This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) on Tuesday, 30 November 2010 at 7:ooPM across the Australian Community Radio Network.
Tonight’s interview is with the ACTAS Mens Head Coach – Miko Milanevic (Milo as his is known in football circles). ACTAS is about to depart on its annual overseas football tour, this time to England and Holland. It’s a fantastic itinerary, with a game very second day. The overseas tour, and integral part of the ACTAS program is planned 12 months in advance. This is usually followed by ACTAS’s participation in the FFA’s NTC Challenge held at the AIS in late January. Unfortunately, the FFA decide to change the timing for the NTC Challenge in August this year, rescheduling it from January 2011 to December 2010 - far too late for ACTAS to withdraw from the Overseas tour without heavy financial penalty. By agreement with the FFA, ACTAS will proceed on its tour and the NTC Challenge will go ahead without ACTAS. The ACTAS program will be adjusted for 2011, assuming the FFA doesn’t change the dates again. On return to Australia, the ACTAS squad will loose some players due to age and invite new players to join the squad. The process never stops. The question that worries us all is what can be done for those players too old for ACTAS, not accepted for the AIS and no further development opportunities in the ACT beyond the local Premier League which as a rule trains twice a week. It worries the ACTAS coach. John Mitchell correctly described this as a “tragic vacant space”. And so it is.
Download Podcast here:
There is a lot going on in football and futsal in the ACT at the present time.
Canberra United play Adelaide this Saturday at Deakin Stadium, commencing at 5:00PM. A Game not to be missed and a game that must be won. Its a short competition and another draw would be only marginally better than a loss. So get there and give your support.
The ACT Futsal teams to contest the Nationals are now in training and preparing for the Nationals in early January. Training frequency will intensify as soon as the holidays commence. It’s a good opportunity for local community coaches to get a few clues – look up the training times for the age group you are interested in, on the CF website, and go and watch the training. If you get a chance, take a day’s leave and go and watch a few games at the Nationals. There are some good players and coaches at the Nationals.
The National Training Centre Challenge is being held next week at the AIS. The best 15-17 year old boys in the Nation are on display, as each State or Territory Academy or Institute of Sport fields a team. This is the cohort of boys who are aiming up on that first serious step toward a career in professional football. They have all trained long and hard for this competition. Some will make it through to the AIS and some will be selected for Australian age representative teams. For many, this will the last serious, continuous football development they experience in their lives. Points are awarded for a team’s technical performance as well as the match result. This is a competition really worth a look at. You get to recalibrate your football compass around youth football and get a clearer understanding of the talent you see in your club. Some of the talent at the NTC Challenge is amazing. Just get there, one day for your football education and enjoyment.
The Summer 20s are trundling along, close to a finish and then the semis and final. Done and dusted by Christmas. For the clubs involved it has been a very useful opportunity to further develop players for next season. I have spoken previously about the disappointment many feel, because all the PL clubs did not field a team in the competition. Capital Football entered the Summer U17 HP squad in the Summer 20s (to make it an even number of teams and avoid a Bye each week).and that’s been a mixed blessing for all concerned. They are a young team with players predominantly 15 / 16 years of age. They are well coached, but its obvious that it has been difficult to find enough players to fill a match card some weeks. The reason appears simple enough – the CF Summer HPP U17 lads are for the most part, overmatched, the level of resistance is too high for many of them for this to be an experience that delivers good individual football development outcomes. Its surprising that the CF techncial assessment of this group of players did not reveal this prior to enterring the team. MAtters came to a head last Sunday - the CF Team forfeited their game. No one was happy about that. I regret to say that this reflects very poorly on CF. If some parents are unhappy with their boy(s) playing in this competition, as part of the HPP they should make thier concerns known to CF, which I guess at this time is the CEo, as we have no Technical Director. Is it likely the CF HPP U17 team will play either of the two remaining games? If not, CF should make it known immediately. If this is not working for the boys in this squad, stop it now. The canteen was not operating – again!
CF have not done a good job with the 2010 Summer 20s.
More On The FFA National Competition Review
Sourced from http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/2009InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=insideffa_newsfeatures_newsitem_new&id=36904
Here is another piece of information from the FFA which adds a little more detial tot he previous post on this subject. The Review will reach all the way down to the U12 competitions in each Member Federation (MF). Should prove to be a fascinating piece of analysis and a good one to do. February 2011 seems to be the fisrt critical deadline for reporting purposes. Wonder who is doing the talking / liaison for Capital Football? The NPL will stay on this one.
FFA announces National Competition ReviewTuesday, 23 November 2010
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced a major initiative aimed at aligning all levels of competition within the game for the first time.
A National Competition Review (NCR) has been launched to look at all aspects of the competitions conducted by FFA, the Member Federations and State League Clubs around Australia.
FFA Chief Executive Officer Ben Buckley said the NCR would be a forum to push greater co-operation among all stakeholders for the betterment of competitive football and football development.
“This is a great opportunity to get the entire competitive football community working together for the best outcome for all,” Buckley said.
“We have a huge number of participants in so many fantastic competitions and the challenge for us is to get them structured so that there are defined pathways for junior and senior footballers of all levels.
“Football will only reach its full potential when all of the stakeholders in the game are pushing in the same direction.
“Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the Hyundai A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second tier competition framework below the Hyundai A-League.”
The NCR will be conducted at the same time as the A-League strategic review and will involve representatives of the Member Federations, State League Clubs and the FFA football development and Hyundai A-League departments.
The terms of reference includes reviewing:
- the current Member Federation (MF) competition structures from the top State League competition to the Under 12 level,
- proposals of preferred models from MFs covering competition, development, financial aspects, to seek the best option for a second tier national competition (underpinning the Hyundai A-League) and include criteria for leagues to adopt
- Financial Analysis of models
The NCR will report on the current structure, produce a discussion paper and recommendations by late February, 2011.
Here is another piece of information from the FFA which adds a little more detial tot he previous post on this subject. The Review will reach all the way down to the U12 competitions in each Member Federation (MF). Should prove to be a fascinating piece of analysis and a good one to do. February 2011 seems to be the fisrt critical deadline for reporting purposes. Wonder who is doing the talking / liaison for Capital Football? The NPL will stay on this one.
FFA announces National Competition ReviewTuesday, 23 November 2010
Football Federation Australia (FFA) today announced a major initiative aimed at aligning all levels of competition within the game for the first time.
A National Competition Review (NCR) has been launched to look at all aspects of the competitions conducted by FFA, the Member Federations and State League Clubs around Australia.
FFA Chief Executive Officer Ben Buckley said the NCR would be a forum to push greater co-operation among all stakeholders for the betterment of competitive football and football development.
“This is a great opportunity to get the entire competitive football community working together for the best outcome for all,” Buckley said.
“We have a huge number of participants in so many fantastic competitions and the challenge for us is to get them structured so that there are defined pathways for junior and senior footballers of all levels.
“Football will only reach its full potential when all of the stakeholders in the game are pushing in the same direction.
“Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the Hyundai A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second tier competition framework below the Hyundai A-League.”
The NCR will be conducted at the same time as the A-League strategic review and will involve representatives of the Member Federations, State League Clubs and the FFA football development and Hyundai A-League departments.
The terms of reference includes reviewing:
- the current Member Federation (MF) competition structures from the top State League competition to the Under 12 level,
- proposals of preferred models from MFs covering competition, development, financial aspects, to seek the best option for a second tier national competition (underpinning the Hyundai A-League) and include criteria for leagues to adopt
- Financial Analysis of models
The NCR will report on the current structure, produce a discussion paper and recommendations by late February, 2011.
A New Book on the Gospel of Mark
Fortress Press publishes the Texts @ Contexts series, the goal of which is to bring voices outside of the North American and Western European contexts more fully into conversation with biblical scholarship. The volume on Mark has come out recently, edited by Nicole Wilkinson Duran, Teresa Okure, and Daniel M. Patte. I'm not going to review the book here. I'll just offer a few thoughts and questions that I had after reading it.
One aspect that I found interesting was the book's treatment of healing and exorcism. There are three essays on these topics. People who live in non-Western contexts often understand healing and exorcism quite differently than we who live in North America and Western Europe. I found this the most interesting part of the book. I only wish there had been more on this issue and that the essays had pushed a bit harder on these points.
There's quite a bit of post-colonial scholarship in the book. This is an important part of engagement with the two-thirds world. Yet I wonder if the degree to which the concerns of post-colonial criticism are represented in this book is proportionately represented in the religious lives and experiences of Christians in these contexts. I don't know the answer... just wondering.
Christianity is spreading rapidly through the global south, a fact which represents an evangelistic, proselytizing concern on the part of these Christians. I didn't see that perspective represented in the book, though, despite the fact that there is ample material in Mark that could lead one to reflect on issues related to evangelism.
All in all, despite the fact that I have some concerns, this is a helpful read. If you want think through the ways in which our cultural contexts shape our readings of the biblical texts, this book will prove a helpful resource.
One aspect that I found interesting was the book's treatment of healing and exorcism. There are three essays on these topics. People who live in non-Western contexts often understand healing and exorcism quite differently than we who live in North America and Western Europe. I found this the most interesting part of the book. I only wish there had been more on this issue and that the essays had pushed a bit harder on these points.
There's quite a bit of post-colonial scholarship in the book. This is an important part of engagement with the two-thirds world. Yet I wonder if the degree to which the concerns of post-colonial criticism are represented in this book is proportionately represented in the religious lives and experiences of Christians in these contexts. I don't know the answer... just wondering.
Christianity is spreading rapidly through the global south, a fact which represents an evangelistic, proselytizing concern on the part of these Christians. I didn't see that perspective represented in the book, though, despite the fact that there is ample material in Mark that could lead one to reflect on issues related to evangelism.
All in all, despite the fact that I have some concerns, this is a helpful read. If you want think through the ways in which our cultural contexts shape our readings of the biblical texts, this book will prove a helpful resource.
I Survived....Barely
That was a tough Thanksgiving away from home...I ain't gonna lie. I think part of the problem was that I lived closer to all of my family last year than I had been in the previous 13. I thought by doing that, it would 'tide me over' for 5 years. Ok, not really, but I thought it would help, not hurt for situations like holidays. Wrong-O. It's amazing that at the ripe old age of 39, I can still be so wrong about so many things. So, yes, I was not happy yesterday. But, yesterday is over and I woke up in a fairly good mood. I had a good morning of lectures ahead and a dissection to end the day. Plus, it IS Friday!!
And now for the massive surprise....it has SNOWED!!! What?!? I don't even follow the weather here for several reasons. 1. They do the whole UK together and I don't know where they are talking about anyways, 2. They are usually wrong and 3. The weather changes every 10 minutes, so it doesn't matter.
Now, I love, love, love snow. To look at. Not a fan of trudging around in it and certainly cannot stand it when it turns slushy and gets everything wet and dirty (oh wait, I'm already used to that). However, when it is floating down like tufts of cotton, then I love it. It's just so......romantic. And magical.
So, imagine my surprise when I tossed my boys in the back garden to find this:
Wow! How pretty. I think we are supposed to get more tomorrow, so more pictures may follow. Speaking of tomorrow, I am very excited. A classmate is having a bunch of us first year US students over to celebrate Thanksgiving. She is cooking two turkeys and I am thrilled. I am very much looking forward to some great eats, giving thanks for all that is a blessing, great eats, socializing a bit, great eats and maybe watching some more snow fall.
I have just hit the wall and am calling it a night.
Over-N-Out
And now for the massive surprise....it has SNOWED!!! What?!? I don't even follow the weather here for several reasons. 1. They do the whole UK together and I don't know where they are talking about anyways, 2. They are usually wrong and 3. The weather changes every 10 minutes, so it doesn't matter.
Now, I love, love, love snow. To look at. Not a fan of trudging around in it and certainly cannot stand it when it turns slushy and gets everything wet and dirty (oh wait, I'm already used to that). However, when it is floating down like tufts of cotton, then I love it. It's just so......romantic. And magical.
So, imagine my surprise when I tossed my boys in the back garden to find this:
Wow! How pretty. I think we are supposed to get more tomorrow, so more pictures may follow. Speaking of tomorrow, I am very excited. A classmate is having a bunch of us first year US students over to celebrate Thanksgiving. She is cooking two turkeys and I am thrilled. I am very much looking forward to some great eats, giving thanks for all that is a blessing, great eats, socializing a bit, great eats and maybe watching some more snow fall.
