HUNTINGTON PARK FOOTBALL: SPARTAN PLAYER NEWS

California Football Stats leaders

FIELD GOALS Mauricio Maldonado (Huntington Park)45th: 2 

Source:  www.wavenewspapers.com/sports/California-football-stat-leaders-103663464.html

    Becoming a Man of Character
A member of the Spartan football team should develop and demonstrate honorable character traits through the pursuit of individual and team achievement. We also believe that successful athletes have a special opportunity and responsibility to inspire children and even adults that admire their accomplishments to develop and demonstrate good character.

The Power of Thought
Watch your thoughts because they lead to attitudes.
Watch your attitudes because they lead to words.
Watch your words because they lead to actions.
Watch you actions because they lead to habits.
Watch your habits because they lead to character.
Watch your character because it determines your destiny.

Characteristics of a man with good character
A Person of good character lives his life according to the six pillars of character:

1. Trustworthiness.
Do - Stand up for your beliefs by your principles. Maintain the courage to do what is right. Keep your word.
Do not - Do anything you know in your heart is wrong.

2. Respect
Do - Listen to the older more experienced people you come into contact with. Their experience may give you valuable information as you chose your own path. If you want to be respected it must be earned, it cannot be just handed to you.
Do not - Automatically disregard someone advice because you don't know them. Expect to be given respect because of the position you hold.

3. Responsibility
Do - Everything you do involves a choice. Strive to do your personal best at all times. Accept responsibility for the consequences of your choices. Develop self control under stress.
Do not - Make excuses or blame others. Don't look the other way and hope someone else will cover for you.

4. Fairness
Do - Be open minded. hear what others have to say. Get all the facts before making a decision. Be fair in all your dealings with others. Play by the rules, don't cut corners.

Do not - Be closed minded. Cheat. Play favorites. Take advantage of others. Blame others for your shortcomings.

5. Caring
Do - Show compassion for others. Be considerate of others. Put the team ahead of yourself. Express gratitude. Give praise generously.

Do not - Be mean or cruel towards others. Be selfish.

6. Citizenship
Do - Live up to your obligations to your family, school, class and team. Do your share.
Do not - Expect other people to pick up the work load for the groups you belong to.

The Dimensions of Greatness!
No one can know the potential,
of a life that is committed to success; with courage and conviction you can face your challenges and achieve success in the end.

So, explore the dimensions of greatness, and believe that the battles can be won; by a mind that is fully committed, knowing the task can be achieved.

Your world has no place for the sceptic, no room for the doubter to stand; to weaken your resolve that you can excel in the end.

You must have a vision to see your true potential and the faith in yourself to believe what you see can come true. You must maintain the conviction to become what God meant you to be.

So, possess the strength and courage to conquer whatever you choose for it's only the person who doesn't bother to start that is destined to loose.

Do you have goals or only dreams?
Many people have dreams but few have concrete goals. To accomplish the things you want to do in life is to change your dreams into goals.

A Dream - is something you want to do but
          you haven't actually put any
          effort into achieving it.

A Goal - is something you want to do and
         are actually apply some effort to
         achieve it.

Now you also have a third factor to consider and thats Drudgery.

Drudgery - is effort you are putting forth
          because you have to not because
          you want to.

For example if you only strength train because the coaching staff expects you to it's drudgery. If you strength train because you want to improve your personal appearance, get in better shape or to become a better athlete, now you have a goal.

What is a legitimate goal?
If your goal is a good one you will recognize it right away. The thought of it will give you goose bumps, it gets you excited. Only then do you know its a goal you are willing to work towards and not simply a dream.

Reaching a goal is really a journey!

Step One: Where are you?
Before you can start any journey (set a goal) you must honestly evaluate where you are. What is your current status in relation to what you want to achieve.

Step Two: Where do you want to go?
What is your destination. Where will you be if your goal is reached.

You must also honestly answer the question, What am I willing to settle for? Each goal must be attainable and realistic for your current situation.

Step Three: Whats in it for you?
What is your motivation for putting forth the effort to reach this goal. Why will the effort be worth it. If your not internally motivated chances are slim that your goal will be realized.

Step Four: What obstacles are in the way?
The journey to achieve most goals will be lined with many obstacles looking to delay you or even stop your journey. You must plan for these and be ready to defeat them.

Fortunately, the biggest obstacle to achieving your goal can be recognized from the very start. It's Y O U ! A goal worth achieving will not be easy, you will be tempted to quit many times. The will within you must be strong enough keep you going or your goal will turn back into a dream very quickly.

