I can't believe it has been so long since the last blog. I apologize for not using this tool to keep our followers up to date. I will try to make sure you hear more about the great stuff that is happening with all our Waterford Athletes. I do want to let you know that we have had 2 college signings during this fall period Kim Jayson has committed to play softball at Condoria College and Allison Bicknell has inked her name on a national letter of intent to be the first recruit ever for the womens basketball program at Lawrence Tech University. We will make sure we get all the signings announced on our blog. Thanks again for your support of Waterford Athletics and we will see you soon.

Waterford Athletic Department

This and That

Finally the sun is shining and there actually seems to be a rhythm with our spring schedule. For a while it appeared we were cancelling more games then we were playing. We wanted to thank all the players, coaches and parents for your patience throughout this whole spring. The Secretaries at both schools have done a phenomenal job of balancing all the cancellations and make ups. As anyone who has been involved in high school athletics or athletics in general will tell you that making sure teams and officials are all on the same page is not an easy feat.

We have some really great things still coming up at both Mott and Kettering. Spring tournaments for the Kensington Lakes Activities Association start next week with track and continue right through the month of May so keep checking your calendars so you don't miss any of the great action. Remember if you have any questions about a date or location of a game it is best that you call your schools athletic office. As many of your are aware we have had some issuses with our scheduling program so if you have any doubt feel free to call us. We want to also invite you to check out the KLAA website. While on the website you will find up to date standings for the league and some general information that you may find helpful. The URL is www.klaasports.org.

Just want to take a minute and highlight some spring performances that have occurred recently. First, congratulations to the Waterford Mott Girls Track team who last week won the West Bloomfield Invitational this is the first time Mott has captured this title and it is the girls second invitational championship this year after they won the Oxford Invitational earlier in the season. Also this past Friday the Waterford Unitied Boys Lacrosse team took it to Howell beating the Highlanders rather convincingly at Mott. We have several boys and girls lacrosse games left this year at home so if you have never seen a lacrosse game come on out and check out some action.


Waterford Athletic Department

Building Relationships

All the great coaches will tell you that the reason they coach is because of the relationships that they develop with their players and families. I can't help but think if you can correlate success on the field of play with the relationships that are built off of it. Often teams will comment that they are a close nit group, that they all hang out together or that a coach is like a second father. While I am not naive enough to believe that the only factor in success is great relationship I do believe that along with desire and talent it is a part of the equation. I also believe as a coach and parent the most important and maybe most time consuming job we have is to build a relationship with our team or children.

I was sitting in Church recently when the Pastor brought up a verse that really drilled this point home to me. The verse comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1 and it states "if I could speak all the languages of the earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal." Wow if that didn't wake me up out of my pew then nothing would. Basically it is saying that regardless how well we coach, how well we can talk to others, how well we think we know how to parent or teach that if we have not first built a relationship with those that we are trying to reach all they are hearing is loud noises. The point that we need to consider as a coach or parent is to first show those that we are working with that we care for them and their well being. Then we can begin to get our message across and really start to make a difference. All to often I hear form coaches that the message just doesn't appear to be getting through the first thing I ask them is do your kids know that you care about them. Because if they don't all they are hearing is a clanging cymbal.
 
Waterford Athletic Department

Inquiring Minds Wonder

Just to get you in the spring state of mind.

“Step up to the plate or base?”

It turns out that, in earliest days, home was actually a circular object, often a dish, which led to it being

called "home plate.” Home went through several changes over the years. From a circular iron plate in

1845; a 12-inch square in 1869 with one point toward the pitcher; a square marble slab in 1872; a white

rubber square in 1885 that reduced injuries to runners. The five-sided (pentagon) home plate used today

was adopted in 1900. I read that the extra rubber made it easier for both umpires and pitchers to judge

when a ball "cut the corner," especially when dirt happened to cover the corners of home plate.

About 1919 general use-age of the phrase “ he stepped up to the plate” became common. The expression

incorporates the idea of a "challenge" somewhat contained in the idea of 'stepping forward', when others

would not. It can also mean to take on a responsibility, especially an unexpected one. For example. “In the

days following the Fort Hood shootings a lot has been made of the valor and heroism of the first responders on the scene. From

the Soldiers on the scene at the Family Readiness Center who pulled fellow Soldiers to the ground or moved the wounded to

safety to the police officers who rushed to the scene, bringing down suspected shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, our Army

community stepped up to the plate. (Taken from the US Army Blog posted November 8th 2009).

