December 2008 Archives

Avi Stopper, former coach at the University of Chicago and founder of www.CaptainU.com - a Chicago-based company that makes recruiting software for high school athletes, their parents, and club and high school coaches - will be providing recruiting insight for coaches and players each Monday.

I have always considered myself pretty fortunate and try to remember tomorrow is never promised to anyone. I'm a big believer that you learn from the past, live for today and always pay forward.

But one of the greatest things in life is the chance to meet new people, build new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Whether it's on the field or off, I'm sure everyone can relate to that thought.

Last week, seven of us traveled to Playa, Mexico for an eight-day trip. But when it was all said and done, that number grew to 20 people who will be connected for the rest of their lives.

Over the years, I've heard countless stories from administrators, coaches, parents and players about how they felt some people gave them bad medical advice in order to keep them coming back and paying more and more each time.

Coming from a family whose father created and has owned a home health care agency since 1984, I always hope that would never be the case. When it comes to soccer or any sport for that matter, the main focus should be helping the athlete recover as quickly and safely as possible so they can get back to what they love doing the most - playing.

On Thursday night, I was a guest of AthletiCo at the Bears-Saints game. I've used AthletiCo before when I've been hurt, and at times, I felt like the place was my second home earlier this year.

As I was walking out of Solider Field, I turned to my buddy, who played and coaches soccer, and said, "You can tell everyone at AthletiCo loves their job. From the top down, those people make the company and it's easy to see why every major sports organization in Chicago uses them."

Keep that in mind the next time you select a physical therapist.

Avi Stopper, former coach at the University of Chicago and founder of www.CaptainU.com - a Chicago-based company that makes recruiting software for high school athletes, their parents, and club and high school coaches - will be providing recruiting insight for coaches and players each Monday.

After spending a couple days in Vegas, it's nice to get back before heading to Mexico on Saturday. My motto during the winter is to travel and travel often. Between the cold, people forgetting how to drive in the snow and other things, I spend more time in airports during the winter than I do in my own home.

As I was working out at XSport this past Saturday morning, I was flipping through the Chicago Sun-Times and there was another perfectly placed story with the CPS Sports Administration Office talking about another embarrassment.

Great job CPS communications department.

You released the news on Friday to make sure it got in Saturday's news. No one really pays attention to the news between Friday night and Sunday morning, so another CPS humiliation was buried.

But hey - that's what I'm here for. I don't want you to miss a CPS story and neither does the CPS communications department:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/1317294,CST-NWS-paddle06.article

As I stay on the recruiting topic this week, check out today's ESPN.com story:

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/soccer/news/story?id=3744467

More to come Friday when I finally get to the week-long point.

I've never been a big fan of Vegas. You do it once, and it's really the same thing time and time again. Nevertheless, that's exactly where I'm at, out here to sit by the pool at the Venecian, visit two friends and do a story on Bishop Gorman for ESPN.com.

Before I give you my thoughts, I want yours regarding this - how involved should parents be in the college recruiting process?

Avi Stopper, former coach at the University of Chicago and founder of www.CaptainU.com - a Chicago-based company that makes recruiting software for high school athletes, their parents, and club and high school coaches - will be providing recruiting insight for coaches and players each Monday.