TUNNEY-SIDE-OF-THE-STREET

#36 September 6 2005

Welcome to this week's message from the Tunney-Side-Of-The-Street. You are encouraged to share this with fellow workers, family and friends.

Are you ready for some football? I love this time of the year. Weathers good - we got sun on the Monterey Peninsula! And the "heat" in the rest of the USA has calmed down to pleasantness. Our prayers and resources go out to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Football has been part of my life since - well, I just can't remember - but the word "forever" comes to mind. The first weekend of the NFL (National Football League) is what we call the championship season. There's preseason, championship season and playoff season. Every game played from now on counts! Counts toward that playoff season. "You want to be practicing in January," says Herman Edwards, Head Coach of the New York Jets in my book, It's the Will, Not the Skill. I can hear Herman saying to his team now, "It's the will, men, it's the will".

The beginning of September is also the "kickoff" (pun intended) for high school and college teams. For 2005 the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) has outlawed "spearing - the use of the helmet (including the face mask) to butt or ram an opponent or attempt to punish him." That word "punish" has always concerned me. You don't block or tackle an opponent to "punish" him.

Football is a physical sport. It requires superb conditioning, self-discipline, self-sacrifice, mental toughness and teamwork It . is often called "violent". Well, maybe, but the definition of violence says "intended to cause injury or destruction." "Blocking" in football is intended to move an opponent out of the path for your runner. "Tackling" is for the purpose of keeping your opponent (player with the ball) from moving toward your goal line. Nothing said in those definitions about violence.

Yes, football causes injuries. Not as many as automobile accidents and, maybe, just maybe, not as many as skate boarding. "Spearing" should not be taught or encouraged by coaches. And referees need to be diligent in calling fouls - perhaps ejection - for those who commit spearing. Football players wear shoulder pads to prevent injury. Blocking and tackling with your shoulders is the way to play football. Each time a player initiates contact with his head down (spearing) he risks quadriplegia and with his head first (and not his shoulder) he increases the risk of a concussion.

A player, who spears, may make ESPN's highlight of the week, but it may be that player's last week. Football ought to be about fun, commitment and teamwork.

Will you play and watch the game of football with that in mind?

Look for my new book
It's the Will, Not the Skill
Principles and philosophies of success

For more information about Jim Tunney, go to www.jimtunney.com

ARTICLE TAGLINE FOR JIM TUNNEY, Ed.D., CSP, CPAE

Copyright © 2003 Jim Tunney. All rights reserved.
You can visit Jim's website at http://www.jimtunney.com

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