Omaha Kroc Center’s Post

🏀The NCAA tournament is upon us, and while buzzer beaters and Cinderella stories dominate the headlines, let's delve deeper. March Madness generates billions, but how much of that trickles down to Black communities that produce many of the game's stars? Black student-athletes, particularly men, are often the face of college basketball. Yet, graduation rates for Black athletes often lag behind their white counterparts. The revenue these athletes generate for universities rarely translates into academic or financial resources for Black students in general. This #MarchMadness, let's celebrate the game and its incredible players, but also acknowledge the need for a more equitable system. What are your thoughts? How can we ensure March Madness truly benefits the Black communities that contribute so much to the game? Bonus! Who are you rooting for in the men's and women's tournaments? Share your picks in the comments! #DFWBlackMBAs #MarchMadness #CollegeSports

#FootballAssociation Play Phase course: ✅ done!!! Play Phase is all about giving children aged four to six the best possible start. This is both in terms of their development and their first steps into football. Throughout this learning, you’ll learn more about the Play Phase philosophy, develop your understanding of children this age, find out how to create the best environment for them to learn through play, and much more. 

Here are some effective ways to make soccer sessions more engaging and fun for young players: 1. Incorporate games and competitions. 2. Focus on fun drills that develop fundamentals. 3. Keep activities short and varied. 4. Use imaginative scenarios. 5. Emphasize positive reinforcement. 6. Allow for unstructured play. 7. Incorporate teamwork. 8. Make it visually appealing. 9. Add physical challenges. 10. End with small-sided matches. By implementing these strategies, coaches can create an engaging, enjoyable environment that keeps young players excited about soccer while developing their skills and love for the game. Comment "MORE", and we will help you run classes. #CommunitySoccer #YouthSoccer #SoccerTraining #KidsSports #SoccerSkills

Upcoming Camps - It's Never Too Late I wanted to remind you that, with August officially here, there are still some remaining camps this summer! You can view the full Breakthrough Basketball camp schedule below, or take a look at the list of our upcoming camps for the next couple of weeks below. https://lnkd.in/eiV2wYuw There are still a few spots left at most of them (you can also join the waitlist if they're sold out), so if you’re interested and in the area, just click the link below for more info. Also, if you're wondering what people are saying about our camps, check out this recent review we received.

3 CHALLENGES YOUR SOCCER CLUB IS PROBABLY FACING IN 2024 1. Do you find it difficult to attract and retain volunteers and parent coaches? 2. Are your Rec program experiences inconsistent from team to team or age group to age group based on the level of knowledge or experience of your volunteers directors and parent coaches? 3. Is your Soccer Club struggling with implementing US Soccer's Grassroots Initiative, to provide more game-like/player-centric practices that help offer a better player pathway and experience to your players and families? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you are not alone. In-fact the average soccer organization loses 50% of their volunteers every season. Most of them expressing it was a frustrating and less than enjoyable experience. You may find it valuable to watch this 2 minute video on how we've helped Avon Soccer Club impact these area's to support their goals and success on and off the field.

With my 5th grade AAU team I hold them to a very high standard, I teach them everything that they need to know as a complete basketball player. Offensively we don’t run any plays: strictly actions, understanding reads, ball movement and knowing when and when not to score. I give them simple actions: ball screens, Spain pick and roll, DHO’s, interchanges and off ball screens, cuts, and drive and kicks situations. Kids are capable of learning anything, we as coaches just need to know how to teach in various ways for the kids to understand at a quicker rate. This video is a good example showing ball movement and spacing that I strongly focus on:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ this powerful message can be applied to any aspect of child development- parenting, athletics, education… https://lnkd.in/em3_-UAH

Interested in learning more about JLG? Listen to this episode of Upstate Trail Talks!

I wanted to share a recent initiative by Sports4Kids-CA, the nonprofit founded by my son, Arden Pala. In collaboration with Eco Sports LLC, they've recently provided underprivileged kids at an elementary school the opportunity to experience Pickle Ball. Beyond introducing them to the sport, these students were also given essential sports equipment, ensuring a continued engagement. From its inception two years ago with just one elementary school, Arden's vision has now reached four schools. His proactive approach to securing partnerships with high-profile sponsors such as Dick's Sporting Goods and Barrons Grocery Stores has been instrumental in amplifying the impact of Sport4Kids. 📊 Some noteworthy data: * Physically active are 15% more likely to attend college (source: The Aspen Institute : https://lnkd.in/dNca7U67) * Student athletes get up to 40% higher test scores (source: Again The Aspen Institute) * Teens who participate in team sports are less likely to use drugs, smoke cigarettes and carry weapons. (Source: https://lnkd.in/dXzDcut5) * Participation in team sports results in a higher GPA for both high school boy and girl athletes. (Source: https://lnkd.in/dJPp6T4B) It's evident that sports play a transformative role in early child development. Arden's dedication to expanding the reach of Sport4Kids ensures that more children benefit from the manifold advantages sports offer. Keep up to good work Arden, and continue to increase the impact of Sports 4 Kids! #Sport4Kids #PickleBall #ChildDevelopment #SportsForChange #earlychildsports #impactofsports

So, its March Madness. Admittedly, I am not a fan of Basketball, but follow along during March Madness because I love competition, and love to see stories of small programs breaking through to take down the big guys. With the NIL now becoming a major part of recruiting, how do small schools, without the income generated by big time football, compete? How do schools like St. Peter's or Gonzaga attract talent without access to those deep pockets? Look at the top NIL Collectives, then look at the $ generated by Football attendance versus Basketball attendance. Have we seen the impending end of the Cinderella story?