Being Thankful

Hope that you are doing well. Please be thankful at this great time of the year.

(remember at the beginning of this fall we were paying two dollars more per gallon for gas than we are now)

Last night driving home to my parent's in Chattanooga I was able to listen to Larry King on CNN (twice!) That was the advantage of having a long drive and having satelitte radio in the car. I usually like watching Larry King and used to love his late night radio show. His guest's last night were Joel and Victoria Osteen. Whether or not you like Larry King or the Osteen's is not the issue. The issue is the points that were brought up on the show.

Here are a couple of Joel Osteen's quotes from the interview:

"Don't use your energy to worry, use your energy to believe."

"You know, I've found that your life follows your thoughts. If you think more about that, if you think about those things, you just draw it in."Being a coach we can sometimes struggle with being too negative and pessimistic. For me it is trying to change to be more positive. The line above "that your life follows your thoughts" is definately true for me.

It goes along with the line that a lot of us have heard "what you think about you bring about." I heard somewhere that 95% of what we worry about never happens anyway.

A couple of years ago a mentor of mine challenged me to be thankful for everything that came my way. Lost a game, be thankful. Problem at home or with a player, be thankful. Great day, be thankful. Good win, be thankful.

No matter the situation, be thankful.

For me it has been a paradigm shift. Changing my thinking to one of worry and pessimism to one of thankfulness and gratitude for whatever God has for me. I enjoy the change in thinking and still struggle each day in trying to stay upbeat and positive, but it does beat the alternative of worry and being negative.

Make this a great holiday for you and your family by finding the good and finding the positive. It's there sometime you just have to search, but you will find enough to be thankful for in your life.

Chapter 5 of John Maxwell's book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player By: John Maxwell

Chapter 5

Competent

If you can't, your team won't

“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
-Vince Lombardi

“People forget how fast you did a job-but they remember how well you did it.”
-Howard W. Newton

“Building the team is as important as producing the product.”
- Bob Taylor

“…inspiration is easy. Implementation is the hard part.”
- Bob Taylor




Highly committed people have some things in common:
1. They are committed to excellence

“Success bases our worth on a comparison with others. Excellence gauges our value by measuring us against our own potential. Success grants its rewards to the few but is the dream of the multitudes. Excellence is available to all living beings but is accepted by the …few.”
- Dale Carnegie

Chapter 4 of John Maxwell's book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player By: John Maxwell

Chapter 4

Communicative

A team is many voices with a single heart

“If you have not a good degree of eloquence in speaking and writing you will be nobody; but will have the daily mortification of seeing people with not one tenth part of your merit or knowledge get the start of you”
-Lord Chesterford

“Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people”
-William Butler Yeats

1. Do not isolate themselves from others
2. Make it easy for teammates to communicate with them
Most communication problems can be solved with proximity.

3. Follow the twenty-four hour rule
4. Give attention to potentially difficult relationships
5. Follow up important communication in writing
Open communication fosters trust.

To improve your communication…
o Be candid
o Be quick
o Be inclusive
People are up on things they’re in on.

Chapter 3 of John Maxwell's book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player

Chapter 3

Committed

There are no halfhearted champions
"The moment one definitely commits oneself, the Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issue from the decision, raising in one’s favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance which no man could have dreamed would come his way."
William H. Murray

"Ordinary people with commitment can make an extraordinary impact on their world."
- John C. Maxwell

1. Commitment usually is discovered in the midst of adversity.
“The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.”
- Vince Lombardi


2. Commitment does not depend on gifts or abilities
3. Commitment comes as the result of choice, not conditions
4. Commitment lasts when it’s based on values

Anytime you make choices based on solid life values, then you are in a better position to sustain your level of commitment.

To improve your level of commitment…
Tie your commitments to your values
Take a risk
Evaluate your team

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player By: John Maxwell Chapter 4

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player By: John Maxwell
Chapter 4
Communicative
A team is many voices with a single heart
“If you have not a good degree of eloquence in speaking and writing you will be nobody; but will have the daily mortification of seeing people with not one tenth part of your merit or knowledge get the start of you”
-Lord Chesterford

“Think like a wise man but communicate in the language of the people”
-William Butler Yeats

1. Do not isolate themselves from others
2. Make it easy for teammates to communicate with them
Most communication problems can be solved with proximity.

3. Follow the twenty-four hour rule
4. Give attention to potentially difficult relationships
5. Follow up important communication in writing
Open communication fosters trust.

To improve your communication…
o Be candid
o Be quick
o Be inclusive
People are up on things they’re in on.



The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player By: John Maxwell
Chapter 5
Competent
If you can't, your team won't
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”
-Vince Lombardi

“People forget how fast you did a job-but they remember how well you did it.”
-Howard W. Newton
“Building the team is as important as producing the product.”
- Bob Taylor

“…inspiration is easy. Implementation is the hard part.”
- Bob Taylor




Highly committed people have some things in common:
1. They are committed to excellence

“Success bases our worth on a comparison with others. Excellence gauges our value by measuring us against our own potential. Success grants its rewards to the few but is the dream of the multitudes. Excellence is available to all living beings but is accepted by the …few.”
- Dale Carnegie

5 Steps to help young people becoming happier with their lives

5 Steps to becoming happier with yourself

1. Stop the Gossip

Proverbs 18:8 "The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man's inmost parts."

2. Celebrate other people's success

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

3. There is no wrong side of the bed. You determine your attitude.

Phillipians 2:5 "Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus."

4. Everything worth having takes blood, sweat and tears.

Proverbs 16:9 "In his heart a man plans his steps, but the Lord determines his steps."

5. What other people think of you is no of your business and you don't need to worry about them anyway.

I Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Quote by Norman Vincent Peale

"The attitude you take toward problems and difficulties is far and away the most important factor in controlling and mastering them."

Norman Vincent Peale

Belhaven Basketball working with Habitat for Humanity

Hunter Jeffery (Huntsville, AL), Iman Walcott (Atlanta, GA) and Roderick Wilson (Andalusia, AL) work on getting board ready for the house.




Team picture and future home owner after doing the pre build for the house with Habitat for Humanity.



Team Picture after pre build and with future home owner.



Thomas Tunberg (Ft. Walton, FL) keeping the boards straight.



Chase Hudson (Norcross, GA), Iman Walcott and Roderick Wilson on getting the floor prepped.

Detrick Johnson (Clinton, MS) and Julien Marion (Belgium) putting together boards for the house.

Chapter 2 of John Maxwell's book 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player

The successful entrepreneur has averaged four business failures in his lifetime. According to leadership expert John Maxwell,
"Failure is the price you pay for success."

The key is to fail well... meaning you learn from your mistakes.

It’s no different in fatherhood. Are you a successful failure? Or does your pride in not admitting your shortcomings build a wall between you and your children? The best thing you can do for your kids is say you’re sorry when you need to, and give them some freedom to fail as well. The idea is not to have a perfect family, but a learning family. And that can only start by admitting mistakes.

Chapter 2

Collaborative

Working together precedes winning together

'All your strength is in union, all your danger is in discord."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Collaboration is multiplication
- John C. Maxwell
1. Perception: see teammates as collaborators, not competitors
-To collaborative team members, completing one another is more important than competing with one another.

2. Attitude: be supportive, not suspicious, of teammates

3. Focus: concentrate on the team, not on yourself
"True progress in any field is a relay race not a single event"
-Cavett Roberts.

4. Results: Create victories through multiplication

To Become a Collaborative Team Player...
-Think win-win-win
-Complement others
-Take yourself out of the picture
Usually when you collaborate with others, you win, they win and the team wins.