I have just hit the wall and am calling it a night.
Over-N-Out
Gene Test Sparks Concern For Young Athletes
Sourced from http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/11/25/3076709.htm
Just when you thought it was safe to go and kick a ball in the park for fun!
This is the sort of thing that will attract some parents and is there anything wrong with it? It seems that some serious biological science is finding its way into the gym and who knows, may be one day into school sports programs or the Football Club or High Performance Program registration process. Who knows, after all it's here now. I'm usually attracted to science in support of sport, but I gotta say, I feel pretty uncomfortable about this one.
A genetic company has played down concerns that its sport test could discriminate against children and budding young athletes.
Although genes alone cannot determine whether an individual will excel at a particular sport, they have the potential to determine whether someone is better suited to endurance or power-specific activities.
The sport gene test allows DNA swabs from inside a person's mouth to be anonymously sent to the firm's laboratory and analysed.
The test will soon be made available in gyms and sports stores around the country, but there are fears over-zealous parents will use the test to screen their children for sporting suitability.
The chief scientific officer of MyGene, Graeme Smith, acknowledges some people will want to gather information about future athletes as early as possible.
But he says the test will not be made available to people under the age of 18.
"We don't feel 100 per cent comfortable with the potential for a child to be discriminated against based on their genotype," he told ABC's Radio National.
He also admits there is no way to determine whether a parent has sent in their child's DNA instead of their own.
"In good faith, we analyse these tests thinking they're people over the age of 18. If we were to find out [they weren't], we wouldn't conduct that test," he said.
The Australian Institute of Sport has been in discussions with MyGene about the test, but says more studies need to be done to determine how effective it is.
AIS director and professor of sports medicine at ANU Peter Fricker says in future it could be one way of testing individuals for sporting potential.
But he says it would be used in conjunction with tests on height, weight and skin folds, for example, as just another part of the screening process.
"Our concern is when people get the test done, or are thinking about getting the test done either for themselves or for members of their family, what do you do with that genetic information when you receive it?" Professor Fricker said.
"Does it really determine the ultimate success at an Olympic level or is there more to it?
"We're saying that stuff needs to be validated, we need to do those studies, really work out how important it is having that gene in terms of determining ultimate success. That work hasn't been done."
MyGene has sold about 200 sport gene tests, but has not yet broadly marketed the product.
Mr Smith says he is confident his company is not promising anything to its customers that it cannot deliver.
Just when you thought it was safe to go and kick a ball in the park for fun!
This is the sort of thing that will attract some parents and is there anything wrong with it? It seems that some serious biological science is finding its way into the gym and who knows, may be one day into school sports programs or the Football Club or High Performance Program registration process. Who knows, after all it's here now. I'm usually attracted to science in support of sport, but I gotta say, I feel pretty uncomfortable about this one.
A genetic company has played down concerns that its sport test could discriminate against children and budding young athletes.
Although genes alone cannot determine whether an individual will excel at a particular sport, they have the potential to determine whether someone is better suited to endurance or power-specific activities.
The sport gene test allows DNA swabs from inside a person's mouth to be anonymously sent to the firm's laboratory and analysed.
The test will soon be made available in gyms and sports stores around the country, but there are fears over-zealous parents will use the test to screen their children for sporting suitability.
The chief scientific officer of MyGene, Graeme Smith, acknowledges some people will want to gather information about future athletes as early as possible.
But he says the test will not be made available to people under the age of 18.
"We don't feel 100 per cent comfortable with the potential for a child to be discriminated against based on their genotype," he told ABC's Radio National.
He also admits there is no way to determine whether a parent has sent in their child's DNA instead of their own.
"In good faith, we analyse these tests thinking they're people over the age of 18. If we were to find out [they weren't], we wouldn't conduct that test," he said.
The Australian Institute of Sport has been in discussions with MyGene about the test, but says more studies need to be done to determine how effective it is.
AIS director and professor of sports medicine at ANU Peter Fricker says in future it could be one way of testing individuals for sporting potential.
But he says it would be used in conjunction with tests on height, weight and skin folds, for example, as just another part of the screening process.
"Our concern is when people get the test done, or are thinking about getting the test done either for themselves or for members of their family, what do you do with that genetic information when you receive it?" Professor Fricker said.
"Does it really determine the ultimate success at an Olympic level or is there more to it?
"We're saying that stuff needs to be validated, we need to do those studies, really work out how important it is having that gene in terms of determining ultimate success. That work hasn't been done."
MyGene has sold about 200 sport gene tests, but has not yet broadly marketed the product.
Mr Smith says he is confident his company is not promising anything to its customers that it cannot deliver.
Catering For All Abilities
Sourced from http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/
Part 1: what is "success"?
In this article, I suggest how we can cater for children of widely differing abilities and why we need to make sure that all our players, not just the better ones, come away from our coaching sessions with the feeling they have achieved something.
But before considering how we can differentiate our sessions we need to understand how our players define "success".
Definition: Differentiation is how we adapt experiences and activities to meet the developmental needs of individuals or groups of children.
For young children up to age of about 10, it is simple. Effort equals success, regardless of the end result. That is called being "task orientated".
From the age of 11 or 12, children understand effort will only help them up to a certain point. A 12 year old, for example, may believe that no matter how hard they try they will not be as good at, say, shooting as the team's star attacker.
This new knowledge forces them to choose to either continue to be task orientated ("if I try hard I will be successful") or to redefine success in a more adult way where success means being the best. This is called being "ego orientated".
What does this mean for us as youth soccer coaches?
How your players measure their own success and whether they are ego or task orientated is very important.
A task-orientated striker, for example, will always work hard, running into spaces and trying to reach crosses even if they are not scoring goals.
On the other hand, an ego-orientated striker who hits a dry spell will stop trying in order to protect their view of themselves as successful. They may also blame their team mates for not providing them with chances to score or drop into midfield and say they want to "build up from the back".
Clearly, most youth soccer coaches would like a team full of task-orientated players. I know I would!
We can manage the way our players define success (and if they work hard or not, even when they are not achieving good results) by being careful about the messages we send out to them about success, hard work and winning.
If we focus on the importance of winning matches, design training sessions that do not cater for players of differing abilities, if we congratulate our players when they win regardless of how hard they had to work to do it... we are encouraging them to be ego orientated.
If, on the other hand, we design practice sessions that allow all our players to experience success, applaud effort rather than achievement and react to winning and losing matches in the same, calm way, we will are telling our players that we value hard work and effort more than being the best.
This will encourage them to move away from ego orientation ("I am only successful if I'm the best!") to the more useful task orientation.
PS. A coach who values effort and doesn't compare players in terms of ability will also encourage the less able players to stay in the game for longer and for many coaches and clubs, player retention is a key indicator of how well they are doing.
Part 2: how to differentiate your coaching sessions
1. A quick tweak works wonders!
Most coaching games can be adjusted to allow players of all abilities to be challenged and experience success.
Three Team Attack, for example, involves three unequal teams who defend three goals. One team can have a goalkeeper and one defender, another can have a goalkeeper and two defenders and the third can have no goalkeeper and four outfield players. The variations are almost endless.
Each team attacks the two other goals and the first to X number of goals wins. Or the first team which loses X number of lives is out.
To allow all your players a chance of being on the winning team, put the weaker ones in the larger teams or with the stronger players.
A popular Small-sided game involves having two teams play with a neutral player on each touch line who either receives a pass and passes back to the team that passed to them or crosses the ball into the goalmouth.
I tell my players that the side player can't be tackled and they must use the side player at least once in each move before they can shoot.
To make this game suitable for all abilities, offset the goals so one is, say, 30 yards from the touch line and the other is 15 yards away. Better players work on the long side and the others play on the short side.
If you play games that involve tackling, you can have "safe" zones or allow players to go outside the playing area to avoid being tackled. This will allow the weaker players to hold on to the ball for longer.
2. Give players individual objectives.
While a game or activity is going on, have a quiet word with individuals and ask them to do something more challenging than the others.
You could, for example, ask the players who find it easy to juggle the ball (keepie uppies) to catch a ball or clap while they do them. They could also try ball juggling while sitting down (you try it... it's not easy!).
If you are playing a game of keepaway (or any other small-sided game) ask your most skilled players to move to one or two touch if they can.
Just remember to do it sensitively and whatever you do, don't tell the player(s) in question that you're asking them to do something harder than the others because they are more skilled.
3. Separate them.
Separating children into groups of ability groups and giving them different tasks to do is the traditional and easiest way of differentiating.
It is, however, also a quick and easy way to stigmatise the weaker of your players and reinforce the ego orientation of the more skilled.
So try to avoid separating your children in this way and use mutli-layered games or give individual objectives as described above.
To sum up, it's important to cater for children of differing abilities in your coaching sessions if you are to avoid having a lot of ego-orientated players who are easily discouraged if they make mistakes or fail to score.
Successful differentiation will also keep your team together for longer and help you become what you want to be – a successful coach!
Part 1: what is "success"?
In this article, I suggest how we can cater for children of widely differing abilities and why we need to make sure that all our players, not just the better ones, come away from our coaching sessions with the feeling they have achieved something.
But before considering how we can differentiate our sessions we need to understand how our players define "success".
Definition: Differentiation is how we adapt experiences and activities to meet the developmental needs of individuals or groups of children.
For young children up to age of about 10, it is simple. Effort equals success, regardless of the end result. That is called being "task orientated".
From the age of 11 or 12, children understand effort will only help them up to a certain point. A 12 year old, for example, may believe that no matter how hard they try they will not be as good at, say, shooting as the team's star attacker.
This new knowledge forces them to choose to either continue to be task orientated ("if I try hard I will be successful") or to redefine success in a more adult way where success means being the best. This is called being "ego orientated".
What does this mean for us as youth soccer coaches?
How your players measure their own success and whether they are ego or task orientated is very important.
A task-orientated striker, for example, will always work hard, running into spaces and trying to reach crosses even if they are not scoring goals.
On the other hand, an ego-orientated striker who hits a dry spell will stop trying in order to protect their view of themselves as successful. They may also blame their team mates for not providing them with chances to score or drop into midfield and say they want to "build up from the back".
Clearly, most youth soccer coaches would like a team full of task-orientated players. I know I would!
We can manage the way our players define success (and if they work hard or not, even when they are not achieving good results) by being careful about the messages we send out to them about success, hard work and winning.
If we focus on the importance of winning matches, design training sessions that do not cater for players of differing abilities, if we congratulate our players when they win regardless of how hard they had to work to do it... we are encouraging them to be ego orientated.
If, on the other hand, we design practice sessions that allow all our players to experience success, applaud effort rather than achievement and react to winning and losing matches in the same, calm way, we will are telling our players that we value hard work and effort more than being the best.
This will encourage them to move away from ego orientation ("I am only successful if I'm the best!") to the more useful task orientation.
PS. A coach who values effort and doesn't compare players in terms of ability will also encourage the less able players to stay in the game for longer and for many coaches and clubs, player retention is a key indicator of how well they are doing.
Part 2: how to differentiate your coaching sessions
1. A quick tweak works wonders!
Most coaching games can be adjusted to allow players of all abilities to be challenged and experience success.
Three Team Attack, for example, involves three unequal teams who defend three goals. One team can have a goalkeeper and one defender, another can have a goalkeeper and two defenders and the third can have no goalkeeper and four outfield players. The variations are almost endless.
Each team attacks the two other goals and the first to X number of goals wins. Or the first team which loses X number of lives is out.
To allow all your players a chance of being on the winning team, put the weaker ones in the larger teams or with the stronger players.
A popular Small-sided game involves having two teams play with a neutral player on each touch line who either receives a pass and passes back to the team that passed to them or crosses the ball into the goalmouth.
I tell my players that the side player can't be tackled and they must use the side player at least once in each move before they can shoot.
To make this game suitable for all abilities, offset the goals so one is, say, 30 yards from the touch line and the other is 15 yards away. Better players work on the long side and the others play on the short side.
If you play games that involve tackling, you can have "safe" zones or allow players to go outside the playing area to avoid being tackled. This will allow the weaker players to hold on to the ball for longer.
2. Give players individual objectives.
While a game or activity is going on, have a quiet word with individuals and ask them to do something more challenging than the others.
