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As a father, one of the best bonding times I’ve ever had with my sons has been coaching their sports teams. Unfortunately, it also has been one of the most trying times and has tested my resolve and patience more than once. On top of all that, you have the dreaded “parents” to deal with which can really make or break your love of coaching pretty quickly. (I know, I’ve been a  dreaded parent myself before as well). I’ve been coaching my boys football and baseball teams going on 10 years now and I’ve had my share of ups and downs so I’ve put together a few do’s and don’t below that will hopefully help you along your journey or get you started on this rewarding role.

The Good 

The good is the reason you coach, it’s what makes all the other stuff tolerable and if you get enough of it you may even continue coaching. 

• First and foremost, the ability to positively influence a group of athletes I’m coaching is #1 on my list.  Win or lose, if I can get a bunch of kids together and see weekly progress in the team and in the athlete personally and see visible improvements by season’s end, I will walk away feeling like I’ve done a great job and believe it’s by far the most rewarding aspect of coaching. 
• The Development of Character is a very close second because sports teaches life skills like nothing else in the world can. Being a team player, helping others, lifting your teammate up when they are down, getting up time and time again after falling and how to handle both victory and defeat like a champion. Character is what makes a boy a man or a girl a woman and I get to be a part of that maturation. 
• The Memories.  For the rest of their lives, they will look back and remember their teammates as well as their coaches taking the time out to mentor them, push them and get the best out of them when they were young and long after you’re gone, these precious memories will live on. How’s that for a legacy!

 

The Bad

Unfortunately not all of your interactions with your players will be great.  I’ve been blessed enough to have coached some amazing kids in my time but I have ended up at times doing more damage than good. Major Payne is a funny movie but nobody wants a real life Major Payne coaching their kids.  In order to avoid this costly mistake you need to focus on a few things

• Never make the game more important than the kid’s. “IT’S JUST A GAME”.  If you find yourself wanting to strangle a kid you are probably taking the game too seriously.
• Encourage your kids constantly- point out the bad but when they fix it make sure to encourage them for it repeatedly.  If you want a behavior to continue, encouragement is your best weapon.  Most athletes do not respond well to criticism unless it’s limited and immediately followed up by encouragement when they do it right. 
• Be prepared- It’s easy to say it’s just a game and not come in ready each game but that’s an attitude you need to drop if you’re going to coach.  You need to be understanding and encouraging to your players but as the coach you need to make sure you are always ready and prepared.  Believe me, the kids and parents all know when they have a dud coach and you don’t want to be that guy. 

The Ugly

The parents, some can really be that bad. To be fair, you get a lot of great and supportive parents, but there is rarely a time that I’ve coached where I didn’t get at least one or two critical and divisive parents.

  

The worst ones are the parents that scream and put their kids down during the games. If you want your kid to hate you when they grow up, congrats you are well on your way when you do that. There’s also the average athlete parents that think their child is the team MVP.  I can see them after every game creeping around the group with a frown on their face before hearing those dreaded words “coach can we talk for a minute?” 

The last thing you want after coaching for two hours and pouring your heart out is Karen’s lecture on how you clearly don’t see that their kid is the best kid on your team and you need to be playing them more than your “favorites”.  My favorites according to Karen are always the best 2 or 3 players on the team and the only reason I’m playing them according to Karen is because I like them and not because they are any good. 

I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that every season I’ve coached I’ve thought about being done with it for good because of the parents which is why you really need to make the good count. Times like this, I have to put myself in Karen’s shoes and appreciate that they are being their kids number one fan, which is something to be admired. I also look to my assistant coach/coaches for input so we can address the parents concerns and do our best for the kid. Sometimes, no matter what I do, it will not be good enough for Karen. 

Block out all the noise and focus on the kids, get your encouragement from seeing them flourish and don’t worry about Karen watching your every move. If you do this you can have an amazing and rewarding coaching career whether it’s for little leagues or something bigger like high school or college.  You have a chance to change a child’s life and there aren’t many things in this life of ours we can do that will that kind of impact.

