Culture.
At BE Sports Media, we love culture. It defines who we are, it inspires us, and we love to share. We are proud to announce the 2016 blog series Play Sports in College. Follow us right here throughout 2016 as we tackle many important issues and offer insights that are vital for any athlete who aspires to play at the next level.
Featured Blog
Play Sports in College Edition 1
Posted February 22nd, 2016 by Pete Andrelczyk 
5:30 am-Wake up, roll out of bed…fumble for your running shoes and workout gear. Grab a smoothie, protein bar and start thinking about the 6am workout…
8:10 Biology
9:00 History
9:50 Algebra II
10:40 Chemistry
11:30 Lunch
12:10 P.E.
1:00 Photography
1:50 Study Hall
3:00-5:30 Practice
6:00 Grab some dinner and finish homework…
Repeat
Welcome to high school athletics in 2016.
Athletics has changed; there is more focus on becoming the best athlete you can be, the most physically talented person on the field/court/mat/pool…whatever your arena is. There are 5:30 am workouts, followed by full days of school and then practice on top of that…then you’d better find time to finish homework or all of that hard work on the field goes to waste. There’s a reason you’re a student athlete, and there’s a reason STUDENT comes first. Athletics doesn’t last forever…
In my career I have been blessed with the opportunity to speak to thousands of students, countless school visits and gym hours spent with athletes and students alike. The message doesn’t change no matter the setting. Education trumps athletics, no matter what. Without education-there is no athletics, balancing the rigors of being a student athlete nowadays is much tougher than it was even when I was in high school. It’s more specialized; coaches want you to play only their sport (I wholeheartedly disagree, athletes aren’t made by making them choose their sport at age 8). There are 8u travel teams that play games in states that are hours and hours of driving away. There are countless tournaments on every field and court that you could think of, for what…So that your child can get to be the best at their sport, get recognized enough to go to college (Division 1 or bust right…seems to be the prevailing thought).
It’s hard to be an athlete nowadays, the time requirements make it so that even your average 9-year-old baseball player has very little time to be an average 9 year old. I understand that everyone wants to be a professional athlete, I had the same exact goal when I was a kid, but I also had the chance to be a kid, to make mistakes and not be scolded for them, to strike out looking to end the game and get an arm around my shoulder from supporting parents.
I have been given an opportunity through BE Sports Media to share my insights on athletics, my stories and struggles and my thoughts about the shape of sports and sports programs. You as a reader may not agree with everything I saw and I am completely fine with that. My goal in my coaching and playing career has never been to make a parent happy with me, my goal has always been to have the child enjoy the sport they are playing, learn as much as they can and become a better teammate and with that I believe they become better individuals. I welcome any criticism of my philosophies and ideas and would love to engage in discussions. I have no ego about the things I do and I don’t play this game for fame or fortune, I continue to play because I love it.
Pete Andrelczyk is a graduate of Manheim Township high school. He attended Coastal Carolina University and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2007 draft but elected to return to school. The following year he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 5th round and began his professional career. Pete spent 7 years in the Marlins organization reaching AAA and playing in the Arizona Fall League, during that time he also competed with Team USA in the Pan Am Games and World Cup of Baseball. Pete lives locally and continues to work with athletes of all ages on the physical and mental aspects of baseball as well as the importance of education.
February…
Posted February 16th, 2016 by Pete Andrelczyk
It’s February 16th* (thanks to Microsoft Word all I really had to do there was press F-e-b), there is snow coming down-still, adding to the little bit that was left over from the massive storm a couple of weeks ago.
And I have officially contracted a fever (don’t feel bad…dad joke in 3, 2, 1…)
A BASEBALL FEVER (Seriously all I’m missing is the kid because my dad inspired humor is on point.)
The last couple months of off-season have been spent loving the fact that I don’t have to wind up and throw a baseball every single night and my body lets me know that it appreciates the downtime. That is, until I have to begin going to the gym 4-5 days a week and start up the conditioning program and cardio and yoga—which I actually enjoy and should do more of. But its now beginning to roll into baseball time, and time to start wanting to go outside and throw and run. No treadmills and no snow balls; give me green grass and a baseball.
Most of this is probably brought on by being out at baseball tryouts and clinics and seeing the enthusiasm that the kids have for the game. It makes me want to pick up a glove and ball and go play shortstop…which I did and then realized after the 8th throw to first that that was my 8th throw all winter and I should probably tone it down a little. After all, I don’t think I have any chance of making the 12u Manheim Township baseball team seeing as they have a shortstop who can currently hit better than me…I’ll stick to pitching.
I love being around the game with kids who just love to play and long for the snow to melt even if it means no more cancelled school and 2 hour delays. They’ll gladly trade those in for 3-hour practices with the team and ground-balls that take a bad hop and sweat pouring off the brim of their hat. Baseball players are a different breed, every baseball player knows that even if you put us in a sport we know nothing about, we will compete. It’s February (thanks again Word) and we’re all itching for the chance to get back on the field and compete. Against our friends, our rivals, our teammates, our siblings. Just give us some green grass and a time to be home and watch the summer fly by.
Just a couple more months and its officially baseball season, but I bet if you ask any 8 year old kid when baseball season is they’ll run to their room, grab their glove and say ‘right now.’ We may not be able to play today or tomorrow, but as soon as the weather clears up and all this snow and the sound of plows leaves the streets, it’ll only be a couple short weeks until it’s replaced by the sound of a ball hitting a bat or a leather mitt…and kids yelling to ‘turn two’ or ‘hit the cutoff.’ (Seriously kids, hitting the cutoff man is a huge skill and will greatly benefit you during your playing career!)
Pete Andrelczyk is a graduate of Manheim Township high school. He attended Coastal Carolina University and was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 32nd round of the 2007 draft but elected to return to school. The following year he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 5th round and began his professional career. Pete spent 7 years in the Marlins organization reaching AAA and playing in the Arizona Fall League, during that time he also competed with Team USA in the Pan Am Games and World Cup of Baseball. Pete lives locally and continues to work with athletes of all ages on the physical and mental aspects of baseball as well as the importance of education.
Pete will be contributing insights and stories for young athletes and parents depicting his story. You can follow Pete’s blog A Pitcher is worth a thousand words by visiting the Fig.
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