You could, for example, ask the players who find it easy to juggle the ball (keepie uppies) to catch a ball or clap while they do them. They could also try ball juggling while sitting down (you try it... it's not easy!).
If you are playing a game of keepaway (or any other small-sided game) ask your most skilled players to move to one or two touch if they can.
Just remember to do it sensitively and whatever you do, don't tell the player(s) in question that you're asking them to do something harder than the others because they are more skilled.
3. Separate them.
Separating children into groups of ability groups and giving them different tasks to do is the traditional and easiest way of differentiating.
It is, however, also a quick and easy way to stigmatise the weaker of your players and reinforce the ego orientation of the more skilled.
So try to avoid separating your children in this way and use mutli-layered games or give individual objectives as described above.
To sum up, it's important to cater for children of differing abilities in your coaching sessions if you are to avoid having a lot of ego-orientated players who are easily discouraged if they make mistakes or fail to score.
Successful differentiation will also keep your team together for longer and help you become what you want to be – a successful coach!
Could This Be The Chance For Capital Football To Get A Pathway Established For Talented Young ACT Male Players In National Competition?
Capital Football led the charge for an ACT Women's Team in the W League. Fantastic work and outstanding for Women's Football in our region - as long as we keep the ACT representation high and talented young ACT players get a start.
Now the men's side of things is in tatters. The "pathway" stops at our Premier League competition. Can you recall Capital Football raising a senior men's ACT representative team to play a fixture against a visting team of good standard (A league Youth team, visiting overseas or interstate team) in the ACT last season. Promoting the fixture, encouraging A league reps / scouts to attend and generally making a big deal of the whole thing. Nothing comes immediately to mind! Clubs have organised better opportunties as part of their preseason and off season programs, no thanks to Capital Football and no support. Pretty misreable record in 2010 come to think of it on this matter.
The prospect of an A League team for Canberra drifts further and further into the future. No A League Youth team in prospect. The whole endeavour has run aground and the FFA has shown little interest in the ACT.
The only two Premier League Clubs that are sufficiently resourced to seek entry to the NSW Premier League are the two that have done it before (and been thrown out) - Belconnen United and Canberra FC. Good, strong clubs both. Neither seem inclined to give it a go again and anyway, if they do make the step up again and provide a defacto football pathway for our best players, why should they do it without some assistance from Capital Football? But that's just speculation on my part as both will campaign in the 2011 Capital Football Premier League.
Our best young players are stuck firmly in the ACT and that does them no good at all if they want to go further in the game.
And then I read this on the SBS World Game website. Do I detect a glimmer of a chance for us? Is Capital Football fully engaged and all hands awake and alert?
Read this one...
FFA considers second-tier comp
23 November 2010-AAP
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/news/1033045/FFA-considers-second-tier-comp
Financial distress for several A-League clubs has failed to deter Football Federation Australia from eyeing off the possible creation of a second-tier competition.
FFA launched a National Competition Review (NCR) to examine the set-up of leagues throughout the country.
Central to that is the possible establishment of a second national league, which would enable FFA to appease Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) desire for a promotion-relegation system to be put into operation.
"Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second-tier competition framework below the A-League," FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
AFC, of which Australia is now a part, has regulations that recommend promotion and relegation.
"A club shall qualify for a domestic league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being promoted or relegated to another at the end of a season," the regulations state.
But the head of the A-League Lyall Gorman denies the AFC has been putting the heat on the FFA.
"We're not under any pressure to do with that at all," Gorman said.
"It certainly is an aspiration or a target of the AFC that all its participating countries have a promotion-relegation system.
"But would it ever preclude you from participating in the Asian Champions League? No.
"But is it something we want to work towards over time? Yes, there could be a lot of merit in that."
Any second-tier competition would be funded separately to the A-League clubs.
But with the financial struggles of various teams such as Newcastle Jets and North Queensland Fury well documented, there appears little realistic prospect of the code sustaining more clubs.
"You'd hope that there'd be a very robust discussion about that," Gorman added.
"I have no doubt that any framework that may come out of this review would clearly be driven by financial viability and sustainability."
Now the men's side of things is in tatters. The "pathway" stops at our Premier League competition. Can you recall Capital Football raising a senior men's ACT representative team to play a fixture against a visting team of good standard (A league Youth team, visiting overseas or interstate team) in the ACT last season. Promoting the fixture, encouraging A league reps / scouts to attend and generally making a big deal of the whole thing. Nothing comes immediately to mind! Clubs have organised better opportunties as part of their preseason and off season programs, no thanks to Capital Football and no support. Pretty misreable record in 2010 come to think of it on this matter.
The prospect of an A League team for Canberra drifts further and further into the future. No A League Youth team in prospect. The whole endeavour has run aground and the FFA has shown little interest in the ACT.
The only two Premier League Clubs that are sufficiently resourced to seek entry to the NSW Premier League are the two that have done it before (and been thrown out) - Belconnen United and Canberra FC. Good, strong clubs both. Neither seem inclined to give it a go again and anyway, if they do make the step up again and provide a defacto football pathway for our best players, why should they do it without some assistance from Capital Football? But that's just speculation on my part as both will campaign in the 2011 Capital Football Premier League.
Our best young players are stuck firmly in the ACT and that does them no good at all if they want to go further in the game.
And then I read this on the SBS World Game website. Do I detect a glimmer of a chance for us? Is Capital Football fully engaged and all hands awake and alert?
Read this one...
FFA considers second-tier comp
23 November 2010-AAP
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/australia/news/1033045/FFA-considers-second-tier-comp
Financial distress for several A-League clubs has failed to deter Football Federation Australia from eyeing off the possible creation of a second-tier competition.
FFA launched a National Competition Review (NCR) to examine the set-up of leagues throughout the country.
Central to that is the possible establishment of a second national league, which would enable FFA to appease Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) desire for a promotion-relegation system to be put into operation.
"Once we get it right we will be able to better underpin the A-League, lay the foundation for a National Cup Competition and potentially for a future second-tier competition framework below the A-League," FFA chief executive officer Ben Buckley said in a statement.
AFC, of which Australia is now a part, has regulations that recommend promotion and relegation.
"A club shall qualify for a domestic league championship by remaining in a certain division or by being promoted or relegated to another at the end of a season," the regulations state.
But the head of the A-League Lyall Gorman denies the AFC has been putting the heat on the FFA.
"We're not under any pressure to do with that at all," Gorman said.
"It certainly is an aspiration or a target of the AFC that all its participating countries have a promotion-relegation system.
"But would it ever preclude you from participating in the Asian Champions League? No.
"But is it something we want to work towards over time? Yes, there could be a lot of merit in that."
Any second-tier competition would be funded separately to the A-League clubs.
But with the financial struggles of various teams such as Newcastle Jets and North Queensland Fury well documented, there appears little realistic prospect of the code sustaining more clubs.
"You'd hope that there'd be a very robust discussion about that," Gorman added.
"I have no doubt that any framework that may come out of this review would clearly be driven by financial viability and sustainability."
Is This How It's Supposed to Be?
Sorry, but I can't help feeling sorry for myself right now. It was bound to happen around the holidays. Even though if feels nowhere remotely like Thanksgiving Eve, I'm sad. I mean, I really do not even realize tomorrow is Turkey Day. There are no circulars in the paper for sales on turkeys, cranberries or pumpkin pies. There is no talk in the office of plans to travel/stay home/cook/bake pies/clean homes/put up guests. There are no plans to drive for hours to the relative's house hosting all of us this year. Nope, there is none of that. And, it makes me sad.
I guess it's best that there is no big fanfare and celebration here. It would just make it worse. I do not have a four day weekend to really think about all that I'm missing. No, instead I'll be in lecture all morning, followed by a neurotransmission tutorial and then headed to the farm for some good ole' cattle handling again. It's just as well that it will be my busiest day of the week. And, I suppose it's just as well that I won't be gorging on turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sweet potato pie, cornbread and all of the sinful desserts. A few bottles of wine will be drank, buckets of ice cold beer will be consumed and cards will be played into the wee hours of the morning. And, I'll miss it all.
Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends. I wish I were there to see you all and join in the merriment. Just know that I love you and am thinkin of ya!
Gobble Gobble and Cheers!
I guess it's best that there is no big fanfare and celebration here. It would just make it worse. I do not have a four day weekend to really think about all that I'm missing. No, instead I'll be in lecture all morning, followed by a neurotransmission tutorial and then headed to the farm for some good ole' cattle handling again. It's just as well that it will be my busiest day of the week. And, I suppose it's just as well that I won't be gorging on turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, sweet potato pie, cornbread and all of the sinful desserts. A few bottles of wine will be drank, buckets of ice cold beer will be consumed and cards will be played into the wee hours of the morning. And, I'll miss it all.
Happy Thanksgiving to my family and friends. I wish I were there to see you all and join in the merriment. Just know that I love you and am thinkin of ya!
Gobble Gobble and Cheers!
Football Scholarships to US Colleges (Universities) - It's A Sensational Option!
This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) on Tuesday 23 November 2010, across the Australian Community Radio Network.
Many young Australians dream of playing Football at the highest level, in Australia and overseas. It's a worthy ambition. Regrettably, only a very, very few realise this dream. Its a long hard road, paved with disappointment more often than reward. It's hard enough to get into an A league Youth team and then you don't get paid a living wage. Professional Football is a highly competitive environment, often depending on more than demonstrated ability and perhaps a little too much on "timing", "connections" and what we would just simply refer to a plain "good luck".
Underpinning this ambition is many years of single minded hard work, too the exclusion of so many other things that would ordinarily occupy the lives of young people. "Natural talent" as some call it is not enough. Without that single-mindedness, persistence in the face of injury and rejection, and, a first rate football work ethic - nothing is possible! Simple as that.
Family support is critical to success. Parents and family provide the love and support to sustain the young Football player's ambition. Families dedicate considerable limited disposable income to make the "dream" of professional Football a reality. Playing good Football costs lots of money and don't let anyone tell you anything else! I am always in admiration of the many parents I have met that do all they can with what they have to make the best in Football for their children. Sometimes, love and desire can results in some very poor decisions for the best of reasons. The sacrifice is not without disappointment. As most young Footballers do not realise their ambitions, it is the parents and families that catch them and move them forward into the future, a future not necessarily without football (though this happens a bit too often), but not playing for a Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona or AC Milan. Not even the A League!
The message is clear for all of us with children that want to achieve in Football - plan for a future without professional football as a means of earning a living. Keep young players focused on good academic outcomes at high school, no matter how mnay promises of success are trailed out in from of the young player. Professional football seems to have no shortage of sharks and false profets, and they care nothiong for your child's future byond the next football game.
Education provides options in the future. Football usually does not attend to this critical consideration for the vast majority that play the beautiful game. So keep them at school and doing as well as they can. Plan a career that will see them earning a living wage, that will give them a chance of economic prosperity, independent of playing good football. Anything else is madness!
This brings me to the tonight's program. I have noticed more and more young payers talking about trying to get a sports sholarship to a US College. Good idea, but as you see (if you are not already familiar with the environment), it takes a lot of planning in advance. It can't be done at short notice. To help us get some understanding of this prospective option, we speak to a US based organisation called "National Scouting Report (NSR)", a specialist agency that facilitates young Australian Football players (soccer in the USA), to apply for US College (University) sporting scholarships. It is a real option for young players with good academic results (I didn't say brilliant!) and playing good football. NSR places athletes in many sports in US Colleges on sports scholarships. Its well worth considering, before you think about heading off to Europe on the vague promise of fame and riches. This is an absolutely fascinating interview.
One of the players below is at a US College today.
Download the Podcast here:
Many young Australians dream of playing Football at the highest level, in Australia and overseas. It's a worthy ambition. Regrettably, only a very, very few realise this dream. Its a long hard road, paved with disappointment more often than reward. It's hard enough to get into an A league Youth team and then you don't get paid a living wage. Professional Football is a highly competitive environment, often depending on more than demonstrated ability and perhaps a little too much on "timing", "connections" and what we would just simply refer to a plain "good luck".
Underpinning this ambition is many years of single minded hard work, too the exclusion of so many other things that would ordinarily occupy the lives of young people. "Natural talent" as some call it is not enough. Without that single-mindedness, persistence in the face of injury and rejection, and, a first rate football work ethic - nothing is possible! Simple as that.
