Cliches are clichés, but at best of times, they convey the message far more tellingly as in the case of Sachin: form is temporary, class is permanent.

Watching the little big man wading into an admittedly mediocre New Zealand attack at the tiny Christchurch ground, it evoked nostalgia. I distinctly remember the first time he opened in an ODI, back in 1994, also in New Zealand, when he “put his hand up” after regular Sidhu opted out due to an injury. Partnering Ajay Jadeja, Sachin blasted a 69-ball 82 with 15 boundaries and two sixes as India won by seven wickets. He was adjudged Man of the Match.

I saw the highlights of that game the same evening, almost 15 years to the day, and we wondered again at the sheer talent. It was much the same on Sunday when Sachin dismantled the Kiwi bowling en route to his first ODI century in New Zealand.

A lot has happened since March 27, 1994 and today, we even question his presence in the ODI squad given the fact that he is 35 and obviously slowed down, if only a wee bit.

Although being one of the biggest fans of Sachin, I did think that he would be better off batting lower down the order so as to keep the Sehwag-Gambhir partnership going and also in view of the string of low scores in the recent past. But then, Sachin, as he has done over the past two decades, silenced his critics with yet another century! Perhaps, it is time then we all clam up and let the great man alone.

The other day, during an informal chat with former India opener and National selector VB Chandrasekar, I asked him about Sachin’s role in the ODI team. “You think, he should bat at No.3 or 4?” I asked. With the least hesitation, VB said: “Come on, don’t even ask such a question. Sachin’s position is either No.1 or 2. I think, given his stature, we should let him decide.”

Off and on, I have been in touch with persons who have moved closely with Dhoni and all of them were unanimous in their observation that the Indian captain thinks the world of Sachin. “For MS, Sachin is God,” said a former India player. “If Sachin wants to open, he will. Nobody can question his decision, leave alone stop him.”

That being the case, it is more than likely that Sachin is under lesser pressure than at any time in his illustrious career. He has been given the freedom of choice and I am sure that Sachin appreciates this gesture.

His recent statements to the effect that he is enjoying his cricket now more than ever vindicates this belief and may be, this is the best way to salute a man who has been living our dreams since 1989.

Dhoni apart, the likes of Sehwag and Yuvraj, in particular, the other key members of the squad, have never hesitated to acknowledge Sachin’s contributions to their own batting. Under the circumstances, it is best that we let matters rest rather than speculate Sachin’s utility or his future. As Sachin’s close friend Ravi Shastri said recently (and repeatedly), there is still plenty left in the tank.

The fact is that we have been so spoilt by his amazing craftsmanship and flow of runs in the past, that we unfairly refuse to believe that Sachin at 35 can bat like Sachin of 25. Such a massive expectation with utter disregard to other critical factors like age, wear and tear of the body and the fatigue, tends to distort our perspective of a player who has given his all to cricket for 20 seasons on the trot without a drop in the motivation levels.

I suppose, it is then more out of frustration that we spew venom at Sachin each time he fails and begin questioning his role as a “match winner” for Team India. In January, I watched him closely during a Ranji game at Chepauk when he scored a century in the course of which he toyed with the bowling before walking off as if in sheer boredom.

But while fielding, he was all the time involved in the proceedings, talking to bowlers and plotting a wicket with his captain, Jaffer. It was a game he could have skipped, but he made it a point to sweat it out to ensure that Mumbai made it to the final and eventually regain the Trophy.

My only reservation about Sachin is his reluctance to air his views on various cricketing issues. After all, given his stature, his words carry far more weight than those of ordinary mortals like most of us. Only of late that he has begun to speak out, but I feel he should be far more forthcoming. I think, he has a huge role to play in cricket even after retirement (whenever that happens); so, all the more reason why he should progress to being the elder player-statesman.

Getting back to the ongoing ODI series, India with a 2-0 lead should go on to clinch the rubber. The Kiwis are under pressure with just two more games to go and Dhoni’s men should ruthlessly move in for the kill, much like the Aussies in South Africa.

If you are the President or Point of Contact for a San Antonio area youth sports organization, you can help us by providing us with information on your organization. Please visit our Time Outpage for more details. The Kids Sports Network constantly updates its information and every attempt is made to ensure its accuracy. Keep in mind that changes may occur, and some programs may not always be offered.

Many of the phone numbers given are those of volunteers. Please be patient if your call is not answered immediately, or if you are advised that the person you called is no longer involved with the program. If, for any reason, you are unable to reach a particular organization, or if you have information about a program not listed, call the Kids Sports Network at (210) 654-4707. They should be able to provide the information you desire.

Thus, to some extent, all leagues must develop revenue sources. These sources include fund raisers, concession stand sales and registration fees. Fees for an eight to ten week sports league could range from as little as $10 per child to over $100. Most youth leagues have a scholarship policy that permits parents to obtain free or reduced price registration. This is usually based on a written petition from the parents. If you have an honest need for financial support, you should always inquire about scholarships before you decide not to register your child in a sports league. You’d be surprised how often the league will assist.

