The Benefits of Youth Sports

The Benefits of Youth Sports by Jordan D. Metzl, M.D., co-founder and medical director of The Sports Medicine Institute for Young Athletes and one of America’s premier pediatric sports physicians.

Physical Benefits

Fitness. Kids who play sports develop general physical fitness in a way that’s fun, and they establish lifelong habits for good health. This is particularly important at a time when obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions: the incidence of obesity has increased by more than 50 percent among America’s children and teens since 1976 and continues to grow at a staggering rate!

Stress relief. Sports allow kids to clear their minds of academic and social pressures, to literally run off the tension that’s accumulated in their muscles. In the words of one patient, “If you play really hard, you feel better because playing takes your mind off things that bother you, and afterwards you can concentrate better.” Most doctors recognize the positive mental effect of physical exertion, even though we’re not sure exactly why this is so. I know that my ability to study in college and medical school was greatly enhanced when I ran during the day, and I’m not the only athlete to find this true. Many athletes get better grades in-season (theories posit the discipline and the need to manage time, along with an increased ability to concentrate). During exams, Duke University opens its gyms twenty-four hours a day to provide stress relief for its students.

Mastery. Sports give kids a satisfying, enjoyable way to develop their own talents: through personal effort they get good at something they’re interested in. Doing something well makes them feel good about themselves, but equally important, it teaches them about the process of how to improve and work more effectively. Learning a skill-to dribble left-handed, say, or to execute an effective second serve-entails a recognition that practice is essential and that improvement is incremental. The process of repetition teaches the athlete how to master a move and also how to experiment with different approaches to improve a skill. The feedback in sports is usually immediate and visible-does the ball go into the basket?-so that the athlete can change or repeat what she’s doing and figure out how to get better. Not only that, the whole process of seeing practice lead to improvement gives kids a feeling of control, a feeling all too rare in their lives.

Healthy habits. Because sports increase an awareness of one’s body and how it responds to different stimuli and circumstances, sports help prevent drug and alcohol abuse. Most athletes value what their bodies can do and want to maintain those abilities. Being an athlete also gives kids an acceptable reason for telling their friends no to drugs, booze, and other high-risk, unhealthy behaviors. (Of course, not all athletes avoid drugs and alcohol.)

Personal Benefits

Valuing preparation. Sports help kids learn to distinguish between effort and ability. Sports increase self-discipline and the awareness of the value of preparation because kids can see the difference in their performance.

Competitive athletes learn the importance of effort, being prepared (mentally and physically), and enlightened risk-taking. They see that raw physical talent is not always sufficient to win the game, but that preparation is essential. This includes mental preparation (staying focused) and physical fitness as well as practicing the plays with their teammates in team sports. They learn to evaluate risk versus reward. Another invaluable lesson is discovering that mistakes are part of learning; they signal that a particular approach is unsuccessful and you must try another. Kids also learn to deal productively with criticism as part of improvement and preparation.

Resilience. Sports provide an unparalleled model for dealing with disappointment and misfortune. Young athletes learn to handle adversity, whether it’s picking themselves up after losing a big game or not getting as many minutes as they wanted. They find ways to deal with losing and go on, because there’s another big game next week or next year. They figure out what to do to get what they want for themselves. They put in extra time on fitness or work on specific weaknesses in their game (long-ball trapping, hitting to the opposite field, looking the ball into their hands).

Athletes also learn to deal with the physical and psychological effects of injury. I broke my jaw playing soccer and missed most of the season my junior year in high school. I went through the classic stages of grief, from “This can’t be true” to ultimate acceptance. Two months of sitting out, waiting to heal, and dealing with physical and emotional pain was devastating. There were times early on when I sat in my bed whimpering from pain. But as time went on and my jaw began to heal, I somehow began to realize what almost all athletes in pain realize: the only person who is going to help you is yourself. You find the limits of what you can ask of yourself and know that you will deliver. This learning to get the best out of yourself carries over into all aspects of life. People can find their internal drive through training and hard work, but adversity really brings it out. In my case, I came back with stronger resolve. In my senior year I became an all-district soccer player and was propelled toward a college soccer career.

