What student-athletes can do with their free summer time.

"What should they be doing with their time during the summer?"

That is a common question. What workouts should they be doing? What camps are the best camps for players to get better? Which camps are the best ones to be seen by college coaches?

All great questions by parents. The answers vary depending on the players skill level and body of work. It also depends on their plans for after high school or college. (Yes, they should have one!) What is missed is the first part of being a student athlete. The student. The part that constantly keeps athletes from playing at the next level or at the level in which they feel they belong talent wise. Not all of them have Division 1 talent. Not all of them have Division 1 size, speed, or agility. All of them need to have Division 1 study habits and academic habits.

Why not spend some of the summer time to get ahead academically? Why not work on the main reason you go to school? It is now July, and every parent and student has a great idea of their academic strengths, weaknesses, and classes to come in the fall. Why not prepare? Why not get ahead?

If the athlete is weak at some part of his athletic game, they will spend every free hour of the day shooting hoops, throwing or catching passes, or in the batting cage to improve their chances to succeed come next season. Need to improve at free throws? Spend more time on them in the off season! Trouble kitting the curve ball? Spend more time on it in the off season! Difficulty with the corner kick? Off season will fix it? Need to run faster or get stronger? Off season baby!

The same thing applies to academics. You have from June until August to improve. Why not use this time to get better at the subjects that cause you stress and drama? Parents have no problems forking up checks to have junior work out with the local dad camp, but wont apply that same logic to academics, which should be the natural focus and priority. I understand applying your free summer time to the games you love, but doesn't it make sense to apply some of that free time to the courses that are firmly ahead in the student athletes path?

Just a thought. Maybe that GPA could use some summer reps as well.

Go. Be Epic.

Thank you, to all of the Coach Barry "Bear" Laravie's

Good Sunday afternoon.

Labels. Look beyond them. Look past them. Find the person. Be present.

As a young man, I was a member of the greatest example of a youth organization ever. The Black Knights. Nope, not black as in black people. Team color. The mighty and powerful BLACK & GOLD of the Arlington County Black Knights. What made this organization so great? The people. The amazing people. The loving, inspirational, well meaning, label free people. The coaches were diverse in a time where diverse was not the norm. In the 60's and 70's in South Arlington. (Shout out to Lower Arlington !) Imagine in a time of labels and boundaries, this organization managed to cross boundaries, to cross communities, and created an environment where amazing families could coexist and prosper. They loved. It was wonderful. Coaches of every color, every religion, leading players from different schools and backgrounds. These coaches were policemen, teachers, firemen, lawyers, doctors, and more. They were taxis for players without rides, meal buyers, doctors, and psychologists for us kids. Team moms treating all of their sons the same, loving them with care and guidance. All of the sisters of the community standing cheering loud and proud. Every sport was a part of the joy, and every game was a carnival event with energy and fun. You may not have been aware of why it was special, you just knew that it was. These people, no matter where they are now, still smile and glow when the Mighty Knights are mentioned.

I say that to say this. One year, I was late registering to play football. I had resigned that I was not going to play that year. I was approached by a police officer as I played touch football out front of my house. I had not done anything wrong, but I went up to the car to see what I had done. The officer reached out his hand and said "you are pretty fast, why arent you at football practice?" I told him why, and he said that he was a football coach for the Fraternal Order of Police, and he needed some players my age. I was not aware of the FOP, and I had not considered that there was any football outside of the Black & Gold, so I had no idea what to say. He asked my name and number, and said that he would call me. He did. That night. He asked if I knew any other players, and said that he would be there tomorrow to pick me up for weigh in, and we would go from there.