There are also a number of organizations in San Antonio that charge a lower registration fee because they receive funding support from governmental or private agencies or businesses. For example, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department charges only $5 for many of their youth programs. Other sports programs with low or no fees are the Boys & Girls Clubs, Police Athletic League and theDreams for Youth programs run by the San Antonio Sports Foundation.

Always ask about fees before you register. You deserve to know what the registration fees are and if there are any hidden costs that will surface later. For example, some leagues charge a low registration fee but require each team to purchase its own uniforms. And finally, remember that it’s the leadership of the program and not the registration fees that usually determines the quality of your child’s sports experience.

Safety: Is protective equipment necessary and is it used properly? Is a medical exam required to participate? Is the playing area safe for practices and games? Does the league have injury insurance? Is someone trained in Red Cross or emergency procedures? (Coaches should have some basic first aid training.) Is physical conditioning important for the sport and is it provided?

Psychological and Developmental Factors: Is emphasis placed on enjoyment and participation? Are there separate divisions for different skill levels? Will kids be cut from a team? (Try outs that involve cuts should be permitted only above the age of 12 and then only if the child has the option of playing on a less competitive team.) Are opponents thought of as the enemy? Are game rules adapted to the child’s skill development, age and size?

Quality of Adult Leadership: How are coaches selected? What kind of training has the coach received? (He/she should understand the psychology of working with the kids in sports, basic injury prevention and treatment techniques, team and practice organization and how to teach sports fundamentals to kids.) Are referees trained and evaluated? Were background checks conducted on coaches and referees before they were accepted? Measures of Success: How is success measured? (There should be ways other than winning for children to achieve success.) Are all team members rewarded in some way for their success or the progress they have made? How much emphasis is placed on making the all-star team or play-offs or receiving a trophy?

Conclusions: You don’t have to ask all of these questions and you may have others that you feel are more important. As your questions are answered you will develop a “feel” for the organization. If you are uncomfortable with what they have told you, look for another organization. Kids deserve a fun and rewarding sports experience and it’s a parent’s job to see that they receive it.

Children in grades 1 – 4 can benefit most from games that are modified to meet their needs and abilities. Play and fun are more important to this age group than highly structured sports that emphasize the outcome rather than the process. Parents and coaches are usually the ones concerned about winning and losing. When helping your child select a sport, keep balance in mind. Encourage your children to try many sports and activities when young and not to think of specializing or playing competitively until they reach middle school. Make sure a balance also occurs between adult organized activities and free playtime. Children need time to just be kids and to play with other kids without a set of rules or adult involvement.

The most important decisions to make, are which youth sports organizations and which coaches are best for your child. Make sure that you take the time to find out about the league, its leaders and coaches. Better yet, get involved and volunteer to coach. Participating in sports is a healthy way, both physically and socially, for your children to channel their youthful energy in a positive direction. Make sure your children’s first experience encourages them to begin a lifelong interest in physical activities and good health.

There are many other options besides team sports available to a child who wants to participate in sports. Parents should also encourage their children to become involved in individual and lifetime sports such as bowling, golf, swimming, tennis, gymnastics and martial arts. You can find information about these sports by visiting the facilities or through the yellow pages of the phone book.

With all of the abilities for youth to stay indoors, it is best to begin to show them that being outdoors can be just as beneficial. Playing sports will not only help them to get the activities that there body needs, but will help them to keep the ideal of staying shape in mind when they are older. It is becoming more common for children and youth to grow up overweight or obese, even from the age of five. The problem is becoming so prevalent, that several children are having problems such as type two diabetes and asthma.

No matter what age your child is, they should be getting some type of physical activity every day. It doesn’t need to be anything vigorous, but should be something to get them moving and away from the easier stimulation in front of the television or Internet. If your child is moving for at least thirty minutes a day, it will prevent the problems that children are growing up to have with their health. By having something where the child is being encouraged to move around and is doing it with their peers, it will be easier to build a foundation for good physical health through activity.

If you are interested in your child staying healthy, then making sure that they play sports will give you the ability to become substantial in what they need for their physical health. It will first prevent complications in their current health, beginning with obesity, and going into more severe problems. Making sure that they stay physically healthy will also stay with them for the rest of their lives, making sure that they understand the importance of moving throughout the day.

If you are teaching younger children, you should decide on whether you want to use signals for plays or not. Generally, it is not recommended. Often times, younger players will be confused about what the signals mean and can easily get them mixed up with something else. This will have the wrong effect on their plays, as well as their ability to make the right moves at the right time.