Attitude control. Older teens learn that a confident attitude improves their performance, and that they have some control over their attitude. They learn to disregard comparative stats in preparing for an opponent and instead to adopt “attitude enhancers” such as visualization exercises, team or individual rituals, singing specific songs together, or having dinner as a team the night before the game. Some might call these superstitions, others, self-fulfilling prophecies, but they work.

Leadership opportunities. Team sports offer kids a rare opportunity to serve as leaders. Kids can be in a position to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their various teammates and help to exploit their strengths and compensate for their weaknesses. They can minimize conflicts among players. They can reinforce values-such as fair play, teamsmanship, hard work, mental preparation-by speaking up when appropriate and setting a good example. They can also take the initiative in arranging for team dress on game days (football players wear their jerseys to class, female basketball players wear their warm-up pants), organizing team dinners or team movie nights, and inviting teachers and administrators to their games.

Identity and balance. Being part of a group is inordinately important to kids, and sports make kids feel like they belong, whether it’s to the group of athletes in general or their team in particular. Sports also contribute to a teenager’s sense of a stable identity with particular values. “I’m a football player” is a very different statement than “I play football.” People are complicated, however; no individual is just one thing. It’s better to encourage children-and adults-not to assume a single identity to the exclusion of all else.

Time management. Young athletes learn to manage their time productively. They know they have to get their homework done, so they learn not to waste time (some of them even quit watching television and hanging out at the mall). They plan ahead, so that big school projects don’t catch them by surprise. They even figure out they have to eat well and get a good night’s sleep. Countless athletes, in school and the workplace, say that being an athlete taught them discipline that is invaluable in their lives on and off the field.

Long-term thinking. Athletes learn the fundamental lesson of sacrificing immediate gratification for long-term gain. This is the basis for personal success as well as for civilization in general, and no lesson can be more valuable.

Social Benefits

Sports are a social activity. Team sports are obviously done with other people, but even individual sports are often done as a team (tennis, golf, track). All sports, however, are intended to be performed in front of others, and the social ramifications are many. Here are some of them.

Relationships with other kids. Athletes develop relationships with their teammates. For boys, sports are a primary, and unfortunately sometimes the sole, way of socializing with others. In many schools and communities, nonathletic males find it difficult to develop a social network at all. For girls, who according to the feminist theorist Carol Gilligan tend to define themselves through their relationships rather than their achievements, sports offer yet another way to make friends and create an alternate peer group. According to Mike Nerney, a consultant in substance abuse prevention and education, multiple peer groups are always a good idea for teens, who have an intense need for inclusion and belonging, but who can also be volatile, cruel to each other, and foment destructive behavior as a group. Having a refuge when relations go wrong with one group can alleviate a great deal of stress and offer an alternative for kids who feel uncomfortable or frightened by peers who engage in high-risk activities.

Teamwork. On a team, kids learn about cooperation, camaraderie, give-and-take. They learn that while their natural position might be wide receiver, the team needs a cornerback, so they sacrifice their personal desires and play defense. They learn that you don’t have to like someone in order to work together toward a common goal. They also discover that you can work for people you don’t respect and still be productive, improve your skills, and have fun. A team is a natural environment in which to learn responsibility to others: you can’t stay out carousing the night before a game; sometimes you need to pass up a party in order to show up and play well.

Kids learn these lessons from their teammates and, most important, a coach who encourages the good of the team over the needs of an individual player. This attitude is sometimes rare in today’s sports climate, where what’s glorified is to “be the man.” I think the earlier the message is instilled about the good of the larger whole, the better for kids in the long run.

Diversity. Organized sports sponsored by clubs or youth leagues not affiliated with schools offer players an opportunity to meet a variety of kids from different backgrounds. Students from public, private, and parochial schools come together in a common enterprise, crossing socioeconomic and ethnic lines, so that over time all players broaden their sense of how other people live. The genuinely multicultural environment is of tremendous importance in our polarized society. Kids play on the same team, wear the same uniform, share the same objectives and experiences. Sports are a great equalizer: rich or poor, black, brown, or white, are irrelevant. What counts is talent and heart.

