Watch this inspiring video about Scott Rigsby, who overcame physical limitations to become the first double amputee to complete the Ironman triathlon.
What is stopping you from fulfilling your destiny? Rise above your limitations – both physical and mental!
Member of the UGA Equestrian Team. Kelley has been riding for 10 years and prefers the western all-around discipline.As a kid, I wanted to do everything that my older sister did. Kim started riding horses while I took ballet lessons. Naturally, I wanted to do the same thing as my sister, so I started riding lessons too. Eventually both of us had horses and I quit ballet. When it came to horses my sister and I had different goals. I wanted to show horses. My dad was hesitant at first because it’s an expensive sport. He wanted to make sure I was really involved. He soon realized how much I loved the time I spent riding and practicing and ultimately decided that my teen years would benefit if I followed what was in my heart. I wouldn’t be where I am today without my dad’s decision to let me show horses and my mom and sister’s support. I would encourage anyone to participate in their sport because they enjoy doing what they do and not because they expect something from it. I did receive a scholarship to UGA but never imagined that would happen for doing something I loved to do.
Linebacker for the St. Louis Rams and former UGA football player drafted by the NFL in 2002
To enjoy a successful sports season and to be successful in life you have to build a plan. You need an ideal and a standard to live by. You want to set goals and every time you accomplish one, reach out for a higher goal the next time. My goal is always to be better every year whether that’s being a better tackler, knowing defense better, being a better teammate or just being better in general. Having a positive attitude and being respectful to people who are out there trying to help you will take you a long way toward success. Life is not always going to be easy and there will be things standing in your way. Stay positive and stand your ground. Ask yourself, “How can I do this? How can I be a better person? How can I be a better friend? How can I be a better student? How can I be better at everything that I do?” This applies to sports as well. The kid who does what needs to be done to be a better team player, or team leader, or shows up week in and week out to constantly improve their skills and make the whole team better, will be a winner.
UGA Gymnast
The 5’ 3” junior has won many awards for both gymnastic and academic achievements. She has five individual NCAA* titles and was chosen as an Academic All-American by CoSIDA**.
For young athletes involved in sports, I would first say have fun! Any sport is hard work and takes much practice. If you don’t enjoy it then there is really no reason to do it. It’s not always going to be fun, but a lot depends on your motivation and the benefits gained from practice. Do you get that great feeling of accomplishment when you overcome a hard move and finally master it? That’s what keeps me going–working through the tough times and learning new skills in gymnastics.
Here’s one extra word of advice to encourage you. Sometimes you may feel that all you do is go to school and to practice. But, it goes by fast and in the future you may not be an athlete on a team. Will you be able to look back and know you gave it your all? With two years of gymnastics left, I still love it to this day. I want to be the best I can be!
Head Coach, University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs basketball team
In 2007, Coach Landers was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. His average of 24.4 wins per season ranks third among all active Division I women’s basketball head coaches.
The most important part in reaching your potential is how you use our natural abilities. Talent and aptitude are important but athletes who use and apply them best are the ones who will experience success at the highest level. Hard work and dedication are necessary because they are vital in developing your natural abilities. The greatest basketball
players I have coached have not only worked hard on the court but they also concentrated on improving every angle of their development. This would include how they approach working out in the weight room, in conditioning or in any other aspect of preparation for play. All aspects of your preparation for play should be carried out with the same positive attitude and effort. This attitude helps hone your ability to play hard, which is also very important. But sometimes you have players who play hard but don’t play smart. That may be because they are concentrating too much on their effort. If you work hard on developing your abilities, then playing hard and playing smart at the same time will become much more natural. The ability to play hard and play smart will help you experience not only success but also bring you satisfaction.
August/September issue of SportingYouth now out!