The "333" of life

I used to give a talk about living in the “333”. What does that mean? I posed that question to my team one day thinking there would be absolutely no way they would know what I was talking about. I thought I would get blank stares in trying to answer my question. Kind of like last year in using some analogy I said “if you come ask me sometime I’ll tell you the secret of Coach K’s success.” That has come from studying Coach Mike Krzyzewski for a long time, working his camp and watching him conduct practices and seeing his team play live on TV. Surprisingly none of the guys asked me the question. College kids amaze me at their interest and their disinterests.
Anyway, I asked the question “I live my life in the 333, so do any of you know what that means? “ Within seconds Jeff Sullivan, probably the smartest player on the floor I have ever coached said quickly “That’s how many days of the year you don’t have games.” Jeff is by far the quietest on our team so for him to speak up was interesting.
Years ago while coaching at Faulkner University the NAIA put in a rule that you had a game limitation of 32 games (it is now 30 games and 2 scrimmages). The point is that as a coach we get judged by what we do those 32 days (or nights). For coaches it is not what happens on the 32 days that really makes the difference. It’s what you do in preparation the 333 other days. I have to make the most out of the 333 days in preparation and planning to try and be successful those 32 days.
Professional teams and most big time college athletic teams are about one thing; Winning. Anyone that says different has not been at that level. Graduation rates, having good kids with character representing the community are all factors in the job, but not whether you get to keep your job. You keep your job at that level is based on you wins and losses. Not only is it about winning, but win now.
Not being able to implement a 5 year makes it tough on coaches to really build a program with a strong foundation. One of the greatest coaches in any sport at any time was John Wooden. Coach Wooden coached basketball at UCLA and won 11 national championships in 13 years. He did not win his first championship until he was 53 years old. I am glad UCLA was patient with John Wooden.
In today’s society win and you are king, lose and it’s like you have the plague. Like Gene Hackman (playing the part of Coach Dale) says in the movie Hoosiers, “Some people would kill to live as a king for a day.” Even with the ups and downs I find my balance in trying to take care of the 333. Usually if my teams plays poorly I did something wrong in the 333. If we play well it is because our guys put in the time and work by preparing
I heard someone say the other day while listening to a book on tape, “Are you there to lighten people’s load or to place more of a burden on them?” If I don’t spend time in the 333 in prayer, reading God’s word, encouraging, helping, listening, being empathetic , hearing what others say, my 32 usually does not go well. What is your 333? What is the time you have to think, plan, read, pray, prepare for the game of life?
With two teenagers I had the comforting words of “I hate you!” from one and “I hate this family!” from the other recently. Huh, kind of what I wanted to hear and used to dream of having when they were cute little toddlers. Thankfully my wife does not get rattled and stays calm. My being impatient, nervous and anxious has been calmed because my wife lives with such peace. That was one of those “game time (32)” moments. It was the time I had spent in the 333 of daily praying for my kids that I didn’t explode or overreact. Now don’t get me wrong I over react my fair share of times. This was one of those moments that I could take and move on.
It is highly probable raising four kids we may hear those comforting and encouraging phrases from our kids again. Since we are not giving our kids everything they want we will face the issue again. My point is that what you do in your “333” time is to get you ready for when the rubber meets the road. For when the game of life tips off and you are ready. I know 32 games we have each year will come and go. The constant prep time in the “333” will determine how well I prepare our young men for life. Any coach will tell you we have about 10% of our games that just come down to who may have the ball last, who has the last at bat, or who makes the half court shot.
I encourage you to take time in the preparation of life by reading God’s word, praying for others and to have a listening ear as well. Steven Covey says in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People: “Seek first to understand then to be understood.” When I first read his book when it came out I did not get the concept, but since I have studied it more and tried to apply it more often it has changed the way I look at situations.
Thankfully I am at a place now, Belhaven College, which places solid emphasis on the “333”. They want to win, but our goal is to compete and then to help our young men and women grow spiritually, academically and to get the most out of their athletic ability. We are encouraged to do our absolute best, but not at the expense of anything that would cause our school to viewed in a bad light or to go against the moral compass of the school.
I encourage you to keep whatever is the “333” in your life. The time you have to prepare for the big moments. The times you get wisdom and you can hear God’s voice on how to handle any situation. This may be your chance to talk with someone on handling a difficult problem that looks as if there is no way out. Your “333” can be anytime you have to prepare for the daily grind of life. If you never have time to spend in preparation it is hard to be at your best. If a team never gets to practice and only plays the games there is not enough time to correct mistakes. It takes time and concentrated effort to work on areas where you are weak and on issues that need to be resolved.

I know for me and my team if we don’t spend the right time and right effort in the “333” then it will definitely show once the game begins. It is the same for you. Whatever time you spend in the preparation of life it will show in the game of life when the ball is in your court.

Today as our team gets ready for another season I told them that this is why they do all the crazy stuff they do to play college basketball.
This is why they lift weights when they have worked a full day of work in the summer. This is why they lift weights just after coming off the practice floor after a tough practice. This is why when they play so much in the summer there shoes become soggy from the sweat. This is why when their head hurts so bad from working out so hard that they feel dizzy. This is why when they are so hot, thirsty and hungry they get that need for sugar. This is why when they can’t stand there own smell in the car after driving home from a workout. This is why when they had one of those days that they decided to work on their game and their friends went swimming or went to a movie. This is why when they decided late at night to go the gym while their friends went out on the town. This is why when they don’t feel like their coach will ever give them a break that they want to quit. This is why when they ache and have a hard time getting up in the morning or off the couch because they have that pain in their back or their knees that make them feel 20 years older than they really are.This is why they play the game because they absolutely love it and can not get enough basketball.
Your “333” could be anything. This is why we do what we do. As coaches why we work crazy hours and push ourselves and our teams to be the best. I have to live in the “333” as a husband, parent, coach, son, brother, friend. Even writing those I realize how much I fail in each area. I hope I can be there when the game starts. Practice prepares you for great things, but there is nothing like game experience.
As we get ready for another season please pray for us as coaches and players. I tell my team there will definitely be two things that happen this year. 1. We will have some up moments. 2. We will have some down moments. Every year I have coached and played that has happened. It will more than likely happen again.
Here is to our “333” getting ready to face both of those moments.

Iman Walcott Senior Atlanta, GA

Iman Walcott has made big strides since coming to Belhaven College in the fall of 2005. As I was moving my family to Jackson, MS and be the head coach here Iman was making his journey into college. As a matter of fact as I drove my U-Haul truck Iman packed his bags and came with us not knowing what to expect.

It all came about at the last minute. We had a scholarship available at the last minute and I had been trying all summer to get Iman to a Junior College or place him somewhere so he could go play. It is funny how God has better plans.

We as a staff thought that Iman might leave a few times and pack it in. Knowing how far he was from home and not knowing anyone here was tough his first year. The neat thing is that he steadily improved year after year and especially worked hard in the classroom.

He is extremely bright and has a good future ahead of him because of his approach and willingness to work. I have pushed him and rode him like most players, but sometimes I feel I may have been a little bit tougher on Iman because I knew deep down he had such potential. The problem was that he had not had enough past success to realize how good he can be. We have spent a lot of time trying to get him to realize how good of a player and student he is when he sets his mind on the task at hand.

We rode over here from Atlanta four years ago right before Katrina hit Mississippi and Louisiana. I am so proud of Iman and his ability to stick it out here at Belhaven. He is one of those guys that makes us as coaches love our jobs.

Hope you get to see us play this year.

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John Maxwell

We are taking out team through John Maxwell's book The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. These are some excerpts from the book and thoughts we have shared with our team.

#1 Adaptable

If you won’t change for the team, the team may change you.

"Inflexibility is one of the worst human failings. You can learn to check impetuosity, overcome fear with confidence, and laziness with discipline. But for rigidity of mind there is no antidote. It carries the seeds of its own destruction."
Anonymous
"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."
Michael McGriff


Teamwork and personal rigidity just don’t mix
1. Teachable

Emotionally Secure

“A person’s age can be determined by the degree of pain he experiences when he comes into contact with a new idea.”
Quincy Jones

2. Creative

3. Service Minded

To become more adaptable …
o Get into the habit of learning
o Reevaluate your role
o Think outside the lines

Great notes from Jack Canfield

Got this listening to Jack Canfield's tape series. He has a great website: jackcanfield.com

His book "The Success Principles" and Og Mandino's "The University of Success" are two of the best books I have ever read besides the Bible.

Canfield has what he calls the Cycle of Achievement. You must go through these stages to complete a big task or goal.

The Cycle goes like this:
1. Decide what it is you want
2. Plan how you are going to achieve this goal or dream
3. Start the process
4. Continue (even through the tough times)
5. Finish
6. Complete (a lot of people can not do the last two points. They can't finish something and then they have trouble completing something. Completing means you are done with the project and you have left no stones unturned.