Because most of the children are not going to pay attention to the opposing teams coach, you can easily talk to the players while they are up to bat or waiting to move bases. This is easy to do and is effective in helping the kids to make the right moves. Unlike a professional game, you will most likely not have to worry about the lack of signals causing the opposing team to get ahead in the game.

As the children grow older, and become more comfortable with the game, you can begin to add in obvious signals to help them develop their ability to watch what you think is best. You will want to make sure that the signs are easy and obvious, and that the players understand when they should be looking at you for the signs. By slowly coaching them into watching you and into the signals that you might use, it will be easier to keep them ahead and on base.

If you want to keep your team and players on track, you will want to make sure that you are effective in the signs that you give them for this. Having the proper communication through your speech, and adding in the signs as needed, can help you to develop a strong link between your coaching insights and what the little leagues will need you to tell them.

The number one rule that any coach needs to keep in mind is that one of their main goals is to get the team to understand what the goals are. This begins by teaching the fundamentals of any game. From here, you will be able to see what everyone needs in order to support their individual abilities to play. By seeing the techniques that are there, and adding on your own, you can create a well rounded team.

If you are coaching a team through a practice or a game, you want to make sure that you see what they need beyond the basic techniques. This is one of the most important aspects of coaching any team. If you see that the team is losing and is starting to get down on energy because of it, you will need to step in and make sure that they become motivated. You will need to find ways to uplift spirits, help push through the rest of the game, and encourage their abilities.

This same type of attitude should be kept in other situations as well, but may mean taking a different angle in what you are telling your players. For example, if you see a player falling behind in a practice, you might not want to invoke extra encouragement in them. They may need to hear something that is more compassionate and effective in a different way. The goal that you want to reach with every individual player is to make sure that they hear what they need to in order to inspire them to the end.

Of course, there is always the danger of over coaching during a game or practice. Even though you want to offer insights to all of your players, doing too much can discourage them. There is a thin line of being able to coach players and deciding when to let them go into the game without the guidance. If you coach too much, it may cause discouragement, extra pressure and inability to perform to the best of capacity by the players.

If you are beginning a coaching job, you will quickly find that one of your important roles is to fill in what the players don’t see. Sometimes this comes as teaching basic physical practices, while other times it may mean reaching the players on different mental levels. No matter what you see in every situation, it is your job to step up and make sure that everyone else has the same vision.

The first thing you will want to teach anyone who is learning the basics of dribbling is where to set all of their strength. Many beginners will try to use their palms when they are beginning to dribble. Instead, you will want to focus on teaching how to use and strengthen the fingertips for better dribbling. The wrist will then be able to control the movement of the fingers, giving more possibilities for controlling the ball. You will also want to teach beginners how to dribble a lower ball, giving them the ability to maneuver through defense with more options. While they are dribbling lower, you will want to make sure that they are able to keep their head up and away from the ball so they can make their next move.

After you have the basics of dribbling down, then you can add extra techniques into the bounce. The first of these is learning how to pivot while dribbling. When you are doing basic dribbles, your feet will be hip width apart and your knees will be bent. When you pivot while dribbling a basketball, you will be able to turn your body while you are dribbling into a completely different position, giving you more lead way to get past defense and make a basket. Another maneuver that you can do will combine foot work with the dribble. For example, you can fake moving one way, then turn to move the other, giving you an open shot at a basket. You can do this same thing by feinting, meaning that you dribble the ball enough to move the defense out of your way, giving a clear shot to the basket.

Dribbling beyond the basics is learning how to combine footwork with the way that the ball is moving. When you begin to teach others how to move with the ball and how to combine different actions of movement with the game, you will have the ability to give options for moving past the other team and into the basket you want to make.

Like any other players on the field, you always want to make sure that the third baseman is prepared. Unlike other players, they will not be moving in a large amount of space, or as fast. Instead, they will be in charge of knocking down the ball and making a final play. Most likely, this means that not only will the third baseman have to maneuver slightly different than the other players, but will also mean that he has to walk in prepared differently. Because the main objective is to stop the ball, having a larger glove is often required in order to finish the job.

There are two major plays that third baseman should always be prepared for. The first is to tag the player coming towards the base. By standing in a ready position, this will make it easier to get the ball from whatever angle is needed and to get the player out. Knowing how to stand in the right position in order to tag or cutoff the play is one of the most important things that a third baseman needs to learn.

Another possibility that a third baseman should look out for is bunts. Usually, it can be determined what type of hit will take place simply by watching the batter get ready. If you see a bunt coming your way, the first thing to do is angle yourself so you can get the ball and throw it to first along the line. By doing this, you will be able to get one of the players out from the bunt.

With the third baseman, the most important thing to remember is that the baseball will be coming for you at a certain angle. By being prepared on every side, it will be easier for you to make a good move and get the opponent out. By taking the right moves and being ready for every type of play, the third baseman will have the ability to get the ball and the opponents back to first without the points.