This past off-season proved instrumental in terms of overall growth for the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) as five new communities joined into the ranks of football history here in Ontario – the Brantford Bisons, the Guelph Bears, the North Halton Crimson Tide, the Niagara Storm, and of course, the Vaughan Rebels.

With two of the five organizations moving up from the Ontario Minor Football League (OMFL), two others coming over from the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL), and with one venturing into summer rep football for the very first time in their young organization’s history, this new merger should prove to be very interesting, not only for the new teams, but for the existing city centres as well.

“Having these new organizations join the OFC is very exciting for us, because their joining the OFC is further confirmation that the OFC is on track in its purpose to provide a league that is first-rate, and a place where organizations want their teams and players to play and be affiliated with,” said OFC President, Darren Cocchetto.

“Adding these new teams will go a long way towards spreading the OFC’s reach into new markets where we did not currently have a presence,” added Cocchetto. “Our goal is to increase the number of players playing football in this Province, while ensuring that teams remain competitive. We hope that the new teams have successful seasons this year and in the many years to come, and we hope that these new organizations realize that they have made the correct choice for their players by joining the OFC.”

And it would seem that the organizations are all in unanimous agreement with regards to what everyone expects to be a very positive change, not only for the clubs, but for their players as well.

“The OFC is a top tier league,” said Frank Trivieri, President of the Niagara Storm. “Playing in a system such as the OFC will definitely help any of our players who are interested in playing CIS football down the road. The league draws a large amount of scouts who regularly visit the games in order to see how well the players can actually perform in a three-down system. Ultimately, we now feel that our players will be better prepared for University football.”

The major difference between the OFC and the other previously mentioned rep travel football programs in Ontario is that the OFC plays three-down football at the Junior Varsity and Varsity levels, similar to that in the Ontario high schools, Universities, the CJFL, and of course, in the CFL.

“With three Universities in our immediate area, all of which who have excellent football programs, the potential for our players is now unlimited,” said Rita Sethi, Media Coordinator for the Guelph Bears.

“We really look forward to strengthening our relationship with the local Universities and they are as equally excited about the on-going development of our players. Our coaches also appreciate the three-down system and feel that it’s played at a much more skillful level. It should also be noted that the Junior Varsity and Varsity games will all be played at the University of Guelph’s Alumni Stadium, which will also be home to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for the upcoming 2013 season. So yes, we are very excited to be a member of the OFC and about the new partnerships in our community.”

“Three-down football at the Varsity and the Junior Varsity levels will allow us to better prepare our young athletes for senior high school and University football,” confirmed Brad Ward, President of the Brantford Bisons. “Our football program will now be in a better position to fully develop our quarterbacks, receivers and defensive backs. These positions have been neglected in the past, mainly because four-down football encourages a ‘run first’ mentality. Universities are always looking at players in these positions, so our program will now be in a better position to profile our players for University scouts.”

For many of the top athletes with University or even professional aspirations, the benefits of the OFC are clear, but for organizations such as the Vaughan Rebels, it’s the simple joy of competition that has them excited.

“We’re really excited to be a member of the OFC,” said Fabio Brusco, President of the Vaughan Rebels. “This will be our first time playing summer rep ball and the OFC was our first and only choice. We like the Canadian rules and the fact that the league isn’t territorial. We also know that there are a lot of politics that go on in the Province and it would seem that the OFC are a very well run league.”

When asked how competitive he saw his team being this year, Brusco added by saying, “Our goals are not necessarily to win a championship. We have a lot of respect for the level of competition in this league. We have a lot of good athletes and good size on the line, but ultimately, we just hope to play competitively and to do the best we can.”

North Halton, on the other hand, who finished last season by winning the OMFL Championships in both the Varsity and Junior Varsity divisions, has other plans when it comes to competing in the OFC.

“Our motto this year is ‘Bigger and Better’,” said Jonathan Nedeljkovic, President of the North Halton Crimson Tide. “We made a serious decision a few years back to really start focusing on player development. We now feel that we can provide our athletes with a better opportunity to play at the next level. Parody pushes you. Beating up on other teams does nothing to further the development of your players. We needed a new challenge.”

When asked if he expected his organization to compete for one or more of the league championships this year, Nedeljkovic answered confidently by saying, “Absolutely! We expect to compete for a championship – no doubt.”

If the new teams entering this league have anything in common, it’s the obvious enthusiasm for the opportunities that they are now able to bring to their players.

On behalf of the Ontario Football Conference, I would just like to wish all of the teams (new and old) the best of luck this season. Cheers!

@OFCMEDIA

Brantford, Guelph, Niagara, North Halton and Vaughan now competing in the OFC is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

Earlier this year, it was announced that the Niagara Storm youth football organization had officially decided to leave the OMFL in order to join the largest tier one football league in Ontario – the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) for the following divisions: Pee Wee (ages 11-12), Bantam (ages 13,14), Junior Varsity (ages 15-16), and Varsity (ages 17-19). However, since the OFC does not offer a division for the Atom level players (ages 9-10), the Storm had decided to remain on with the OMFL while they continued to explore more suitable options for their youngest group of players who are currently being led by the legendary Niagara minor football coach, Kent Risko.

Today, that option has finally come to full fruition, as the Niagara Storm, who aside from being proud members of the OFC, will now also become an official affiliate member of the Hamilton-Wentworth Minor Football Association (HWMFA), and that’s just the first major announcement of the day.

“We have partnered with the Port Dover Steel Heads and the Niagara Storm in St. Catharines to help promote youth football,” said Joe Sardo, Director of the HWMFA skills camp and minor development programs. “What that means is that we’ll potentially have one or two away dates as a result of this cross-over in partnership. Also, it should be noted that we are only partnering with those who we feel are the best and who share our vision.”