Relationships with adults. When coaches, parents, and kids see each other at practice and games week after week, year after year, the adults learn to admire and praise the kids’ prowess and progress, even when kids are as young as third graders. This kind of attention helps youngsters learn to balance their own evaluation of their improving skills with the appraisal of others who are not blood relatives; they also begin the lifelong process of figuring out whom to listen to when they hear conflicting advice or assessments. In addition, for young athletes of all ages, attention from interested adults is not only flattering but also helps them overcome shyness and develop poise when talking to relative strangers in social situations. The ability to feel comfortable in a variety of social circumstances will be progressively more valuable in a world of multiple cultures and decreasing numbers of supportive communities.

Sports give kids an opportunity to spend ongoing periods of time with an adult in a shared endeavor. Indeed, kids may spend more time with their coach than with any other adult in their lives, especially if they’re on a school team or a club team that practices two or more times a week. Ideally this coach cares about them as whole beings rather than particular talents who can run for touchdowns or block opponents’ shots. To thrive, kids need to be with adults who want them to do well in a variety of endeavors, who notice their improvements and hard work, who manifest sound values, and who don’t pay attention to them solely because of their contributions to the win column.

The coach-player relationship can be very strong, and even parentlike. Coaches of young athletes take on a tremendous responsibility to set a good example and treat their players respectfully. Thankfully, most coaches take this responsibility very seriously.

Sometimes, the coach-player relationship can even be life-saving. A female coach of a varsity boys’ team reported that one of her players came to her saying, “I need to talk to you. I found blood in my urine.”

“Let me ask you something,” the coach replied. “Have you been having unprotected sex?”

“No, of course not. I can’t believe you asked me that,” he said. “Well, I need to know what direction to take you in. No matter what happened, you need to see a doctor.”

The coach recalled, “This boy was very good looking and very popular. I knew what was going on. The doctor found he had picked up a venereal disease which could have made him infertile. The boy called me from the doctor’s office to say thank you.”

Participating in a community. Sports foster a sense of community: they give both participants and spectators the experience of belonging to something larger than themselves, the need for which seems to be hard-wired into the human brain. This is why kids love playing for their schools, why high school football games in small cities can draw tens of thousands of spectators week after week, and why adults identify with their college teams years after they have graduated. Playing for an institution or a community gives kids a chance to feel that they are making a genuine contribution to a larger group.

Flea Market

Prayer before Entering Office

Dr. Paul on the Global Financial Summitt

Dr. Paul on the Global Financial Summitt

Merry Christmas everyone!

Web Censoring Widens Across Southeast Asia

Web Censoring Widens Across Southeast Asia
Governments Lacking Technical Means Use Coercion and Intimidation in Efforts to Suppress Criticism Online

By JAMES HOOKWAY
BANGKOK — Attempts to censor the Internet are spreading to Southeast Asia as governments turn to coercion and intimidation to rein in online criticism.

Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam lack the kind of technology and financial resources that China and some other large countries use to police the Internet. The Southeast Asian nations are using other methods — also seen in China — to tamp down criticism, including arresting some bloggers and individuals posting contentious views online.

That is distressing free-speech advocates who had hoped that Southeast Asia — until recently a region where Internet use was relatively unfettered — would become a model of open debate in the developing world as its economies modernize.

Malaysia has recently used its colonial-era Internal Security Act, which allows detention for up to two years without trial, to muzzle bloggers. Thailand is ramping up its reliance on a recently introduced Computer Crimes Act to restrict criticism of its royal family and limit the spread of what the government calls seditious material. Vietnam, an authoritarian Communist state, has been arresting people caught posting thoughts that run contrary to government policy, and has detained lawyers who try to defend them.

“A number of governments in the region have discovered they can’t use technology alone to block out dissent because people will always find a way around it,” says Roby Alampay, executive director of a Bangkok-based media advocacy group, the Southeast Asia Press Alliance. “Instead they are trying to send out the message that the government is watching what their citizens are up to, and many of these arrests are deliberately high-profile.”

