I just wanted to say it was great kicking off the 2011 practice season with a 3 a day practice. Although the weather did not want to cooperate, the players still showed up in the cold rain and put forth all their effort! We had practices at 9-11, 1-3, and 5-7. We have a lot of new players this year! New players traveled in from springfield. We signed a former Chicago Slaughter player. A huge pat on the back for head coach barmier for his recruiting in the off season and bringing in more talent in building the legacy!
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Reponsible Men (Guest Post – Wayne Levine)
The work I do as a life coach for men, and as an author, is all about encouraging men to take responsibility for themselves so that they can be the best men, fathers, husbands, and leaders they can be. It’s the rare man, unfortunately, who is willing these days to ask for help and commit to the hard work that’s required to make fundamental changes in attitude and behavior.
But for the courageous few who are willing to put their commitments (personal growth, family, work success, spiritual path) before their egos (looking good, convenience, being comfortable, doing what’s easy) the rewards are life-changing for the men and for those around them.
Before we jump into what it means to be a responsible man, I think we ought to define what it is to be a man.
There’s a lot of great material written on this topic, and I encourage you to pick up a few books—here’s a good list http://artofmanliness.com/2011/04/19/mens-reading-list/ — if you’re interested in diving more into your masculine identity. But for now, let me keep it simple. At BetterMen, we define a man as a male who is clear about his N.U.T.s (non-negotiable, unalterable terms) and honors those N.U.T.s in his relationships and in his life. This means you decide who you are as man, no one else.
It’s a very simple definition. And if you consider what you’re committed to, what defines you as a man—your N.U.T.s— I think you’ll find it makes sense. As men, we need to keep this work simple. When we allow it to get too complicated, it becomes a more feminized process. Once that happens, we’re no longer dealing with the masculine and we tend to lose our way. If you’ve ever tried to successfully argue with your woman, you’ll know what I’m talking about. By the way, one of the tools you’ll find in my book is, “Don’t Argue.”
If you aren’t clear about your commitments, and thus unclear about you as a man, it’s impossible to know how and when to take a stand. And being a responsible man requires that you understand where the line is, and what’s required of you.
For instance, if your N.U.T. happens to be, “I consistently and lovingly father my children,” your commitment requires you to be responsible for knowing when to say “no,” when to say “yes,” and when to ask others for help when you’re not sure.
If your ego is in the way, you’ll fail to honor your commitment. For example, rather than immediately taking care of your kids in a somewhat unsafe situation, you may focus on how angry you are at your wife for having fun talking with friends and not supervising the kids. Or, rather than not budging on a request from your kids for junk food, you acquiesce to their relentlessness because you’re “too tired” to fight with them. Being a responsible man means you do what is required of you, what you’re committed to, despite your moods, fatigue level, or judgments.
Likewise, if you have N.U.T.s around your fidelity, daily spiritual practice, addictions, exercise, or your desire to be more patient or more of a risk taker, you can see how your ego can easily present obstacles to your honoring those N.U.T.s. And, as we’ve discussed, a responsible man honors his commitments.
That’s why, I believe, to succeed as a responsible man, one has to develop trusting relationships with other men who can mentor, support, and KICK YOUR ASS when necessary—and these things are always necessary. We are not designed to do it alone. Doing it alone doesn’t work in football, and it doesn’t work when navigating long-term relationships, with fathering, in working through the pain of loss, or in trying to figure out why you feel the way you do and why you sometimes do the stupid things you do.
For all of these challenges, we need the support and fathering of other men to help us be the responsible men we need to be.
Wayne can be reached at info@BetterMen.org. His book can be purchased at www.BetterMen.org.
Guest Post – State Rep. Lisa Dugan *Illinois Concussion Law*
House Bill 200 would require all school boards in the state to work with the Illinois High School Association to develop guidelines to educate coaches, student athletes and their parents. I joined on as a sponsor of this measure because of the growing concern about the short and long term effects that concussions are having on our high school athletes. As a parent and grandparent, I feel that this will also help bring awareness to a serious problem that often goes undiagnosed at the amateur level of competition.
The guidelines must include the following:
· Requires all school boards to adopt a policy regarding student athlete concussions and head injuries.
· Requires the policy to be in compliance with the protocols, policies, and by-laws of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
· Requires that information on the school board’s concussion and head injury policy be a part of any agreement, contract, code, or other written instrument that a school district requires a student athlete and his or her parents or guardians to sign before participating in practice or interscholastic competition.