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Attitude
Attitude reflects how you look at life. You will want to play a sport and live your life so that in the end you come out with the best attitude. In sports, as in life, there are things you can’t control like a referee’s decision, for example. How hard you’re willing to work to achieve your goals and the respectful manner you show toward your teammates and opponents are the things you can control. Things you can’t control are sometimes the hardest to let go, but that is what you need to do so you don’t lose focus.
What separates the really great player from a merely good player depends more on the mental side than the physical side. The ability to stay focused and perform at your best under pressure requires having confidence, staying calm and avoiding distraction. All of these character traits fit under the umbrella of having a positive attitude.
Member of the Gold Medal winning USA Women’s National Soccer Team at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games held in Athens, Georgia.
Developing Skills
The same idea of winning on the playing field carries over into the classroom as well as in business or any other effort you take on later in life. Why be good when you can be great? I was fortunate growing up because my parents gave me great values. They encouraged me to never do anything halfway. They said with a little extra effort you could put forth one hundred percent. You get a lot more satisfaction if you go out every day with the idea that you are going to do your very best in school and on the playing field. My competitive drive has been fostered by these ideas learned early in life. Growing up my dad was my pitching coach and he recognized that I had a special talent. He was my backbone in encouraging me to work hard and make the most of the talent I possessed. Later on, my coaches did the same. My advice to all student-athletes is centered in my favorite quote: “Practice like it’s competition. Compete like it is practice.”
2004 Olympic gold medalist n women’s softball with 2-0 pitching record for the tournament and 2002 member of the World Championship Team.
Building Confidence
It’s very important to have confidence in your abilities and in yourself. If you don’t, no one else will. I learned a hard lesson when the NBA didn’t draft me right after college. As an All-American player I thought I would be a first-round choice. It was devastating but I believed in myself and persevered to become a professional basketball player. I played for the Minnesota Timberwolves before heading to Europe to play on teams in Greece and Italy. I was there without my family so it was often difficult.
However, I came through with flying colors and played on a championship team for a year. I was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Italian League All-Star team. Returning to America, I had NBA contracts waiting for me. Today, when things don’t always work for me, I draw on those experiences to renew my belief in myself and reinforce that great feeling of confidence.
Forward for the NBA team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Attended the University of Texas at Austin and played for the Detroit Pistons from 2005 to 2006. Traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in June, 2006.
June/July issue of SportingYouth to arrive this week!
View SportingYouth Magazine online
View calendar of sporting events
View the directory sports camps and activities
For more information visit: www.sportingyouthGA.com
Because athletes are in a position to be role models, they can make a positive difference in the lives of others. The following points will help guide a young person seeking to meet that responsibility.
AS AN INDIVIDUAL:
1. Develop your skills and give your best effort both in practice and competition.
2. Compete hard but fair.
3. Work to be a good athlete and a good student.
4. Respect every human being.
5. Strive to develop leadership qualities.
AS A MEMBER OF A TEAM:
AS A MEMBER OF SOCIETY:
Vince Dooley – UGA Football Coach (’64-’88) and Athletic Director (’79-’04)
Position: TIMEX Multisport Elite Athlete; All American in 2005, Honorable Mention in 2006 for USAT, Two World Championships in 2006
The challenge of a triathlon is in the balancing of three disciplines – swimming, biking and running. As a triathlete, I encourage all aspiring young triathletes to take advantage of the pre-triathlon camp and clinics being offered before the June 30th event in Athens. The clinics offer an opportunity for you to work and train with top athletes in each of the disciplines. Then, on your own, fi nd fun ways to train for your goal. Practicing each of the three disciplines two times a week is a great way to build strength and endurance and prepare you for the race. Take a bike ride fi rst and then right after do a run. This type of training is called a “brick”. It’s a great way to get your legs used to two very different feelings. Finally, make healthy food choices, drink lots of water, get good sleep, and most importantly make it FUN! This is my sixth season of racing triathlons. What’s important to me is making it fun. Love what you do and it will be fun for you too!
Kim Dunker – Cycling
