UNCG professor shows young athletes how to bring their 'A' game
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
? The need was obvious.
Jennifer Etnier saw
young athletes hanging their
heads, losing their tempers
with referees and yelling at
teammates. Coaches at the
sports psychology seminars
she led for the United States
Soccer Federation were hun
gry for more information to
share with their players.
So Etnier, an associate
professor of kinesiology at
UNCG, wrote "Bring Your
A' Game," a guide to help
young athletes develop the
mental toughness they need
to reach their potential in
sports. The book, written
primarily for teenage ath
letes, explains how mental
training is just as important
as physical training, and
how, like physical training,
it can be learned and honed
through diligent practice.
"Mental toughness
enables a person to consis
tently perform at a high
level," Etnier says. "To be
able to do that, you have to
be able to consistently prac
tice at a high level. You have
to be able to perform well
under pressure."
Techniques detailed in
the book include mental
imagery, goal setting, energy
management, pre-perfor
. h?t< ?? b .
BRING YOUR a
lap
H GAME
^ JT
mance routines anil confi
dence" building. Through
exercises ai the end of each
chapter, athletes are encour
aged to apply these skills in
daily life and
practice sessions
so thai they
become second
nature during
competition.
Although all
these skills can
he beneficial , the
use of mental
imagery can be
particularly ben
eficial.
"If you ask elite athletes
if they've ever used mental
imagery, they're all going to
tell you yes," she says. "We
have a lot of empirical evi
tinier
dence that tells us that if you
mentally practice a skill.
you can improve
that skill. If you
combine mental
practice with physi
cal practice, you
can improve even
more."
In addition to
what she has
learned as a
researcher, Etnier
brings to the sub
ject a lifetime of
experience as an athlete her
self. In high school, she let
tered in basketball, softball
and soccer, and started on
the boys' soccer team as a
junior and senior. At the
University of Tennessee, she
played sweeper and was a
captain on the soccer team.
She has coached youth soc
cer teams and was a volun
teer assistant coach at Wake
Forest University for three
years.
"Bring Your A' Game: A
Young Athlete's Guide to
Mental Toughness," 232
pages , is published by The
University of North
Carolina Press and avail
able at amazon.com. It is
illustrated by artist and edu
cator Dominy Alderman ,
who lives in New Jersey.
Hampton president will help pick next NCAA leader
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE _____
Hampton University President Dr. William
R. Harvey, who is a member of the
NCAA Division I Board of
Directors and its executive com
mittee. has also been appointed to
serve on the search committee to
select the next president of the
NCAA
"Dr. Harvey has been appoint
ed by his peers and charged with
overseeing the operations in the
NCAA's search for a new presi
dent. His colleagues have a lot of
confidence in his leadership and
we are very fortunate to have his
support," said NCAA Interim President James
L. Isch,- NCAA senior vice-president for admin
istration and CFO.
The six person presidential search commit
Or. Harvey
tee will select a national search firm and intends
to identify the next president prior to fall 2010.
"Bill brings a history and a level of integri
ty to this organization as it searches for
a new president." said Wallace I.
Renfro, NCAA vice president and sen
ior advisor to the president,
The president chosen will replace
the late Myles Brand, remembered as a
towering figure who as NCAA presi
dent redefined the role of intercolle
giate athletics in- higher education.
Brand died earlier this year after a short
bout with cancer.
"t look forward to serving the
NCAA in this search as we have some
bin shoes to fill." said Harvev. "This is
a historic moment as we search for a person of
leadership, integrity and dedication to become
president of the organization w hich governs and
directs collegiate sports in this country."
Myles Brand
Tuskegee wins Pioneer Bowl XI
SPECI AL TO TUB CHRONICLE
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Tuskegee
University's Markus Douglas rushed for two
second half touchdowns in route to MVP
honors and a 21-7 Tuskegee Golden Tigers
victory over Elizabeth City
State University in Pioneer
Bowl XI Saturday afternoon at
Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.
Douglas' 8-yard run with
8:13 remaining (plus a 2-point
conversion) in the third quar
ter gave the lead back to the
Golden Tigers 14-7. He would
add another rushing score with
6:02 left in the game to seal
the win for TU. their seventh
victory at the battle between
the SI AC and C1AA.
The Vikings briefly took a
7-6 lead at 11:08 in the third
quarter. Terry Griffin forced a
fumble at the TU 10-yard line which he
returned to the Golden Tiger 5 yard line.
Four plays later, Tashawn Lee's three-yard
pass was hauled in by Dexter Manley for
ECSU's first and. as it turned out to be, only
score of the day. On the ensuing kickoff,
TU's Wayne Williams returned the ball all
the way to the Viking 29-yard line, setting
up the first of Douglas' two touchdowns.
Through almost the entire first half, it
was a battle of field position, as neither team
could muster much offensively. The Golden
Tigers, facing fourth down and two on the
ECSU 26. all but had a sure touchdown
courtesy of Douglas in the second quarter.
He broke up the middle for 25
yards, however Justin Hamilton
stripped the hall at the goal line
where Jeff Lynn. Jr. batted out
, the back of the end zone for an
ECSU touchback with 7:06 left
before intermission. However,
the Viking offense went three
and out and the Golden Tigers
broke the scoreless tie with a 7
play, 55 yard drive on a 13
yard rushing score by Nykeem
Barton. The extra point attempt
was blocked by Devon Price,
making the score 6-0.
The Golden Tigers held the
edge in total offense (334-288)
and rushing yards (146-114). The Vikings
struggled offensively as they did not covert
on a third down until the fourth quarter,
going 3-for-14 for the game.
Geno Trundle and Tolbert Matthews
(Defensive MVP) each tallied II tackles
apiece as ECSU finished the year at 7-4
overall.
Got
Game?
Competition for
players age 30 and
up set to start
SPEC1AI ro 1111 CHRONICLE
Teams are being registered
for the upcoming season of the
30 and Older Men's
Basketball League.
Registration runs through
Jan. 5 and league play will
begin Jan. 10 and end on Feb.
28. This season, games will be
played on Sunday afternoons
at the Winston Lake Family
YMCA on Waterworks Road.
Teams are guaranteed eight
games during the season.
There will be a single-elimina
tion tournament immediately
following the regular season.
The cost per team is $350
($400 if the team requires jer
seys).
To register or for ques
tions, call Hansel Hentz at
336-724-9205 or email
Shawan Gabriel at
s.gabriel@ymcanwc.org.
DECEMBER
SPECIALS
PI AY ML DAY
Monday-Friday (Excluding Holidays)
(provided space available)
$38 Championship (includes cart & green fee)
$28 Seniors (60+ Monday-Friday)
$26 Reynolds (includes cart & green fee)
$21 Seniors (60+ Monday-Friday)
TWILIGHT RATES
Every Day After 1 pm
$28 Championship (includes cart & green fee)
$21 Reynolds (includes cart & green fee)
PAR 3 MON FRI ONLY $7
Seniors * Jmlors (12 1 under) $4
I Weotwdsf olldeis, tuoryone S8
Annual Memberships $1200
Call us to schedule your next
goll outing or fund raiser.
For more information, please call 336-778-6320.
Goif clinic schedules available online at
www.tanglewoodpark.org
Tangle\\ood,
Just 10 minutes west of Winston-Salem
HL.
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^THE ? ? ? ctvbrj"?,
Chronicle^
Is Proud to Present
the 17th Annual
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Holiday Classic
JV Basketball Tournament
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December 19
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2:30 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
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