The HWMFA was originally established in 1982 and is widely recognized as one of Southern Ontario’s premier football associations. They offer a variety of programs from house league, to rep travel teams, to tier one Provincial Varsity teams. Their program has long become the first choice for developmental and competitive youth football in the Greater Hamilton area.

According to their website, the mission of the HWMFA is to “operate and compete in both developmental and competitive youth leagues in the South Central Ontario area in an effort to attain a safe environment of fair play and sportsmanship, while encouraging athletic endeavors to promote the physical, mental, moral and skill development of children in the game of football. The HWMFA will keep the welfare of its participants free of any adult ambition or personal glory and will promote the ideas of the youth sports regardless of race, religion, gender or national origin.”

Read: CFL QB Legend and 2012 HOF Damon Allen Supports HWMFA Winter Skills Camp

“This is a great opportunity for us to establish a grass roots system that will continue to develop our rep travel program,” said Storm President, Frank Trivieri. “The HWMFA is a true collective of all communities in the local Peninsula. We are proud and excited to be a member of their organization.”

The second major announcement today is that the Storm Pee Wee team, which is currently being led by head coach, Nick Pelligrino, will no longer be competing in the OFC. Instead, they will now compete in the HWMFA.

The third and final major announcement is that the Niagara Storm have also decided to add a sixth team to their organization – the Tyke level (ages 7-8). This would be the youngest age group in the entire organization and one that strictly focuses on having fun as a main priority. The team would only require a minimum roster of 15 players in order to compete – playing nine kids per side with an on-field coach/safety supervisor.

“In fact, if there are any moms out there who would like to give coaching a try, we’d love to have you on board for our Tyke team,” said Trivieri. “At that young of an age, the only things that really matter are having fun and being supported by someone who truly cares.”

The Niagara Storm is now entering into its fifth season, and are hands-down the fastest growing football program in the Niagara Region. And yes, they are still accepting registrations for all age levels from Tyke on through to Senior Varsity.

For more information, please visit www.niagarastorm.com

@coachjamesryan

BREAKING NEWS: Niagara Storm form an Alliance with the HWMFA is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.

Good morning fans and friends. Here’s the deal…

If I post something controversial (which is almost always) onto my Facebook wall, Twitter account, etc., please know that the main purpose is not to thrust my views onto others. It’s to raise awareness on topical issues, encourage independent thought, and spark debate in areas that may require further discussion and clarity. With that being said, I consider everyone on my social media (particularly on Facebook) to be a “friend” of mine, and as such, I will not tolerate anyone insulting each other over a difference in opinions. Save that nonsense for the bullshit Internet forums – the home of the nameless, faceless and cowardly.

If you want to debate your points of view in an intelligent way – great! Convince the other person that your point of view is the correct or “better” one. Or failing that, just accept the fact that not everyone can “see the light” in the same way that you do and not everyone needs to agree with you in order to validate your own personal beliefs and self-worth.

If you need to resort to insults, name calling, or what essentially is the definition of on-line bullying (that NEVER changes other people’s opinions btw), then in the future, I won’t be deleting the post that caused the disrespectful behaviour. I’ll simply delete the “friends.” And no, this is not up for debate or discussion.

Cheers!
@coachjamesryan

Disrespectful Behaviour will not be Tolerated is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

“You have to think like a psychopath in order to catch a psychopath.” – Hugh Jnutz

4 a.m.

I almost hate to admit it out loud, but much to my own personal dismay, I have a conscience. If not for this little nuisance of a sensory in my brain that insists on constantly (and annoyingly) pointing out the obvious differences between right and wrong, and making me feel guilty for ever nearly choosing the less moral of the two, I feel quite confident that I could have easily taken over the world by now. Or at the very least, I could have emptied out a cash register. Or an armored vehicle. Because that’s what psychopaths do. They take things from other people that don’t belong to them and they mostly do it for sport. Sometimes by force. Sometimes with deception.

We hear the word “psychopath” and we automatically associate this word with a personal meaning – a perception based on conditioned beliefs and behaviours, courtesy of Hollywood and modern media. We trust in the notion that all psychopaths must be sick, demented killers, and if they’re not killers, then they must not be psychopaths. Meanwhile, the only real common denominator amongst any of them is that they all lack a conscience – the ability to actually give a shit about anyone or anything else but themselves. Sometimes they even wear suits and act super important and stuff.

Meet the infamous one-percent of the population.

Meet the people who are currently calling all of the shots. Controlling the currency systems. The religious options. The food supply. The hydro. The Internet. The oil. The drugs. The water supply. The weapons. And most importantly, the media.

Meet the people who start wars and create new and addictive ways to help spread cancer, both of which are convenient and highly effective ways to “thin out the herd.”

Too bad you can’t blame the one-percenters though. It’s not their fault that they’re psychopaths. They don’t know any better. They were just born into it I guess. Poor fellas.

The real problem is that the other 99-percent of us (those with a functioning conscience), are seemingly too afraid (or in many cases – pre-conditioned) to actually believe that anything dishonest could in fact be happening on such a massive global scale. It all just sounds a little too “science fiction” for the average person.

And God forbid anyone should go so far as to proclaim an anarchist-type statement onto their Facebook or Twitter accounts in mild protest. Didn’t you know? They’re all “Conspiracy Theorists.” Or worse yet – “Homeland Terrorists.” How dare an ordinary, run-of-the-mill citizen question the validity and intentions of the one-percent class, when clearly they are looking out for the best interests of the global population and not just for themselves.

Truthfully, they (the Government puppets) have got all of us so scared about carrying around the “terrorist” label now, because subconsciously, that would automatically mean that we’re just as equally bad as bin Laden himself (thanks in major part to emotional conditioning), that we’ll eventually accept just about anything that they tell us to, even if we don’t fully believe it.