2008-2009 Men's Basketball Schedule

Date Opponent Location Time
Sat Oct 25 Alumni Game Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Sat Nov 1 Blue Montain College Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Tues Nov 4 Wesley College Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Tues Nov 11 Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain,MS 7:30pm
Thur Nov 13 Univeristy of Alabama(exh) Tuscaloosa, AL 7:00pm
Sat Nov 15 Millsaps College Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Tues Nov18 Wesley College Florence, MS 7:00pm
Fri Nov 21 Lambuth University Jackson, TN 8:00pm
Sat Nov 22 Freed Hardeman Jackson,TN 2:00pm
Tues Nov 25 Oakwood Univeristy Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Fri Dec 12 College of the Southwest Fort Worth, TX 5:30pm
Sat Dec 13 Texas Wesleyan Fort Worth, TX 4:oopm
Mon Jan 5 Mississippi College Clinton, MS 7:00pm
Thur Jan 8 Spring Hill College* Mobile, AL 7:30pm
Sat Jan 10 Xavier University* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Thur Jan 15 University of Mobile* Mobile, AL 7:30pm
Sat Jan 17 LSU-Shreveport* Shreveport, LA 7:00pm
Thur Jan 22 Dillard University* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Sat Jan 24 Loyola College* New Orleans, LA 7:00pm
Mon Jan 26 SUNO* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Thur Jan 29 Tougaloo College* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Sat Jan 31 William Carey* Hattiesburg, MS 7:00pm
Thur Feb 5 Spring Hill College* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Sat Feb 7 Dillard University* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Mon Feb 9 Xavier University* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Thur Feb 12 William Carey* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Sat Feb 14 University of Mobile* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Thur Feb 19 SUNO* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Sat Feb 21 Loyola (Sr. Night)* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Thur Feb 26 LSU-Shreveport* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Sat Feb 28 Tougaloo College* Jackson, MS 7:00pm
Tues Mar 3 GCAC Tournament TBA
Thur Mar 5 GCAC Tournament TBA
SatMar 7 GCAC Tournament TBA
Tues Mar10 GCAC Championship TBA
Wed-Tue Mar 18-24NAIA NAt. Tournament Kansas City, MO

*Denotes GCAC Conference Game

Sat Oct 25 Alumni Game Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Sat Nov 1 Blue Mountain College Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Tuesday November 4 Wesley College Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Tuesday November 11 Blue Mountain College Blue Mountain, MS 7:30pm
Thursday November 13 University of Alabama (exh) Tuscaloosa, AL 7:00pm
Saturday November 15 Millsaps College Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Tuesday November 18 Wesley College Florence, MS 7:00pm
Friday November 21 Lambuth College Jackson, TN 8:00pm
Saturday November 22 Freed Hardeman Jackson, TN 2:00pm
Tuesday November 25 Oakwood College Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Friday December 12 College of the Southwest Fort Worth, TX 5:30pm
Saturday December 13 Texas Wesleyan Fort Worth, TX 4:00pm
Monday January 5 Mississippi College Clinton, MS 7:00pm
Thursday January 8 Spring Hill College* Mobile, AL 7:30pm
Saturday January 10 Xavier College* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Thursday January 15 Mobile College* Mobile, AL 7:30pm
Saturday January 17 LSU-Shreveport* Shreveport, LA 7:00pm
Thursday January 22 Dillard University* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Saturday January 24 Loyola College* New Orleans, LA 7:00pm
Monday January 26 SUNO* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Thursday January 29 Tougaloo College* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Saturday January 31 William Carey* Hattiesburg, MS 7:00pm
Thursday February 5 Spring Hill College* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Saturday February 7 Dillard University* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Monday February 9 Xavier College* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Thursday February 12 William Carey* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Saturday February 14 Mobile College* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Thursday February 19 SUNO* New Orleans, LA 7:30pm
Saturday February 21 Loyola (Sr. Night)* Rugg Arena 7:00pm
Thursday February 26 LSU-Shreveport* Rugg Arena 7:30pm
Saturday February 28 Tougaloo College* Jackson, MS 7:00pm
Monday March 2 GCAC Tournament TBA
Wednesday March 4 GCAC Tournament TBA
Friday March 6 GCAC Tournament TBA
Monday March 9 GCAC Championship TBA
Wed-Tue March 18-24 NAIA National Tournament Kansas City, MO
*Denotes GCAC Conference Game

Practice and Play with the Poise and Intensity of a National Championship Team

While I played in college, we had a stairway from our locker room to the gym floor. On the wall at the turn in the stairs there was a quote that said

Practice and Play with the Poise and Intensity of a National Championship Team


Playing for entire college career and seeing that quote every day you would think that it would have some meaning to us as players. I don’t know if my teammates, the players before or after I played thought about the quote very often. Like most things that you see over and over you take for granted. The college coach I played for was one of the most respected coaches in the profession, Don Meyer, and he is still coaching at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD.

As a kid you do not take full advantage of the things that are available and definitely most kids today just like when we were kids do not understand to full blessings of life. We can all fall into the trap of taking things for granted like solid relationships, a caring mate, a friend you can share anything with and being able to be healthy enough just to walk and run around.

I put the sign up in our stairway here at Belhaven College just as we had while in college. What does that mean, “Practice and play with the poise and intensity of a national championship team”? Maybe I could word it different, but in respect for my coach I made the sign say exactly what he put on that wall over 25 years ago.

Poise
To practice and play with poise and intensity. Poise means self-assurance, composure, self-control, dignity. I know our coach was more concerned with us as people than he was at winning a national championship team. He was not a win at all costs coach and he didn’t try to cut corners. He wanted your best. Whatever you could give that’s what he wanted. Was he hard to play for? Did he push us hard? Did he yell? Yes, yes, and yes. Not a player that played for him would disagree, but probably those of us that made it through four years of playing for him would ever say he was unfair, that he cared only about himself, or that he only played favorites. That is tough to do in coaching, teaching, running a business, pastoring a church or anything else.

How do you push, yell, and be hard to play for but you are fair, care about others more than yourself, or play favorites? I do not know how he did it because I struggle as a husband, parent, and coach to do the things Coach did and coach the way he coached. Our styles are different and our personalities are not the same, but he taught me a lot about myself.

Why am I sharing something with you that happened 25 years ago? I say these things to let you know I was sharing with someone recently about Coach Meyer and how he was hard to play for at times, but always fair. Most people ask what it was like to play for Coach Meyer because he is so well known around the country as a fantastic coach. I usually answer, “It was a great experience” To be honest sometimes I leave out the word “great” and just say “It was an experience, but one of the best of my life”.

It was an experience that I am not sure I have ever fully appreciated or will ever fully appreciate. But here is the thing I have just recently realized: He never made things personal. We were not “stupid” “idiots” or any other downgrading you can think of to call someone. He was on us hard and never let up, but I look back and see that you never left practice or a game defeated or dejected. You might not have like the outcome, but he had the ability even when he chewed you out that you the entire time he was correct and you deserved whatever he was going to dish out.

All of his former players laugh now about being singled out and may have caught the brunt of his displeasure a time or two. The funnier thing is that we usually deserved everything he dished out to us and we look back and realize that time he really got us was well deserved.

I know this is a real area that I am trying to correct in not making other fell attacked personally. Whether it is my wife, my own kids, or anyone associated with our basketball program. I want to be able to push and motivate others to give their best, but not at the expense of tearing them down. Hopefully I someday turn the corner and not get disgusted when others let me down or don’t give their best. I can still find ways to communicate without making others fell lower and making myself look better. Even though he was animated on the sidelines and any one that played for him can give you a great story about being chewed out by him about something he had that POISE. He had poise to know when to push and when to let up. He had the poise to teach and emphasize with us what it meant to have class and carry ourselves a certain way. He made you want to be better. Even today he instilled in me the desire to keep trying to improve to not be satisfied and to have the poise and belief that I could get better.

Intensity

Intensity means strength, concentration, passion and power. Coach had unbelievable intensity when it came to working. He was relentless. We knew he would always be prepared and if a game came down to coaching we would have a great chance of winning because Coach was going to put us in position to win. Even if we lost on the scoreboard Coach would have us leave thinking we were winners because he stressed being intense about how you played. I have tried to bring those positive aspects of intensity in how I am as a mate, a father and coach.

It is amazing how important intensity is to having success. Intensity is the ability to do what you are supposed to do even when you don’t want to do whatever that task may be. He taught me how important it was to have that intensity and desire.

As I played my four years in college I looked at the sign too many times to count and walked by it many time without even thinking about the sign. I was one of the fortunate ones that came through the program and my last year we did win the National Championship. It was not with talent, but with Poise and Intensity and also practicing and playing like that all the time. The more interesting thing is that although we had a good team we were not the most talented team coach ever had, nor the most intense, nor the most poised, nor the most athletic. It is just for that season it all came together. The players before us that built the program and the ones that came after to continue the tradition were just as important as our team was in winning the National Championship.

What I learned most was that it took a group of individuals committed to a goal, determined to follow leadership, and a willingness to put aside individual attention.
To do the saying “Practice and play with poise and intensity of a National Championship team” means to give to something bigger than yourself.

