The Book is Never Written

Guest Blogger: Inner-Sports

by Garret Kramer

Jordon is a fine young high school hockey player. As a sophomore he has worked his way up to his school’s varsity team that is competing in the state finals. In the exciting championship game, the score is 2-2 and there is 2:07 left on the clock when the unthinkable happens. In his quest to make a big play, Jordon reaches for the puck and accidently pulls down a player on the opposing team. The referee accesses a penalty for tripping. In disbelief, Jordon heads to the penalty box. His team must play down a man for all but seven seconds of the remainder of the period and perhaps the game. The coach complains and the school’s entire cheering section hurls insults at the ref. “How can you make that call at this point in the game!” “You stink, it’s not about you, let the kids play!’ As a result Jordon feels awful, he’s let his team, the coach, and the entire school down. He’s extremely upset as he skates to the penalty box to watch as his team’s penalty killers try to stop the opposition’s skillful power play.

But through the hysteria, something else happens to Jordon as he arrives at the penalty box door. He realizes that if he acts from a place of anger and also hurls insults at the ref, or bangs his stick, then he might be assessed an additional penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. His team will then be down for the first two minutes of overtime as well, if they make it that far. While still not happy with the ref’s call, Jordon sits calmly and notices something interesting. In their quest to score the decisive goal, the defensemen on the other team are both pushed way up into their offensive zone. If he gets the chance, maybe just maybe, there is an opportunity here. Jordon watches the clock as his teammates continue to kill the penalty: 20 seconds left, 15, 10, 5, penalty over, seven seconds to go score tied 2-2. Jordon jumps out on the ice, way behind the overly eager opposing defenseman. A teammate attempts to ice the puck, and guess what…? It lands right smack on Jordon’s stick. There are now five seconds remaining in a deadlocked state championship final game, and Jordon has the puck and nobody between himself and the opposing goalie. He sprints for the net, shoots for the top corner, and scores!

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No matter what the challenge, we just never know how things will ultimately turn out. Most of the time, the final work of art takes on an entirely different shape than the artist has planned! One secret to contentment is to find the worth and meaning in anything (and I mean anything) that has happened. When the penalty was called above, wayward thinking abounded. The coach, the fans, and even Jordon in the moment, perceived the circumstances as disastrous. After all, who could blame them, this was the state finals. And while the initial thought of disappointment is quite normal, Jordon somehow realized that the chance for something better truly existed. Like the title of this composition, the book is never written and a door is never truly closed. Grab onto this truth, settle your mind, and allow yourself to experience just how awesome the twists and turns of life will be!



Garret Kramer is the founder and Managing Partner of Inner-Sports, LLC. Inner-Sports evaluates and then coaches athletes of all ages on the behavioral characteristics that lead to peak performance on and off the field of play. Inner-Sport’s evaluative partner has created the behavioral assessment used at both the National Hockey League and the Major League Lacrosse scouting combines. Inner-Sports and Garret work with Baseball Factory players at select player development events.

Back to School

Rob Naddelman: Through a Parent’s Eyes

September is back to school month here in MD. The start of a new academic year is a chance for each student to recommit himself in the classroom. It is also a chance to set some academic goals and strive for strong performance.

As parents, it is a really good time to sit down and develop an academic game-plan with your son. List your child’s classes on a piece of paper and have him write down the grade he thinks he can get if he gives it a 100% effort. At the end of the semester/marking period, pull out the goals and see how he performed. Try to hold him to this high standard of excellence he has set for himself.

Here are a few key points to consider as you are building an academic game-plan and considering NCAA eligibility rules:

1. Core Courses – NCAA Division I requires 16 core courses as of Aug 1, 2008. NCAA Division II requires 14 core courses as of Aug 1, 2008. Division II will require 16 core courses as of Aug 1, 2013.

For Division I you will need 4 years of English, 3 years of math (Algebra I or higher), 2 years of natural science/physical science (one must be a lab science), 1 year of additional English, Math, or Science, 2 years of social studies, 4 years of additional core courses (from any area listed above, or from foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)

For Division II you will need 3 years of English, 2 years of math (Algebra I or higher), 2 years of natural science/physical science (one must be a lab science), 2 year of additional English, Math, or Science, 2 years of social studies, 3 years of additional core courses (from any area listed above, or from foreign language, non-doctrinal religion or philosophy)

Please note that electives do not count towards your NCAA GPA eligibility!

2. Test Scores:

Division I has a sliding scale for test score and grade-point average. The higher the SAT/ACT score, the lower the GPA can be.

Division II has a minimum SAT score requirement of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.

The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.

The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the four sections on the ACT: English, mathematics, reading and science.

All SAT and ACT scores must be reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center by the testing agency. Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used. When registering for the SAT or ACT, use the Eligibility Center code of 9999 to make sure the score is reported to the Eligibility Center.

3. Grade-Point Average:
As stated above, only core courses are used in the calculation of the grade-point average.

Be sure to look at your high school’s list of NCAA-approved core courses on the Eligibility Center's Web site to make certain that courses being taken have been approved as core courses. The Web site is http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/.

Division I grade-point-average requirements start as low as 2.0 but require SAT scores as high as 1010 (Math/Critical Reading).

The Division II grade-point-average requirement is a minimum of 2.000.

For more info on these topics, visit http://www.ncaa.org/

Good luck to all the students starting a fresh academic year. Remember, college coaches are recruiting Students First and Athletes Second. It is never too late for students to commit themselves in the classroom!

Rob Naddelman is the President of Baseball Factory. Naddelman is a former two-time All Ivy League Third Baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, where he competed in a College World Series Regional. He has served as the President of Baseball Factory for the past 13 years, and also is the Executive Director of Baseball Factory's charitable arm The B.A.S.E. - H.I.T. Foundation. Naddelman and Steve Sclafani (CEO) have been featured in Business Week and CNN for their work in building Baseball Factory into the nation's leader in player development and college placement.