So long as the media backs it up, we’ll bend over and take it. After all, if it’s in print or if it’s on the television, then it must be true because clearly it’s coming from a very important, reliable and trustworthy source.

The psychopaths walk among us, kinda like the undead. Most of them spend more time learning about how to blend in than to stand out – hiding in the shadows of anonymity and cowardice. They often lead double lives. They live in a world of insecurity and self-hatred. It’s not about the violence with them (well…sometimes it is), but make no mistake, it’s definitely about the gain.

They want it all; power, money, recognition, and a deal with the devil for eternal life. And they’ll stop at nothing to get it.

Also, for the record, I’m not saying that all people who kill, are in fact psychopaths. We’re all capable of killing – given the right set of circumstances – to protect our families – to save a life. We all think about it from time to time too. In fact, you’re thinking about it right now.

We all wonder if we could kill another person if the chips were down.

Well…what do you think? Could you do it?

Huge nuts.

Oh and just to throw this out there… I slivered a half-inch piece of wood right under my fingernail this evening at work, and then I had to dig it out with a safety pin. So that’s also on my mind tonight.

Cheers and good night.

Click to read next article: Osama bin Laden: Holy Terrorist or Political Scapegoat?

Up Late, thinking about the World is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.

I recently had the chance to sit down with the head coach of the Niagara Storm bantam (ages 13-14) youth football team, Marcus Stake, to discuss his team’s progress to date, as well as his recent transition into a brand new organization/league. Enjoy!

James Ryan: Hi Coach, thanks for taking the time to speak with me. How are practices going?

Marcus Stake: Practices are going very well, James. We have some really good athletes and they’re all working hard. I can’t wait to get the pads on them and see what we’re really working with. I’m excited about the balance that we have across the board. I seriously think this might be the most balanced team that I’ve ever coached. I think we could very well end up being one of the most balanced offensive teams in the entire OFC bantam division. We have a quarterback that can throw, and at least two wide receivers that are 5’10 with good speed and hands. We have a good group of backs as well. It’s hard to get a really good sense for our defense in the gym though. But like I said, I can’t wait to get the pads on them.

JR: Yes, getting the pads on will be a definite plus in evaluating the defense. But it sounds like you’ve got a got a great group of players so far. This year represents a big change for you and your coaching staff. In previous years, you were all coaching in the NRMFA and you even sat in on their executive board. What has been the biggest surprise or challenge since you have joined the Storm?

MS: It is definitely a big and welcome change for us. We wanted to challenge ourselves by taking advantage of the opportunity to coach a team in the OFC. In joining the Storm, I have been very pleased to see the co-operation that exists in this organization. It’s nice to see everybody working together towards a common goal. In my experience as a board member of the NRMFA, that direction was not always clear.

JR: You had a record setting day for any Storm team on the first day of recruitment. The response by both players and parents was amazing. But with so many options for young football players these days, particularly in the Niagara Region, why have you been able to achieve such great success at this level? In other words, what are your coaching philosophies and what can players expect from you as a coach?

MS: I think a lot of our success in recruiting has to do with the reputation that we have worked very hard to establish. We are well aware of the life lessons that can be learned by playing the game of football. We show the players that we care about them more than just as another chess piece to help us win a game. We tell the players that we evaluate our success based on our growth. We don’t care where we start, but we always want to make sure that we finish better than where we began. We evaluate that growth, not only as a player, but as a person. We realize that winning is never the goal, but rather a by-product of the hard work put in by all those who associate themselves with the team. In a word, what really matters the most to our parents and players, is that we care.

JR: Well said, Coach. What would you recommend to any potential players who were still thinking about joining the Storm but might be unsure? Are they able to attend a couple of practices first to see what it’s like? Where are your practices currently being held and when?

MS: I would absolutely recommend that they come out to a practice or two and try us out without any obligation. We’ve already had a couple of players do that, and I’m happy to say that they liked what they saw and registered with the Storm. We are currently running indoor practices at Oakridge Public School in St Catharines on Monday nights from 6:30-7:45 p.m. and on Friday nights from 7:30-8:45 p.m.

JR: Sounds great. I appreciate your time and I wish the Storm bantam team every success this year. Is there anything else that you’d like to mention to the readers at this time?

MS: Thank you. I just want to thank the Storm for this opportunity and I’m really glad to be a part of an organization that puts the players first. And I also wanted to say that I think you will do an excellent job with your new position as the OFC Media Coordinator. I’m glad that they have given you the freedom to be yourself. I always admired the fact that you don’t sit on the fence. You’re not afraid to state the facts and to voice your opinion with complete conviction. I know you’ve faced your share of criticism and ridicule as a result of this. I may not always agree with you, but I always respect your opinion. I just wanted to encourage you to keep fighting the good fight.

JR: Thanks Marcus! Much appreciated.

.
This is my interview. If you don’t like it…I have others. Check them out at @coachjamesryan

OFC: Niagara Storm Interview with Bantam Head Coach Marcus Stake is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.

Feel free to agree or disagree with what writer Dave Begel has to say, but on his recent visit with Inside MMA Live with hosts Bas Rutten and Kenny Rice, he had several very specific and valid points to make about the sport of MMA, particularly about what he believes is a blatant exploitation of women and what he feels is the basic, primal motivator for a fan-base that watches a violent sport such as mixed martial arts.

Here’s the 5-minute video, which is essentially 3-minutes of floundering debate by the hosts, and then another 2-minutes of desperate ridicule and disrespect. Kinda reminds me of the old Simpson’s episode where Grandpa starts telling a story and then the kids all say, “Hey everyone! Look! An old man is talking!” as they start to gather around, and sit and stare in total amazement. The joke of course being that no one of age or experience could possibly have anything of insight or intelligence to share with a much younger, know-it-all population. Enjoy the arrogance:

For starters, let’s address Dave’s assertion that mixed martial arts is not a sport. This is not a new observation by any stretch of the imagination.