Halftime

I feel as if I am the halftime of my career (being 45 years old) and that makes me think I have come into the locker room of life. I have played the first half and made many mistakes, but fortunately, I still am in the game. Now I get ready to come out of the locker room for the second half of life hopefully.

For me I want to win that National Championship and get the glory of being perceived as a successful coach. I want to be able to say I played on a National Championship team and coached a National Championship team. That goal still sits in the back of my mind. More important now is how I coach the young men I encounter the remainder of my career. I have made more mistakes than most during the first half of my career, have regretted decisions, was too hard on certain players, too distant with some players, allowed outside influences distract me from the goal of developing my team and young men.

My vision now is to make the next half count. To adjust the game plan of my career a little bit I am saying I will make decisions and decide:
1. To be more passionate about developing the young men in the program
2. To make each guy feel important
3. To be more passionate about sharing God’s love with each member of our program
4. To help each player find out what his gift is in life and to help him pursue his dream.
5. To be a coach that sees development takes time and is not always determined by the won-loss record
6. To relax and let God be God and for me to serve Him

I want to be where God is working and He is working here in our program. It is not always visible, but it is happening and I want to help people see the vision and see what can be done when a group of coaches and players all strive to play for the same goal. That goal is to glorify God in what we do and in how we play. I am thankful for each day I have to be a coach, to be someone that is the trenches in helping young men find their Spiritual meaning and what God has for their life, to help them grow academically so they can be successful in what their chosen field or profession may be and to challenge them athletically. It is not easy and it takes a lot of determination, but I know there is a pay off down the road. I tell people the great thing about my job is that “I have no idea what I am doing”. I mean that I have no idea what of these young men that come through our program are going to do in life one day. I have no idea how they are going to turn out during their time with us and once they leave. I pray we invest in their lives enough and pour ourselves into them that they benefit a great deal by being part of our program. Even with the uncertainty, I am sure excited about seeing what will happen with them one day and what they will become. There is great joy in this journey.

Transitions of Life #1 Listen to Your Parents"

1. Listen to your parents.


This is one of the key strategies and skills in reaching your potential. No matter what differences you have with your parents your ability to listen to them for guidance and advice is a key in the transitions of life. You will be frustrated, mad, angry and an assortment of other emotions with your parent’s. They were probably the same way with their parents. You follow this one piece of advice and it will keep you from big problems down the road.

If your parents or parent are asking you to do things that are against the law or against what God says, you can disregard point #1. Otherwise, this is key advice for you on how to reach the goals you have in life.

You have heard before again and you will hear it again. Your parents have your best interest and know you as well as anyone. They have been around you for a long time.
Because of these reasons they love more than anyone and they want to see the best for you even when you can not see it yourself.

Most people go through a typical progression of life when we hit different ages. Usually the pattern goes something like this:

Ages 1-11 “My parents are great, they can do just about anything”.
Age 12 “I think my parents are starting to get weird”.
Age 13-17 “My parents are weird and they don’t know a whole lot. Plus they embarrass me in front of my friends and they say goofy things”.
Age 18-22 “My parents are just out of touch with the real world. They don’t what it is like to be in the real world today”
Age 23-24 “I wonder if my parents will let me move back home?”
Age 25 “Maybe my parents knew a thing or two.”
Age 26 (or once you are married) “My parents were actually pretty smart”
Age 27 and up (or once you start to have kids) “How did my parents do all they did for me? They are great people and I count on them for advice”

As one who did not think my parents knew much, it was not until later that I realized that my parents did know a thing or two about life. It probably took me to the age of 22 or 23. For some people it does not take long and some people it takes longer. The sooner you listen to your parents the better.

Yes, your parents are out of it sometimes and are not up with the latest fashion, fads and friends. They do want the best for you and really want you to have it better than they did. We will talk about it later in the book, but you have to try to understand your parents just as much as they have to understand you. It is communication. Sometimes you have to filter out the loud voices or the angry voices and understand what your parents are trying to communicate.

Do not forget that experience is not the best teacher. Other people and their experiences are the best teachers. If someone else can make the mistake and you don’t have to pay for it that is better than you having to suffer the consequences.

Your parents offer you a lot. They offer you the chance to learn from their past mistakes. That is a key to being able to listen to your parents. Understand their heart and where they are coming from when they try to tell you something.

Allow your parent or parents to make their point and voice their opinion without arguing with them. In the long run, you will be better off. They can keep you from making dumb decisions and will help you out a great deal. They know about many things. Many of the things they teach you are going to be from their experiences and past mistakes. Do not come up and make the same mistake they have made after they gave you numerous warnings. They can keep you out of trouble and heartache if you just listen to them.

My dad one time gave me advice once when I was struggling as a young coach with a particular situation. It was tough and was dominating my thought process. Looking back I was an immature young coach that did not know enough. Instead of seeking others advice and listening to people I tried to figure it out all by myself. That was a quick lesson for me in the coaching and teaching profession. Seek others advice and wisdom. This is where my dad came in to help me with the situation.

After listening to me lay out the situation he took it all in and didn’t try to tell me what to do, but he made me think of the ramifications. He said, “Imagine you are giving a talk on this subject 10 years from now at a coaching clinic. How would you advise someone and what kind of steps would you give for someone going through the exact situation?” Immediately he gave me the ability to think long term, not short term. Some of us are long term thinkers and some of us are short term thinkers. With parents and kids it is usually the kids are short term thinkers and want it fixed right now. Parents have the ability to think long term and see the big picture.

I can vividly remember lying on my bed talking to my dad over the phone. What he gave me was the ability to look at the problem from another point of view. What he gave me was a bird’s view to look at the situation and to take my emotions out of the equation. I would not have had that kind of wisdom because I was a young coach and inexperienced in dealing with personnel issues. My dad is a lawyer who has to deal with issues of people working together all the time. It was great advice and helped me tremendously. I still think of that conversation and how it changed my perspective. Now I use the “Think 10 years down the road” advice when trying to help other people.

My mom also gave me great advice at a critical juncture in my life. After my junior year of playing college basketball, I had the opportunity to graduate and go out into the real world. We had a good team coming back and our entire starting five from a team that went to the National Tournament the previous season. I was thinking about quitting and going on ahead to graduate. I would go out and get a job in broadcasting or some type of job in the sports journalism area.

My mom told that she did not think I had reached my full potential as a basketball player. “Give it one more year to play and see what happens” she said. To her she saw someone that had worked so hard to get to this point that she did not want to see me quit just yet. She can remember all those summers working on my basketball game. All the times when it may have been raining, cold or snow on the ground, but I would still go out there and shoot baskets. She had watched me develop and thought I still had some growth as a player. It was great advice. I went back to school and got ready for a great senior year.

For me it was an incredible year. I had a spiritual awakening in the fall of my senior year and became a Christian, played my best year and we won the NAIA National Championship in the spring. I am glad I listened to my mom.

Do not forget that the one commandment of the Ten Commandments that talks about honoring your parents comes with a promise

Exodus12:20
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”


“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.”
Mark Twain

1. Listen to your parents.

This is one of the key strategies and skills in reaching your potential. No matter what differences you have with your parents your ability to listen to them for guidance and advice is a key in the transitions of life. You will be frustrated, mad, angry and an assortment of other emotions with your parent’s. They were probably the same way with their parents. You follow this one piece of advice and it will keep you from big problems down the road.

If your parents or parent are asking you to do things that are against the law or against what God says, you can disregard point #1. Otherwise, this is key advice for you on how to reach the goals you have in life. You have heard before again and you will hear it again. Your parents have your best interest and know you as well as anyone. They have been around you for a long time. Because of these reasons they love more than anyone and they want to see the best for you even when you can not see it yourself.

Most people go through a typical progression of life when we hit different ages. Usually the pattern goes something like this:

Ages 1-11 “My parents are great, they can do just about anything”.
Age 12 “I think my parents are starting to get weird”.
Age 13-17 “My parents are weird and they don’t know a whole lot. Plus they
embarrass me in front of my friends and they say goofy things”.
Age 18-22 “My parents are just out of touch with the real world. They don’t what
it is like to be in the real world today”
Age 23-24 “I wonder if my parents will let me move back home?”
Age 25 “Maybe my parents knew a thing or two.”
Age 26 (or once you are married) “My parents were actually pretty smart”
Age 27 and up (or once you start to have kids) “How did my parents do all they
did for me? They are great people and I count on them for advice”

As one who did not think my parents knew much, it was not until later that I realized that my parents did know a thing or two about life. It probably took me to the age of 22 or 23. For some people it does not take long and some people it takes longer. The sooner you listen to your parents the better.