To be sure, not every government in the region is trying to bolt down the Internet. Singapore, where mainstream media are largely controlled by the government, has taken a relatively hands-off approach to the Internet. The governments of Indonesia and the Philippines don’t limit political content on the Internet in their countries.

The case of Raja Petra Kamarudin, Malaysia’s best-known blogger, reveals a different approach. The 58-year-old prince, or raja, in one of Malaysia’s royal families started his feisty Malaysia Today news Web site a decade ago after the arrest of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges, which Mr. Anwar denied. Mr. Anwar was convicted, jailed until the conviction was overturned, and is now being prosecuted again on sodomy charges, which he again is denying.

Since launching his Web site, Raja Petra has been a thorn in the side of Malaysia’s ruling National Front coalition, posting a series of articles notable for their criticism of the government. His postings led to his detention for nearly two months under the Internal Security Act in 2008.

Malaysian authorities have accused Raja Petra of suggesting in a letter to prosecutors investigating the murder of a Mongolian model in 2006 that Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in the killing, which Mr. Najib denies. Raja Petra was charged with sedition and went into hiding. He says the charge is misdirected because he didn’t publish the letter, though he admits writing it and stands by its contents.

Malaysian government spokesman Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad declined to comment about Raja Petra’s allegations, and he didn’t respond to questions about the broader issues surrounding Malaysia’s approach to censorship.

Malaysia’s government is careful not to be seen to be directly censoring the Internet because of a longstanding pledge not to interfere online and potentially scare off foreign technology companies, such as Microsoft Corp., which operate there.

In August, Mr. Najib’s government backed off from implementing Web filters similar to those used in China to weed out certain political topics and other contentious discussions. It has also considered requiring that bloggers register with the government, but decided not to implement the rule.

Instead, says Raja Petra, Malaysia’s authorities are using criminal laws “to make an example of me so that others will run away from the truth,” although he says their efforts will backfire. “Other bloggers are becoming more vocal and more aggressive.”

Some media analysts suggest governments are catching up with the impact of the Internet and mobile-phone messaging and how they helped to trigger social upheavals in countries such as Ukraine and the Philippines. Iran’s success in putting down Twitter and Facebook-driven protests this summer may have lent some indirect encouragement, too.

“Even if governments aren’t censoring outright, they are providing an adequate disincentive to posting criticism. People now know there will be consequences,” says Rebecca MacKinnon, a professor of journalism and media studies at Hong Kong University and a co-founder of GlobalVoices, an international citizens’ media Web site.

In Thailand, police last month arrested two people for forwarding an audio recording of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva purportedly ordering soldiers to attack antigovernment demonstrators. Mr. Abhisit said the recording is fake. Another Thai, Suwicha Thakor, was sentenced to 10 years in jail in June after pleading guilty to posting videos mocking Thailand’s revered monarchy.

Thai government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn says the country’s computer-crime laws are designed to protect people from fraud and defamation, and says the laws are at times being used to address what he describes as “national security” issues.

In recent weeks in Vietnam, meanwhile, popular blogger Bui Thanh Hieu was detained for several days after criticizing the government’s mining policies; another blogger, Huy Duc, was fired from his job at a Ho Chi Minh City newspaper after the Communist Party complained about his posts, while others have also been briefly detained. A Vietnamese foreign-ministry spokeswoman on Thursday said the bloggers had been detained to enable police to investigate alleged violations of national security.

Internet-freedom advocates worry that more governments beyond Southeast Asia will follow the region’s lead and try to take additional steps to tighten Internet controls.

“Being blocked from visiting a Web site is frustrating,” Mr. Alampay, the Bangkok-based activist, says. “But when you see or hear about people being arrested, then that could stop you from logging on at all.”

Write to James Hookway at james.hookway@wsj.com

How to keep your PC clean and quick

How to keep your PC clean and quick
ARA) – What you don’t know can hurt you – big time – when it comes to what’s hiding in your PC. From “naturally” occurring registry errors to more insidious threats like spyware, hidden problems can slow your computer performance to a crawl or even cause it to crash.

A little pro-active maintenance, however, can go a long way towards preventing problems. Keeping your PC “clean” and running at its best is as simple as establishing a routine maintenance schedule and using the right kinds of software to address the most common problems. The good news is, many of these maintenance tasks can be automated, thanks to software developers who understand how busy the average PC user is – and how baffling trouble-shooting can be.