Family support is critical to success. Parents and family provide the love and support to sustain the young Football player's ambition. Families dedicate considerable limited disposable income to make the "dream" of professional Football a reality. Playing good Football costs lots of money and don't let anyone tell you anything else! I am always in admiration of the many parents I have met that do all they can with what they have to make the best in Football for their children. Sometimes, love and desire can results in some very poor decisions for the best of reasons. The sacrifice is not without disappointment. As most young Footballers do not realise their ambitions, it is the parents and families that catch them and move them forward into the future, a future not necessarily without football (though this happens a bit too often), but not playing for a Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona or AC Milan. Not even the A League!
The message is clear for all of us with children that want to achieve in Football - plan for a future without professional football as a means of earning a living. Keep young players focused on good academic outcomes at high school, no matter how mnay promises of success are trailed out in from of the young player. Professional football seems to have no shortage of sharks and false profets, and they care nothiong for your child's future byond the next football game.
Education provides options in the future. Football usually does not attend to this critical consideration for the vast majority that play the beautiful game. So keep them at school and doing as well as they can. Plan a career that will see them earning a living wage, that will give them a chance of economic prosperity, independent of playing good football. Anything else is madness!
This brings me to the tonight's program. I have noticed more and more young payers talking about trying to get a sports sholarship to a US College. Good idea, but as you see (if you are not already familiar with the environment), it takes a lot of planning in advance. It can't be done at short notice. To help us get some understanding of this prospective option, we speak to a US based organisation called "National Scouting Report (NSR)", a specialist agency that facilitates young Australian Football players (soccer in the USA), to apply for US College (University) sporting scholarships. It is a real option for young players with good academic results (I didn't say brilliant!) and playing good football. NSR places athletes in many sports in US Colleges on sports scholarships. Its well worth considering, before you think about heading off to Europe on the vague promise of fame and riches. This is an absolutely fascinating interview.
One of the players below is at a US College today.
Download the Podcast here:
A Successful Pet Insurance Company in Japan
I got an unexpected primer in Japanese pet insurance from one of the veterinarians who attended my November lectures in Tokyo. Dr. Asako Shimamura, a 2002 graduate of the Nippon Veterinary and Life Sciences University, introduced herself as an employee of Anicom Holdings, a growing pet insurance company that markets exclusively in Japan. http://www.anicom-sompo.co.jp/
In discussions with Asako, and also with Tokyo veterinarians who have benefited from her expertise, I became intrigued by the recent success of her company. From a very small beginning in 2000, they now have more than 60% of the domestic market share for pet insurance in Japan.
When I asked Asako to explain her company’s success, she said, “Many people now regard pets not just as companion animals, but as members of the family.” Because of her company’s vision―An insurance group aiming to lessen tears and brighten smiles―Anicom is on the march, with sales tripling to over 9B Yen ($110m US) in the last five years.
 |
| Dr. Shimamura with her cat, Satuki. Asako is holding her pet insurance card, similar to what all clients carry. This allows insured pet owners to receive immediate claim service at their veterinarian's office. Veterinarians are also reimbursed in a timely manner for the insured portion of the bill without any direct action required by the pet owner. |
Dr. Shimamura explained that one of Anicom’s chief goals is the prevention of disease through networking and providing relevant pet health information to clients. She embraces this concept and has developed a research program that examines the epidemiologic impact of preventive medicine on claim data. She recently analyzed the insurance claims of almost 700,000 dogs, documenting the differences, for example, between veterinary claims for puppies and adults. The higher incidence of ingestion of foreign bodies and fractures in puppies suggests that client education for puppies should pay special attention to these two important problem areas.
Japan’s 130 million people care for approximately 24 million dogs and cats. Though this is only about 40% of the dog and cat ownership per capita in the United States, the pet insurance penetration rate is surprisingly similar (approximately 1.5% in Japan and 2.5% in America). The striking difference between the two countries, however, is the rapid growth of pet insurance in Japan. This could be due to the growing sophistication of veterinary care and also the increased value placed on the human-animal bond.
The perceived value of pet insurance to the consumer varies widely in different countries, reaching over 30% in some areas in Britain and over 50% in parts of Scandinavia. Whether the market share grows to these levels in Japan, or remains more modest as in the United States and Canada, may depend on the quality, service and educational outreach of companies like Anicom.
My Overpriced Paper Shredder
It was bound to happen. It's my fault. It's been raining and overcast for three days and therefore, I have not been able to tire their little behinds out. They had a little too much penned-up energy and the party began probably within 5 minutes of my departure. I have my couch backed up to my desk so that the little BBs (Bingo Boyz) can get on my desk anytime their little hearts desire. I now have a permanent bed on the desk at the insistence of Mugsy. So yes, I have ok'd it for them to spend some time on my desk.
Therefore, it's not a surprise that when I left my flat yesterday and for a fleeting moment wondered if I should leave the small package of tissues on my desk, that I knew I'd get burned. When I returned, I felt like I had walked into a confetti storm. All I could do was laugh and I knew EXACTLY who was to blame. It may have been a short party of two, but there was one who had the idea and then convinced his brother to join (and that is still questionable). He's been a shredder since day 1. I used to find all kind of paper products underneath my bed. I couldn't really tell what they were because he shreds to the specifications only a massive commercial shredder could....pin size.
I took a picture of both boys next to part of the damage. Note: neither one looks too remorseful, do they?
My floor is white (don't ask), so it's doesn't look as bad as it was. I didn't take a picture of the rest on the black carpet. Nice contrast. Who do you think is guilty? Harley (on left), the perfect gentleman? Or Mugsy, the class clown?
Well, it only took a few minutes of me sitting down at my desk for the guilty one to bring me his work......
Yep, there was no doubt this was the guilty party. Like a kid who just ate a box of doughnuts and has powdered sugar around their mouth:
Part of the problem is that the weather was terrible for 3 days (imagine that) and they were bored. The sun came out today, but it's supposed to snow this week....yipes.
Ok, time to go to bed. It's late, but for the first time we do not have a 9am lecture so I worked late and will sleep an extra hour tomorrow.
Over-N-Out
Therefore, it's not a surprise that when I left my flat yesterday and for a fleeting moment wondered if I should leave the small package of tissues on my desk, that I knew I'd get burned. When I returned, I felt like I had walked into a confetti storm. All I could do was laugh and I knew EXACTLY who was to blame. It may have been a short party of two, but there was one who had the idea and then convinced his brother to join (and that is still questionable). He's been a shredder since day 1. I used to find all kind of paper products underneath my bed. I couldn't really tell what they were because he shreds to the specifications only a massive commercial shredder could....pin size.
I took a picture of both boys next to part of the damage. Note: neither one looks too remorseful, do they?
My floor is white (don't ask), so it's doesn't look as bad as it was. I didn't take a picture of the rest on the black carpet. Nice contrast. Who do you think is guilty? Harley (on left), the perfect gentleman? Or Mugsy, the class clown?
Well, it only took a few minutes of me sitting down at my desk for the guilty one to bring me his work......
Yep, there was no doubt this was the guilty party. Like a kid who just ate a box of doughnuts and has powdered sugar around their mouth:
Part of the problem is that the weather was terrible for 3 days (imagine that) and they were bored. The sun came out today, but it's supposed to snow this week....yipes.
Ok, time to go to bed. It's late, but for the first time we do not have a 9am lecture so I worked late and will sleep an extra hour tomorrow.
Over-N-Out
Post SBL thoughts
Well, I didn't find any good bbq in downtown Atlanta (though I can't say that I tried very hard). I ran into a lot of old friends, though, which was nice.
The only program unit sessions that I went to were the three sessions of the Disability Studies and Healthcare in the Bible and Near East unit. There were some very fine papers presented in this session and I took a lot of notes, trying to nail down as many references as possible. The work being done in this unit is really innovative and interesting. It relates to many other areas of biblical scholarship. I can only see interest growing in the topics addressed by this group in coming years.
I think that an area that needs more attention has to do with intellectual disability and the Bible. I'm not sure how to get at this, though, because the category is so foreign to the biblical writers. Lots to think about....
Unfortunately, all the other program unit sessions that I wanted to go to (and there were several) were at the same time as the disability studies sessions, or they were on Monday or Tuesday (and I left Monday at lunchtime).
On Friday night of the conference I had the opportunity to hear N. T. Wright give a lecture called "The Kingdom and the Cross." It was typical N. T. Wright: eloquent, theologically interesting, and thought provoking. Yet the highlight of the evening, in my opinion, was the respondent, Michael Bird of Crossway College (Australia). Bird's response was not only pointed and well informed, but engaging, humorous, and well delivered. Though relatively young, Bird is certainly making a name for himself in the field.
On Sunday night, the Association of Theological Schools honored Dr. Kathleen O'Connor of Columbia Theological Seminary for her work in theological education. O'Connor gave an outstanding address on the vocation of the theological educator and the need to listen to voices speaking from a variety of contexts as we engage the Bible in the classroom.
Every time I attend SBL I'm more keenly aware of how much I have to learn. Then again, I suppose that's at least part of the point. Complacency is the enemy of good scholarship.
The only program unit sessions that I went to were the three sessions of the Disability Studies and Healthcare in the Bible and Near East unit. There were some very fine papers presented in this session and I took a lot of notes, trying to nail down as many references as possible. The work being done in this unit is really innovative and interesting. It relates to many other areas of biblical scholarship. I can only see interest growing in the topics addressed by this group in coming years.
I think that an area that needs more attention has to do with intellectual disability and the Bible. I'm not sure how to get at this, though, because the category is so foreign to the biblical writers. Lots to think about....
Unfortunately, all the other program unit sessions that I wanted to go to (and there were several) were at the same time as the disability studies sessions, or they were on Monday or Tuesday (and I left Monday at lunchtime).
On Friday night of the conference I had the opportunity to hear N. T. Wright give a lecture called "The Kingdom and the Cross." It was typical N. T. Wright: eloquent, theologically interesting, and thought provoking. Yet the highlight of the evening, in my opinion, was the respondent, Michael Bird of Crossway College (Australia). Bird's response was not only pointed and well informed, but engaging, humorous, and well delivered. Though relatively young, Bird is certainly making a name for himself in the field.
On Sunday night, the Association of Theological Schools honored Dr. Kathleen O'Connor of Columbia Theological Seminary for her work in theological education. O'Connor gave an outstanding address on the vocation of the theological educator and the need to listen to voices speaking from a variety of contexts as we engage the Bible in the classroom.
Every time I attend SBL I'm more keenly aware of how much I have to learn. Then again, I suppose that's at least part of the point. Complacency is the enemy of good scholarship.
Cattle Wranglin'
Another cow practical left me sore again. The first of two Cattle Handling practicals (adults, not babies) was not only a challenge, but a lot of laughs. The goal of this first practical was to learn how to control a cow while it was in a crush so that you can examine it or give it treatment. A crush is a popular device used for cows and is effective in keeping them in place with a fair amount of built-in restraint, but still allows for some movement, so we were taught how to handle them in the crush. A crush looks like this:
They are relatively secure from side-to-side, but can move their head and neck up/down and side to side. So, you have to get your back up against the crush so you are facing forward and you loop an arm over their nose and under their chin. The idea is to bring their head to the side and get them to 'relax'. We then had to stick our a thumb in the corner of their mouth, which got them opening it, and then you could slide your opposite hand in their mouth at the end of their jaw (to stay away from the dangerous molars). You can use this hand to cover their tongue and then grab it and pull it out one side of their mouth. The idea is to be able to get a good look inside for examination. If all goes well, it's brilliant. After a few students have tried this technique, however, the cows get smart and start to either put their nose to the ground or once you get a hold of them, it's like a roller coaster ride and you better be flexible and hang on.
We also learned how to insert a gag, which is a device that slides in between their molars on one side of their mouth. It has a loop you put over your wrist just in case the gag goes into the depths of the cow's throat that you cannot reach, then you can simply pull it out! The cows were not too crazy happy about being gagged, but I was successful in getting the monster-head one gagged and a real sweetheart of one as well.
We were also shown injection sites, how to install a kick guard, how to use a pulley system to lift a leg and some other handling tips. It was an amazingly relevant practical, very well taught and lots of hands on. I was sore by the time I left the farm and felt like I had gone 10 rounds with a heavyweight the next day! It was a great sore.
I know I've said it before, but I am a huge proponent of these practicals. They keep my eye on the prize and keeps me wanting to study hard and learn more and more. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day for all that I want to read!