Dave Begel: “[MMA] is a disgusting, barbaric entertainment event. I can’t even call it a sport. It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that people do this and pay money to watch this kind of crap.”

I think what most loyal MMA fans are the most butt-hurt about (they tend to get that way when you criticize their “precious”), is that Dave uses words like “barbaric” and “disgusting” when he describes MMA. It’s insulting – yes, but is he wrong? Is it not barbaric violence? Is it not well-known that this is a sport that appeals (for very good reason) to the minority and not to the majority? So what’s the real issue then? MMA fans are a very sensitive people who tend to feel slighted and disrespected rather easily, so their automatic response is always going to be full-blown defensiveness, denial and aggression. I call this the “Cry-baby Syndrome.”

I absolutely agree with Dave that the UFC (not MMA) is less of an actual “sport” and more of an entertainment-based sporting event (not unlike pro wrestling), and if you don’t believe me, then just take a look at how they set up their fights. It’s not a system of ranking and fairness and who-beat-who, but more of a system of fan popularity, ratings and marketability (personality). Sorry, but that’s not a legitimate sport.

I’d also like to change a bit of the context if I could…

Instead of referring to mixed martial arts as a whole, if you consider that this guy probably doesn’t see or understand a major difference between MMA as a sport, and the UFC as a promotion, which is the promotion that he was referring to in his original article, then he’s not entirely off-base with his comments. And who’s fault is that? Are we all suddenly under the impression that the UFC and Dana White are the best ambassadors for this sport, particularly towards a demographic such as the one that this writer and the MAJORITY of people who don’t like the antics and bullshit that go along with the world’s largest and most influential MMA promotion, happen to be in? There are many reasons why the best fans in this sport can’t stand Dana White (he’s a proven liar for one) and why disliking the WWE-circus that is currently known as the UFC has absolutely nothing to do with liking or disliking MMA as a whole.

I’d like to think that if any promotion could change this writer’s mind about the sport (and about being a sport), it would be the Bellator Fighting Championships. At least they make an honest effort by way of a tournament-style to add a badly needed component that the UFC so ignorantly and selfishly overlooks – fairness.

This was a brutal interview in my opinion, and anyone who thinks that Dave is automatically wrong simply because they don’t agree with his contempt for the culture of MMA, which for the most part is justified, really needs to “empty their cup” and watch it again. This is typical, unbiased MMA journalism – if you can even call it “journalism.”

Dave Begel: “[MMA] plays into the fantasy of lots and lots of men.” TRUE. To the average ignorant fan, MMA is fantasy role-playing – one that they long to live vicariously through because that way, others can take the risk that they’re not willing to take themselves.

Click here to read: Concussions in Sports and the Scabs who Love Them

Dave Begel: “MMA is designed to hurt somebody.” TRUE. The goal in any other major sport is to out-score your opponent. In MMA, it’s to win by knockout or submission. MMA fans hate it when a fight gets decided by going to the judge’s scorecards. They also love the sight of blood – try denying it.

Bas Rutten: “There are rules. It’s not violence.” I mean seriously, does anyone (including Bas) actually believe this? Football is violent. Hockey is violent. Boxing is violent. And MMA sure as hell is violent. I think downplaying the violent aspect of this sport has become such an agenda in gathering mainstream acceptance, that the MMA media has actually started to brainwash itself into believing it to be true. It’s not true. FALSE.

Dave Begel: “Everybody is a world hero.” TRUE. My book Desolate Warrior is the perfect example to demonstrate why sports fans have become overly consumed and manipulated by celebrity hero worship. From a psychological standpoint, this is a social trend that is definitely plaguing our society.

Dave Begel: “MMA clearly appeals to the basic instincts in people – the voyeuristic violence. That’s how you guys make your money.” TRUE and TRUE. Absolutely true! The primary motivation for the development and promotion of MMA is to make money. Period. This is not a charity and Dana White is most definitely not selflessly volunteering his time to help others. Love him or hate him – he’s a greedy pig.

Dave Begel: “MMA is a barbaric sport and having women do it is just as barbaric as having men do it.” TRUE. Inside MMA would have fans believe that this started as an issue of one writer believing that women should not participate in “men’s” sports – something that around the 3:22 mark, Dave completely denies. Again, I think the problem is with the use of the word “barbaric.” Personally, I don’t see it as a negative. It is barbaric. That’s why we watch it. Who’s in denial here? Because it sure isn’t me.

Dave Begel: “A lot of men have a lesbian fantasy.” FALSE. Not gay men. Maybe that’s why Kenny was having such a hard time relating to this. Seriously though…this is without a doubt TRUE. And all of you sick, perverted freaks out there know it! Two girls kissing? Oh the humanity! What’s this world coming to?!!

James Ryan: “There’s no sense denying our basic human instincts, because to do so, is to live in a world full of social and personal ignorance.” TRUE.

.
These are my opinions. If you don’t like them, I have others. Check them out at @coachjamesryan

Writer Dave Begel Exposes the Denial and Ignorance of MMA Fans is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

In case you missed the fight last night between Frazer McLaren of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dave Dziurzynski of the Ottawa Senators, here it is:

Hockey fans love a good tilt (myself included), but with the seriousness and awareness of head injuries becoming more prevalent, it’s moments like these that scare the average hockey fan. Even the look on McLaren’s face afterwards demonstrated that he was hardly proud of the fact that he may have just altered (or ended) another athlete’s career. It just as easily could have been him laying on that ice and he knew it. It’s the risk that these guys take every time they decide to drop the gloves. Fighting is no joke. Head injuries are no joke.