 

Written by: Todd Marinshaw (President/CEO Allen Sportswear, Dad/Football Coach)

If youíre part of a team that participates in competitive sports, youíve probably wondered about what types of advantages you can gain. Hereís something for you to ponder: can uniform color affect the outcome of sporting events? Can wearing a different color of Menís Basketball Jersey actually help your team win? Interestingly, it might. While the research we found was not looking at Menís Basketball Uniforms specifically, the findings seem to indicate that a uniformís color might have an impact on the outcome of a sporting event. According to research conducted during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, wearing red seems to provide a slight edge over other competitors. The differences were small, but consistent across several different combat sports including Taekwondo, Boxing, and Wrestling. The researchers thought that the red color indicated dominance and aggression to the athleteís opponents and that this gave the red-clad competitor a slight psychological advantage. However, further research indicates that there may be a different explanation. Four years later, at the Beijing Olympic Games, additional research was conducted that showed that part of this edge may actually be due to a subtle influence on officials rather than players. This particular study used digital manipulation to change the uniform colors in Taekwondo matches that were then played for experienced judges. Even though the fights were identical except for the color manipulation of the uniforms, referees awarded more points to contestants whose uniforms had been changed to red than to those whose uniforms had been changed to blue. Looking at additional studies, the ìred effectî also seems to apply in teams sports like Soccer. There has been research conducted into English soccer teams that showed significantly better league performance for teams wearing red over a 55 year period. According to the study, ìAcross all league divisions, red teams had the best home record, with significant differences in both percentage of maximum points achieved and mean position in the home league table.î² So, our question is: does the ìred effectî extend to Basketball Uniforms? Well, it couldnít hurt! Call us to discuss all of our uniform options. (407) 641-4900Sources:1 http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20120731-wear-red-to-win-gold2 http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02640410701736244#.VTV0LmRVhBc

If you were to walk down a crowded street and count the number of basketball jerseys you see people wearing, it wouldnít surprise you how many you saw. For decades, it has been a popular fad to wear your teamís jersey. Whether it is a fashion statement or a way to express your team pride, people wouldnít think twice about your choice to wear basketball attire. It didnít used to be that way. In the ë60s and 70ís, it was still unfashionable to wear the uniform of a basketball player. For years, no one took too much pride in their teams. In pictures of games from those eras, you can barely find a fan dressed in their teamsí colors. And some of those people might have matched the team on accident. So when did basketball steal the hearts of Americans and persuade them to imitate these all-stars? We canít point to one specific year and say ìthis is where it all started!î Just like with any fashion trend, basketball jerseys slowly crept into society, fan by fan. In the ë80s, during the reign of Larry Bird and Michael Jordan, America started to pay a little more attention to basketball. With two stars that became role models, basketball uniform trends started to creep into fashion. Before Jordanís publicity, the average basketball uniforms had mid-thigh length shorts. Jordan asked for longer shorts and fans noticed. Around this time, women also started to wear tank top jerseys. With these new changes, uniforms were more fitting, flattering, and therefore more likely to make an appropriate shirt for an average Saturday out. Not long afterward, people started to wear jerseys to game. Fans saw the players as heroes, as role models worthy of emulating. By the early 1990s, basketball crowds were filled with color-coordinated, jersey-covered fans. Professional and college basketball trends were spreading to the general public. Outside of games, popular jerseys were donned over oversized white t-shirts. Basketball shorts were available at your local sporting goods stores. Today, the basketball uniform trend has expanded across the country and created a greater passion for the sport. Americans have figured out that the best way to show your team spirit is through novelty jerseys and matching colors. 

How to Customize Basketball Uniforms With the Right Material

With basketball season in full swing and March Madness making your basketball players even more excited to get on the court, it may be time for your team to update their uniforms. Itís the perfect time to customize your jerseys to emulate your favorite professional teamís.

For menís or womenís teams, deciding on a new jersey can be a difficult decision for coaches who want their players to perform their best. Choosing a specific material for your jerseys can make all the difference. In the early days of basketball, fabric was less advanced and players dunked basketballs in any clothes they had, which usually were made out of heavy, thick material. Now, with so many better options available, itís important to pay attention to what your basketball uniform material offers your players.