We were the FOP Eagles. A rag tag group of athletes who had somehow fallen through the cracks. Some decent players. A big armed QB, a power runner, some angry linebackers, and myself. We did okay. I think we were .500, which was a testament to our coach. His name was Barry Laravie. Bear. Coach Bear. A mountain of a man, and a local policeman. He had the bark and stature of a giant. Even then he seemed 7 foot tall. But Bear showed up. He picked us all up, he dropped us all off. He bought us cleats and t shirts in case we did not have the money. He bought burgers to practice to make sure that we ate. He gave all of the extra burgers to the last kid he dropped off. That was usually me.

Those rides home were amazing. He did not use his police car. He used his own. He took the risk of being a white man driving through black neighborhoods, often at night. But what made his effort more amazing was the conversations. He and every other coach who chose to drive us black kids home, God Bless them. It wasnt easy or comfortable. But he did it. And he shared. He shared secrets of how tough it was to do the job, how amazing it was to do the job, and how proud he was of doing the job. He also told me who to look out for, and who to stay away from. He pointed out good people and bad. He also pointed out good policemen and bad. He warned me about staying out of certain areas, to stay away from certain signs that I would not be safe or welcomed. But what he showed me most, was love. He cared. I remember asking why he did it, and his answer was "...because you let me. You didnt have to talk to me or come play for me, but you did. I appreciated it so much because once you were on board, it was easier to get other players." He asked why I said yes, and the answer was that white officers do not normally pull up and smile at us, so it felt safe. He smiled. I smiled.

I say this now, and to be clear, I owe a lot to Coach Bear. I owe a lot to his band of police brothers who took care of us. I owe them for giving me info on survival, and on care. He and I both could have labelled the other and lost out. We managed to say yes. It worked out. He and I both fully understood that this was not always the intent, purpose, circumstances, or outcome of such meetings between police and black males. But for this one fork in the road in time, it worked. For all of the times that it didnt, I am glad that it did.

Thank you Coach Bear. Thank you for all of the other Coach Bear's in the world. The power of a good officer of the law is known. The power of the other is as well.

Be a Coach Bear wont you?

And by the way... Go Black Knights Go FOP Eagles!

LovePrints - A life in the game. The game of life with Coach Angelo Hunt

Angelo Hunt Action in Love. Love in action.  Do whatever it is that you do with an honest love of it, and great things happen. Pursue excellence with an understanding that while it may not be achieved, it must be pursued. And if you do those things, for those reasons, you will be able to do so with a big huge smile on your face, and with joy in your heart.

He is a product of love. An amazing family circle of bright lights and minds. Born from beautiful people, he has always shined. They always shined. And because they got your attention, they made sure that they gave you something to awed by. They always shined.

I met my brother in sports, coaching, and in life, when we were both young men. Same neighborhood. Same teams. Same joys. Each, and every sport, each, and every game, and each and everything that was tied to them. We played the games, learned the games, and then shared the experiences so that the next time we played them, we would be better. We shared it with each other, and anyone else who wanted to know. And, with anyone who wanted to get better as well.

As the years passed, we went our own ways, taking different paths in life, with successes and lessons all along the way. And with each lesson and win, more joy was available to be shared. As time went on, we reconnected to find out that the players had become teachers and coaches. That the games we played became the games we taught. And in that, more shared love of those games.

As a coach, teacher, leader, or mentor, we notice those who do so with a smile. Behind the smile is a comfort in what is being taught. Behind the smile is an assurance that this it is where you should be, and what you should be doing. It is knowing that it is a privilege, and honor, and a responsibility. And again, it is joy.

The smile is another weapon. It hides the drive, it masks the computer like brain of experiences and knowledge. It allows those that need an invitation forward to know that they are welcomed here, and an acknowledgement that there is a payoff to the work required to do whatever it is that is going to be demanded of you in your pursuit.

Behind the smile are all seeing eyes, paying attention to every detail. Those eyes tell a story, a different story, to each and any of his charges. The eyes scream YES to  the leader, GO to the tail, and LETS GO to the masses. The eyes beg for more, cry for joy, and seek out those in need on their journey. Those eyes hold the key to his players knowing that he is there for them, and they lock in until acknowledgement is received that the message is seen, and received.