Then again, getting knocked out is all that any MMA fan really cares about, so I suppose it’s a mixed bag of emotions and opinions. Maybe it all just boils down to the respect levels that the “fans” in each different sport have for their own athletes. Maybe it’s because the average MMA fan can’t tell the difference between a UFC fight and a WWE fight. To them, it’s all just fantasy role-playing – one that they long to live vicariously through because that way, others can take the risk that they’re not willing to take themselves.

Dude…nice TapouT shirt.

Something else to consider is that if Dziurzynski never got the chance to play hockey ever again, he’d still be okay. He likely would have made enough money over his short career to off-set the risk of never being able to support himself as a professional athlete ever again due to head injuries. Personally, I don’t know if it’s worth it, but that’s his decision to make – not mine. I’m not here to judge the athletes.

By contrast, in the last UFC event, the headlining fight was between women’s champion, Ronda Rousey, and number one challenger, Liz Carmouche. As usual, the event generated millions of dollars for the UFC. Carmouche on the other hand, who was fighting at the absolute peak of her career, only earned a reported $12,000 for her efforts. That was likely her biggest payday of the year and probably of her entire career. Also consider that the average career of an MMA fighter lasts for about three years, and if lucky, they might only fight on the average of three times per year during that time. A very small percentage of MMA athletes actually make what many might consider to be “good” money, which is still light-years away from what many of the top-ranked boxers make, and chicken-scratch compared to what the promoters make.

So now I ask you: Are MMA fighters being treated fairly considering the length of their athletic careers and the risks to their long-term health?

In short, the answer is…not by a long shot.

And yet the “fans” still continue to support the organizations that promote these fights by ignoring the problems and donating their hard-earned money to the ongoing circle of greed. In a less technical sense, MMA fans are essentially the equivalent of “Scabs” – those who knowingly work against the will of other “employees” or in this case – the athletes.

If the fans actually stood up to these promoters by not purchasing their PPV’s until the fighters started to be treated more equally and fairly (honouring the full length of their contracts would be a great start), then change would actually happen to the benefit of the fighters who risk it all for the entertainment of the fans.

There’s been talk over the past few years of the fighters starting their own union, but that’s not the answer. It’s the fans who have to stand up for the athletes and hit the promoters where it will hurt them the most – in their wallets. Only then can change occur.

And until they do, you’ll pardon me if I just happen to think that MMA fans are the most cowardly and selfish sports fans on this entire earth. Because I really do.

Just a bunch of Scabs!

.
These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at @coachjamesryan

Concussions in Sports and the Scabs who Love Them is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.

“Recently, the Ontario Varsity Football League (OVFL) and the Ontario Minor Football League (OMFL) announced a partnership between the two leagues that will see the OVFL become the largest football league in Ontario.”

Read the full article on Canada Football Chat here.

I know a lot of people, especially in Niagara, are trying really hard to sell this as good news, but…

I’d like to remind everyone in Niagara that the Storm were recently a part of the OMFL for the past 4-5 years and the reason they chose to go over to the Ontario Football Conference (OFC) is because the OFC/CJFL is without a doubt, the most historic and premier league in the Province (established in 1883), and the OMFL is without a doubt a dead, shrinking horse. And if you don’t believe me, the proof is in the article itself:

“They have partnered and want to take the lead in Ontario towards football unity in the province,” said OVFL President Marie Jackson.

“Want to take the lead.”

If that’s not an admission to being second best all these years when the OVFL has been boasting and bragging about being number one, then I don’t know what is. And this from the mouth of their President. Clearly, it was a sell (lie) all along. But then again, Niagara never had a team in the OFC before this year, so in fairness to the Spears, they were the better choice by default.

Here’s how I see it all playing out this summer…

The Storm are now a part of the OFC, which is still the premier league in the Province. Joining forces with a lesser product (the OMFL), just to simply add numbers, does not make a league the “best.” I’ll take quality over quantity any day of the week. The relationship has changed on paper between the two leagues, but nothing in terms of the coaching staff or the quality of competition at that level is changing.

I know a lot of Niagara players are waiting to “see what happens” with the Spears. I know this because they tell me. They all want to know if they can go to the Storm if they don’t make the Spears or if they don’t like the recent coaching changes. I tell them yes, but in reality, here’s why that will never be an option for them (not this year anyway):

“[The OVFL] has about [100] teams with over [65] players.”

65 players?? Per team?? Wow, that’s a lot of bench-sitting. The Storm on the other hand, cap each of their teams at 45 players (not a league policy) to ensure equal and fair playing time. The only downside to that however, for anyone keeping the Storm as a “fall-back” option, is that the rosters are already close to the maximum limit. The opportunity to play for the Storm this year is definitely shrinking fast.

With a goal of 65 players per team (that’s a lot for a “non-profit” organization btw), there’s just no way the Spears are going to let any potential players get away from their program. Kids who try-out for the Spears will certainly have the opportunity (hopefully) to make the OVFL team. Everyone else will get stuck in the OMFL, and the OVFL can try to sugarcoat it as much as they like – it’s a terrible option for the kids who have the third and better choice (not all city centres do) to play in the OFC instead.

The OMFL does not attract CIS or NCAA scouts. They are not required to keep player statistics. There is no media exposure being promoted by the league. And the league itself provides very little in the way of quality competition. In fact, prior to this merger announcement, the OMFL Varsity program had only three teams.