Mesh vs. Polyester

Mesh is loosely woven fabric that is filled with tiny holes that permit air to flow freely in and out. The loosely knitted uniforms would provide your team members with the cool air they need to keep their temperature down during an intense game. Another fact about mesh that you should consider is the price. Because it is so finely made, mesh can be expensive. Most uniforms for professional teams are made out of mesh, but for teams that donít have several sponsors and thousands of adoring fans paying for game tickets, the better choice might be polyester. Polyester is a great replacement for the overly pricey mesh material. Itís breathable, affordable and sometimes offered with ìwickî features that are sweat-resistant.

Methods

After decades of trial and error, designers have found knit fabric to be the best material for basketball jerseys. I know what youíre thinking. When you hear the word ìknitî, you think of scarves and thick sweaters. It sounds like you would want to avoid methods used for winter wear when designing a basketball jersey. With sweaters, designers layer the knit fabric. The knit method actually allows air to flow freely through the fabric, and with a sweater, the many layers let air enter the first layer that becomes trapped in the rest of the layers, therefore warming you up. When basketball jerseys are made of knit material, they use a single layer so that the warm air flows out and cool air flows in.

Make sure that your team is performing their best by providing uniforms that give players the breathability and flexibility they need. The perfect basketball jersey can make your players feel like pros and encourage them to work their hardest for the win!

Whether your team participates in AAU baseball or in another league, you want your players to look their best. Updating your baseball uniforms is a great idea to boost your teamís morale, and there are many great choices available. Once you have selected a uniform that fits your team, coming up with the funds may prove to be difficult. In some cases, the uniforms may be purchased through an available budget through the school or organization hosting the team. In other cases, you might require your team members to pay for the uniforms out of their own pocket. With either situation, you can find some effective sports fundraising activities that your team can participate in to raise money or to build team relationships. Here are several valuable ideas that can help your team to partially or fully pay for the cost of new AAU baseball uniforms.

Team Fundraising Ideas

There are two main approaches you can take to raise funds for your new uniforms. Your team can raise funds together to decrease the cost of all uniforms as a whole or your individual players can raise funds on their own through a team-sponsored fundraiser. There are many great team fundraising ideas that are available to you. Here are some examples of fundraisers you can host as a team:

• Car wash – great idea but limited based on weather and getting the right spot
• Lawn and gardening services – Must have the right connections and equipment for this
• Perform tasks for a reduced fee to the community – Another connections based fundraiser
• Bake sale – †Cookies! Fun but limited revenue generating
• Sell t-shirts – †Another good one that parents and grand parents can’t resist but limited revenue opportunities
• Get sponsors who will pay for advertising space on your jerseys or team t-shirts – †This is great if you can find it!
• Work in a concession stand – †lemonade stands at local fairs are always a winner

There are so many more way to earn the funds for uniforms for teams that are willing to take initiative and look for opportunities to work.

Individual Player Fundraising Ideas

Individual players can also raise funds on their own through team-sponsored events. If the team parents and the neighborhood allow, team members can simply go door-to-door and ask for monetary donations to support the team. Another idea is for members to sell merchandise that ranges from candy bars to candles and wrapping paper or other items. Teams can also choose from numerous fundraising organizations and companies to work with. That way, each player can choose to participate as much or as little as they would like. This may be a more ideal solution for those teams that have players who need to raise funds to offset costs as well as players who do not want to participate in fundraising and are willing to pay for the uniform out of their own pockets.For us the ESPN fundraiser is by far the best. I have had multiple coaches over the years thank me for hooking them up with this Fundraiser. Here’s a list of the advantages:

• Great brand name recognition
• Team keeps 75% of the profit!
• No minimum orders and no upfront costs
• Available online
• No time frame, so the fundraiser can go on all season long

The website is www.coaches.espn.com and setting up a fundraiser is simple and fast:

1. Set up a team account
2. Send the link to the players
3. Talk to friends and relatives and have them get online and order
4. Make lots of money for the team so you can buy amazing uniforms and win the Championship!

If your team is working with a tight budget, you may consider opting for generic uniforms rather than customized options. However, the cost of a fully customized uniform may be more affordable than you might think. When you employ one or even several of these fundraising ideas for your baseball uniforms, you may discover that your team can more easily afford to purchase uniforms that will give your team the confidence to play their best.