Yes, your parents are out of it sometimes and are not up with the latest fashion, fads and friends. They do want the best for you and really want you to have it better than they did. We will talk about it later in the book, but you have to try to understand your parents just as much as they have to understand you. It is communication. Sometimes you have to filter out the loud voices or the angry voices and understand what your parents are trying to communicate.

Do not forget that experience is not the best teacher. Other people and their experiences are the best teachers. If someone else can make the mistake and you don’t have to pay for it that is better than you having to suffer the consequences.

Your parents offer you a lot. They offer you the chance to learn from their past mistakes. That is a key to being able to listen to your parents. Understand their heart and where they are coming from when they try to tell you something.

Allow your parent or parents to make their point and voice their opinion without arguing with them. In the long run, you will be better off. They can keep you from making dumb decisions and will help you out a great deal. They know about many things. Many of the things they teach you are going to be from their experiences and past mistakes. Do not come up and make the same mistake they have made after they gave you numerous warnings. They can keep you out of trouble and heartache if you just listen to them.

My dad one time gave me advice once when I was struggling as a young coach with a
particular situation. It was tough and was dominating my thought process. Looking back I was an immature young coach that did not know enough. Instead of seeking others adviceand listening to people I tried to figure it out all by myself. That was a quick lesson for me in the coaching and teaching profession. Seek others advice and wisdom. This is where my dad came in to help me with the situation.

After listening to me lay out the situation he took it all in and didn’t try to tell me what to do, but he made me think of the ramifications. He said, “Imagine you are giving a talk on this subject 10 years from now at a coaching clinic. How would you advise someone and what kind of steps would you give for someone going through the exact situation?” Immediately he gave me the ability to think long term, not short term. Some of us are long term thinkers and some of us are short term thinkers. With parents and kids it is usually the kids are short term thinkers and want it fixed right now. Parents have the ability to think long term and see the big picture.

I can vividly remember lying on my bed talking to my dad over the phone. What he gave
me was the ability to look at the problem from another point of view. What he gave me
was a bird’s view to look at the situation and to take my emotions out of the equation. I would not have had that kind of wisdom because I was a young coach and inexperienced in dealing with personnel issues. My dad is a lawyer who has to deal with issues of people working together all the time. It was great advice and helped me tremendously. I still think of that conversation and how it changed my perspective. Now I use the “Think 10 years down the road” advice when trying to help other people.

My mom also gave me great advice at a critical juncture in my life. After my junior year of playing college basketball, I had the opportunity to graduate and go out into the real world. We had a good team coming back and our entire starting five from a team that went to the National Tournament the previous season. I was thinking about quitting and going on ahead to graduate. I would go out and get a job in broadcasting or some type of job in the sports journalism area.

My mom told that she did not think I had reached my full potential as a basketball player.“Give it one more year to play and see what happens” she said. To her she saw someone that had worked so hard to get to this point that she did not want to see me quit just yet. She can remember all those summers working on my basketball game. All the times when it may have been raining, cold or snow on the ground, but I would still go out there and shoot baskets. She had watched me develop and thought I still had some growth as a player. It was great advice. I went back to school and got ready for a great senior year. For me it was an incredible year. I had a spiritual awakening in the fall of my senior year and became a Christian, played my best year and we won the NAIA National Championship in the spring. I am glad I listened to my mom.

Do not forget that the one commandment of the Ten Commandments that talks about
honoring your parents comes with a promise
Exodus12:20

"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the
LORD your God
is giving you.”

“When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to
have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at
how much he had learned in
seven years.”

Mark Twain

Belhaven Winter Basketball Camp

Belhaven Winter Basketball Camp Dates!!!

Friday January 2nd 9:00am to 12:30pm
Saturday January 3rd 9:00am to 12:30pm

More information to come

J.I. Packer quote

"Once you become aware that the main business that you are here for is to
know God, most of life's problems fall into place of their own accord".

J.I. Packer

update on Coach Meyer Sept.19

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3598245

Andy Katz espn.com Sept. 19

article on Coach Don Meyer from ESPN

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3580219&name=katz_andy



Great Article from Sept. 11 on espn.com by Andy Katz

Coach Don Meyer

Coach Meyer taught us…..

Coach taught us to not have a job or simply go to work, but to have a passion.
“You must have a passion for what you do. Be part of something that is bigger than yourself”
If you played for coach you knew what it meant to have passion. No one thought about his team more, his occupation more and how to improve things more than Coach.

Coach taught us not to win, but to give our best effort.
“Play against the game”
Winning was very seldom mentioned, but playing against the game was important to him. He knew that if you played the game correctly that you would come out ahead more times than not. He could take the pressure to win off of his players by constantly emphasizing that you needed to play against the game and not your opponent.

Coach taught us not to be religious, but to be Christ-Like.
“I’d rather see a sermon, than hear one any day.”

Coach taught us to not feel like we deserved or were entitled to anything, but to be dedicating in striving to make things better.
“Pick up one piece of trash a day”
Every day when I bend over to pick up my one piece of trash a day, I think of coach saying those words. I am not sure if I have ever bent to pick up a piece of trash and not said those words.

Coach taught us to not treat people the same, but to help those who needed more help and attention than others.
Coach’s friends or the people he talked to the most were just the regular type person. He was not a “political” person at all. He talked to the ones he liked and he never looked down on anyone. His friends were the ones that might be the low man on the totem pole or the worker that did not have a high profile position. It almost seemed the lower someone was on the social or economical ladder the better he treated that person. His hard working personality did not mean he ran over people. To us he showed that everyone had purpose and a special place. He taught us not to look at social standing in judging or treating someone.

Coach taught us to have good habits, and to do the right thing and look for new ways to do old tricks.
Coach must have changed day planners and time organizers more than anyone in history. He was always coming up with a new way to be better organized. He did not let himself get in a rut. If he taught things a certain way he would still look for a better or more effective way to teach.



Coach taught us to not be pretty or look good, but to be real and authentic.
For coach it was about being real. He did not ever make it look like he had more money or power than other people. Even when he was making very good money with his camps and videotapes he never tried to look like a big spender. He wore the same clothes, ate at the same places and drove the same kind of car. He never tried to look the part of someone who had made it big.

Coach taught us not to be knowledgeable, but to be teachable.
For coach one of the most important things was finding out how teachable someone was going to be and if they could take correction. It did not take long to find the ones that were not teachable were the ones who would not last with Coach. Being teachable was up there with almost any character trait he would discuss.

Coach taught us not how to be better basketball players, but to be a better teammate.

“If it is a decision between you and the program the decision has already been made”
For coach it was about the team. He never pumped the play of individuals, but wanted the emphasis to be on the team. He knew that the only way his team would have success would be the organization and willingness of players to put the team first and their own goals second.

Coach taught us not to be winners, but that attitude was the one trait that you needed to have to be what you could be.
“Attitude is one of those things that may be hard to define, but you know it when you see it”
Anyone associated with Coach and his camps would have to come away with a better understanding of what the word attitude meant. For most of us we saw the acronym so many times we should be able to recite it word for word.

A was for Awareness
T was for teachable
T was for tenacity
I was for intensity
T was for technique
U was for unselfish
D was for discipline
E was for execution

Basketball Camp Winners

Hot Shot Winners
Sydney Hays
Luke Little
Napeloan Callier
Terrell Ben
Grant Shaffer
Justin Storm
Daniel Gallarno

Gotcha Winners
Avery Eaton
Gabe Watson
Lia Tylerson
Terrell Ben
Justin Storm

Lay-up Winners
Nina Teeuwissen
Luke Little
Gabe Watson
Erica Sim
Daniel Wall
Daniel Fehrenbacher
Joseph Perkins
Grey Williams
Daniel Gallarno
Mitchell Storm

Dribble Tag Winners
Janie Kovach
Gabe Watson
Ariel Turner
Terrell Ben
Emma Sapen

Free Throw Winners
Olivia Jones
Walker Benner
Ariel Turner
Carter Holmes
Sophie Hays
Gray Johnson
Spencer Lawson

Bank Shooting Winners
Sydney Hays
Nicholas Sanford
Julia Collins
Josh Bennett
Malcolm Brown
Daniel Gallarno
Mitchell Storm


3 Point Champion
Owen Duncan
Luke Little
Julia Collins
Willie O’reilly
Holten Benner
Creed Franklin

Best Teammate Award
Melanie Crun
Connor Jones
Zak Ingram
Lia Tylerson
Eli Groom
Jimmy Turner
Andy Haynes
Alejantro Leflore

Best Attitude Award
Faith Galloway
Travis Byrd
Erica Sim
Spencer Lawson
Anne Rack
Sophie Hays
Christopher Moody
Creed Franklin

Blazer Award
Kacie Van-Pelt
Corey Franklin
Adam Flies
Napeloan Callier
Jason Melear
Gary Odems
Jimmy Turner
James Melear
Anfernee Felton
Deion Cortez

Senior Jeff Sullivan with his sisters at Graduation Spring 2008

Basketball Philosophy of our program

As coaches at Belhaven we try to stress in a three dynamic parts of our college.