It's now Saturday and I've had such a productive day. Last night and ALL of today, I worked on my anatomy workbook. It is a record of all of our dissections and is quite time consuming. However, it is also a different way to study and reinforcing that I am actually learning so much.
I'm now catching up on some TV...Ramsey's Best Restaurant is one of my favorites right now. I'm missing my Food Network fix from the US, but they do have Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen) here and he has a couple of shows. I also am becoming attached to Jamie.......Jamie.....oh, I forget his last name, but he's from the UK and very popular in the US as well. I just finished wathcing a whole series of him trying to save the most unhealthy city in the US...it's in WV.
That's all for now. Till next time...Over-N-Out.
They are relatively secure from side-to-side, but can move their head and neck up/down and side to side. So, you have to get your back up against the crush so you are facing forward and you loop an arm over their nose and under their chin. The idea is to bring their head to the side and get them to 'relax'. We then had to stick our a thumb in the corner of their mouth, which got them opening it, and then you could slide your opposite hand in their mouth at the end of their jaw (to stay away from the dangerous molars). You can use this hand to cover their tongue and then grab it and pull it out one side of their mouth. The idea is to be able to get a good look inside for examination. If all goes well, it's brilliant. After a few students have tried this technique, however, the cows get smart and start to either put their nose to the ground or once you get a hold of them, it's like a roller coaster ride and you better be flexible and hang on.
We also learned how to insert a gag, which is a device that slides in between their molars on one side of their mouth. It has a loop you put over your wrist just in case the gag goes into the depths of the cow's throat that you cannot reach, then you can simply pull it out! The cows were not too crazy happy about being gagged, but I was successful in getting the monster-head one gagged and a real sweetheart of one as well.
We were also shown injection sites, how to install a kick guard, how to use a pulley system to lift a leg and some other handling tips. It was an amazingly relevant practical, very well taught and lots of hands on. I was sore by the time I left the farm and felt like I had gone 10 rounds with a heavyweight the next day! It was a great sore.
I know I've said it before, but I am a huge proponent of these practicals. They keep my eye on the prize and keeps me wanting to study hard and learn more and more. There just does not seem to be enough time in the day for all that I want to read!
It's now Saturday and I've had such a productive day. Last night and ALL of today, I worked on my anatomy workbook. It is a record of all of our dissections and is quite time consuming. However, it is also a different way to study and reinforcing that I am actually learning so much.
I'm now catching up on some TV...Ramsey's Best Restaurant is one of my favorites right now. I'm missing my Food Network fix from the US, but they do have Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen) here and he has a couple of shows. I also am becoming attached to Jamie.......Jamie.....oh, I forget his last name, but he's from the UK and very popular in the US as well. I just finished wathcing a whole series of him trying to save the most unhealthy city in the US...it's in WV.
That's all for now. Till next time...Over-N-Out.
The Verdict is in....kind of
Enquiring minds want to know about the outcome of my wrist. Wellllll, as it seems to go with scaphoid bones, it's kind of inconclusive at the moment.
Following is a recount of my first experience dealing with socialized medicine. I took a cab to the hospital with a 'minor injuries' department within their Emergency Room because I was told it may be quicker than going to the hospital nearest me which was all emergencies. I go to the reception and mind you, I have never been sent a hospitalization card from NHS (National Health Service), a confirmation that I'm registered...nothing. My GP had confirmed I was registered, but it still felt weird to check into a hospital without a card and identification of some sort. Nope, just date of birth, name and address given verbally and boom...I was in. The funny part about being in the minor injuries check-in, was there was a sign that basically said all emergencies that came in could be triaged ahead of me....hhhhmmmm. I thought the reason for having a minor injury department was....oh, never mind.
I brought a book to study and of course this meant I never had time to open it, which was good. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was handled. So, I am first seen by a nurse. Her name badge says 'physiotherapist'. I'm fine with this at this point because I'm sure I'm going to give her my history and then tell her what happened and she's going to send me to x-ray. And, hopefully, I will be seen by a doctor after that to discuss the results. After some poking and prodding, she agreed that I had the clinical signs of a scaphoid fracture and sent me back to the waiting room to wait for the x-ray tech. X-ray tech came and got me shortly thereafter and seemed to position my wrist properly for getting good films of the scaphoid. If the tech doesn't know what they are doing, you won't get a good enough look at the bone, because it can be overshadowed by others.
Here's where it gets a bit iffy for me. The tech tells me I can go back to the waiting room. I ask her if an orthopaedic surgeon is going to look at it, or a radiologist, or......?? She says they send it up (digitally) to the radiologist. Ok fine.
I have barely sat down, when my nurse comes and gets me. She has the xrays pulled up on her monitor and tells me everything looks good. Now.....unless the radiologist was sitting at his computer the moment those xrays were sent to him and was available to view them immediately, they were not seen by a doctor. This, I have a problem with. The nurse continued to point out on the xray how the bone looked good and there did not appear to be a fracture. But, she said I do have the clinical signs, so we need to treat it as such. She told me that since I had just injured it on Sunday (this was Wed), there could have been some re-absorption making it hard to see a fracture. Her 'treatment' was for me to keep my splint on for another 10 days (she told me my splint was better than what she could offer me, so I should use my own) and to come back. If I still had symptoms, it was likely there was a fracture since any soft tissue injury should be better by then. So, I go back next Friday. As I was leaving, I asked if I could get a copy of my x-rays to take with me (to send to my surgeon in VA) and she said 'no, they are all on the computer these days and we can't just copy them'. Ok, well that's strange because just last May, I had x-rays taken and they were put on a CD for me to take to my doctor. But, I didn't argue and moved on.
I was not comfortable with the level of personnel I saw based on my past history and the fact that I need sound and proper medical care for this issue. I know that the worst case scenario is that it's fractured and I am in a splint, so nothing is different there. I am just wondering if any of my other wrist bones were looked at? I mean, I realize I know my body and made a convincing argument, but maybe they should have done just some regular pictures of my wrist to look at the whole thing? I dunno, I guess I left not feeling confident in the care I received, as nice and professional as everyone was. Heck, it was hard for my surgeon to see the fracture in May and he's been doing wrists and hands for like 30 some years. Only when it had healed and he could compare the two, was he confident he had read the first x-ray correctly.
So, yesterday I called my ortho's office in VA and spoke with a staff member. I asked her if he could look at the x-rays (if they will give me a copy) and she said absolutely. She told me to get them on a CD, he will review and consult with me on the phone. I called the hospital today and asked someone how I could get my films. She said all departments were closed and to call medical records back on Monday. I feel pretty good about my odds of getting a copy now.
There you have it. The whole story. So, I'm still in the splint which is what I would have expected anyways and thankfully it's my left hand. Also thankfully, I'm not still lifting weights or training in the fighting arts or I'd be extremely frustrated at this point. See, there is some good that comes out of not working out :)
That's it for now. I'll post about my cattle handling experience this weekend.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Over-N-Out
Following is a recount of my first experience dealing with socialized medicine. I took a cab to the hospital with a 'minor injuries' department within their Emergency Room because I was told it may be quicker than going to the hospital nearest me which was all emergencies. I go to the reception and mind you, I have never been sent a hospitalization card from NHS (National Health Service), a confirmation that I'm registered...nothing. My GP had confirmed I was registered, but it still felt weird to check into a hospital without a card and identification of some sort. Nope, just date of birth, name and address given verbally and boom...I was in. The funny part about being in the minor injuries check-in, was there was a sign that basically said all emergencies that came in could be triaged ahead of me....hhhhmmmm. I thought the reason for having a minor injury department was....oh, never mind.
I brought a book to study and of course this meant I never had time to open it, which was good. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was handled. So, I am first seen by a nurse. Her name badge says 'physiotherapist'. I'm fine with this at this point because I'm sure I'm going to give her my history and then tell her what happened and she's going to send me to x-ray. And, hopefully, I will be seen by a doctor after that to discuss the results. After some poking and prodding, she agreed that I had the clinical signs of a scaphoid fracture and sent me back to the waiting room to wait for the x-ray tech. X-ray tech came and got me shortly thereafter and seemed to position my wrist properly for getting good films of the scaphoid. If the tech doesn't know what they are doing, you won't get a good enough look at the bone, because it can be overshadowed by others.
Here's where it gets a bit iffy for me. The tech tells me I can go back to the waiting room. I ask her if an orthopaedic surgeon is going to look at it, or a radiologist, or......?? She says they send it up (digitally) to the radiologist. Ok fine.
I have barely sat down, when my nurse comes and gets me. She has the xrays pulled up on her monitor and tells me everything looks good. Now.....unless the radiologist was sitting at his computer the moment those xrays were sent to him and was available to view them immediately, they were not seen by a doctor. This, I have a problem with. The nurse continued to point out on the xray how the bone looked good and there did not appear to be a fracture. But, she said I do have the clinical signs, so we need to treat it as such. She told me that since I had just injured it on Sunday (this was Wed), there could have been some re-absorption making it hard to see a fracture. Her 'treatment' was for me to keep my splint on for another 10 days (she told me my splint was better than what she could offer me, so I should use my own) and to come back. If I still had symptoms, it was likely there was a fracture since any soft tissue injury should be better by then. So, I go back next Friday. As I was leaving, I asked if I could get a copy of my x-rays to take with me (to send to my surgeon in VA) and she said 'no, they are all on the computer these days and we can't just copy them'. Ok, well that's strange because just last May, I had x-rays taken and they were put on a CD for me to take to my doctor. But, I didn't argue and moved on.
I was not comfortable with the level of personnel I saw based on my past history and the fact that I need sound and proper medical care for this issue. I know that the worst case scenario is that it's fractured and I am in a splint, so nothing is different there. I am just wondering if any of my other wrist bones were looked at? I mean, I realize I know my body and made a convincing argument, but maybe they should have done just some regular pictures of my wrist to look at the whole thing? I dunno, I guess I left not feeling confident in the care I received, as nice and professional as everyone was. Heck, it was hard for my surgeon to see the fracture in May and he's been doing wrists and hands for like 30 some years. Only when it had healed and he could compare the two, was he confident he had read the first x-ray correctly.
So, yesterday I called my ortho's office in VA and spoke with a staff member. I asked her if he could look at the x-rays (if they will give me a copy) and she said absolutely. She told me to get them on a CD, he will review and consult with me on the phone. I called the hospital today and asked someone how I could get my films. She said all departments were closed and to call medical records back on Monday. I feel pretty good about my odds of getting a copy now.
There you have it. The whole story. So, I'm still in the splint which is what I would have expected anyways and thankfully it's my left hand. Also thankfully, I'm not still lifting weights or training in the fighting arts or I'd be extremely frustrated at this point. See, there is some good that comes out of not working out :)
That's it for now. I'll post about my cattle handling experience this weekend.
Hope everyone has a great weekend.
Over-N-Out
SBL!
I'm off to the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature in Atlanta today. This is always a really beneficial conference. For me personally, the sections on the Bible and disability and social-scientific criticism of the NT are very important. Add in the lecture by N. T. Wright tonight, numerous receptions, and a chance to catch up with some old friends, and it should be an enjoyable weekend. Plus, there's nothing like southern barbeque!
University Author Recognition Reminder
Albertsons Library’s annual University Author Recognition celebrates articles, books, and creative works produced at Boise State University. The 6th annual University Author Recognition will take place on February 24, 2011, in Albertsons Library from 3:30-5:00 p.m.Citations are still being accepted until December 3, 2010, for works created between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. It is easy to submit a citation of your work; just go to http://library.boisestate.edu/faculty and click on “Send Citations.” A faculty member has the option to review and edit information before submitting citations, including multiple citations from a single creator. The draft bibliography is updated in real-time; please take a moment to look over the draft bibliography, as your citation may already have been entered by library staff.
Recognition events for the 6th annual bibliography include:
- A comprehensive online bibliography of scholarly and creative works by Boise State University faculty created between September 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010.
- A display of the creative works in Albertsons Library in January-February 2011
- A hosted reception in Albertsons Library on February 24, 2011, from 3:30-5:00 p.m. with a short program beginning at 4:00 p.m. The university community is invited to meet those being recognized and applaud their scholarship and creativity.
Grrrrrr......Not Again!
