USA TODAY High School Sports has a weekly column on the recruiting process. This isn’t about where just the top five-star athletes are headed but rather a guide to the process and the pitfalls for student-athletes nationwide from Fred Bastie, the owner and founder of Playced.com. Playced.com identifies appropriate colleges for potential recruits and delivers an online DIY college planning experience for student athletes of all talent levels and ages.

(Photo: Playced)

In 1621, the Plymouth Colonists and Wampanoag Indians (not football teams) shared a Fall feast that is acknowledged today as the first Thanksgiving. After that, for more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. Eventually, in 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November. So, officially Thanksgiving has been around for 152 years.  There’s your history lesson for the day, unfortunately I doubt it will be on the ACT.

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On a lighter note… It’s Thanksgiving Break!  FINALLY!!!  It’s hard to believe, but 1/3 of the school year is behind you.  It’s time for a mental and physical break.  What could be better than four days of food, family and football?  It also means that your coaches, your teammates, and your parents have spent an enormous amount of time already this year supporting you and your team.  Take just a minute to think about that.  Once you do, you will realize how indebted you are to each of them for their time, their support and their efforts.  And there’s no better time than Thanksgiving to thank each of them for it.

Thank your Teammates

One of the biggest benefits of participating in athletics is the relationships you develop with your teammates.  Your teammates are likely to become your life-long friends.  They are there for you when you succeed and when you fail.  Without the support of your teammates the tough times would be harder and the good times wouldn’t be as enjoyable.  Don’t wait until after your teammates go on to college to thank them for being there.  If you do, you might not ever have the opportunity to show your appreciation.  Take the time in the next few weeks to tell your teammates how much you appreciate them!

Thank your Coaches

Every student-athlete should understand what to expect from a coach.  The first item on a coach’s job description is to teach the fundamentals of the game.  This might include how to field a groundball, make a tackle or shoot a free throw.  He or she should also teach you the rules of the game and how the game is played.  Finally, your coach owes it to you to be objective and fair.

If you have a coach that does all of the above then you should be thankful, but most coaches do so much more than that.  Coaches become teachers, advocates, role models and mentors.  I truly believe that many coaches don’t realize the impact they have on the lives of the athletes they coach.  Everyone remembers their varsity coach and many student athletes stay connected with them for life.  What a great result for the coach and the athlete!  If you have a coach who is willing to take the time to help you improve, take the time to say “thank you” this Thanksgiving and every chance you get.

(Photo: Playced)

Thank your Parents

We all know how parents can be, but let’s face it, all they really want is the best for you. They ask too many questions, they think you are the best player on the planet and they are more critical than your coach. That being said, they are your biggest fan, they will always be in your corner and you can ask them anything.  Also, they are your parents, so you are stuck with them for life!

You may not believe this now, but as you get older, your parents will get smarter.  Much of the advice they are giving you now will start to make sense over time.

At our house, we have a Thanksgiving tradition.  Before dinner we all mention something we are thankful for.  If you have the same tradition at your house, consider thanking your parents for all they do.  If you don’t have that tradition, tell them while you are helping with the dishes!

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite times of the year.  Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the true meaning of Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the things you have to be thankful for.  In my opinion, if you are lucky enough to live in this country, then you have plenty to be thankful for. Everything else is a bonus.