By now, everyone who follows sports has heard of Jeremy Lin of the New York Knicks.  This time ten days ago nobody knew a thing about this young man.  Today, he is the talk of the national sports world.

All athletes, especially those who are backups, dream of getting quality playing time with their teams.  You hear it all the time, if only coach would give me a chance.  Well, this story might get coaches thinking about who could be the next Jeremy Lin.

You never know when your number will be called.  Just know that Lin was passed up numerous times, yet he never gave up on believing in himself and his abilities.

Content property of Billy Shepherd Sports, Inc.

Almost all high schools today have codes of conduct that student-athletes must follow in order to be eligible to participate in extracurricular activities, including sports. 

Therefore, you already know what you can and cannot do and how you will be punished if you decide not to follow these rules.  In other words, the schools spells out right from wrong.

Following rules, then, should not be an issue.  You start the process of rule following early in life, and to be honest, rule following never goes away.  If you look for shortcuts or knowingly do something wrong, be prepared to pay the consequences.

Content property of Billy Shepherd Sports, Inc.

Are you the type of athlete who can learn from watching others play and pick things up that are beneficial to you and your game?  Do you have the desire to play collegiate athletics at some level?

There is so much one can learn by observing how others do things, and then going out and practicing on the same style and technique.

The NCAA will start their men's and women's basketball championships next week.  Almost all sports sponsored by the NCAA can be found either on network television, cable, or the Internet.

Be sure to observe those sports you play and see the quality of the individuals participating.  This will help you gauge where you presently stand and how much you need to improve if your desire to play at the next level.

Content property of Billy Shepherd Sports Inc.

Very seldom will the student-athlete experience the perfect game or practice, even though that should be your ultimate goal.

The true champion will fall short of their expectations over and over again, but will continue to bounce back and give their best effort day in and day out.

When falling short of your coach's or your own expectations, don't place the blame on others.  Take responsibility for your shortcomings and strive to improve daily.

Content property of Billy Shepherd Sports Inc.