Here are three key “cleaning” tasks that you should perform on a regular basis (at least once a week):

Run a registry cleaner

If your computer is slower now than when you first bought it, the problem may be registry errors. Installing and removing software, playing online games, application crashes and upgrades of software problems can all create “natural” errors in your PC’s registry. They accumulate over time and the more errors you have, the higher the likelihood that you’ll experience trouble.

To protect your system, install a one-click tool called Advanced Registry Optimizer 5 (ARO 5). The software ferrets out and corrects registry errors. Manufacturer Sammsoft offers free trials of ARO 5 so people can check their systems for errors. Go to www.Sammsoft.com to download your free trial. Once the download is complete, just click “run” to install ARO 5. The program will scan and diagnose your PC’s registry, tell you how many errors it found and then fix the first 20 errors for free. If you like the trial version, you can upgrade to the full unlimited commercial system for just $29.95.

Industry watcher Softarea51 recently gave the software 5 stars, calling it “a remarkable product, best of breed in its class, rising above its competitors by its innovative approach.”

Out spyware

Did you know that 61 percent of PCs have spyware on them? And of those infected, 92 percent of users didn’t know spyware was present on their computers, according to a poll by AOL and the National Cyber-Security Alliance.

Spyware – software that gets installed on your computer without your knowledge or consent – is considered a serious security threat. Not only can spyware collect information about your Internet usage, it can install additional software, hijack your browser, change your computer settings and slow down your computer performance.

Scan for spyware daily if you are on the Internet often and download frequently. Many companies offer completely free anti-spyware software for download.

Be vigilant to viruses

With so many other computer threats cropping up, it may be easy to overlook virus protection. But viruses continue to be a major threat to computer security, costing consumers and companies billions of dollars worldwide each year to prevent virus transmission and clean up after infection.

The best defense is a good offense when it comes to computer viruses. Subscribe to a virus protection software that provides constant updates since new viruses emerge and old ones evolve into new forms every day. Scan for new viruses at least once a week – more frequently if you are a heavy Internet user or receive large volumes of unsolicited e-mail.

Don’t wait until it’s too late…go to www.Sammsoft.com to download your free trial. Once the download is complete, just click “run” to install ARO 5. The program will scan and diagnose your PC’s registry, tell you how many errors it found and then fix the first 20 errors for free. If you like the trial version, you can upgrade to the full unlimited commercial system for just $29.95.

Sponsored content provided by ARALifestyle. Copyright ARAnet, Inc.

Preparing for a Job Interview?

Preparing for a Job Interview?
By C.J. Liu, PayScale.com

After networking, sending resumes and waiting patiently by the phone, all your hard work has paid off with an invitation to interview. Now it’s time for some expert tips on preparing for a job interview. Are you ready with smart answers to tough interviewing questions? What about explaining a job termination during an interview? There are ways to be honest but not hurt your chances of getting hired.

PayScale.com has developed a quick quiz to test your interview savvy. Read through the following true and false statements to assess your interview IQ, then enjoy the follow-up hints for a job interview.

1. Spending a lot of time preparing for a job interview will make me seem desperate.

False – There is nothing worse than an unprepared interviewee. Make sure you have done your homework about the organization and the job skills required before the interview. This will help you when the job interview question, “Why do you want to work here?” is thrown at you. Plus, you can ask knowledgeable questions when your turn comes around.

2. While preparing for a job interview, put yourself in the interviewer’s shoes to see things from their perspective.

True – Typically, interviewers are busy and easily distracted. Remember that you may be 1 of 10 people that they have talked to in the last 5 hours. Don’t make them struggle to get answers out of you or make sense of your rambling replies.

3. Role playing to prepare for typical interview questions is really important.

True- Practicing your responses to typical interview questions is paramount. Role play with a friend and get feedback on how you come across. For example, if you say that you are really excited about the job but sound hesitant, you will not seem credible.