1. Spiritual Life
There is the opportunity for Spiritual growth for each student here at Belhaven. It impresses me the influence I have seen in the lives of many former students and student athletes that attended Belhaven. It is good to hear stories from former players that I come in contact as well as traditional students from the college that say they were impacted in a great way and their faith as been strengthened because of their time at Belhaven. This has come through the classroom and through coaches.

2. Academics

Belhaven continues to make strides in becoming stronger academically. I am proud of the education our students receive here at Belhaven and feel like it is a tremendous recruiting tool for us to stress how solid the academic programs are here. We emphasize the small student to teacher ratio. Our goal is to make sure young men understand they will have quality educators that care about them as students and as people. The faculty here invests in the lives of our students in a powerful way.

3. Athletics

Our push is that the student athletes we bring in here to Belhaven are going to put to a challenge athletically. We have a full time strength coach that works on quickness and speed as well as strength. We have three full time trainers on staff to help our athletes to get the proper treatment if they ever have an injury. Our coaches are committed to making sure each individual improves as an athlete and in their skill level. We are constantly trying to find new ways to help our players take their game up a notch. We have had some big wins and made big strides over the last couple of seasons. We led the nation in FT shooting two seasons ago and this past season for the second year in a row, we received votes in the top 25 NAIA National poll. Two years ago, it was academic casualties and this past season it was injuries. We could use your prayers that this season we continue to make strides without big roadblocks. The bumps have made us better, but I am still excited about the future we have here in building the basketball program.

Character and Building into lives
Our main emphasis is to impact lives while building and maintain a top-notch basketball program. We are about building character, discipline and teaching our young men what it means to work hard. Our staff and I have spent many nights on the phone and on the road, trying to build what I think is going to be a fun team to watch next season and for seasons to come. We are not finished yet with our recruiting so keep your eyes open for some great young men with the skills we need to be successful.

God has been good to us and will continue to be good. We just have to stay faithful in the little things.

Camp next week!!!

We have two day "Skill Development Camp" on Monday August 4 and Tuesday August 5 from 9:00am to 12:30pm both days.



Think of it as a 7 hour basketball lesson. For those that have individual trainers or have seen them work this is what our camp will be like. A power packed two days of basketball. We will go through some new drills and use our different training aids to make it a productive camp session.



The cost is only $50. What a great way to end the summer and to get ready for the upcoming basketball season.



You can register online at www.belhavenbasketballcamp.com

Great information for Dads!

If you are not receiving the All Pro daily email you need to sign up. It gives a daily email that is fantastic for parents especially created for Fathers.

Go to their website: http://www.allprodad.com/
and sign up for their daily email.

You will be glad you did.

Basketball Campers of the Day Wednesday July 30 2008

Basketball Campers of the Day Wednesday July 30 2008!!!


Wesley Barker
Terrell Ben
Rosella Brown
Travis Byrd
Napoleon Collier
Alejandro Flores
Sophie Hays
Carter Holmes
Janie Kovach
Justin Lairy
Christopher Moody

Basketball Campers of the Day Tuesday July 29, 2008

Basketball Campers of the Day Tuesday July 29, 2008!!!

Jordan Ainsworth
Malcolm Brown
Avery Eaton
Creed Franklin
Luis Flores
Spencer Lawson
Jordan Kovach
Nicholas Sanford
Lia Teeuwissen
Brett Thomason
Grey Williams

Robert Louis Stevenson Quote

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "To be what we are, to become what we are capable of becoming, is the only end of life."

Self Discipline

Brain Tracy says this about self-discipline:
"Self-discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it whether you feel like it or not"

Top ten ways to get better grades and study less.

1. Make each class a priority. Show up on time. Participate.

2.Respect each teacher you have and learn how they test. Pay attention to what they emphasize and how they like to structure their classes and grading. Just like in athletics except your teachers are not your opponents, but you must learn how they think

3. Take great notes in class. When you get home, you have probably heard it before, but go back over the notes and rewrite them clearly. Even if you have good penmanship, you may have missed something while taking notes. By going over them the night of the class, it reinforces what you learned that day and helps you correct any mistakes and misunderstandings you may have written down on your paper.

4. Sit towards the front of the class. If the teacher has assigned seats after class one day ask them privately if you can sit near the front. Tell them you see this class as being important and you feel you will get the most out of the class by sitting close

5. Be on time and prepared. Have all the information you need for that class (book, paper, pen, etc.). Whatever you are supposed to have for that class be prepared so you do not miss anything.

6. Do all your assignments on time. All homework needs to be completed and on time. Just like an unnecessary foul or penalty, you are taking points away from yourself by not having things in on time.

7.Take advantage of any extra credit opportunities you may have. Most extra credit points are easy and take very little time. Those extra points are valuable and add up at the end of the semester.

8. Use any extra free time to study and learn more about your subject. Less TV and less video games equals better grades every time. Better grades means better schools. Better schools means better jobs.
With the information that is available at your fingertips today there is no reason why you should not be up to date on any topic your teacher discusses. If something really interests see if you can find some video or information on line that can help you had better understand the topic.

9.Be ready days before the test. Cramming is not going to help you in the long run. You can do well here and there by cramming, but in no way will you get consistent results by trying to stay up late the night before the test.

10. Get a memorization technique that works for you
You will be able to ace the tests and subjects that used to be tough simply by coming up with a memorization system.
We will talk more about this one in a later blog.

Basketball Camp Sign up

We have had a really good response for our basketball camp July 29 to August 1. Please send in your application or register online soon to reserve your spot.

Usually we have a big walk up crowd so the camp may fill up. If you would like your child to participate please register soon.

Our staff is committed to making this a great camp week for your child.

We place a big emphasis on teamwork, attitude, perseverance and being a servant.

Also we have spots still for our camp on Aug. 4 and Aug 5. Call or email if you have questions.

601 968 5936 or tkelsey@belhavnen or coachkelsey@hotmail.com

Great gift

Have you ever received one of those unexpected gifts and it was as if it hit the spot at just the right time?

A couple of weeks ago I received in the mail a package, but did not recognize the sender.

When I opened the box, it was a Boston Celtic Championship T Shirt. I am a Boston Celtic Fan, but would never take the time or spend the money to get the shirt. My son and sent it to me as a gift.

It is now of course my favorite shirt and I wear it every time I can.

For a teenager to think, plan, and send for a shirt like that is neat. Just when you feel like you are on their case all the time, they will turn and surprise you.

I knew I had been hard on him lately and probably had not given him enough positive reinforcement. He showed me his maturity by not getting mad, but loving me unconditionally.

It is very humbling when you get life lessons from your children. He showed me like God shows us all the time in that our position does not change (we are always his children and he is going to love us no matter how many mistakes we make).

If you see me wearing the Celtic T Shirt it is not because of being so much of a Celtic fan as it is being a fan of my son's.

"And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts, Be Thankful" Colossians 3:15

Camper Award Winners June 9-12!!!