2014 was an interesting year in college baseball uniforms. Topping the list for the most hideous uniform was The Kalamazoo Growlers. This team took the idea of selfies and added them to the uniforms. The end result was hundreds of fan photos emblazoned on the teamsí shirts. While some fans thought the #SaluteToSelfie uniform idea was clever, others thought the end result was creative but hideous. Thankfully, when it comes to the best baseball uniforms, there are five that were real showstoppers in 2014.

1. Boston College Eagles

When designing jerseys for the 2014 season, the Boston College Eagles decided to take on a good cause. In this case, it was the Wounded Warrior Project. To bring awareness to the cause, they designed their baseball jerseys to reflect this. The way they did it was to add parts of the American flag to the sleeves. To get more recognition for the Wounded Warriors Project, they auctioned off the uniforms at the end of the season.

2. Michigan State Spartans

If you think that baseball players are wearing pants that are too tight, you will love the Michigan State Spartans uniforms. For their 2014 season, they decided to go with a throwback look that represents the early days of baseball. With wide-legged pants alongside a vintage button-down jersey, this team impressed fans. While some teams stop with a vintage jersey, the team went all the way with the antique baseball team outfit complete with contrasting belts and knee-high socks.

3. Indiana University Hoosiers

Continuing the trend of vintage uniforms, Indiana University Hoosiersí baseball jerseys were considered especially crisp and dapper by fans. The wide-legged capri uniform pants were tailored to look like dress pants with black belts that stand out against the white uniform background. The jerseys are plain except for a simple red IU emblem on the breast. The jersey design forewent the vintage emphasis on buttons and chose a plain front instead. To allow ventilation, the three-quarters sleeves were made wide and roomy. Team colors were subtly added to the edges of the sleeves and collars. Red knee-high socks completed the look.

4. Oregon University Ducks

As far as college baseball uniforms go, the Oregon University Ducks took style to a whole new level. By far one of the best baseball uniforms, the team used the ìblack vaporî uniforms designed by Nike. Earlier in 2014, fans were impressed by the shiny space-age design of the helmets, and the uniforms followed the look created by them. Although they have uniforms with color, their standard all-black uniforms are far from plain. Instead, they have stitching and panels on the jerseys that sleekly conform the uniforms to the players while providing ventilation.

5. North Carolina’s Gastonia Grizzlies

When the Gastonia Grizzlies took to the field in the spring of 2014, fans were aghast at their new uniform idea. Each jersey had a collar, the pants were black and had a grey strip running down the legs. These complemented their jerseys that were screen printed to look like tuxedos. An ongoing hit with their fans, the Gastonia Grizzlies said they did it to ensure they were the ìbest-dressed team in sports.î Although not a college team, we still wanted to give them an honorable mention.

The World today is not the world your father grew up in. There used to be a time in the US when your word was your honor so people were†careful with what they said and what they sold. Unfortunately those days are gone, replaced by companies and reps that many times are not even based in America and donít have any issues with providing less than stellar product and service. There are still great companies and even better employees out there, but finding them is the hard part. To help you out, here are 5 warning signs that should make you run away from a run-of-the-mill sportswear company.

1. The first and probably biggest warning sign of a bad company is when you see a product thatís literally half the price of recognized, name brand uniforms. You get what you pay for is never more evident than when dealing with these companies. Shotty work, unreliable delivery, poor customers service and little to no guarantees that you will even receive your product lie in wait for the person crazy enough to buy from them. If youíre in charge of uniforms for your team and decide to take chance with a company like this be prepared for the backlash if and when the team uniforms arrive.2. The Second warning sign is when they won’t pick up the phone. If the only way to get a hold of a uniform provider is by email you can be sure they are understaffed and most likely based overseas where they do not have to guarantee timeliness, accuracy, or even a product if they donít feel like sending it. The first and second warning sign go hand in hand because the same companies usually have very cheap products. 3. The third warning sign is the website. If the website is littered with misspelled words and looks like your kid photo shopped half the designs and uniforms itís probably because someone’s kid did make the designs in a country like Pakistan, Indonesia, Philippines or China. There is a reason you should buy through American companies and thatís because they know how to deal with factories from these countries and have trusted contacts. They also have years of learning to communicate effectively along with having preset expectations and a relationship. †If you are buying directly from overseas factories not only do you have none of this but they have no incentive to make sure your order is done right and on time for your season, so youíre taking a huge risk using them and will likely end up having to buy again from a US based company after losing your money. Also, because of VOIP technology all companies selling to the US have US numbers so just because they show a US number does not mean they are based in America.4.†The Fourth warning sign is the ìAbout Usî page is empty or has very little in it. Every respectable business is happy to brag about their beginnings, where they came from and what their core values are. If the page is blank or doesn’t have anything of any real meaning in it they are telling you what is important to them; your money. 5.†The Fifth warning sign is a lack of personal guarantee. So they want you to drop a couple thousand dollars on uniforms but they canít guarantee the quality, timeliness or reliability of the product? And you still want to buy from them? Okay, next time youíre in town look me up because I have some timeshares Iíd like to sell you. Remember, not all team sports uniform companies are created equal. Don’t be too brand conscious that you get suckered into overspending your budget just to get a check mark in your uniform,†but at the same time, if you find a price that is too good to be true, remember that it probably is. Find a company that is backed up by legitimate testimonials of excellent products and trustworthy service, but priced a little bit lower than your name brands- it is a sign of great quality without the massive advertising expenses rolled into your price.  By:†Todd Marinshaw. Todd owns and operates a†sportswear†business based in Orlando, FL and recently founded†iPrevail, a non-profit organization focused on relief and rehabilitation for victims of disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan

Sports, especially high school sports, are special to both the student athletes and to their parents. There are many reasons to have team uniforms made. One is simply the sentimental value that will be held for many years, but an immediate and practical benefit is that it makes the team feel like one.

Professionally made uniforms and jerseys have identical materials used by major league athletes. The difference is the colors and school logo. Uniforms are practical because they are designed to satisfy the needs of a sport. Football uniforms do not impede leg movement, while the heavy and silky fabric helps to protect the body from skidding on the ground. Basketball shorts and jerseys allow for proper air circulation and do not impede shots.

Most team uniforms identify the player by number and name. This is important for judges and commentators who must quickly connect with what is going on. It is useful to coaches, who must often call out players and replace them at strategic moments. All these practical uses imitate the pattern established by college and professional sports, and this is very exciting to youth who have not yet achieved their full potential.

Sports uniforms are functional for their sport, and they also provide pride to the team as a whole. People have always distinguished themselves by a similar fashion, color or other emblem. It is a deeply ingrained part of our cultural unconscious, and kids and adults today still enjoy the experience of wearing an attractive uniform.

Most sports require a high degree of coordination, and success in these sports is as a team and not as an individual. While an individual ball player might be able to distinguish him or herself as a high performer, real success depends on working together. Team uniforms help to build this spirit and maintain it in the game.

Players like being able to distinguish each other, and it even makes the game easier. Sports uniforms help players stand out from opponents. It can heighten the sense of competition by having different colors, but it also serves to make coordination easier. Different teams should stand out, because many games are very confusing on the ground level. Team camaraderie is one objective; creating order out of complicated play is another.

Depending on the sport, a complete uniform might cost less than $100. This is a small investment compared to the hours of practice and training, and it gives the student athlete a visible emblem of personal accomplishment. It might even be a smart strategy to hold off on distributing uniforms until a month before competitive play begins. This compels players to earn their badge of honor and it rewards them for enduring physical conditioning.

It pays to allow players to feel they earned their place. The best way to build team camaraderie is to encourage this sense of success. People who feel successful often are in actual performance, simply because it gives them the emotional high that translates into real energy and focus.

Player Interviews – New York vs Boston and… by E-LeagueWhile our specialty is gearing up top ranking travel teams and the best high school teams in the US, you can now also find Allen Sportswear being worn by some serious ballers in Hollywood! Eleague Productions, formerly known as the NBA Entertainment league, ordered their uniforms from us this year and boy did they get an upgrade! The league’s†past and present participants include†JustinTimberlake, Bill Bellamy, Snoop Dog, Adam Levine,†Leonardo DiCaprio, Jamie†Foxx, Adam Sandler, Tobey Maguire, Kellen Lutrz, Josh Hutcherson, Chris Brown, Kevin Hart, Don Cheadle, Nick Carter, and†Justin†Bieberthis year.. and close to 200 of the most elite names in the industries of Film, TV and music.Check us out on†www.facebook.com/Allensportswear†and†www.twitter.com/Allensportswear†as we repost sightings and game highlights from this “Secret society” of Hollywood players!Disclaimer:†E- League athletes are not sponsored by Allen Sportswear.  