Yep, pretty sure I did it again. It was all for a good cause, I really NEEDED the exercise. I had a long break from soccer for various reasons, but mainly because it is a haul to get to where most practices are held and by the time I walk/run there, my feet are absolute toast. My feet are hanging on by threads these days. So, I got an email that there was a practice on Sunday in the park right near my flat...Yay. It had rained all morning, so it was nice and muddy. I played better than expected considering my absence and felt great. It was such good soup for my soul.
Well, it was very messy and slippery, so many of us fell and were muddy messes by the end. We were playing 4 v 4 without a real goalkeeper. Well, my goalie instincts kicked in a few times and I found myself deflecting balls. One particular time I actually went down to block a shot and felt an sudden 'ouch' in my left wrist. I thought, 'that probably wasn't good' and kept playing. A few hours after I got home and the adrenalin was gone, I realized what I had most likely done.....re-fractured my wrist! Yeah, I'm fairly certain of it. If I were a horse and my wrists were my feet, I would surely be euthanized! The bone I've now broken in both wrists is the same one - the scaphoid, or navicular bone. Yep, even coincides with a bone in the horse's foot. Go figure.
So, I found my splint with thumb spica in my closet and put it on. My ortho surgeon from VA actually told me to bring it here..thank goodness. During lunch, I called my GP here to set up an appointment this week, figuring I'd have to go there and then to an orthopaedic. Nope. Just proceed straight to the ER. Huh? Seriously? I have to go sit in an ER to get an xray? Oh brother, this should be good. I'm really stacked up with vet school this week, but have a half day Wednesday. I may go either Tuesday after dinner, knowing I have an 'easy' day on Wed, or I may go Wed afternoon, which is more likely. I detest this. I will write all about my first experience with socialized medicine after the fact. Wish me luck!
In other exciting news, we did our first dissection of the dog today! Just part of the head. We do a lot of dissections on the dog cadaver. Today, we took off the skin to reveal the muscles of facial expression. It was quite a delicate little dissection. The muscles lie just under the skin, so you have to be ever so careful not to cut too deep and to not peel the muscles off with the skin. Plus, we had a greyhound and they have thin skin anyway. Tomorrow, we continue with the head and investigate the course and distribution of the superficial nerves of the head. We will also look at superficial lymph nodes, major superficial blood vessels and some glands. We have to keep record of all of our work, so we take lots of pictures. We have to eventually assemble a workbook with either drawings and/or pictures from our labs all labelled. It will be a lot of work, but a great source for revision and to assist us once we get into surgeries.
Basically, I'm living the dream and loving it!
Time to wrap it up for tonight and prepare my goods for tomorrow.
GO SKINS!!!! Monday night football tonight and it will be recorded and waiting for me tomorrow!
Over-N-Out
Well, it was very messy and slippery, so many of us fell and were muddy messes by the end. We were playing 4 v 4 without a real goalkeeper. Well, my goalie instincts kicked in a few times and I found myself deflecting balls. One particular time I actually went down to block a shot and felt an sudden 'ouch' in my left wrist. I thought, 'that probably wasn't good' and kept playing. A few hours after I got home and the adrenalin was gone, I realized what I had most likely done.....re-fractured my wrist! Yeah, I'm fairly certain of it. If I were a horse and my wrists were my feet, I would surely be euthanized! The bone I've now broken in both wrists is the same one - the scaphoid, or navicular bone. Yep, even coincides with a bone in the horse's foot. Go figure.
So, I found my splint with thumb spica in my closet and put it on. My ortho surgeon from VA actually told me to bring it here..thank goodness. During lunch, I called my GP here to set up an appointment this week, figuring I'd have to go there and then to an orthopaedic. Nope. Just proceed straight to the ER. Huh? Seriously? I have to go sit in an ER to get an xray? Oh brother, this should be good. I'm really stacked up with vet school this week, but have a half day Wednesday. I may go either Tuesday after dinner, knowing I have an 'easy' day on Wed, or I may go Wed afternoon, which is more likely. I detest this. I will write all about my first experience with socialized medicine after the fact. Wish me luck!
In other exciting news, we did our first dissection of the dog today! Just part of the head. We do a lot of dissections on the dog cadaver. Today, we took off the skin to reveal the muscles of facial expression. It was quite a delicate little dissection. The muscles lie just under the skin, so you have to be ever so careful not to cut too deep and to not peel the muscles off with the skin. Plus, we had a greyhound and they have thin skin anyway. Tomorrow, we continue with the head and investigate the course and distribution of the superficial nerves of the head. We will also look at superficial lymph nodes, major superficial blood vessels and some glands. We have to keep record of all of our work, so we take lots of pictures. We have to eventually assemble a workbook with either drawings and/or pictures from our labs all labelled. It will be a lot of work, but a great source for revision and to assist us once we get into surgeries.
Basically, I'm living the dream and loving it!
Time to wrap it up for tonight and prepare my goods for tomorrow.
GO SKINS!!!! Monday night football tonight and it will be recorded and waiting for me tomorrow!
Over-N-Out
Tokyo: A Successful Veterinary Clinic in a Highly-Competitive Environment
While in Tokyo last week, I visited a small animal practice in the upscale Meguro Ward area in the southern part of the city. “There are over 60 clinics within a three-km radius of our hospital,” noted 58-year-old Dr. Hidemi Yasuda, who established the practice in 1982. “Our patient population is about 70:30 dog to cats, with an occasional ferret or rodent.”
Hidemi thought for a moment. “The quality of our employees is critical to our success. From Nanayo Hashimoto in our front office to the veterinarians who are responsible for the medical care of the 60 patients who arrive each day, we provide dignified, individualized service for each client and their pet. This is a passion that was ingrained in me during my first job after graduation, when I worked for a pharmaceutical company.”
“The continual professional advancement of my staff is also important,” Yasuda continued. “That includes sending them to meetings as far away as the U.S. for continuing education programs, and having a good reference library.” Scanning the titles that included many of the most important small animal texts—those that were translated in Japanese cost 2-3 times the English version—I began to realize the scope of investment that Yasuda makes in his professional team.
The Yasuda family business (Hidemi, Sanae, and sons Junya and Koji, both veterinary students) also includes a large pet-grooming service, and an IgE diagnostics service (Spectrum Lab Japan), that employs four staff and receives over 10,000 samples per year from 4,500 veterinarians throughout the country.
 |
| Exterior Entrance to Yasuda Veterinary Clinic: Dr. Hidemi Yasuda (center) with Junya (left) and Mrs. Sanae Yasuda. |
Touring the well-groomed facility, I was struck by the efficiency of the operation and the ardor of the staff doctors and their support team. I asked Dr. Yasuda his recipe for success in a highly-competitive environment where clients arrive in a BMW or Mercedes-Benz and expect what he termed ‘better service’.
Hidemi thought for a moment. “The quality of our employees is critical to our success. From Nanayo Hashimoto in our front office to the veterinarians who are responsible for the medical care of the 60 patients who arrive each day, we provide dignified, individualized service for each client and their pet. This is a passion that was ingrained in me during my first job after graduation, when I worked for a pharmaceutical company.”
 |
| Front office manager, Nanayo Hashimoto (left), and Dr. Donald Smith with nursing staff at Yasuda Veterinary Clinic |
“The continual professional advancement of my staff is also important,” Yasuda continued. “That includes sending them to meetings as far away as the U.S. for continuing education programs, and having a good reference library.” Scanning the titles that included many of the most important small animal texts—those that were translated in Japanese cost 2-3 times the English version—I began to realize the scope of investment that Yasuda makes in his professional team.
 |
| Veterinary Staff at Yasuda Veterinary Clinic (with Dr. Smith, center back) |
Dr. Yasuda then turned his attention to the medical infrastructure. “Our hospital is well-equipped with modern, yet functional, equipment, including digital radiography and a late-model ultrasound unit. More important, our staff is competent in the operation of this equipment, and they understand its usefulness for the cases that we manage.”
 |
| A Professional Pet Grooming Service Complements the Veterinary Practice |
Twenty-first century veterinary practice is a competitive field in Japan as it is in the United States. Every successful operation starts in the front office, and high-quality medical care is often supplemented by well-managed niche market services.
Friday again!
This was a short week and so it should not be as much of a surprise that another Friday is here, but it is.
I just took the Bingo's out and it's rather warmer today, no wind (yet) and not raining! Today is a longer than typical Friday (due to the shortened week), but it's a good schedule. I have two anatomy lectures (joints and cartilage, I believe) followed by an histology practical, then a two hour break. I will come home, take care of the pooches, grab a bite to eat and head back from 2-350pm to the dissection room for our second half of the skull practical. It's a dry lab, not a dissection (those start next week), but still a good time. Yesterday we looked at skulls of the dog, cat, horse, cow and pig. We did a lot of labeling and coloring. Today, should be a test of our knowledge....not graded.
So, off to get cleaned up and then start my Friday!
Hope everyone had a great one!
Over-N-Out
I just took the Bingo's out and it's rather warmer today, no wind (yet) and not raining! Today is a longer than typical Friday (due to the shortened week), but it's a good schedule. I have two anatomy lectures (joints and cartilage, I believe) followed by an histology practical, then a two hour break. I will come home, take care of the pooches, grab a bite to eat and head back from 2-350pm to the dissection room for our second half of the skull practical. It's a dry lab, not a dissection (those start next week), but still a good time. Yesterday we looked at skulls of the dog, cat, horse, cow and pig. We did a lot of labeling and coloring. Today, should be a test of our knowledge....not graded.
So, off to get cleaned up and then start my Friday!
Hope everyone had a great one!
Over-N-Out
Football In The ACT Region Takes Another Kick in the Guts!
I could hardly believe what I was reading in the Canberra Times - The ACT Government had struck a deal with the as yet, non existent, AFL Club called Greater Western Sydney, to the tune of $26 million over a ten year period, adjusted for the CPI. The pay off is reported to be the grand total of four AFL (some Premiership standard) per season.
Wow, again bloody wow and thank you very much. I feel like I lost a thousand and found a cent. They are jumping for joy in AFL land in the ACT Region and laughing all the way to the bank in greater Western Sydney and AFL headquarters in Melbourne!
Just get yourself around the magnitude of the deal, courtesy of we ACT taxpayers - a cool $650,000 per game for ten years (adjusted for CPI, mustn't forget that !!!)
Now the Raiders and Brumbies get nothing like this sort of money, but they have done nicely over many ears, thankyou very much. Good luck to them I say.
So when is it pay day for Football in the ACT?
Questions:
You could wrap AFL, Rugby and Rugby League up together and not match Football participation rates.
This is real "sports political muscle", so why doesn't the Capital Football Board flex them and get Minister Barr's attention.
Where is the FFA and Frank Loewe when you need him?
I just get the uncomfortable feeling that the Capital Football (Board) has been asleep at the wheel on this one - probably more like comatose given the magnitude of the ACT Government investment. What are they scared of - that the ACT Government won't help them - well, have a look Football sportsfans, they didn't!
And please, don't accept any talk about the ACT Government's generosity toward Football through the Hawker enclosed redevelopment. Football paid part of that price, which is more than AFL will do in the ACT through Greater Western Sydney.
While we in Football have been walking around patting ourselves on the back over the installation of a terrific artificial surface at Hawker Enclosed, gratefully accepting crumbs Minister Barr's table at the ACT Government, AFL thought bigger and better, lobbied and got all they wanted. And the GWS AFL team doesn't even exist yet, nor will it base operations in the ACT.
We in Football in the ACT just don't think big! Or maybe we have the wrong people doing thinking for us! And remember, we are chasing our share of public funds here to assist the development of the game in our region.
Another three Hawker enclosed type facilities,and we would have a plan wroth noticing, but not one that takes ten years to mature and for much less cost than $650,000 per game (adjusted for the CPI, must not forget that), then we would have something to praise, we woul dhave forward progress in the biggest (and best) game in the ACT (and the World). The ACT Government just does not take the Footaball community seriously. Why is that?
What really strikes me as plain nauseating, is that the Football sporting public is expected to be satisfied with a decision by the ACT Government to trade little more than four AFL games a year and the hint of an "Academy" and something about improving Manuka Oval (again!), in exchnage for $26 million smackers!This is the worst possible use of public funds in support of sport and does absolutely nothing for Football going forward.
We need an enormous boost in playing surfaces and facilities and not just for Football across the ACT. This is a scandalous waste of public funds.
Let's hear Capital Football on this one - loud and clear please!