Three teams!! [Possibly four]

If the only way to get better, is by playing against the best in the Province, then players will never get better by playing in the OMFL. It is NOT a developmental league, even though it is currently being sold that way. Then again, at least it’s better than warming the bench, which is exactly what a lot of other kids who will actually make the OVFL teams will end up doing. It’s a lose-lose situation. The OVFL plans to stockpile talent for the sole purposes of keeping kids away from the OFC. How is that putting the needs of our kids before the needs of anyone or anything else?

It’s not.

It reminds me of when my son quit the Spears to join the Storm a few years back. He tried out for the Spears and did everything that was asked of him – he didn’t drop a pass, he didn’t miss a tackle, and he posted the second fastest running time out of near 80 kids (0.01 seconds slower). And yet, because of his age (young) and size (small) – two things they already knew about him before the try-out process, he was told that even though he had made the team, he wouldn’t likely get much playing time, and as such, he might want to consider playing house league (NRMFA) instead. My initial thought to that was: “No one ever got better by sitting on the bench,” and so the Spears didn’t make much sense from a player-standpoint. But also, because of our many negative experiences with house league (NRMFA), that didn’t seem like much of an option either.

But there was a third option.

When Jacob then chose to play with his school friends on the Niagara Storm, the Spears quickly changed their tune and they promised him a starting position on the team (sound familiar?), but it was too late. Jacob had already made up his mind to play for the Storm.

The Spears went on to win the OVFL Championship that year under Coach Kent Risko (who is now a Storm coach for the atom level) and my son went on to play in the OMFL with the Storm, winning the team’s award for Defensive Player of the Year. Not quite a League Championship, but you’d honestly be amazed at how little he actually cared. And NO, the Spears never did refund the try-out fee that I paid, and NO the Storm never charged me one because they knew I had already paid one with the Spears. The Spears made money. The Storm lost money. Both organizations are supposed to be non-profit. Figure that one out, folks!

But wait! Spears players can always decline to play in the OMFL and play for the Storm in the OFC, right??

Sure they can! Assuming that there’s still room on the Storm (possible), and that their parents won’t mind losing the $200 NON-REFUNDABLE TRY-OUT FEE with the Spears (unlikely). Take it from me, it really sucks losing that money!

This whole thing reminds me of the old saying: “Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining.”

I predict a LOT of disappointed kids this summer. Unfortunately.

.
These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at @coachjamesryan

OVFL-OMFL Merge Together for Publicity Stunt is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

.

Here’s a simple budgeting solution that I learned from an old boss of mine. It’s a scoring system based on WANTS and NEEDS. So often, we buy something just because we WANT it – not necessarily because we NEED it. And be careful not to confuse the two. You’d be amazed at how little you really NEED to survive comfortably.

The scoring works as follows:

2: Your WANT and your NEED are both very low. Don’t waste your money.

3: You either really WANT it (but you don’t really NEED it), or you really NEED it to survive or feel comfortable, even though it might not be something that you have a strong emotional connection to (the WANT). Buy it, but only if you’ll basically suffer uncontrollably without it.

4: The NEED is as strong as the WANT. Buy it if you can afford it. And only if there isn’t a much cheaper alternative solution.

Now score the following items:

A new shirt
Gas for your car
Movie rental
Rent or Mortgage payment
Beer/Wine/Alcohol
Diapers
Cigarettes
A new couch
Cable television
iPad
Gym membership
Credit card payment
Cell phone
A $20,000 car
A new camera
Toothpaste

When you start thinking in terms of NEEDS and WANTS only, you’ll instantly WANT less and NEED only the bare-minimum essentials that you can afford. You’ll end up with more disposable income, you’ll save money faster than if you invested in a high-interest bank account or RRSP, and frankly, you’ll feel a lot happier once you stop pining for material things that you really don’t NEED.

And yes, there’s a huge difference between WANTS and NEEDS. No one NEEDS a $150,000 car. No one NEEDS a $500,000 house. No one NEEDS 100 pairs of shoes. Wanting is a disease that people can’t seem to separate themselves from. The real problem is this burning NEED for comfort and security that doesn’t seem to have a finish line. This driving NEED to WANT more than what we truly NEED.

Stop wasting your money. Stop living beyond your means. And cut up all of your credit cards. It won’t kill you to do without for a little while.

.
These are my opinions. If you don’t like them…I have others. Check them out at @coachjamesryan

A Simple Way to Budget Your Money is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan

“A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.”

With so many rumours and half-truths floating around in what has been an uncomfortable, and at times, unprofessional state of recruitment in the Niagara Regional youth football system, I think it’s important to point out that in spite of the many incredible changes and transformations that have occurred within each of the separate organizations as of late, nothing in terms of the overall perception or status within the community has in fact changed, which is very unfortunate, but also, not entirely unexpected.

For starters, I should probably mention that I am currently the only youth football coach in the entire Niagara Region who has ever sat on the executive committees for both the Niagara Spears and now the Niagara Storm, where I am currently volunteering my time as both a coach and as the communications & media manager. I was also a coach for two years in the Niagara Regional Minor Football Association (2008 – 2009), three years in the Niagara Falls youth indoor touch football league (2007 – 2010), and I am currently entering into my third year as a coach for the Niagara Storm youth football organization (2010, 2012 – 2013).

In terms of experience, I am probably very close to the bottom of the totem pole compared to the many other great coaches in the Niagara Region who are either involved with the NRMFA, the Spears, the Generals, the Storm, or even those who coach at the high school level. Anyone who knows me, knows that the only reason I even got involved in coaching in the first place was because of my son, who no longer is able to play due to concussions sustained outside of football. I never played in the pros. I never played in University. I never even officially played in high school. I make no attempts to pump myself up to be more than what I am. I don’t need to. I am proud that I can bring forth a completely different point of view than by those who have only been raised and conditioned solely in a football culture that in certain situations, no longer serves to the best interests of our modern youth – the kids who will one day become the leaders of tomorrow in an uncertain world.

