[Sportsandrec] clueless coaches

hannibal8it at aol.com hannibal8it at aol.com
Tue Jul 10 00:44:40 UTC 2012 

hello;

My name is Mike, i know i've introduced myself to some of you.
I've read through this entire thread, and i've got to ask, where is the 
discussion around the responsibility of the student?  One person i 
think mentioned talking to the parent about what's going on in class... 
but what is the kid comfortable doing?  that's where it really dwells.
Sure the teachers have to use some common sense and judgement when it 
comes to class participation, however, i believe a fuller percentage of 
what can and can't be done lies with the student.  who knows his/her 
limitations better?
I lost both my eyes to retino blastoma by the time i was six.  i 
participated in all PE activities, including flag football where i 
played nose tackle and center just by having my knuckles touch the nose 
of the ball; my idea, not the teachers.  i even stripped a kid who had 
40lbs on me and scored a touchdown, he was as shocked as anyone.  LOL  
Basketball, just have another kid run under and clap once under the 
basket.  swimming, gymnastics, rope climbing,  volleyball, weights, 
track...
i actually got a call at college one day by my former braille 
transcriber and mobility specialist, they wanted to know how i 
succeeded in gym class because a girl had come 2 years behind me and 
was struggling.  they asked, well, "what did you do with Mike."  The 
teacher's answer was "nothing, he just did it."  No reason anyone else 
can't be like that.  if they can't, it should be like any child 
comparison with sight; you're either an athlete or you're not, has 
nothing to do with vision.  Obviously you're not going to hit a 
baseball with as much success, but i think you get my point.
i competed in wrestling from 3rd grade through my second year at The 
University of Pittsburgh, and also rowed stroke in a 4-man shell for 
the University.
in junior/high school i also participated in track, did long jump and 
discus.
Granted, it takes a little convincing of the parents/teachers, but 
that's my whole point.  We've got to tell these kids it's up to them, 
if we wait for the adults to figure it out, it'll be centuries.
I grew up wrestling in PA, probably the most competitive state in the 
nation for this sport, in one of the 3 most competitive weight classes 
at 126lbs.  I'm not saying this to be immodest, i just want to help.  I 
had written to Lisa M earlier looking for ways i can assist, and i'm 
still waiting for a response.
Today i am lifting in a fully sighted open powerlifting federation, the 
IPA.  2 years ago i won Nationals for my age group at 198, it was 
incredible.  there's no reason other people can't feel this kind of 
success, especially the youngsters.
I'm also certified as a strength coach by the NSCA, and a senior 
Olympic lifting coach by USAW.  so if anyone else knows where and how i 
could help...
I remember at Pitt our coach use to make us wrestle with the lights 
out.  It wasn't because i was there, Coach Stottlemeyer had been doing 
that for years.
These kinds of adaptations are out there, or just waiting to be found.  
All it takes is the right kid, and we can help.
Coaches and teachers are there as resources, it is up to students and 
athletes to decide how to allow them to be of benefit, or be useful;  
and athletes/students to be coachable/teachable.  Blind students and 
athletes are no different in my opinion.
thanks for allowing me to participate.
Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Justin.Williams2 <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
To: 'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List' 
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Mon, Jul 9, 2012 8:11 pm
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches

Yeah, I met you.  We sat outside or a while, and you gave me some 
abdominal
tips.  You have a dog right?

-----Original Message-----
From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Kociaba
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 8:00 PM
To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches

I am not sure. I was at the sports and rec meeting and I spoke. I am a
former gym owner and am currently a massage therapist/personal trainer 
here
in hollywood, Fl.
I am sorry to say I met so many people that I am really not sure who was
who.

Bill Kociaba
CRUISEONE
Bill at Ycruise.com
954 227 7772 or Toll Free 877 227 7775
7600 Wiles Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33067
----- Original Message -----
From: "Justin.Williams2" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
To: "'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'"
<sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 6:29 PM
Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches


> Did I meet you bill last year/
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bill Kociaba
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 4:59 PM
> To: Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches
>
> Hay Justin,
> I wasn't there.  I was in Orlando last year and will be again next 
year as

> I
> live in Fl.  Traveling to conventions outside of the state doesn't 
really
> fit into my budget.
>
> Bill Kociaba
> CRUISEONE
> Bill at Ycruise.com
> 954 227 7772 or Toll Free 877 227 7775
> 7600 Wiles Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33067
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Justin.Williams2" <justin.williams2 at gmail.com>
> To: "'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'"
> <sportsandrec at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 3:20 PM
> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches
>
>
>>I wish I had a chance to meet you guys at convention.  I don't think 
that
>>I
>> have ever met you.
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:sportsandrec-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
>> jody at thewhitehats.com
>> Sent: Monday, July 09, 2012 2:53 PM
>> To: 'Sports and Recreation for the Blind Discussion List'
>> Subject: Re: [Sportsandrec] clueless coaches
>>
>> Hi Bill,
>>
>> I had a good friend who was a brittle diabetic.  His gym teacher's 
idea
>> of
>> toughing him up was to have him run laps until he calapsed and ended 
up
>> in
>> the emergency room in shock.
>>
>> Really, I look back and see how irresponsible some of these teachers
>> were.
>> Even having kids go outside in shorts and short sleeved shirts in
>> November
>> up north was so irresponsible.  If a parent sent their kid out to 
play in
>> freezing weather in shorts and short sleeves they would be charged 
with
>> child abuse!
>>
>> Some of the adaptive PE they come up with now a days isn't any 
better.
>> The
>> totally blind girl I mentioned who came in second place in her 
division
>> in
>> the judo tournament described PE in school.  The teacher had her sit 
in a
>> chair and do arm exercises.  We joked about it all the time in class.
>> Those
>> are the exercises for an 80 year old cardiac patient, not a healthy 
12
>> year
>> old blind girl.
>>
>> Oh don't get me started!  Actually I had so much faith in the public
>> school
>> system we homeschooled our daughter.  She got her diploma at 16.  She
>> started judo at 18 months of age but gave it up at 8.  Not to say she
>> didn't
>> learn anything.  She is married to a black belt in karate so now she
>> loves
>> kick boxing.
>>
>> Our son did get his black belt.  He started judo at 11.  He came 
home
>> from
>> school complaining a bully made him kiss a tree in order to be 
allowed to
>> pass him.  Well, it didn't take long before that boy ended up eating
>> grass
>> and leaving our son alone.  Our son had a great tai-otoshi, he could 
even
>> do
>> it and make it look like the other guy tripped.
>>
>> We just moved to a small farm with 5 acres.  I am in heaven here.  
Tom
>> and
>
>> I
>> were just out in the barn and we found our mats.  We can put them 
out in
>> the
>> grass and play to our hearts content and with complete privacy 
except for
>> our neighbor's horse.
>>
>> When we practice we have to leave the dogs inside because they think 
we
>> are
>> puppy wrestling and they want to join in.
>>
>> Between the farm and working out I hope to loose some of the weight 
I
>> have
>> put on over the last few years.  I was almost to my goal when my 
mother
>> in
>> law came to stay with us.  She loves junk food. It wasn't her fault, 
it
>> was
>> my fault for not having any will power.  I am determined now to get 
to my
>> goal.  The Zone diet works best for us.
>>
>> JODY
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> JODY
>>
>>
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