When looking for the perfect uniform for your team, it’s easy to get confused and lost in the crowd. †It seems like every day there is a new company with the most atrocious website telling you their product is just as good and to “Trust them”…it kind of reminds me of that credit card commercial where the Russian guy says “Hello, how may I help you, my name… Betty”.Every year we are inspired by the latest and greatest in uniforms because everyone wants to look and feel great. Unfortunately, that has lead to an abundance of people trying to make a quick buck by promising the world but rarely do they ever deliver the goods. †More than 90% of the uniform industry has been overrun by re-sellers that have a “connection” to some factory in the middle of China, Philippines, Pakistan or Indonesia and put up a $20 website and voila! All of a sudden they are an expert and they will take care of you. If you are extremely lucky you may actually get your uniforms on time and †done right the first time; but for the majority of people, you will be left holding the bag and wondering what happened. It’s not that these people selling to you are bad, it’s just that they have no control over production, factory priorities or quality control. †Some factories overseas are pretty good but most of the factories these re-sellers are using are the bottom of the barrel and it shows.Ten years ago when I first started Allen Sportswear, I was much the same…re-selling uniforms and hoping to God the factory I outsourced the order to would do it right this time. What usually happened was the order would come 2-4 weeks late and/or be the wrong color, be misspelled and nearly always have sizing that was completely off. †It came to a point that I was either going to shut down my business or open my own factory; after looking at our customers and realizing we had a chance to do something special, I choose to open a factory of our own and it has made all the difference in the world.The statistics before and after opening our own factory are staggering. Using the same factories that 90% of the re-sellers in this country use, we had a return or replace rate of greater than 75% of all orders! You may think that’s crazy and my answer to you is YES, it is. It’s nuts actually and unfortunately that’s the biggest reason when a customer decides to “try someone else”, we know there is about a 75% chance we will get them back next year. I’m not saying we never make mistakes because we do, but since our factory has been up and running we have averaged over 95% of our orders done right and on time! So while the competitors are averaging 25 out of 100 orders done right and on time we are averaging 95 out of 100 done right and on time. The 5% you may wonder? Ironically, they are the most loyal of all our clients. It is because we have gone above and beyond to make it right, and have lived up to our core values of integrity and accountability.How do we do it? It’s not easy, but everything we have done to get these amazing results have been worth it and it’s made us the company we are today. First, we set our factory up to have multiple levels of accountability which makes it nearly impossible for an issue not to be traced back to the source. Most offshore factories can afford to sell their products dirt cheap because they do would not waste the time and money to pay quality control agents. In ours, we have one in every stage of production all the way up to packing and shipping.Second, we personally †have all our materials strength tested before ever using it on a customers order. We never use any material or thread that is not of the highest standards or are not appropriate for the corresponding sport. Something that looks great for basketball may not have the burst strength when your player gets pummeled in football.Third, Every new hire has to go through rigorous testing and training before they are allowed to touch an Allen Uniform. There are great cutters and sewers who can make the wedding gown of the century, but cannot put together a decent looking uniform. So no matter how much experience they come with, they have to get re-trained by our seasoned managers.Fourth, our Orlando based client advisers or account managers are former coaches, players or plain crazy sports fanatics who love what they do and take great pride in truly helping athletes look their best in every game. Add to that some great graphic designers and a customer service rep that ensures all the details are thoroughly checked, and who communicate DAILY with the production team, and you are assured that you have a full team working to make sure you get what you asked for when you asked for it.Fifth, we do not have to spend big bucks for big brand advertising, and have a pretty lean and mean team. This allows us to offer quality at par or dare I say even better (definitely way better, but that is another subject) than your big brands at much more affordable pricing. That and the fact that we own our own factory and have better control of costs ensures you that you are always getting more than what you paid for. Sure, we are not always the cheapest, especially if you’re googling shows you a slew of †plain stock jerseys or my-name-Betty factories, but we are always the best! But as they say “you get what you pay for”, so make sure this year you get the best and let us make you the hero of your team.  By: Todd Marinsahaw – Owner and CEO of Allen Sportswear