I’ve never been bound by the limitations in my life (trust me, there have been many) or by the perceptions that others may have of me. As such, I know I have a way about me that can sometimes rub people the wrong way, but please note that I don’t necessarily set out to do that. Not as a prime objective anyway. It’s more of a by-product than anything else – one that I accept as a part of being who I am. In fact, anyone who only knows me from my writing alone might be surprised to learn that I can actually be a pretty funny guy who enjoys life and makes a living by specifically being nice and helping others. I have spent my entire adult life working in human service, and I will continue to do so until the day I die. It’s not a great way to get rich, but helping others shouldn’t be a money-motivated venture anyway.

Then again, I can also be a pretty big asshole, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

Sometimes in order to effect positive change in a convoluted situation, you have to be willing to sacrifice yourself before anything else. You hate me? That’s okay. There’s likely a very good reason why you feel the way you do. And it probably all started by my voicing an opinion on a situation that I felt didn’t place the needs of our kids before the egos of the adults who have been put in charge of mentoring and influencing them. As a father, particularly one who has raised two tremendous athletes – a boy and a girl, and as someone who never really played a lot of team sports growing up (frankly, I was turned away from team sports by just about every coach I ever had), I was appalled to see how little had changed from the time when I was a kid until now. And there was just no way I was going to sit back in silence and let my kids face this disappointment alone by allowing the attitudes and egos of certain “coaches” to deter them from participating in sports, much in the same way that had happened to me. But who am I to say that things should be different? What gives me the right to stand up for what I believe in? Who voted me as the voice of the alternative thinker?

As it turns out, making a positive change doesn’t require asking for permission or approval. Thirty years of martial arts training has taught me everything that I need to know, particularly about sportsmanship and hard work. I also understand honour. I understand competition. And most of all, I understand the lost values of friendship, teamwork and fitness. And yes, I’m still learning, so I still have a long way to go.

I don’t mind being the underdog. I believe enthusiasm is contagious. I hope to infect positive energy and a fighting spirit into each of my players. I hope to teach them how to stand up to the bullies in their life, whether they be on the football field, or in the boardroom (yes, adults can be bullies too). The ability to stand up for yourself and others is the greatest quality that we can teach kids today in my opinion. That’s how I approached being a parent, and that’s how I approach being a coach.

Throughout my years as a writer, I have learned that it doesn’t necessarily matter what I say or do, because there will always be people out there who will agree and disagree with my points of view and many will dislike me as a result. So I guess my feeling these days is that I really have nothing to lose by taking a bigger stance against some of the largely ignored issues that I see, particularly in the world of youth sports – hence the reason why I am now with the Niagara Storm. And make no mistake, I am not involved with this organization by accident, nor by default. I am not volunteering hundreds of hours a year supporting the Niagara Storm because no other organization would have me. I am here because for the past several years, I have been a firsthand witness to some incredibly shameful behaviour in what is predominantly an unpoliced and unaccountable culture. When coaches can get away with putting their hands on an opposing team’s player, and then nobody is willing to step up and say, “Hey, this guy shouldn’t be coaching youth sports anymore,” then I believe that there’s a serious problem with our priorities and with how we’re preparing our kids to stand up against a tyrannic leadership.

We’re basically telling our kids to suck it up and take it because that’s the way the world is.

I truly believe that each one of the coaches and executive members in the Niagara Storm all possess one major commonality – a sincere focus on the well-being and development of their players. They (we) believe in developing and teaching the players. That’s the beautiful part of coaching – not just taking ready-made athletes and then focusing on the X’s and O’s and the winning of games. The Storm understands, that with the dream of someday playing a sport professionally, which many of the coaches have personally done, comes a lot of hard work and mental preparation. But the likelihood of that happening is slim, and as such, children must also be prepared for a future without sports. As children, it’s not about what league they play in or how many rings they have on their fingers. Not at this age. It’s about playing with their friends, having fun, but most of all – learning.

They’re kids! Winning is nice and it sure is fun to do, but you can’t tell me that with the proper level of coaching, losing isn’t a much greater character builder than winning ever could be.

Another misconception is that the Storm players are “lesser” athletes than any of the other players in the Region simply because they play on a team with less history attached to it. Given that the Storm are only a few years old as an organization, it’s clear that this may have been the case in the early stages of growth, but with the recent successes and advancements by the organization, it’s obvious that the Storm are now an organization that deserve a lot more respect than what people are willing to give them.

But with success, come those who are threatened by the success of others.

“Insecurity is a feeling of general unease or nervousness that may be triggered by perceiving of oneself to be vulnerable in some way, or a sense of vulnerability or instability which threatens one’s self-image or ego.”

And no, despite what you might think of me, that’s not a direct shot at any one organization in particular. That’s really just a shot at a very small minority of individuals who just so happen to be involved in those organizations. And probably shouldn’t be.

With that being said, I personally owe Niagara Spears JV Head Coach, Mark Antonelli an apology. I heard a rumour from certain Storm parents that he had been calling Storm players at home in an attempt to recruit them for the Spears – not that there’s necessarily anything wrong with that (all is fair in love and war, right?), but from the parents perspective, they were shocked and offended that he had access to their personal phone numbers, which they assumed meant that because of his status as a teacher at Blessed Trinity in Grimsby, he must of accessed this information through school records. This of course would have been highly unethical, but in the end, it was only speculation and there was absolutely no solid proof to support this theory. Sorry Mark.

Another rumour stated that Coach Antonelli was making promises to certain Storm players, who if they jumped ship so to speak, they would be guaranteed a starting position on the Spears. This has also been unproven, and if anything, it has since been declared that this was possibly the action of one of his assistants and not Coach Antonelli himself. This is where I owe him another apology.