There is an element of "taking on a challenge" in the expression "step up to the plate." When you take into

account that a .300 average is considered a good hitter (3 hits every 10 times up at bat), you can see that

batting is a very challenging activity. (courtesy of Skip McAfee, editor of the "Dickson Baseball Dictionary.")

Waterford Athletic Department

Sorry for the lack of posts recently but the athletic department has been extremely busy with the KLAA and MHSAA Tournaments. We have a huge tournament game tonight at Kettering as the Lady Captains, who are currently 17-0, take on the Bob Cats of Grand Blanc, who are 15-2. Should be a great game so if you are not busy come catch some great high school basketball action. We will begin to blog a little more consistently next week. Thank you for checking this page often.
Waterford Athletic Department

Keeping Competition in Perspective

This past weekend was my son's first floor hockey game of the season. He met the day with a lot of anticipation. He was excited for the opportunity to get out and compete with his fellow 5 and 6 year old athletes in a "good ole hockey game". Many times we hear that kids don't know the score, that they don't care. I even read an article that quoted a USA Today/NBC survey that nearly 75% of kids between the ages of 10-17 would not even care if the score was kept. That seems strange to me because even though there was no score board at my sons floor hockey game every single 5 and 6 year old knew the score.

Competition is a positive thing when kept in perspective but I can't help but wonder if the reason we have become such a anti competitive society is because that perspective has been lost. I think it is important that as the Athletic Director and a Dad that I spread the message that we are to be competitive but not at all cost. In other words, whenever we take the floor or field in a practice or game, we should be focused on competing and working towards the ultimate athletic goal which is to win. Conversly, we should not be pushing so hard that we damage the relationship that we attempt to establish with our players or children.

Keeping this perspective is difficult when you are talking about our own children or athletes, because we all want them to experience the joy of victory and avoid the agony of defeat. The beauty of competition that should always be remembered is that there are lessons learned when you win and when you lose.  Don't avoid the "Agony of Defeat" teach to it so that our students learn to handle the ups and the downs that life offers. Competition should and can be positive. There are many life lessons that we learn when we compete hard but the perspective should not be loss in an effort to win at all cost.

Waterford Athletic Department

Backyard Battle Tonight

Its time to settle it on the court. The Backyard Battle is turning 3 and will take place again at the O-Rena at Oakland University tonight. The girls game will start at 6:00 pm with the boys game following at approximately 8:00. This years contests has some intriguing match ups. The Kettering girl's team is coming into tonight's game undefeated at 7-0 while both the Mott and Kettering boy's teams are undefeated in the KLAA North Division. Tickets will be $5.00 at the door for both game there is not a better bargain around. We hope to see you all tonight at the O-Rena.

Waterford Athletic Department

Meet Matt Hamill Mott Boys Soccer Coach

High School Attended: Niles High School

Occupation: Science Teacher at Mott High School

Sports played in High School and College: Soccer, Basketball and Track at Niles

# of years coaching: 8
# of years at your current spot: 3

Hobbies: Running, weightlifting, water sports, watching ESPN, coaching high school sports

Favorite food: Taco Bell Favorite Music: 90's Alternative

Favorite College or Pro Team: Michigan State University

What I like best about Waterford: You feel valued in your work both in the classroom and the field. We have a great staff and great kids.

Coaching Philosophy: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.

Mentor and why: Tom Izzo, he is an expert at taking above average talent and blending it into great championship teams and he does it the right way.

Waterford Athletic Department

Get Your Backyard Battle T-Shirts Now!!

You can now pick up your "Backyard Battle" t-shirts at both the Mott and Kettering main offices. Remember the shirts are $10.00 and will be your ticket into the game. If you are wearing the t-shirt you do not have to wait in the ticket line you will walk right in. The t-shirts are being sold on a first come first serve basis so when they are gone they are gone. We want to thank this years sponsors for the game Best Source Credit Union, Buffalo Wild Wings and Teams Sports of Ohio.

Just a reminder the game is on Friday, January 14th the girls start at 6:00 followed by the boys game at approximately 8:00. If you have any questions you can call the office at both Mott and Kettering during regular business hours.

Waterford Athletic Department