Advocates for Athletes, LLC

Interview with Steve Britschgi, President of Advocates for Athletes, LLC

As a former college athlete and parent of a recruited collegiate basketball player Steve understands what it is like to go through the college recruiting process. He has been in and around sports his entire life. Through A4A, Steve educates families on how to realistically assess their child’s level of athletic talent and provides a path to take full advantage of the educational and life benefits that can be earned through playing sports at the collegiate level.

SZ: Steve what was your motivation to start A4A?

Steve: My motivation was the experience that my wife and I went through with our son’s college recruiting. We had no idea what to do or where to turn to get the answers that we needed to navigate through the process. Like us, most families sit back and wait for college coaches to contact them, when in reality it is the athlete and families that should be contacting the coaches. But how do you know that, how do you know when to start the process or even what to say? We did some research and located some internet based recruiting companies that we interviewed but found them to be very impersonal. We wanted someone who was local (bay area), that we could sit down with face to face and help us with the process. We did not find that and thus we made many mistakes. We then started talking to other parents of high school student athletes that were going through the same thing and found that we all had the same problem. So my motivation came from frustration. That and the verified need for a coaching business that is available to educate and guide student athletes and their families through this process.

SZ: What are the unique services that A4A provide for athletes and their families?

Steve B: What sets us apart is that the A4A team is all born and raised ex-athletes from the local bay area, so we are vested here. We want what’s best for our local student athletes. The whole team has either coached taught or volunteered locally and all have a passion for helping students succeed. Unlike most of our competition, we educate and guide through one-on-one sessions, and that is what makes us unique. By making it a more personal experience, we get to know the athletes better so that we can together find that right college fit, athletically, academically and socially.

SZ: Share a recent story of an athlete who benefited from the A4A program.

Steve: A4A was approached by one particular family this past October. Their athlete was a senior, very late to start the college recruiting process. He had some attention from a couple of colleges, but nothing like a scholarship offer, just a couple letters of interest. The family, like most we have talked to, was not sure where to turn or what to do. They found A4A by asking questions. At the point of our first meeting there had been nothing done to promote the athlete so we got to work quickly. Through hard work and reaching out to coaches the interest started coming in and by the first week of February the athlete had signed a letter of intent to play his sport at the college he wanted to attend, with a very nice financial package. The gratitude, the thank you’s the look in the young man’s face, and the “we would of never been able to do this without you,” was a clear validation.

SZ: Do you partner with other athletic community resources? Or is A4A a stand alone service?

Steve B: Advocates for Athletes is it's own business, but we wanted to be able to provide our clients with other resources. We have aligned ourselves with reputable local businesses and organizations that we can recommend to our clients if the have a specific need or interest. All have stellar reputations in the community and have a sincere passion similar to A4A for helping young student athletes on the peninsula. We are truly proud to be associated with them.
The Riekes Center for Human Enhancement, Mr Test Prep, Breakthrough, The Bay Area Womens Sport Initiative, and Sports Health Counseling.

SZ: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote that has guided you on your professional path?

Steve B: I do, it's by Vince Lombardi. "A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive, and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done."

Steve thank you for taking time out of your very busy schedule to explain the services that Advocates For Athletes provides.

Contact information for Steve Britschgi is steve@advocates4athletes.com
www.advocates4athletes.com

*Featured guests are not former nor present clients of Susan Zaro

Fight or Flight

Many coaches and athletes are familiar with the term fight or flight. The phrase is used to describe an instinctual reaction of fight or flight that occurs when faced with a perceived, real or unreal threat. Common physical/mental reactions in this state include:

• Increased breathing (typically shallow)
• Increased heart rate
• Racing thoughts
• Increased muscle tension
• Time speeds up

The majority of sporting events that most athletes participant in do not pose a physical threat, and most athletes report low to non-existent signs of stress during work-outs or practices. Yet, frequently an athletes physiological/psychological response leading up to or during a competitive event creates an “as if” reaction. When an athlete enters a state of fight or flight their athletic skills and abilities may derail creating additional frustration around sport participation. In extreme situations athletes may decide they are not able to compete any longer and give up participating in their sport competitively.

Although there are rarely quick fixes to this reaction, athletes can develop successful management strategies to lessen the physiological/psychological stress reactions of competition that can precede the state of fight or flight.

Useful management strategies include:

• Preparation for competition. Being well prepared mentally, physically, technically, leading up to a competitive event. Practices should include competitive like conditions to mimic the types of stresses of the upcoming event.
“Stress can occur when athletes are uncertain that they will be able to do what is expected of them and when the outcome is important to them.” Rainer Martens.

• Stress management techniques. Utilizing skills of visualization, controlled breathing, positive inner dialogue and tools which provide balanced mental energy.

• Identify obtainable goals. Process goals vs. outcome goals allow a more balanced gauge of short and long term improvement. Everyone’s outcome goal is to win, but process goals are the steps and details that lead to the wins.

• Healthy support team. Support from coaches, family, friends who care about the athletes goals and support those goals, yet aren’t overly invested in the athletes outcome.

Effective management of fight or flight responses begins long before an athlete steps into the competitive arena. Using management strategies can help alleviate the negative aspects of the fight or flight syndrome and can even be the detour from it occurring.