My immediate knee-jerk reaction when I heard this news was one of…belief, and so I thought, “What about the current Spears players? Don’t they get a chance to prove themselves to the new coach? Are these loyal and proud veteran players of the Spears family just supposed to lose out without so much as a chance to prove themselves by way of a standard try-out process?” I was both confused and annoyed.

Having had met with some of these outstanding athletes who once all played with my son during his final year as a football player and as the captain of the Bantam Spears, I knew how it would look if I warned them about what was happening. I knew that the reaction by the Spears would be full-blown denial and hatred towards myself and of course, the Storm for associating themselves with me. But on the flip-side, I knew that these kids all deserved better and that the Storm could have at the very least, given them a fair chance at making a team in the fairest possible way – a try-out. To say that this was a moral dilemma on my part would be a major understatement. I tried to recruit a few of the Spears players as a result, honestly with the intention of helping them, but in the end, even kids at this age know that all they want to do is play with their friends. And frankly, I don’t blame them and I feel almost ashamed for even asking any of them to join up with the Storm. Kids don’t need coaches pushing them into making these kinds of decisions. They’re more than capable of making them on their own. This isn’t a University level of playing, where aggressive recruitment tactics become the norm.

Without making excuses, let’s just say that the Spears, as an organization, have been less than supportive of the success that the Storm have experienced over this past year, with the Storm JV team going undefeated and making it to their first ever Championship game in 2012. During that season, the Storm were continuously put down and insulted by other coaches, parents and players within other Niagara football organizations on social media. They wanted everyone to know that the best talent was with the Spears football club and not with the Storm. This of course turned out to be very untrue. How else do you explain the strong desire to recruit Storm players onto the Spears?

Unless of course, it was just a vindictive move designed to see the Storm organization fail as a whole? But why, if any team or coach truly put the needs of the players in this Region above their own, would they want the kids who consciously make the choice to play for another team (options are good, monopolies are not) to fail? Why would they want Storm players to feel like their own self-worth is nothing simply because they play on another team? Is it the jilted girlfriend syndrome? Personally, I think this Region has an overflowing abundance of talent, and I would love nothing more than if all travel rep football teams could dominate each of their respective leagues instead of attempting to stockpile talent, just to sit them on the bench. The success of everyone translates into the success of Niagara, regardless of what team they play for.

Then came this announcement, which was released on February 13, 2013:

“The Niagara Spears, Niagara Generals and the Niagara Regional Minor Football Association have partnered together to join the Ontario Minor Football League (OMFL). This is an exciting development for football in the Niagara Region and will only enhance its development and success. This partnership will now unify the Niagara Region under one umbrella, making the Spears/NRMFA/Generals’ partnership an elite group for personal and player development at all levels.”

United under one umbrella? An elite group?

I guess I’m missing something, because I see absolutely no mention whatsoever of the Niagara Storm, which is weird, especially after Storm President, Frank Trivieri, made this very public announcement during an interview, which was conducted three months prior on November 19, 2012:

“What I’d like to see, is for the three parties in the Peninsula, to sit at the same table at some point, and really work away to establish a combined effort towards the development of football in the Niagara Peninsula, which will improve football whole-heartedly across the Peninsula, and will open up opportunities for football programs and for kids who plan to make a career out of it, or at the very least, go to University with it.”

It should be noted that this announcement by Mr. Trivieri went without any recognition or acknowledgment by any of the other football organizations in the Niagara Region, and the Storm were never once contacted by the Generals, the NRMFA or the Spears about joining into this new coalition that is now known simply as “Football Niagara.” Also, the Storm were members of the OMFL last year before applying and being accepted into the much larger and professionally run OFC league this year, so I personally find it a bit strange that when the Storm played in the OMFL, they were “garbage,” but now that Football Niagara is involved in what is definitely a shrinking league, they are now offering an opportunity that is somehow better for our kids?

So now I ask you…does this sound unified to you? Does it even make sense?

Basically, it’s just going to be more of the same, and from my perspective, there’s absolutely nothing unified about it. It’s just more anti-Storm behaviour.

And with that, my resolve has now been strengthened. At the end of last season, I announced at the halftime of the Championship game that I would be hanging up my cleats (I literally did that in my office by the way) and would no longer be coaching – not for the Storm, not for anybody. With my son no longer being able to play, it just didn’t feel right. I love coaching and I love encouraging my players, and I love knowing that I am somehow making a positive difference in their lives. Like I said earlier, I truly believe that enthusiasm is contagious and I really want what’s best for all of the players in the entire Niagara Region. But more than that, I want what’s best for my son. He didn’t play because I coached. I coached because he played. And that’s the bottom line and it still rings true.

With so much going on in the off-season with the Storm, and with the obvious efforts to make the Storm players and its coaching staff feel inadequate or excluded, I have now decided to delay my retirement by one year, knowing full-well that my son will understand that this has become about a lot more than just me coaching. I have come to love and respect my Storm family as being an amazing group of truly great individuals, and ones that I’m not willing to abandon at such an important juncture in the life of this young organization. We’ve worked too hard to simply give up just because there are those who would love nothing more than to see us fail. We’re not going to disappear off the radar – that’s just not going to happen.

So anyway folks, this will definitely be my last season coaching. EVER. And if I have to go down swinging in order to protect my players (or any players for that matter) from on-line bullying and from the misguided agendas of those who have a win-at-all-cost, we’re-better-than-you-for-absolutely-no-reason attitude, then that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Our children are not expendable, and like I’ve said many times before and I’ll keep on saying…

They deserve better.

And I’m sorry if I have offended you by truly believing that.

@coachjamesryan

United Niagara Football Remains in a State of Fracture and Dysfunction is my opinion, I have more, visit my website: James Ryan