APIVEO

Changing the World Through Youth Sports

Always Play IV Each Other

Bradyn Swinson : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : May 2014

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Congratulations Bradyn and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Watch Bradyn’s story on CBS Atlanta

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

This evening we celebrate Bradyn Swinson because he Always Plays IV Each Other. There is no doubt that Bradyn puts others first; but he doesn’t do it by putting himself second. Bradyn doesn’t simply get out of the way so someone else ends up in front of him. Instead, he rolls up his sleeves and cares for people; he lifts them up and puts them in places they can’t always go on their own.

Bradyn is a student and baseball player at BEST Academy. He is described by his baseball coach as “his brother’s keeper” for his tireless dedication to the needs of his friends and teammates.  While Bradyn personally excels on the field and in the classroom, he steps up and actively helps his friends excel as well. Bradyn is a leader.

Now I would like to introduce the Gwinnett Braves Manager, Brian Snitker, and Gwinnett Brave, Brandon Boogs, to present the APIVEO Player of the Month award for May 2014. -Brad Jubin, APIVEO

Bradyn’s story will be shared on CBS Atlanta on Saturday, May 31st during the evening sports telecast.

Thank you Gwinnett Braves, Zaxby’s, CBS Atlanta, Ronnie Snitker and Jeff McPhail for your enthusiasm and support. You have made a young man feel appreciated and loved. That’s Always Playing IV Each Other!

Jakson Mayer : : APIVEO Player of the Month : : April 2014

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Congratulations Jakson and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

Jakson Mayer is the APIVEO Player of the Month because he Always Plays IV Each Other. There is no doubt that Jakson puts others first; but it’s important to understand that he doesn’t do it by putting himself second. Jakson doesn’t simply get out of the way so someone else ends up in front of him. He knows that won’t actually help anyone. He rolls up his sleeves and cares for people; he lifts them up and puts them in places they can’t always go on their own. Let me give you an inspiring example. Jakson’s 6 year old neighbor, Katheryn, was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. This obviously had a devastating effect on Katheryn’s entire family. Her mom, dad, three brothers and sister began a life changing journey into the unknown. Jakson reached out to family and spent time with them because this journey was not unknown to him. Jakson was present in their lives. He showed them he cared about them and what they were going through. In addition to ministering to the family, Jakson and his friends made bracelets to help raise money for Katheryn’s family and their mounting medical bills. This is true leadership. This is serving and loving the people around you. Jakson is a great kid; there is no doubt about that. But at 9 years old he is truly understands what Katheryn’s family is going through. Remember, I said that this was not an unknown journey for Jakson. On February 1st Jakson’s dad passed away from brain cancer. Jakson’s family is all too familiar with the struggles and pain that face Katheryn’s family. Because of this, Jakson realized that he not only knew how they felt but he knew he could help; so he did. I have read a lot of leadership books and I can cite several specific leadership characteristics that Jakson has demonstrated. The amazing thing is…Jakson hasn’t read any of those books. He leads through love. He does the right thing simply because it’s the right thing. I think there’s a good chance Jakson will be writing some of those leadership books instead of just reading them.

We have a special presenter here today, Zach McLeroy, CEO and Chairman of the Board of our sponsor, Zaxby’s. Zach has built a company based on and in servant leadership. We are honored to partner with him and his team on the APIVEO Player of the Month. As APIVEO Player of the Month Jakson has the privilege of naming a charity that will receive a $1,000 donation provided by Zaxby’s. Jakson has selected the Brain Tumor Foundation for Children. Here to accept the check is the foundation’s executive director, Mary Moore.

Jakson, thank you for caring, loving, serving and playing for others. What is in you is in every kid; and hearing about you will inspire them as leaders and inspire them to Always Play IV Each Other…just like you. Congratulations! -Brad Jubin- APIVEO

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Meet Connor McMahon, Our First APIVEO Player of the Month!

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Connor McMahon: APIVEO Player of the Month, March 2014

Congratulations Connor and thank you for Always Playing IV Each Other!