I respect “ Brother ‘Lo” because I know his path, his purpose, and his heart. From one coach to another, it is wonderful to watch him do what he does because you know that he cares. His players matter. His goal is about them. And it is wonderful to watch.

His players are lucky to have him. His LovePrints are all over them as they walk forward in life. They know that they have someone in their corner, back against the wall or not. They know that they carry his name forward, and honor that in their actions. That is the sign of an amazing coach. They know.

And behind his smile, HE KNOWS.

Continue being the light, Sir!

Cathy Proctor Coffman- LovePrints in Action

Cathy Coffman Love in Action. Action in love.

The eyes and the smile are windows to the soul. When you are in the presence of certain PEOPLE, certain COACHES, certain EDUCATORS, you recognize that you are looking at exceptional. You are looking at amazing. You are looking at love.

I met Coach Coffman as teenagers, and she was already ahead of the game because she already knew that she loved sports. She enjoyed being around them, in them, and adding to. She always knew how to add to. No matter what she was engaged in, she added to it. She always made it better.

There are two facets to this that stick out in my mind. She always had a smile when you needed it. Not the fake” I see you looking at me so I am smiling back at you smile”. No. This was always “I see you and want you to know that I see you” smile. It is powerful. It was always helpful, always on time, and always enough. It always made whatever was going on, better. As an athlete, she understood the energy of the games watched and being played, and always was present. And, aware. I can recall having a difficult game, with several things on my mind that certainly were keeping me from doing what I was there to do. And then, there was Cathy. Coaching from a distance with a look, a smile, a nod. It ALWAYS made it better. ALWAYS.

Secondly, there is THE LOOK. Coaches recognize other coaches looks. We KNOW what they are saying without hearing a word. And I would bet that Coach Coffman’s athletes, Teacher Coffman’s students, know exactly what look I am talking about. It is authentic and brilliant. It makes everything better. It makes everything good. It adds to.

I look through some photos of Coach Coffman, and I look into her eyes, AND theirs. I look at her smile, and theirs. In those things are stories being told, lessons being learned, and love.  And with that, there is this. I would give my child to her. If asked, I am sure that most parents would say that it would be perfectly fine with them if their young people emulated her, or wanted to be like her. That is a wonderful testament. And truth.

Her LovePrints all over her community, her school, her squads, and her amazing children’s lives. I have known of her ability to add to for a long time. I smile at the thought of her young people being blessed with her joy in their lives. I am smiling now at the blessing of her in my life. She has added to it. Again, and again, and again.

Thanks, Coach.

Thanks, my friend.

Loveprints Scholarship announcement!

Osbourn High School in Manassas, Virginia announced on May 17, 2017  The Derrick Pearson Scholarship, to the minority senior who best displays how they currently or will apply the qualities of leadership and spread a positive image in society. As the founder of LovePrints, this is an honor beyond wishes. As the person who has been deemed worthy of a scholarship in their name, I am humbled.

What I would like to do is expand on this idea. I would like to announce that LovePrints would like to create another scholarship (or a few) at different schools around the country, with the same ideals of leadership, positive impact on school, church, and/or community, and a desire to make an positive impact on those around them.

http://loveprints.us/

LovePrints will direct proceeds of all merchandise sales from www.loveprints.us, from today until June 30, 2017. There are several items to choose from, and it will allow additional students and schools to get assistance with their college education.

Each item will also help in covering our communities in LovePrints, with a reminder of the good we can do when our hearts and hands work together.

https://estore.acreativeresource.com/loveprintsstore/default.aspx?p=viewcat&showpage=2

If you want to simply donate to the scholarship without purchasing any items, please let me know directly at coachdp@loveprints.us.

Thank you Osbourn High School, and M. Magerkorth, for your kindness, consideration, and LovePrints.

Love in action. Action in love.

Cover the world in love.