· Requires the IHSA to make available to all school districts, including elementary school districts, education materials, such as visual presentations and other written materials that describe the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries.
· Requires each school district to use IHSA education materials to educate coaches, student athletes, and parents and guardians of student athletes about the nature and risk of concussions and head injuries, including continuing play after a concussion or head injury.
Lisa
Building a STRONG community
When I first took over the Plowmen in 2008, my main focus was giving adults another chance to play football beyond high school or college. Two years later, we coin the phrase PLOWMEN STRONG meaning that together we are stronger than separated. In 2011, the Plowmen rolled out the Get in the Huddle initiative, where owners, coaches, and players volunteer throughout the community.
We are looking to build a STRONG organization that will continue to grow and give back even more into to this great community that we call home. We cannot do it alone. We are looking for others to join with us in rebuilding Kankakee County!
We are building a legacy…. Will you be a part of it?
For more info go to www.Inthhuddle.kankakeeplowmen.com
Speaker Conference
The Plowmen are putting together a conference on success, called Building a Legacy. The seminar is being planned for February 2012 in the Kankakee area. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards paying for the Sports Legacy Institute to put on a concussion clinic for all sports programs in Kankakee County. Since we are in the early stages of planning, we are welcome to input or if you know of anyone that would be willing to speak.
Plowmen launch GET IN THE HUDDLE!
With 2011 in full swing the Kankakee Plowmen launch GET IN THE HUDDLE, a community outreach initiative where owners, coaches and players can make a difference! The basis for this program is to provide purpose, plan and proof to supporters of our community sports program. The Plowmen will move 10% of all sponsorship and fundraising money to the GITH fund that will be passed on to partner programs within the huddle. Members of the team at all levels will volunteer at partnership organizations to help educate and expand services. Currently, the Kankakee Chapter Red Cross, Sports Legacy Institute, MOMS Cookies.org and the Center of Hope food bank are listed in the huddle program.
The Plowmen are looking to expand the huddle with donations that will specifically go straight to helping build the Huddle. For more information, contact Michael Roof 815-263-2027 or mroof@kankakeeplowmen.com
2011 Kick-off Fundraiser
The Kankakee Plowmen announce their Kick-off fundraiser for 2011. We had someone donate a full week stay in a studio room at any of the Mayan Palace locations with an unlimited golf package. If that wasn’t enough, the winner will also recieve $2,000 to help travel expenses! Check out www.mayanpalace.com to learn more about their resort locations.
There are also prizes for second place of $200 and third place of $50. The Plowmen will start selling the $10 tickets at our first Training Camp on January 30,2011 at Hidden Cove. The winning tickets will be drawn at half time of the first home game on July 9th.
Contact a Player, coach or owner for your chance to win!
Check the tag!
When shopping for something, do you check the tag to make sure you are getting the real product?
The Kankakee Plowmen has established itself as a legitimate organization in Kankakee County. We are putting together a better product every year. Every year we sit at the table and ask “What can we do as an organization to bring family entertainment at an affordable price?”. There are semi-pro teams that pop up every year taking money away from the community with sponsorships and fundraisers only to fold before their first game. In this economy we need to be smart about where we spend our time and money. I heard a speaker say once, “People do business with those they KNOW, LIKE, and TRUST” The Plowmen have proven they are a TRUSTworthy organization and they put out the best product around. When this team was formed, I remember seeing maybe 10-20 people in the stands, now there are easily 250-300 a game. I’m thinking that people are starting to LIKE US.
The Plowmen play FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME, not just for the fans. We ARE THE REAL PRODUCT!
Building a Legacy
Video Time
If you haven’t seen the trailer for the Plowmen documentary “Building a Legacy” then go to our website – www.kankakeeplowmen.com . The documentary will follow mini-camps, practices, pre-game, post-game, locker room time and downtime. Owner Michael Roof stated, “This documentary gives us the chance to show all the work put into this teamby not only the players , but the coaches and everyone else.” On the off season, the video will be posted monthly, but as it gets closer to Pre-season it will be on weekly.
Radio Time
Not only will you be able to watch videos, but the Plowmen are “On the Air” also. The Midstates Football League has a weekly radio show, Monday nights on Blogtalk Radio or click here. The Plowmen are brining the radio show live to Kankakee County in January. Show hosts Steve and Joe will bring their sports knowledge and humor to a local establishment to be announced the end of December. Check back here for more update.
Bookmark us to keep up-to-date with us all year long!