4. If you have reservations about your abilities or skills for the position you should tell the whole truth.

True/False- You should not tell a lie and say you have five years of experience when you really have two. Nor should you fully disclose your inadequacies. If you left your last job because you were fired, there’s no need to bring that up. When the employer asks you about your biggest mistake, pick a less emotionally charged experience and emphasize what you learned from it.

5. A job interview is a one-direction conversation, like on a talk show.

False – Having a one-sided interview can be exhausting for both parties. Make sure that while you are preparing for a job interview, you come up with at least 10 engaging and relevant questions to ask. Even better, have some questions about their favorite subject – themselves. An example is, “Tell me about your job and what you love about it?”

6. Interviewers are like dogs; they can smell my fear.

True- Interviewing is the quintessential example of dogs sniffing each other out. Like a dog, the interviewer will be trying to determine your overall confidence. Your body language indicates your level of self-esteem. Remember, a shaking leg or deer in headlights expression can matter more than how well you answer the questions.

7. The “real me” will shine through whether I’m dressed in pajamas or a suit.

False- Whether we like it or not, what we wear helps form a first impression. Here are some attire hints for a job interview. See if you can get some insider information on the dress code and whether it is more casual or formal. If you don’t know, opt for formal. For women, remember it’s about getting a job not a date. Stay away from low cut or short anything.

8. Sending a thank you note is an important way of standing out.

True- Thank you notes are not only about good etiquette but self-marketing, too. How can a simple card help you seal the deal? Start by mentioning something you learned about your interviewer. You could say, “I really enjoyed our conversation about your first years at Boeing.” Then, write a quick summary of the conversation and why you are perfect for the job.

9. Making demands for your ideal salary and vacation in the initial interview is a risky proposition.

True- While you are aching to know the starting salary and benefits right off the bat, it’s a bit risky to ask these types of questions initially. Reserve negotiations on these matters until you have a job offer.
10. It doesn’t matter if I’m 5 minutes late. Everyone runs late to interviews.

False – It’s okay for your interviewer to be late, but the interviewee needs to be on time or 5-10 minutes early. Even if you have a good reason for being late, the interviewer will make assumptions about your level of organization and how you treat others. Plus, getting there early gives you time to compose yourself and shake off your coffee jitters.

What not to do on a business card

What not to do on a business card.

-DO NOT USE ALL CAPS AS THEY ARE HARD TO READ
-Do not cross out information and write in correct information. Get new business cards instead when information changes.
-Avoid fancy type faces that cannot be read.
-Choose the right size type face for all readers. If your customers are in their 40’s and above many of them will have to pull out reading glasses to read small print so make sure your name and phone number stand out.

Something to ponder
-Beware The Card Pusher- Some people are scared of rejection, think they are their business card or are simply socially retarded.
-Ditch The Card – When I say ditch the card, I mean ditch using a business card as your approach. Don’t even use what you do as an approach. Be a person, with genuine passions, hobbies, and interests and go out there and share yourself!

“People don’t want to do business with business cards, they want to do business with people.” ~Audio

Tips to projecting the Right Image

Projecting the Right Image by Steele Curry
1)Be punctual, be punctual, be punctual. If you arrange to meet someone at a specific time, do whatever you have to do to be there exactly on time, regardless of whether it is a social, business or professional occasion. Being late is inexcusable rudeness.

2)How to “break the ice” when you first meet someone. Do not rely on the other person to start or carry the conversation. Be prepared to take the initiative.

3)Never use Dr., Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss or your title when you are introducing yourself to someone.

4)In shaking hands, your grip should err on the firm side as opposed to being limp or alternatively bone crunching.

5)Always stand up whenever someone is coming over to greet or meet you, including when you are sitting down in a meeting. This applies to both men and women.

6)Your body language is an important element in creating the right first impression. As you are walking up to meet someone for the first time, assume a position of excellent posture, face the individual square on, and establish eye contact with that person.

7)Whenever you are meeting someone, inject some energy into your greeting and never underestimate the power of a smile to put the other person at ease and make him or her feel pleased to meet you.

8)Respect the right of other people to have legitimate views and opinions different from your own.

9)Always introduce your companion or spouse whenever you are meeting someone.