Excerpt from the APIVEO Player of the Month award ceremony;

The purpose of my life and the purpose of your life is simple; it’s to add value to those around us…to Always Play IV Each Other. When you hold up IV fingers you are saying that “YOU Always Play IV Each Other.” How we do this is unique to each one of us. It is as unique as our own fingerprints. To Always Play IV Each Other is to leverage our talents, gifts and passions to help others.

Now for the reason we are here today. On the ice Connor pours himself into the space between the pipes and gives every ounce of himself to his team. I understand he has some pretty impressive stats and a couple of awards and trophies to go along with them. Connor is a great athlete but that’s not why we are here today. We are here today because Connor McMahon is a great leader. Conner McMahon is the APIVEO Player of the Month because he Always Plays IV Each Other. [Read more…] about Meet Connor McMahon, Our First APIVEO Player of the Month!

Confidence in Sports

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Emmitt IV PictureThis article was inspired by Emmitt Smith.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about youth sports. We talked about the lifelong benefits of being involved in sports as a kid. At one point during the conversation, my friend became very serious and declared that “confidence” was the greatest life lesson he learned through his years of participating in sports. I was truly impressed with his confidence when he said “confidence” and I wanted to learn more about it.

Over the years I have used the word “confidence” countless times and in countless situations. But what is confidence? I know there’s a lot more to confidence than just having “a feeling of assurance, especially self-assurance.” How do we intentionally share the concept of confidence with our kids, so that they can grow up confidently?

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus once said, “Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.”

From the golf course to the gridiron to the executive board room, confidence is built through hard work and dedication to a specific goal. Confidence grows in us as we work toward that goal. A football player is confident because of the hours, weeks, months and years he has invested in his abilities. In the same way, a gymnast wouldn’t have the confidence to attempt a flip on a four inch piece of wood if she hadn’t worked her way up to it through practice and effort. Confidence is built in the same way any skill or talent is honed and perfected; with great effort.

Emmitt Smith is a confident man. He is also the reigning NFL All-Time leading rusher, a Dancing with the Stars Champion and responsible for a flood of tears during his Hall of Fame induction speech. Each of these accomplishments in and of itself confirm that Emmitt Smith is a confident man. But when you look at the effort behind the accomplishment, it’s easy to see that his confidence came from hard work. In his book “GAME ON”, Emmitt Smith said that his emotional speech at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony came after hundreds of hours of work, practice and effort. Confidence is the direct result of hard work. Confidence is the fruit of our labor.

So how do we bring up confident kids? The first step is to stop “telling” them to be confident; confidence is not a feeling that they can simply experience on demand. The second step is to help kids discover their talents and gifts. Then we must enable them to work at becoming better and stronger in those areas. Finally, we should help them find opportunities where they can share their gifts and talents to benefit and help others.

On a personal note: I write articles to share ideas that will help kids learn about leadership and character. This article took me at least 100 times longer to write than it took you to read. For that reason, I am confident in sharing it with you.

This article was previously shared on TeamSnap.

 

 

Sculpt a Child’s Future Today Instead of Chiseling it Tomorrow

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As a youth coach, I start every season visualizing each player as a piece of clay. Why clay? Clay can be shaped and molded. It can be flat as a pancake or long and skinny like a pencil. It can be rolled into a ball or formed into a square. In fact, clay can become almost any shape you can image. The amazing thing about sculpting clay is there is no waste. No matter what you create, you can use every bit of the clay you have.

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Coached by Grace

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APIVEOcoachPic5Recently, I wrote an article about confidence inspired by a friend’s answer to a question I had asked, “What is the most important thing you learned playing youth sports?” There is no doubt our children learn a great deal through their involvement in sports. While I was impressed by my friend’s stories about his youth sports days, I had no experiences to share or reflect on. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the chance to play any sports until high school, so I was unable to answer this question myself. Fortunately, we never stop learning. I am a volunteer youth coach and coaching kids has been among the most enlightening and enriching times of my life. This led me to ask myself a slightly different question, “What is the single most important thing I have learned coaching youth sports?”

[Read more…] about Coached by Grace