Categories: newsletters
Date: Mar 30, 2007
Title: March 2007 Newsletter
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), in conjunction with, The Alabama Football Coaches Association (ALFCA) and The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) has approved activation of the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) NATS program. With the addition of Alabama, 15 states are presently scheduled to conduct a total of 21 NATS Tests during the 2007 campaign.
"I am delighted that Alabama has become the 15th state to activate the NATS program. Alabama has a very active football coaches association as well as great concern for assisting student-athletes with their development both on and off field. I am quite sure that the AHSAA & ALFCA joint initiative with the NATS program will be a tremendous benefit to student-athletes in Alabama and the entire Gulf Coast", said AFCA Executive Director, Grant Teaff.
AHSAA and AHSADCA Director, Steve Bailey commented, "That the strength of partnership between The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) and The Alabama Football Coaches Association (ALFCA) stems from our desire to do the right thing for student-athletes in Alabama. We are proud to activate Alabama into the NATS program."
ALFCA Executive Director, Jack Wood added, "We look forward to conducting NATS tests in Alabama during the 2007 testing campaign. Our association realizes that this valuable AFCA program will be of tremendous benefit to Alabama student-athletes."
The AHSAA & ALFCA have appointed Coach Bart Sessions as their state test director, and will conduct their NATS Test on July 20, 2007 at Prattville High School. All high school players from all grades and all schools -- public or private -- are invited to attend.
The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), in conjunction with, The Alabama Football Coaches Association (ALFCA) and The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) has approved activation of the American Football Coaches Association's (AFCA) NATS program. With the addition of Alabama, 15 states are presently scheduled to conduct a total of 21 NATS Tests during the 2007 campaign.
"I am delighted that Alabama has become the 15th state to activate the NATS program. Alabama has a very active football coaches association as well as great concern for assisting student-athletes with their development both on and off field. I am quite sure that the AHSAA & ALFCA joint initiative with the NATS program will be a tremendous benefit to student-athletes in Alabama and the entire Gulf Coast", said AFCA Executive Director, Grant Teaff.
AHSAA and AHSADCA Director, Steve Bailey commented, "That the strength of partnership between The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), The Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) and The Alabama Football Coaches Association (ALFCA) stems from our desire to do the right thing for student-athletes in Alabama. We are proud to activate Alabama into the NATS program."
ALFCA Executive Director, Jack Wood added, "We look forward to conducting NATS tests in Alabama during the 2007 testing campaign. Our association realizes that this valuable AFCA program will be of tremendous benefit to Alabama student-athletes."
The AHSAA & ALFCA have appointed Coach Bart Sessions as their state test director, and will conduct their NATS Test on July 20, 2007 at Prattville High School. All high school players from all grades and all schools -- public or private -- are invited to attend.
Each year, The National Athletic Testing System (NATS) pulls potential National Field Consultant (NFC) candidates from all corners of the county for intense and rigorous training. These National Field Consultants become the backbone and standardization, uniformity and player safety for all NATS Tests, nationwide. This year, 11 NFC hopefuls gathered in Sarasota, Florida for the rigors of this intensive instruction.
The primary responsibility of a National Field Consultant is to ensure all uniform standards are conclusively adhered to for each NATS test. Moreover, the NFC will assist, observe and evaluate the Test Director and staff -- assuring the utmost accuracy of all data compiled.
The primary goal of an NATS Test is to provide accurate test data and optimum safety of the student-athlete. All NATS tests must conform to uniform standards of measure and precise reporting of test data,essentially all NATS Tests must be conducted identically.
Players, parents, high school and college coaches depend on the accuracy of NATS testing results in order to make important counseling and recruiting decisions. Precision is obtained through an extensive and thorough preparation of the NFC and staff.
John Aaron, Director of Testing for NATS conducted the NFC training session to prepare the NFC's to facilitate all operational aspects of the NATS test. Training consisted of both classroom and on-field practical training exercises, workshops and examinations. Aaron commented, "The standardization of each and every test allows NATS to differentiate itself from all other combines, as well as ensure data precision. College coaches know and understand that standardization and uniformity will produce accurate and reliable data that they can use to assist them in analyzing potential prospective players. The NFC's play a vital role in assuring that all NATS tests are run exactly the same way, the results are accurate and the student-athlete has a safe testing environment."
Coach Grant Teaff, Executive Director of the AFCA added, "Unfailingly accurate data and player safety can only be accomplished through methodical and thorough training. All of our NFC's know the details of every facet of running an NATS Test which ensures accuracy as well as player safety."
The New York State High School Football Coaches Association (NYSHSFCA) held their Inaugural NATS Test on Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Union College. New York is one of the 15 states which will run NATS Tests during the 2007 testing campaign.
New York State Director and member of NATS Board of Review (BOR), Coach Nick Fitzgerald, is the Athletic Director and football coach at South Glens Falls High School. He is also a member of the Executive Committee of the NYSHSFCA, as well as a National Field Consultant (NFC) for NATS. He comments, "By testing players in speed, strength and agility drills, NATS assists college recruiters with player evaluations, enables players to gauge their true baseline athletic ability and helps both players and parents navigate the recruiting process." Further, "Student-athletes participating in NATS also receive valuable NATS Test preparation videos and special interactive tools assisting them with the correct high school core course schedule necessary to meet NCAA academic standards." Coach Fitzgerald added, "NATS benefits student-athletes not only here in New York, but all players who wish to have an accurate baseline measurement with which to compare themselves to their contemporaries -- locally, regionally and nationally."
Here are what some of the participants and their family members had to say about the NYSHSFCA NATS Test:
Pat Whipple, Parent
"My son is getting a lot of interest from the 1AA schools. We just got his report card, so we are going to make sure we use the Core Course Calculator. I have been very impressed with NATS -- both with the online components and the physical testing itself. The information on the web site has been very helpful as far as the recruiting calendar, and the questions for my son to have to ask recruiters when they call. With Division 1 there is a lot more for us to be aware of and going online [to www.nats.us] has really helped. I would definitely tell anyone that NATS is worth doing. The expense was close to nothing for everything you get. The standardization is great. NATS is like an athletic version of the SAT. We went through this recruiting process 4 years ago with our other son. I wish NATS was around back then, that's for sure!"
Ross Mosher, Red Hook Sr HS
"I thought it [NATS] was run well and I had a good time. The result analysis was really cool. It's good to be able to see how you compare athletically to other kids across the nation. It showed me what I need to work on. I would tell anyone to check out the NATS web site. It's a great way to get your name out there. I would highly recommend NATS to anyone."
Joe Grassia, Mohonasen HS
"NATS is pretty neat. I like NATS a lot. It's very user friendly. I can't imagine that the colleges don't love using this. I like the results analysis -- being able to see exactly how I rank against kids all across the nation. I plan on using the NATS online components the entire year, and there is a ton of information on the web site. NATS works great."
David Johnson, Horrace Mann-Barndard Upper School
"It was very organized and well run. I like the online service, the percentile ranking. It's really neat to be able to see where you are against kids and across the nation ,and it showed me what I need to work on. I looked at the online recruiting information that NATS provides along with the online components that very helpful."
Shane Stephenson, Flushing HS (MI)
"I drove 10 hours to attend NATS with my family and a friend and it was definitely worth it. The results analysis was very neat. It showed me that while I did well, there are still areas I need to improve in. I would recommend for anyone to attend NATS and see where you are amongst other kids so you can get an idea on what level you can play football at. Even if you need to drive 10 hours to get to an NATS Test, do it."