Belhaven Camper Award Winners
Session #2 June 9-12


Hot Shot Winners
Jamari Donelson
Noah Greenwood
Jacob Greenwood
Trae Muse
Caroline Terry
Jarrett Watson
Taylor Wilson


Gotcha Champions
Jordan Brister
Brynne Kelsey
John Lee
Nicholas Oigbokie
Dominic Sanders
Akil Strawder


Pacesetter Award
Spencer Lawson
Karimah Strawder
Tyler Wann
Gabe Watson
Grace Watts
Kaci Wilcox
Jay Wilson


Dribble Tag Champions
Kirsten Cagins
Brandon Fletcher
Sammy Indest
Brynne Kelsey
Karimah Strawder
Dezmond Smith
Gabe Watson
Taylor Wilson


Free Throw Champions
Malcolm Brown
Jamari Donelson
Trae Muse
Caroline Terry
Zack Willis
Akil Strawder


Best Effort Award
Beau Brawner
Jordan Brister
Tyree Donelson
Noah Greenwood
Keiphton Lampley
Karimah Strawder


Three Point Champions
Briana Barnett
Jordan Brister
Brynne Kelsey
Dominic Sanders
Akil Strawder
Jaylon Williams


Best Teammate Award
Samatha Johnson
Justin Lairy
Spencer Lawson
Charles Smith
Adrian Young
Tyler Wann


Best Attitude Award
Briana Barnett
Cedric Beamon
Camebren Blackmon
Jacob Greenwood
Alex Russell
Charles Smith
Emily Grace Wheat


Blazer Award
Sammy Indest
Joy Johnson
Samantha Johnson
Jarrod McIntee
Mary Katherine Miller
Gabe Wilcox
Jaylan Williams
Jaylon Williams

Belhaven College Basketball Camp
Basketball Campers of the Day
Thursday June 12, 2008

Beau Brawner

Malcolm Brown

Jared McIntee

Zack Willis

Belhaven Basketball Campers of the Day!!!

Belhaven College Basketball Camp
Basketball Campers of the Day
Wednesday June 11, 2008


Cedric Beamon
Jordan Brister
Jamari Donelson
Dominic Indest
Savannah Harris
Trae Muse

Belhaven Basketball Campers of the Day!!!

Belhaven College Basketball Camp
Basketball Campers of the Day
Tuesday June 10, 2008

Briana Barnett
Jacob Greenwood
Brandon Fletcher
Sammy Indest
Samantha Johnson
Alex Russell
Aaron Thomas

Belhaven College Basketball Campers of the Day!!!

Belhaven College Basketball Camp
Basketball Campers of the Day
Monday June 9, 2008

Noah Greeenwood
Casey Wilcox
Jaylan Williams
Akil Strawder
Beau Brawner
Joy Johnson
Spencer Lawson

Belhaven College Basketball Camp
Campers of the Day
Thursday June 5, 2008

Aaron Thomas

Caleb Smith

Steven Irby

Gage Bloodworth

Marsei Hogan

Heath Johnson

Cedric Beamon

David Huang

Ginger Dixon

Basketball Camp Award Winners

Session #1 June 2 -June 5


Hot Shot Champions

Patty Hancock

Bria McGee

Aaron Thomas

DH Dew

Jordan Brister

Darrius Williams

Lee Blair

David Huang

Ginger Dixon

Grace Watts



Free Throw Champions

Olivia Shelton

Karimah Strawder

Charles Smith

Christian Wade

Carlee Simmons

Malcolm Brown

Keiphton Lampley

Case Woodward

David Huang

Ginger Dixon

Grace Watts


Dribble Tag Champions


Olivia Brown

Kyle Leduff

Caleb Smith

Tyler Weeks

Steven Irby

Trevor Jordan


Bank Shot Champions

Alexia Kirkland

Bria McGee

Grace Watts

Karimah Strawder

Franklin Miskelly

Heath Johnson

Best Teammate Award

Alexia Kirkland

Maggie Bloodworth

Grace Watts

Tyree Donleson

Lily Crawford

Sydney Horel

Micah Whitehead

Samuel Brown

Gage Bloodworth

Cedric Beamon

Trevor Jordan

Brynne Kelsey

Ginger Dixon

Best Attitude Award

Maggie Bloodworth

Patty Hancock

Olivia Brown

Chelsea Hicks

Kyle LeDuff

Lucy Clement

Madison Horel

Kyle Colson

Marsei Hogan

Skylar Gainey

Best Effort Award

Ali Shelton

Alexia Kirkland

Kaitlyn Gilliam

Will Huff

Madison Klein

Dierrah McInnis

Kyle Colson

Will Griffin

Allen Billups

Skylar Gainey

Brynne Kelsey

Ginger Dixon

Blazer Award (All Around)

Olivia Shelton

Hannah Corson

Deondre Johnson

George Dew

Reagan Reeves

Michael Potts

Cedric Beamon

Pacesetter Award

Ali Shelton

Laura Bryant

Ginger Dixon

Garrison Wade

DH Dew

Madison Horel

Damian Danaher

Franklin Miskelly

Lay-up Award Winners

Olivia Brown

Brynne Kelsey

Nick Lewis

DH Dew

Garrison Wade

Madison Klein

Caleb Smith

Keiphton Lampley

Case Woodward

Trevor Jordan

Basketball Campers of the Day!!!

Basketball Campers of the Day
Belhaven Basketball Camp
Session #1 Wednesday June 4, 2008


Cedric Beamon

Gage Bloodworth

Nick Cohea

Kaitlyn Gilliam

Sydney Horel

Madison Horel

Reagan Reeves

Grant Robinson

Ali Shelton

Christian Wade

Basketball Campers of the Day

Belhvaven Basketball Campers of the Day
Session #1 Day 2

Kyle Colson

Lily Crawford

Skylar Gainey

Marsei Hogan

Nick Lewis

Dierrah McInnis

Torrey Robinson

Olivia Shelton

Rachel Weeks

Basketball Campers of the Day Tuesday June 3

Basketball Campers of the Day from Tuesday June 3

Belhaven Basketball Camp

Session #1



Rachel Weeks

Lily Crawford

Nick Lewis

Marsei Hogan

Torrey Robinson

Olivia Shelton

Kyle Colson

Skylar Gainey

Basletball Campers of the Day
Monday June 2, 2008
Belhaven Basketball Camp

Laura Bryant Coach:Keke Gray

DH Dew Coach:Oshaad Lofton

Deondre Johnson Coach: Detrick Johnson

Jordan Brister Coach: Quincy Rogers

David Huang Coach: John Toor

Case Woodward Coach: Wright Busching

Jamari Donelson Coach: Thaddeus Wright

Maggie Bloodworth Coach: Mallory Hammock

Tyler Weeks Coach: Phillip Holmes

Congratulations to these players named to the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) honor roll for the 2007-2008 season.


Basketball (Men)
Detrick Johnson
Julien Marion
Micheal McNutt
Steven Miller
Daniel Sturgis
Jeffrey Sullivan
Jacob Zumo

Phillip Holmes (Durrant, MS)

Johnny Markham(Vicksburg, MS)

Detrick Johnson (Clinton, MS)

AJ Taylor (from East St. Louis, IL) vs. LSU

What are we going to do in Camp?

We have already had a good response for our camps so far and we are excited about working with all the campers that come to our camp.

In the morning sessions, we stress all the individual skills it takes to be a good all around player: defense, rebounding, ball handling, passing and moving without the ball.

In the afternoon sessions, we place emphasis on shooting technique and improving your shooting confidence.

In both sessions, we will have fun games and contests. It does not matter of your age or ability. We put our campers in groups that allow them to learn and be successful.

The first three days we will also have scrimmage games in camp to put our skills to work. The last day of camp is a review and a lot of fun contests and competition.

We are going to have a series of talks about how to be a "Champion in Every Area of Your Life". Each day we will discuss a different topic in helping you be a champion.

I encourage you to go to our blog or have your parents go to our blog at http://basketballandlife.blogspot.com/

Please call or email if you have any questions

No "Do overs in Life"

Revelation

Where you have been?
Where are you now?
Where you are going?


I was able to be the Head Men’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at Faulkner University from 1989 to 1994. We had some success and were able to take the program to their first trip to the NAIA National Tournament in 1992.

One of the best things we did while we were there was to have weekly devotionals with our team. I was a young coach and a young Christian. I really wanted to have our team be exposed to how great Christianity can be and how much fun you can have as a believer.

Our Bible faculty at Faulkner consisted of great men who were very wise. I did have a fear that some of them might not be able to relate to our young black basketball players.

I would bring in outside speakers with the only admonition was that they make Christianity sound exciting and not a set of rules. Most of the speakers we had were great, but what was fun was to have our players share a devotional thought with the team.

One time I had a young man on our team share named, Brad Harris, from Atlanta. Brad had a big heart and he and I butted heads a few times because of my immaturity.

I still liked Brad a lot and felt I could help him and relate. He came from a broken home and he really wanted to make something of himself. His mom did a great job with him, but he was one of those kids that really needed a dad.

I never have forgotten what Brad said that day. He said three things we should always remember.
1. Where you have been: teaches you about life and the experiences you have had
2. Where you are now: Enjoy the moment because it does not last too long.
3. Where you are going: What are your goals and how do you plan to get there.

