament offers college exposure showcasing the top teams in the country. The Showcase is open for teams to play in either the Top Showcase Group or the Cup Group and is for Boys and Girls U8-U19. www.albioncup.org

The Showcase is an amazing opportunity for the athletes and teams that attend and Puma is helping to make one level even more competitive. Puma is putting on a special Puma V Elite Bracket for U14 and U15 teams, including special invitations sent out to Puma clubs from around the country. Noah Gins, Technical Director/ Director of Coaching for the Albion Peninsula Soccer league commented on the company’s involvement. “They’ve brought all the bells and whistles for this including banners, retail stores and tents, and a lounge for kids to hang out in. We had (former women’s national team player) Leslie Osborne here last year,” he said. “We’re at a point now where we want the best teams in the country and that’s what we’re after.” Follow up with us next week for a full recap of the Albion Cup National Soccer Showcase.

New Additions

SportsForce has added a new member to our Street Team, Katherine Salter. Katherine was a former high school volleyball player that was recruited by smaller schools to play college volleyball. Katherine is assisting with our grassroots efforts for Girls and Boys Volleyball.

District Champs

SportsForce partner Dan Plashke’s son Jackie and his little league team won their district this past weekend. The team is now the 9-10 year old District 31 Champions are moving on hoping to win the divisional title this coming weekend. We wish them the best of luck!

SportsForceonline.com

The SportsForce team also met with our web development group, Barefoot Solutions (www.barefootsolutions.com) to discuss the homestretch towards launching the new site. We have a lot of video and content to add to the site as well as some changes to make to ensure the best experience when we launch (hopefully) in early August.

Day one began with a comprehensive assessment and training regime. Players were separated into their positions and given one on one instruction on advanced college level techniques. Instruction covered every element of the game from hitting to basic fielding techniques. Fundamentals were the main focus of the morning, emphasized by Coach Barbara (University of the Pacific), Coach Nakama (Stanford), and Head Coach O’Brien (Santa Clara). Simple lessons, from these coaches, like staying low and catching groundballs out in front, can prove vital to a young player’s development and the opportunity was not taken lightly. Top prospects Sheldon Gabriels (Sophomore) and Wesley Wallace (Senior) showed off their defensive prowess and strong arms during the shortstop evaluations.

Day two focused on competitive game play, live coaching, and more player evaluation. Players battled through a daylong cycle of intra-squad games in eighty-degree heat and tough competition. Promising talent Drew Davis (Freshman), Taylor Murphy (Junior), and Aidan Kennedy (Senior) all made their mark on the day and impressions on the instructors. These players emphasized what they all had learned the day before at the College Exposure Camp and displayed the quality of talent represented.

At the end of the successful two-day camp, SportsForce CEO Andrew Beinbrink spoke to the parents and players about preparing to play baseball at the next level and shared key recruiting, training and college preparation advice.  Andrew explained, “SportsForce looks forward to working with Ron Witmeyer and the College Baseball Exposure Camp team again. Players were given top-notch instruction, evaluation, and left with a one of a kind experience. What was impressive about this camp was the amount of DI head coaches and recruiting coordinators that attended the event. College baseball camps are a fundamental part of getting targeted exposure to specific baseball programs.”

Fox Sports en Espanol sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez Stops In

Fox Sports en Espanol and the San Diego Chargers Radio Network en Espanol sportscaster Adrian Garcia Marquez was in the office this week to talk sports, the future of SportsForce and more.

New Addition to SportsForce Street Team Ronan Galvin

SportsForce is still growing as a company as we get closer to our site launch. This week SportsForce added Ronan Galvin to our street team. Ronan said of his experience so far, “SportsForce is a unique atmosphere wth like-minded people all working to help create the next big thing in high school sports.  The Sports Development Intern is an ideal position because I get to research the sports I love and be in an environment of a small business.” With a background in football and basketball, we are excited to have him as an addition.

“Old Yeller” Swings by Office

Integral SportsForce Video Production Partner, Ken Heshler stopped by the office to check up on our equipment and outfit us with some new editing equipment to make our workflow even faster. Ken was also sure to share some stories of precarious shooting conditions in the early days of SportsForce. We’ve come a long way!

SportsForce’s Tom Antl Visits University of Louisville Athletics Department

SportsForce’s Tom Antl was visiting with the University of Louisville Athletics Department this past week. Though the trip was to visit a friend, Tom always on task, was sure to check out the program and even snap a pic of their pristine women’s lacrosse field.

Sara Fraschetti, Girls Lacrosse Coach, Stops In To Check In

Our own adviser for girls lacrosse, Sara Fraschetti stopped in this week to talk about the future of SportsForce and girls lacrosse. Sara graduated from La Costa Canyon High School (Carlsbad, CA) in 2001 when the Girls Lacrosse team seized their first California State Girls Lacrosse Championship. She went on to play at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo as attack and center for three years where she helped the team earn three of their seven consecutive Club Division-I National Championship Titles. Sara returns for her third year as the La Costa Canyon High School Girls Varsity Lacrosse Assistant Coach.  Sara helped lead the team to a 23-0 record in 2008 and 2nd consecutive CIF Championship (San Diego section).

Things are back to full speed with the holiday weekend behind us. Be sure to stay posted!