On The Sticks:REALITY OF MADDEN & NCAA VIDEO GAMES

Many athletes, we, the savage team management & coaches included, play madden and ncca football sporting games! Many hours are spent playing the game, perfecting their superstars and campus legends, boosting ratings and team depth charts, online trash talking to probably someone who has never actually played the sport in their life (couch potato), and losing sleep over tournaments with friends! Most athletes who play these games either dream to play the very sport or have a history of doing such; SO WHAT ON EARTH DOES PLAYING PLAYSTATION OR XBOX CONTRIBUTE TO ATHLETICISM??? Use the games you play to elevate the game you perform in!!!

Most would say absolutely nothing is gained for video game play! INFACT most would say it even hinders ability, losing sleep contribute to a reduction in reaction time, loss of sleep reduces the ability for muscles to relax and grow, sitting for hours contributes to no speed or explosion growth, snacking and sitting around stores sugars and creates fats! A lot of bad stuff right?? But for everything bad, there is alway something good...

IN THE CASE OF THE ATHLETIC GAMERS WE HAVE FOUND WAYS TO GROW YOUR SPORTS PERFORMANCE ABILITY & GROW AS AN ATHLETE FROM PLAYING YOUR BELOVED PLAYSTATION & XBOX! 

Many gamers don't realize how much football smarts goes into actually playing these video games! The are created as a direct simulation of the game, all the movements, game play, all the action is supposed to be just like the football game you love! So why don't you grow from it? What are you not retaining? Realize your not just pushing buttons and making an icon react out yourself in your position, and learn the actions and mannerism of the athletes you are playing with! 

Defensive and offensive packages are listed for a reason! Football is about match ups, check the match ups, expose them in your game play! APPLY IT TO REAL LIFE GAME PLAY and realize where the mismatches are, know where the offense may go as a defender and know where to attack as an offense! Use gaming to improve your game, awareness is key to survival in the wild! Know what route combinations from running backs and receivers; see what comes when and what is paired with what, YOU WILL SEE THE SAME PLAYS IN REALITY! Notice offensive line pulls and movements, because the very same read keys that are in the game you should be paying attention are the same ones that will get you to the ball to make plays in reality! 

Coverages & blitzes of every defense known to man are uploaded to these games! Offensive athletes, no matter your position; notice the holes in the zones, where to sit under or around linebackers, hide from the boom of safeties, when where and how corners since in different coverages; ALL THIS KNOWLEDGE AND YOU THINK YOUR JUST ON THE STICKS! 

Athletes should know what will stop and what will not stop an opponent, EVEN BETTER, athletes should run the defenses and offenses most similar to their school! WHY DO THIS?? Mental reps with action added, see yourself as the players on the screen in your given position; in performance you maneuver just as such run the same coverages and plays as such, know how to and in what ways you should react as an athlete in your position! 

Simulations give a preview of what can happen and what will happen if certain circumstances occur!Reaction is key in football play and plenty of other sports, playing NCAA & MADDEN football is a simulation a mental repetition of how to react! Athletes should take heed to this not just play the games but become the games, all for the video games to influence and adapt abilities to athletic performances in reality! Every snap, every play chosen or run by the CPU in video play is an reflection of what could potentially happen to YOU in competition in reality; allow for the knowledge and recognition of plays to enhance the betterment for your athletic ability! Don't be the couch potato whose only gains are the weight from sitting around; as an athlete gain knowledge, mental reaction speed, play recognition, coverage understanding, and concepts of each position while playing video games! Make gains mentally to be applied physically when you are on the field! See yourself as the simulation and control control what could be your playing ability & athletic future. Know and notice down & distance, as a defender know what plays to expect or what type of plays to expect based on gameplay & game plans. Do not let the offense get to the sticks, remember the types of routes that may be run, types of coverages & where the holes will be for optimal success! 

Elevate your athleticism while you enjoy playing your video games, let it be a lesson each time to pick up the sticks, take that confident you use online and use it on the field because your knowledge is much better than others; and all due from video games, something that most think nothing is gained from! So as an athlete make your gains, take your mental steps and gain that knowledge to separate yourself! Be legend on the sticks and allow that to transform you into a legend on the field, eduction is key and a rotting minds never prospers; sharpen your ability & enjoy doing such! ITS NOT JUST A GAME ANYMORE!

Keep playing madden & NCAA football and grow athletically doing so! 