Step Five: Develop a plan of action!
To start a journey to a place you will need a map to keep you going in the right direction.

To achieve a goal you will need a plan to determine your progress toward it.

Set timetables for progress. In 1 month I will have improved this much, in 2 months I will have improved this much etc, always progressing toward the final goal. You should also specific times to work on your goal. Plan ahead at least a week at a time, if you leave it to chance it will be too easy to forget it until tomorrow.

Evaluate yourself daily. Did you do something today to help you reach your goal today or didn't you. A simple plus for a good day and a negative is all thats needed. Each week you can see if you have had more plus days than negative days.

Step Six: Identify Helpers!
It's easier to accomplish something if you have good help. Identify people that you can share your goal with and can help you achieve it. The help can be physical, technical or moral support.

They can be friends, parents, coaches. Anyone you have confidence in.

Step Seven: When do you start?
When should you start your journey. There is no better time than today.

The Greatest Labor Saving Device Ever Invented Is Tomorrow!

You tell on yourself
Everyone of us is really transparent. If we spend enough time around each other we can tell which of us is committed to be a member of our team & who is just along for the ride.

You tell on yourself by the friends you keep.
By the very manner in which you speak.
By the way you employ your free time.
By the use you make of dollar and dime.
You tell by the things you wear.
By the spirit in which your burdens you bear.
By the kinds of things at which you laugh.
By the music you play at night.
You tell what you are by the way you walk.
By the things of which you delight to talk.
By the manner in which you bear defeat.
By so simple of thing as how you eat.
By the books you chose from a well filled shelf.
In theses way and more, you tell on yourself; So there's really no particle of sense to keep up an effort of false pretense.

               Author Unknown  

    The Field

Its hard to find a place where youre accepted and belong to. A place where you can feel absolutely free. A place where you can let go of everything, all the outside distractions, and where nothing can touch you. A place that you can own deep in your heart and that owns a piece of your heart forever. A place that brings you closer to any of your friends than you could have ever thought imaginable and that brings you closer to yourself.
       I drive by the field almost everyday. Every time I just have to look, just to see, and, subconsciously, I let off the gas and slow down a little to take my time. I can smell the grass, see my friends playing ball around me, hear myself screaming at the top of my lungs in the football game. I see the football team under the lights on Friday nights,       The field turns any sense of pain into a feeling of accomplishment. Time laps, drills, conditioning, hard hits, long runs, good catches, good throws, good blocks, hitting the hole, great execution. Every play, every down on that field, win or lose, was an accomplishment.
       The build up before the games on Friday nights cant be described. The seniors know all too well the feeling of anticipation we had to go through standing on the goal line after practice on the Thursday before each game, wishing for the game to get started yet living up each of the last remaining moments before we'd never step back onto the field the same way again. Just before the games we'd walk to the field and go through our pre-game. The fans were in the bleachers, the lights were on, the game was almost here. The anxiety was enough to bring tears at times. The seniors felt the tears every pre-game, tears that we were going through on of the last few pre-games we had left under the lights of our home field. We knew exactly what we were in for. That didnt stop us from giving everything we had and then everything we'd borrowed from watching the teammate next to us give just a little more. We drove ourselves beyond any limits, physically and mentally, that had existed. We took everything we had to the field and left it all and then some when we were done. Looking back, we all wish we would haven given more.
       It was almost impossible to walk off the field after each game. After the wins the sense of celebration had to be enjoyed on the field which we'd given so much to. After the losses we had to watch the emptiness of the field, see the pain as if it were there to touch. Though the last game of the year wasn't on our field, I felt a physical, gut wrenching jerk when I stepped over that white line and off the field for the last time ever.
       One night as I was driving by I stopped and went back to field and parked my car and I walked around the field in the dark. I laid down near the 50-yard line/center field, and looked back to all the games, all the practices spent on that field. I would have slept there if I could have, but the memories kept me wide-awake. I belong to that field and it will always belong to me.
   

   EIGHT SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS
1. Fear no opponent. Respect every opponent.
2. Remember, it's the perfection of the smallest details that make big things happens.
3. Keep in mind that hustle makes up for many a mistake.
4. Be more interested in character than reputation.
5. Be quick, but don't hurry.
6. Understand that the harder you work, the more luck you will have.
7. Know that valid self-analysis is crucial for improvement.
8. Remember that there is no substitue for hard work and careful planning. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.