This is a real kick in the guts for Football.
Read the Canberra Times article below:
Barr's $26m AFL punt
BY LEE GASKIN AND JOHN-PAUL MOLONEY
11 Nov, 2010 08:48 AM
The ACT Government will fork out up to $26 million of public money to bring a Sydney-based AFL club to Canberra over a decade.
In an unprecedented deal which blows the Government's contribution to Canberra-based professional football teams out of the water, Greater Western Sydney will play 40 games, 30 of those premiership fixtures, in Canberra once the club enters the AFL in 2012.
The Government's funding comprises an annual $1.15 million partnership payment to GWS from 2012-13, plus an annual revenue guarantee of $1.2 million, or $400,000 for each of three premiership games. The Government says the total annual figure it will pay is $2.35 million.
This will increase annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or by 2.5 per cent, whichever is smaller. When the deal expires in 2021, the total sum paid to the expansion club could reach $26 million.
However, the Government hopes future improvements to Manuka Oval will enable an increase of the venue's earning capacity and let it recoup some of that expense.
The annual level of funding is much more than what the Government pays to the ACT Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders. The Brumbies receive about $1.7 million per year and the Raiders about $1.8 million. They both play more than triple the number of matches in Canberra than GWS will.
Reigning WNBL champions the Canberra Capitals are believed to receive just under $200,000 per year.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr admitted he was braced for a backlash from Canberrans who believed the money could be better spent elsewhere.
''There are always going to be people who don't like any government investment in elite sport, and they'll be some who don't like the code,'' Mr Barr said.''That's inevitable.''
Wow, again bloody wow and thank you very much. I feel like I lost a thousand and found a cent. They are jumping for joy in AFL land in the ACT Region and laughing all the way to the bank in greater Western Sydney and AFL headquarters in Melbourne!
Just get yourself around the magnitude of the deal, courtesy of we ACT taxpayers - a cool $650,000 per game for ten years (adjusted for CPI, mustn't forget that !!!)
Now the Raiders and Brumbies get nothing like this sort of money, but they have done nicely over many ears, thankyou very much. Good luck to them I say.
So when is it pay day for Football in the ACT?
Questions:
- Did anyone on the Capital Football Board know this sort of money was in the wind?
- If they did, where is Football's share?
- If they did not, why not?
- If there is a plan to get $26 million dollars out of the ACT Government to develop the game in the ACT, what is it and when will it deliver?
You could wrap AFL, Rugby and Rugby League up together and not match Football participation rates.
This is real "sports political muscle", so why doesn't the Capital Football Board flex them and get Minister Barr's attention.
Where is the FFA and Frank Loewe when you need him?
I just get the uncomfortable feeling that the Capital Football (Board) has been asleep at the wheel on this one - probably more like comatose given the magnitude of the ACT Government investment. What are they scared of - that the ACT Government won't help them - well, have a look Football sportsfans, they didn't!
And please, don't accept any talk about the ACT Government's generosity toward Football through the Hawker enclosed redevelopment. Football paid part of that price, which is more than AFL will do in the ACT through Greater Western Sydney.
While we in Football have been walking around patting ourselves on the back over the installation of a terrific artificial surface at Hawker Enclosed, gratefully accepting crumbs Minister Barr's table at the ACT Government, AFL thought bigger and better, lobbied and got all they wanted. And the GWS AFL team doesn't even exist yet, nor will it base operations in the ACT.
We in Football in the ACT just don't think big! Or maybe we have the wrong people doing thinking for us! And remember, we are chasing our share of public funds here to assist the development of the game in our region.
Another three Hawker enclosed type facilities,and we would have a plan wroth noticing, but not one that takes ten years to mature and for much less cost than $650,000 per game (adjusted for the CPI, must not forget that), then we would have something to praise, we woul dhave forward progress in the biggest (and best) game in the ACT (and the World). The ACT Government just does not take the Footaball community seriously. Why is that?
What really strikes me as plain nauseating, is that the Football sporting public is expected to be satisfied with a decision by the ACT Government to trade little more than four AFL games a year and the hint of an "Academy" and something about improving Manuka Oval (again!), in exchnage for $26 million smackers!This is the worst possible use of public funds in support of sport and does absolutely nothing for Football going forward.
We need an enormous boost in playing surfaces and facilities and not just for Football across the ACT. This is a scandalous waste of public funds.
Let's hear Capital Football on this one - loud and clear please!
This is a real kick in the guts for Football.
Read the Canberra Times article below:
Barr's $26m AFL punt
BY LEE GASKIN AND JOHN-PAUL MOLONEY
11 Nov, 2010 08:48 AM
The ACT Government will fork out up to $26 million of public money to bring a Sydney-based AFL club to Canberra over a decade.
In an unprecedented deal which blows the Government's contribution to Canberra-based professional football teams out of the water, Greater Western Sydney will play 40 games, 30 of those premiership fixtures, in Canberra once the club enters the AFL in 2012.
The Government's funding comprises an annual $1.15 million partnership payment to GWS from 2012-13, plus an annual revenue guarantee of $1.2 million, or $400,000 for each of three premiership games. The Government says the total annual figure it will pay is $2.35 million.
This will increase annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), or by 2.5 per cent, whichever is smaller. When the deal expires in 2021, the total sum paid to the expansion club could reach $26 million.
However, the Government hopes future improvements to Manuka Oval will enable an increase of the venue's earning capacity and let it recoup some of that expense.
The annual level of funding is much more than what the Government pays to the ACT Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders. The Brumbies receive about $1.7 million per year and the Raiders about $1.8 million. They both play more than triple the number of matches in Canberra than GWS will.
Reigning WNBL champions the Canberra Capitals are believed to receive just under $200,000 per year.
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr admitted he was braced for a backlash from Canberrans who believed the money could be better spent elsewhere.
''There are always going to be people who don't like any government investment in elite sport, and they'll be some who don't like the code,'' Mr Barr said.''That's inevitable.''
Mark's Counterculture
Last week I was reading through the proofs of an article that I've written and will come out later this year. The article compares the ancient novel The Life of Aesop and the Gospel of Mark. Coming back to this text, it struck me again just how deeply countercultural Mark is. Read through this text carefully. Spend time in it. And think through the challenges that Jesus offers in this story. I think of the words of Jesus' followers in John: "This teaching is hard." This especially the case Mark 8, 9, and 10. Hard stuff.
Dr. Gen Kato, the Father of Veterinary Textbook Translation in Japan
Visiting a modern small animal hospital in Tokyo in early November, I marveled at how far the Japanese veterinarians have progressed in the medical care of companion animals in recent years. And one of the reasons for these advances is evident on the book shelves in veterinary offices where I see frequently-used copies of the most influential veterinary textbooks translated into Japanese.
At the urging of his Japanese colleagues, and with the assistance of Dr. Kirk from Cornell, he translated the entire book from English into Japanese. It sold an amazing 2,000 copies, and he subsequently translated later editions of the book.
Sitting in the office in one of his four small animal hospitals, Dr. Kato showed me rows of veterinary textbooks that he has translated into Japanese during the past 35 years: a total of over forty books, ranging from internal medicine to oncology. In recent years, he has had several co-translators working with him, but he has remained the dominant force.
Dr. Kato travels to the United States many times each year, attending national meetings to stay abreast of the latest in veterinary practice and to remain connected to his many friends in academia and practice. His radiant smile and eloquent articulation of his love for veterinary medicine inspire those he contacts.
Though he is too humble to boast of his impact, his transformational vision and hard work were the catalysts in the development of modern companion animal practice in Japan.
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| Dr. Gen Kato and his technician in front of his CT scan machine |
“It wasn’t always so,” 78-year-old Dr. Gen Kato, explained to me. “When I opened my first small animal practice in 1964, I did not know how to diagnose and treat many of the problems of the dogs and cats presented to me because our veterinary education in those days was mostly limited to large animals.”
Fortunately, Dr. Kato knew enough English that when he bought the third edition of Dr. Robert Kirk’s famous textbook, Current Veterinary Therapy, in the early 1970s, he was enthralled with the whole new world of information. “I couldn’t sleep for days”, he told me, “until I had finished reading the book.”
At the urging of his Japanese colleagues, and with the assistance of Dr. Kirk from Cornell, he translated the entire book from English into Japanese. It sold an amazing 2,000 copies, and he subsequently translated later editions of the book.
Sitting in the office in one of his four small animal hospitals, Dr. Kato showed me rows of veterinary textbooks that he has translated into Japanese during the past 35 years: a total of over forty books, ranging from internal medicine to oncology. In recent years, he has had several co-translators working with him, but he has remained the dominant force.
Dr. Kato travels to the United States many times each year, attending national meetings to stay abreast of the latest in veterinary practice and to remain connected to his many friends in academia and practice. His radiant smile and eloquent articulation of his love for veterinary medicine inspire those he contacts.
Though he is too humble to boast of his impact, his transformational vision and hard work were the catalysts in the development of modern companion animal practice in Japan.
 |
| Dr. Kato in front of one of his hospitals that is named, with permission, after the famous veterinary center in Boston, USA |
I LOVE VET SCHOOL
There, I said it. It's like changing your Facebook status to 'in a relationship'. Because yes, I am in a full blown relationship with vet school. And for the time being, the honeymoon phase is still present! Every time I actually pause and think, 'wow, I am not only living in a beautiful international city, I am going to VET SCHOOL', it makes me smile. Most students are not too crazy about the first couple of years in vet school because it's all lecture-based (in the US anyways) and there can be some material that seems like it is not vet-related. I have to admit, cell biology is not my favorite pastime, but now that we are visiting some of the concepts in other courses, it's becoming much more relevant and interesting to me.
We also get a lot of hands-on experience here with animals from day one and this helps tremendously. And, as much as I sometimes want to complain about some practicals (labs) in the classroom, they are also a great addition to our lectures and do beat sitting in a lecture theatre. You actually feel useful and being able to apply some knowledge is fun.
Today we started our anatomy and histology lectures and we will be beginning the dissections for anatomy next week! This gets my juices flowing and as much as I know I will be crying in my corn flakes about how many terms and names and structures I will have to memorize, I still can't wait. I loved human anatomy and physiology, so I'm hoping it carries on this many years after the fact. Bring it on!
Also, it was a very sunny day today and this makes me :) Not a drop of rain today....unbelievable.
So, for now, I love vet school and am soaking it all up......just hoping there is still enough room up there in my aging sponge.
Back to enzyme revision and upon completion, I will reward myself with a look at my anatomy and histology books.
Over-N-Out
We also get a lot of hands-on experience here with animals from day one and this helps tremendously. And, as much as I sometimes want to complain about some practicals (labs) in the classroom, they are also a great addition to our lectures and do beat sitting in a lecture theatre. You actually feel useful and being able to apply some knowledge is fun.
Today we started our anatomy and histology lectures and we will be beginning the dissections for anatomy next week! This gets my juices flowing and as much as I know I will be crying in my corn flakes about how many terms and names and structures I will have to memorize, I still can't wait. I loved human anatomy and physiology, so I'm hoping it carries on this many years after the fact. Bring it on!
Also, it was a very sunny day today and this makes me :) Not a drop of rain today....unbelievable.
So, for now, I love vet school and am soaking it all up......just hoping there is still enough room up there in my aging sponge.
Back to enzyme revision and upon completion, I will reward myself with a look at my anatomy and histology books.
Over-N-Out
Anatomy Of A Women's Premier League Club - Playing the 1-4-3-3
One Women's Premier League Club in the Capital Football Competition in season 2010, embarked on a three year plan to change the way things are done in Premier League Football in the ACT region.
That club was Woden Valley Women's FC and the Head Coach is Ed Hollis. It was no easy task, the Woden Valley Women's FC had more than its fair share of success in the first year of the three year plan, but Coach Hollis and his staff are not fooling themselves - this is a work in progress.
This year, some absolutely fantastic Football was played in the Women's Premier League grades (PL18, Reserves and PL). The standout Clubs were Belwest (who can forget their absolute dominance for so long), Belconnen United (slow to start but as Hollis describes them - "the sleeping giants") and of course, Woden Valley WFC. Newcomers, Tuggeranong United and Brindabella Blues laid the foundations for the next season and what a terrific addition to the PL they are and will be going forward. Canberra FC were very disappointing and you would expect significant work to be done by the Club to make them ompetitive in 2011 - anything else is a poor reflection on a fabulous Club.