 

Enhance & Clarify Your Highlight Tape |Do's & Dont's for Highlight Help|

Making a highlight tape, it's hard, you want all those good plays on one reel; but the reality of it, no college coach nor recruiter wants to see 10 minutes of plays, because to be honest yes they may be good and electric but also start to run together after seen once or twice. And on top of that, your film resembles the film of another that is being sought out in recruiting, therefore your choice in plays to he evaluated should be ones that are electric, display your talents and errors going the extra mile, display your eagerness to make plays and lead your team, but most of all your highlight film should be CLEAR CUT & A REEL OF PLAYS THAT SHOWS A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR ABILITIES FROM THE NEXT RECRUIT!!

THESE TIPS CAN HELP ELEVATE YOUR HIGHLIGHT FILM & ALLOW FOR COACHES TO EVALUATE YOUR ATHLETICISM AND PERFORMANCE ABILITY!

Most videos from my athletes & very popular site is Hudl. Allows for athletes to manage their own film quick and easy.Following these tips will allow for a better quality product of film. 

1. Film Length 

The length of your highlight film should not exceed 10-15 of your TOP most electric and skill defying plays of your season that was just completed. Most folks have these highlight films with 10 minutes of plays and always have to ask "hey coach did you see this play" and the truth is, NO, if a coach has to look for it then he/she didn't see it, there is too much film from all over the country to be watched so make yours short & to the point, let the coaches request more film if necessary. Film length shouldn't be more than 5 minutes!! Save the 10 minute films for your personal keepsakes 

2. WHAT PLAYS TO SELECT?? 

For every sport, you don't want to just put clips of you scoring as your highlight film, or just showing one dimension of your position or skill set. I tell my athletes put electric plays that are made first, maybe one or two, then follow up with something different if you okay offense put a play of you blocking or pancaking someone, but show that you are effect WITH AND WITHOUT THE BALL. The point of the film is to show VERSATILITY, defensive players show turnovers and plays made, most plays should be made behind the line or at the line of scrimmage, not effort plays effort is EXPECTED! Realize this is not just a highlight film, it is an audition film and your scholarship or opportunity to play at the next level is on the line. Remember 10 TO 15 OF YOUR WITHOUT A DOUBT BEST PLAYS! Show yourself playing with passion and reacting to your opposition, you want to paint a picture of athletic greatness with your highlight film. 

3. LOCATE YOURSELF 

Hudl has a nice feature where you can add an arrow or circle around where you are located on the field or court. This will allow for the recruiter or viewer of your film to locate your position on the field instead of have wandering eyes and miss the play made, then have to rewind, takes too much time, help your recruiters and yourself by HIGHLIGHTING where you are, makes the process easier for everyone! Also shows that you took the time and initiative to lay out your film clearly as properly! 

4. MUSIC & ADDED EMPHASIS 

Rap and rock music seem to be the most popular amongst the athletic communities, but attempting to be recruited and obtain scholarships is a BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. Business opportunities don't send over information with the latest Jay-Z song playing in the background. Some coaches will even turn film off if it has music on it, then you would have to send film all over again & someone else will be seen in the mean time of your new film waiting to be made and delivered. NO MUSIC. NOT EVEN INSTRUMENTALS. Save the tunes for your personally manufactured highlight reels for your own enjoyment, not to be sent for playing opportunity. Along with the music, all speed altering (fast/slow motion) and effects that are added to films are not needed either, just be CLEAR CUT AND SHOW YOUR SKILLS, not your videography and photoshops skills. Still pictures in highlight films are lame and take up time, a play could be run during this time showing more of what you've got! No add-Ins, no music, no still pics (if you would like, send a still picture along with your highlight film and on the back list your accomplishment, awards, and accolades)! 

5. PRIVATE vs PUBLIC 

You are trying to be seen and recruited, what sense does it make to have your page or profile on private?? public is the way to go, this way each and every coach, each and every athlete, no matter who it is, they can view your profile which is indeed what you want to happen. You want to be seen you want to be the buzz and want to be on the recruiting wire, make and keep your highlight and recruiting profiles all public allowing for all coaches and the rightful persons to have access to viewing! 

CONCLUSION 

Highlight films are meant to give a glimpse of athletic capability not be a long video story or your athletic career. Keep it brief and short, to the point, allow yourself to be seen with arrows and make it easier to be seen making plays! Leave the music for your iPod and personal reel, speed should be film speed and video should be packed full of plays from a variety of games from the most recent completed season. Start with electric and keep the coach or viewer on the edge of their seats with each play; showing yourself blocking, shedding blocks, blowing plays up, intercepting passes and scooping fumbles, show versatility and show the phenomenal athlete that you are! Remember dominant plays should be shown and shown and shown, show yourself off & be proud of the work you put in to shape your future and be recruited!!!