For some of us it is painful to look back to your childhood or younger years or for that matter anything in your past. For some it is regret. For some it is nothing, but happy memories. Whatever the case I think we need to have knowledge of where we have been, where we are now and maybe most importantly where is your life headed now?

I appreciate what Brad had to say that day and it has stuck with me for a long time. I usually use his points each year in our basketball camps.

Coaching Philosophy
Coach Tom Kelsey

When I first started coaching I was an assistant coach at Brentwood Academy in Brentwood, Tennessee. The head coach was Ricky Bowers who was a teammate of mine at Lipscomb University. From Ricky I learned about intensity.

In the state of Tennessee Ricky has won state championships in both football and basketball. He is one of the best high school in football and in basketball around. It was great to work with him because I knew what a competitor he was (Bowers was an NAIA All American at Lipscomb) and coaching with him on a daily basis I learned how important intensity towards having a successful program.”

“I was able to be a head coach for the next 6 years at both the high school and college level. It was great to be in charge of my own program and be in charge. I learned a lot being a head coach in college at an early age (26 years old), but it also involved a lot of growing pains.”

“During the 1994-95 season I had the chance to work with my college coach, Don Meyer. Coach Meyer one of the best teachers of the game of basketball anywhere. His camps, clinics, and video/DVD series are some of the finest instruction you can get from fundamentals, to motion offense, to tough man-to-man defense.

From Coach Meyer I learned about organization and passion. I was able to see how he became so successful through being preparation. He still has a strong desire to help coaches and to teach the game. Through my association with Coach, I learned that to build and maintain a successful program you have to be well organized and you have to treat your job with deep passion.

“Mark Gottfried hired me in 1995 to be an assistant coach at Murray State University. We were fortunate to have success and then moved onto the University of Alabama. Mark has been coach of the year in both the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Everywhere Mark has been he has had success as a player and a coach. From Mark I learned the power of being focused. When it comes to recruiting, scouting, practice-planning Mark was able to stay driven to whatever was the task in front of him. Working with him for six years, I can see how he continues to have success. Mark taught me the value of stay focused to a vision, a recruit or any aspect of building a basketball program.”

I am grateful for the coaches that hired me as a part of their coaching staffs because each one was instrumental in help to develop my coaching philosophy. Each of the coaches I worked for have in some way influenced decisions I make each day regarding our program here at Belhaven College.

Through the years, I have had numerous assistant coaches and student coaches that gave me insights on how to teach and reach young people. I get to have a great job working at a fantastic institution and work with some of the best kids around.

Quote from Jeff Sullivan Graduate May 2008

"Belhaven gave me the opportunity to achieve my athletic and academic goals in a positive, Christian environment and for that I am very grateful. I came across many people that inspired me to be my best and helped me grow during my time there including students, teammates, coaches, and professors. I am grateful for the time I spent at Belhaven College."

Congratulations to Jeff Sullivan and Dax Miller!!!!

Both Senior Jeff Sullivan and Junior Dax Miller were named to the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) Honor Roll.

This is a nationwide honor for Juniors or Seniors that have a 3.2 GPA or higher. I served on the Academic Committee for many years and we had to push to get NAIA players honored along with the NCAA players. This will come out in the NABC magazine later this summer.


#14 Jeff Sullivan from Birmingham, AL with the basketball (above)

#23 Dax Miller driving the ball up the floor (above)

"How to practice and play"

While I played in college, we had a stairway from our locker room to the gym floor. On the wall at the turn in the stairs, a quote said:

“Practice and Play with the intensity and poise of a national championship team”

Playing for entire college career and seeing that quote every day, you would think that it would have some meaning to us as players. I do not know if my teammates, the players before or after I played thought about the quote very often. Like most things that you see over and over you take for granted.

The college coach I played for was one of the most respected coaches in the profession, Don Meyer, and he is still coaching at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. As a kid you do not take full advantage of the things that are available.

Most kids today are just like us when we were kids and do not understand to full blessings of life. We can all fall into the trap of taking things for granted like solid relationships, a caring mate, a friend you can share anything with and being able to be healthy enough just to walk and run around.

I put the sign up in our stairway here at Belhaven College just as we had while in college. What does that mean, “Practice and play with the poise and intensity of a national championship team”? Maybe I could word it different, but in respect for my coach, I made the sign say exactly what he put on that wall over 25 years ago.

Poise

To practice and play with poise and intensity. Poise means self-assurance, composure, self-control, dignity. I know our coach was more concerned with us as people than he was at winning a national championship team.

Coach Meyer was not a win at all costs coach and he did not try to cut corners. He wanted your best. Whatever you could give, that is what he wanted. Was he hard to play for? Did he push us hard? Did he yell? Yes, yes, and yes. Not a player that played for him would disagree, but probably those of us that made it through four years of playing for him would ever say he was unfair, that he cared only about himself, or that he only played favorites.

That is tough to do in coaching, teaching, running a business, pastoring a church or anything else. How do you push, yell, and be hard to play for but you are fair, care about others more than yourself, or play favorites?

I do not know how he did it because I struggle as a husband, parent, and coach to do the things Coach did and coach the way he coached. Our styles are different and our personalities are not the same, but he taught me a lot about myself.

Why am I sharing something with you that happened 25 years ago? I say these things to let you know I was sharing with someone recently about Coach Meyer and how he was hard to play for at times, but always fair. Most people ask what it was like to play for Coach Meyer because he is a well known around the country as a fantastic coach. I usually answer, “It was a great experience” To be honest sometimes I leave out the word “great” and just say “It was an experience, but one of the best of my life”.

It was an experience that I am not sure I have ever fully appreciated or will ever fully appreciate. However, here is the thing I have just recently realized: He never made things personal. We were not “stupid” “idiots” or any other downgrading you can think of to call someone.

He was on us hard and never let up, but I look back and see that you never left practice or a game defeated or dejected. You might not have like the outcome, but he had the ability even when he chewed you out that you the entire time he was correct and you deserved whatever he was going to dish out.

All of his former players laugh now about being singled out and may have caught the brunt of his displeasure a time or two. The funnier thing is that we usually deserved everything he dished out to us and we look back and realize that time he really got us was well deserved. I know this is a real area that I am trying to correct in not making other fell attacked personally. Whether it is my wife, my own kids, or anyone associated with our basketball program. I want to be able to push and motivate others to give their best, but not at the expense of tearing them down.

I hope that I someday turn the corner and not get disgusted when others let me down or do not give their best. I can still find ways to communicate without making others fell lower and making myself look better. Even though he was animated on the sidelines and any one that played for him can give you a great story about being chewed out by him about something he had that POISE.

He had poise to know when to push and when to let up. He had the poise to teach and emphasize with us what it meant to have class and carry ourselves a certain way. He made you want to be better. Even today, he instilled in me the desire to keep trying to improve and not be fully satisfied and to have the poise and belief that I could get better.

Intensity

Intensity means strength, concentration, passion and power. Coach had unbelievable intensity when it came to working. He was relentless. We knew he would always be prepared and if a game came down to coaching, we would have a great chance of winning because Coach was going to put us in position to win.

Even if we lost on the scoreboard Coach would have us leave thinking we were winners because he stressed being intense about how you played. I have tried to bring those positive aspects of intensity in how I am as a mate, a father and coach.

It is amazing how important intensity is to having success. Intensity is the ability to do what you are supposed to do even when you do not want to do whatever that task may be. He taught me how important it was to have that intensity and desire. As I played my four years in college, I looked at the sign too many times to count and walked by it many time without even thinking about the sign.

I was one of the fortunate ones that came through the program and my last year we did win the National Championship. It was not with talent, but with Poise, Intensity, also practicing, and playing like that all the time.

The more interesting thing is that although we had a good team we were not the most talented team coach ever had, nor the most intense, nor the most poised, nor the most athletic. It is just for that season it all came together. The players before us that built the program and the ones that came after to continue the tradition were just as important as our team was in winning the National Championship.

What I learned most was that it took a group of individuals committed to a goal, determined to follow leadership, and a willingness to put aside individual attention. To be able to “Practice and play with poise and intensity of a National Championship team” means to give to something bigger than you. It is like the John Wooden quote "It's amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit"

What we accomplished a long time ago as a player is what I am trying to sell our team on as we build for the future. We have the chance to something special here at Belhaven. With God's continued blessings, good things will continue to happen here for us as a campus and a basketball program.

I know for us we will have big challenges, but the one I will always stress with my team is to "Practice and Play with the Poise and Intensity of a National Championship Team"