The Woden Valley WFC story in 2010 is a really interesting one and Coach Hollis gives us a fascinating and candid look into the making of competitive Premier League teams in the current era. There is so much to learn from their experience - including how to use the 1-4-3-3 and why its so productive for young developing players. Woden Valley WFC lifted the bar this season, now its for others to respond and no doubt some will. Those that don't will fall further behind. That's the way it is in Football at any level.
So sit back, cup of tea to hand, put up the "do not disturb" notice on the door, kick back and listen to this local Football story.
Download the Podcast here:
That club was Woden Valley Women's FC and the Head Coach is Ed Hollis. It was no easy task, the Woden Valley Women's FC had more than its fair share of success in the first year of the three year plan, but Coach Hollis and his staff are not fooling themselves - this is a work in progress.
This year, some absolutely fantastic Football was played in the Women's Premier League grades (PL18, Reserves and PL). The standout Clubs were Belwest (who can forget their absolute dominance for so long), Belconnen United (slow to start but as Hollis describes them - "the sleeping giants") and of course, Woden Valley WFC. Newcomers, Tuggeranong United and Brindabella Blues laid the foundations for the next season and what a terrific addition to the PL they are and will be going forward. Canberra FC were very disappointing and you would expect significant work to be done by the Club to make them ompetitive in 2011 - anything else is a poor reflection on a fabulous Club.
The Woden Valley WFC story in 2010 is a really interesting one and Coach Hollis gives us a fascinating and candid look into the making of competitive Premier League teams in the current era. There is so much to learn from their experience - including how to use the 1-4-3-3 and why its so productive for young developing players. Woden Valley WFC lifted the bar this season, now its for others to respond and no doubt some will. Those that don't will fall further behind. That's the way it is in Football at any level.
So sit back, cup of tea to hand, put up the "do not disturb" notice on the door, kick back and listen to this local Football story.
Download the Podcast here:
Long weekend and Costco's
I'm at the tail end of my 4 day weekend. Boo. I will be sad to see it go, but I'm ready to get back to work. I did get a good bit of studying done, but certainly could have done more. It never seems like I do enough. I did relax quite a bit, get caught up on my sleep and US tv shows, put a deep clean on the flat, did my laundry, socialized a little bit and best of all......went to Costco's and Ikea!! Thanks to one friend for the use of her membership card and to another for the transport! All of you that know me well, will appreciate this:
There is nothing other than pure love in this picture. Mind you, that most of these items cannot be found in a normal store here. Ziploc bags, you ask? Why they are everywhere. True, bags with locks are everywhere, but not ziploc. No offense to my UK readers, but the 'ziploc' bags here are terrible. Terrible. They break after about the 4th zip. I have found that most plastic items here are for starters, hard to find, two, very expensive and three, of terrible quality. I get the whole recycle thing, but when you have doggie poop bags that rip like tissue paper when you are trying to separate them on the perforation, it's quite frustrating. You have been a good doggie owner by using one huge poop bag on a tootsie roll sized log and managed to touch it with your hand, as your bag is split straight down the seam. And, paid a fortune for the whole roll of them.
Back to Costco's.....I was in heaven and am still grinning from ear to ear. The mixed nuts and almonds were a bonus. I didn't see them until the very end. I couldn't find my big jug of trail mix, but it's probably best. The large jug of Pace salsa was another surprise. The UK form of salsa is very different than this, comes in a mini-me bottle and is expensive to boot. This also holds true for peanut butter. I can get by on the pastier taste, but the jars are about one quarter the size of this one and I can top one off in 3 days easily. Pretzels...oh my word...I screamed like a little girl when I spotted these. Even though they are not my favorite Snyder's....they will do! The only pretzels I've found here are in a bag that is so small it wouldn't suit my niece or nephew for a snack.
I also got the usual - paper towels, TP, coke zero, beer, half a sliced ham, a huge block of cheese and plenty of pork, chicken and lamb chops. I used my new freezer ziploc baggies to separate and freeze. So, my little bag-stingy corner store, don't worry, I won't dare ask for a free plastic bag again (since I didn't have my re-usable one with me and had just spent 12 pounds on items that I couldn't carry) and have you roll your eyes, throw it at me and make the 5 people behind me wait while my inexperienced hands bag all of my goodies that I just bought in your store. Was that eggs on the bottom, or should they be on top of the bread?
After the Costco run, we shuffled over to Ikea. I finally was able to buy a bookshelf. The dresser of drawers from the guest room was not a good substitute. I think I'm done with all of my house purchases, other than new bedding and a bathmat for my bathroom.
I was invited to a dinner get together on Saturday night to another vet student's house a 'wee bit' out of town. She and I got accepted at the same time (but she's in the 4yr program) and so I was in contact with her the entire year of my deferral. She was a great source of information and invaluable in my flat search prior to arriving. She had some of her classmates over, a few from the 4 yr program that just started and then two of us first years in the 5yr program. It was Mexican night...yum, yum. Her husband and 3 dogs are also here and it was a really fun night. You knwo it's good when the host gives you his own bottle of Bailey's to take home. I dunno how that happened, but I didn't complain!
So, I've been thinking and my next big purchase......a car. Yep, I've caved in and I'm going to do it. I'm tired of not having my full independence and think it will help on these cold, rainy, dreary days to get out and about. I sure don't want to be walking in it, so a car will be nice. I can pack up the Bingo Boyz and go on an adventure. Not to mention, just the convenience....shopping is purely a pain doing the whole bus thing. It also is a waste of precious time. Plus, I really am going to need one to do my EMS over Easter and the summer break. Not to mention, our campus moves out to Easter Bush next fall and walking to school will not be an option. But, more on that later. I don't want to have to think about moving and the possible parking nightmare at the new campus just quite yet.
So, now I must get ready. I'm headed over to my lab partner's to work on some stuff.
Hope everyone is having a great week so far.
Over-N-Out
Does A "6 Pack" Prevent Back Pain?
This is sourced from the Sports Injury Doctor ISSUE 14, 08 NOVEMBER , -http://www.rehabtrainer.com.au - Chris Mallack - has been head of sports med at Bath Rugby and head physio at Queensland Reds Super 14. He presents the Rehab Trainer course in London each year.
I read once that only 5% of the population have the ability to attain a true and visible ‘6 pack’ of muscle in the abdominal core, irrespective of diet and training. I am glad that I am not one of that 5%. I don’t feel the pressure to keep something I don’t have so it then affords me the luxury of a glass or 5 of tasty carbohydrate laden Australian cool climate Shiraz every night.
Attaining the ‘6 pack’ of muscle in the abdominal core is a fine balance between genetics, good nutrition (often the low carbohydrate variety espoused by the bodybuilders and fitness competitors) and good training. But does a ‘6 pack’ guard against the dreaded modern day curse of low back pain.?
Well I would argue that in fact it may, for a whole bunch of reasons.
"‘6 pack’ holders generally don’t use spine threatening machines like the abdominal curl machine. They are the clever ones who perform controlled ‘floor crunches’ and ‘plank’ type exercises. They don’t need or choose to use these gimmick machines."
Firstly, in order to have the much sought after ‘6 pack’, you need extraordinary low body fat levels. Interestingly, one of the biggest predictors of low back pain is in fact obesity. Generally people who carry too much weight place too much stress on their low backs in bending due to the extra leverage that the upper torso places on the spine. Clearly, those with a ‘6 pack’ don’t carry any unnecessary baggage to place stress on their spines.
Furthermore, research shows that in the treatment of chronic low back pain, moderate exercise can sometimes be as effective as countless hours of physiotherapy and chiropractic work. Why? Because when you increase from being sedentary to slightly active, you immediately start to use and recruit dormant muscles particularly the ‘core stabilisers’. One would argue that you could directly measure the inner unit (or inner core) muscles of someone who sports a ‘6 pack’ and chances are the muscles will be reasonably functional. It’s because they use these muscles in all the movement that they do.
Those with a ‘6 pack’ generally also have above levels of flexibility. They are training machines who cover all bases including regular stretching. And what we physio’s know is that if you have flexion based back pain – the type caused or exacerbated by forward bending or prolonged sitting – then by stretching your hamstrings and gluteals your back pain should diminish somewhat.
Lastly, those with a ‘6 pack’ actually train their low back muscles and abdominal muscles. There is a lot of truth in the notion that some ‘abdominal’ training exercises place enormous and dangerous strains and pressures on the discs in the low back. For example, the abdominal curl machine (the one you sit on and have a roller against your chest and you ‘crunch’ to bring the roller to your knees) will place massive compressive pressure on the disc and potentially cause a low back injury. But the ‘6 pack’ holders generally don’t do these exercises. No they are the clever ones who do controlled ‘floor crunches’ and ‘plank’ type exercises. They don’t need or choose to use these gimmick machines.
So does that mean that in order to have a pain free low back you need a ‘6 pack’?. Absolutely not. But by implementing these principles, you may increase your chance of having a functional low back;
1. Lose some weight
2. Move. Do something as simple as walking, or better still walk in a pool.
3. Stretch you hamstrings and glutes
4. Train your abdominals in a smart and sensible manner.
Chris Mallachas been head of sports med at Bath Rugby and head physio at Queensland Reds Super 14. He presents the Rehab Trainer course in London each year
I read once that only 5% of the population have the ability to attain a true and visible ‘6 pack’ of muscle in the abdominal core, irrespective of diet and training. I am glad that I am not one of that 5%. I don’t feel the pressure to keep something I don’t have so it then affords me the luxury of a glass or 5 of tasty carbohydrate laden Australian cool climate Shiraz every night.
Attaining the ‘6 pack’ of muscle in the abdominal core is a fine balance between genetics, good nutrition (often the low carbohydrate variety espoused by the bodybuilders and fitness competitors) and good training. But does a ‘6 pack’ guard against the dreaded modern day curse of low back pain.?
Well I would argue that in fact it may, for a whole bunch of reasons.
"‘6 pack’ holders generally don’t use spine threatening machines like the abdominal curl machine. They are the clever ones who perform controlled ‘floor crunches’ and ‘plank’ type exercises. They don’t need or choose to use these gimmick machines."
Firstly, in order to have the much sought after ‘6 pack’, you need extraordinary low body fat levels. Interestingly, one of the biggest predictors of low back pain is in fact obesity. Generally people who carry too much weight place too much stress on their low backs in bending due to the extra leverage that the upper torso places on the spine. Clearly, those with a ‘6 pack’ don’t carry any unnecessary baggage to place stress on their spines.
Furthermore, research shows that in the treatment of chronic low back pain, moderate exercise can sometimes be as effective as countless hours of physiotherapy and chiropractic work. Why? Because when you increase from being sedentary to slightly active, you immediately start to use and recruit dormant muscles particularly the ‘core stabilisers’. One would argue that you could directly measure the inner unit (or inner core) muscles of someone who sports a ‘6 pack’ and chances are the muscles will be reasonably functional. It’s because they use these muscles in all the movement that they do.
Those with a ‘6 pack’ generally also have above levels of flexibility. They are training machines who cover all bases including regular stretching. And what we physio’s know is that if you have flexion based back pain – the type caused or exacerbated by forward bending or prolonged sitting – then by stretching your hamstrings and gluteals your back pain should diminish somewhat.
Lastly, those with a ‘6 pack’ actually train their low back muscles and abdominal muscles. There is a lot of truth in the notion that some ‘abdominal’ training exercises place enormous and dangerous strains and pressures on the discs in the low back. For example, the abdominal curl machine (the one you sit on and have a roller against your chest and you ‘crunch’ to bring the roller to your knees) will place massive compressive pressure on the disc and potentially cause a low back injury. But the ‘6 pack’ holders generally don’t do these exercises. No they are the clever ones who do controlled ‘floor crunches’ and ‘plank’ type exercises. They don’t need or choose to use these gimmick machines.
So does that mean that in order to have a pain free low back you need a ‘6 pack’?. Absolutely not. But by implementing these principles, you may increase your chance of having a functional low back;
1. Lose some weight
2. Move. Do something as simple as walking, or better still walk in a pool.
3. Stretch you hamstrings and glutes
4. Train your abdominals in a smart and sensible manner.
Chris Mallachas been head of sports med at Bath Rugby and head physio at Queensland Reds Super 14. He presents the Rehab Trainer course in London each year
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