Athletes, welcome to our last call before we all depart for Vienna. I wanted to spend this call
covering packing reminders and on site instructions, and end with giving you a chance to
answer questions.
As you all begin the process of discussing packing your luggage with your parents or guardian,
remember that packing light is very important! Both athletes and leaders must carry their own
luggage throughout the program. Before you depart, it is a good idea to try carrying your
luggage, including equipment around the block to get a sense of whether you have over
packed. You should try to keep well under weight limits and leave yourself room for any
souvenirs you may bring home.
Typically, each athlete is limited to a total of three pieces of luggage; one large suitcase, one
equipment bag, if necessary, and one regulation carry on size bag. The key sporting
equipment such as sports footwear and uniforms should be packed in your carry‐on bag in case
your luggage is lost or delayed.
Your suitcase and equipment bags should weigh no more than 45 pounds each and measure no
more than 54 inches (L+W+H). Your carryon bag should measure no more than 39 inches in
length, width or height and weigh 11 pounds or less. I would recommend bringing a back pack
as your carryon bag and using this as a day bag while you are on the program.
It is common for luggage to be lost or delayed when travelling internationally. In case this
occurs when we travel, each of you should pack a change of clothes, overnight necessities
including eyeglasses or contacts, and any medicines in your carry‐on bags in case of flight
delays or lost luggage.
If any bags go lost or missing, it will be your responsibility to purchase any necessary items. In
case this happens, make sure you have some spending money and that you haven’t packed this
in your checked in luggage. Parents, if you have kept the optional Delegate Protection Plan
insurance on your account, it can reimburse purchases that athletes might have to make if
their baggage is lost or delayed by submitting your claim to Berkley Care. Finally, in case your
checked bags are lost, remember to pack basic athletic equipment like your shoes and
uniforms in your carry‐on.
While this is a lot of information, one thing I would like you to especially note down is the 3‐1‐1
rule. When you are thinking about what to pack, remember that any liquids, gels, and aerosols
(like hairspray) that you pack in your carryon bag must be in 3oz containers packed in one
quart‐sized, clear, zip‐top plastic bag. Most drug stores like Walgreens or Target carry travel
sized shampoos and conditioners, and they often will carry the right size zip‐top bags for your
liquids in the same area.
Athletes, be aware of prohibited items when you are packing. Pocket knives, nail clippers,
scissors, and similar objects are prohibited in your carryon luggage and will be confiscated by
security at the Airport. You all have access to your flight itineraries on your Locker Room
website by now and can see which airline you are flying on. If you have specific concerns
regarding whether you can pack a certain item or parts of your sporting equipment, I would
advise you to check the restrictions with the airline you are flying on.
As security restrictions are frequently subject to change, it is important before traveling to
double check with both the Transportation Security Administration at tsa.gov to and your
airline to see whether any new security restrictions have been posted.
The next thing I would like to go over today is for any athletes who will be traveling with
prescription medication.
When you travel, any prescription medications you bring must be clearly labeled and remain
packed in their original containers. We just discussed that check‐in bags can go lost or missing,
so remember to carry any prescription medication in your carry‐on bag.
If you are bringing more than one prescription medication, remember never to mix different
medicines in the same container. Always carry an extra original prescription copy for all
necessary medications, contacts and eye glasses in case they need to be replaced during the
program.
Athletes if your medication requires you to carry any type of hypodermic needles or sharp
objects, you must have your parents or guardians contact the airline you are booked with to
make arrangements for you.
Remember, athletes who will travel with any medications must be self‐medicating while on
program. If any of you develops any new health condition not already noted on the health
form, it is important to contact the program office immediately. Also, if you have not
submitted your Health Form yet please do so immediately.
Next, I would like to explain the departure and arrival procedures on days of travel. You will be
contacted soon by the coach who will be escorting you on your international flight to Vienna.
When you meet your travel coach at the airport you will need to present him or her with your
Travel Sleeve. While we covered this last time I would like to remind you of the items which
should be in your travel sleeve:
1. Passport
2. Passport Copy
3. Two Passport Photos
4. Health Form
5. Success Contract
6. Optional – Copy of Insurance
When you arrive you should be wearing your navy blue travel tee that most of you have
received by now. Khaki pants, capris or walking shorts should be worn with your travel t‐shirts
on your departure and return travel days. Your leaders will be wearing their own People to
People maroon polo shirts and khaki pants.
Upon arrival overseas, all athletes will be taken to registration in Hollabrunn, Austria where
Athletic Directors will be waiting to checking you in.
You can review this same information regarding packing and travel days in your Sports Game
Plan found online in your Locker Room website.
Athletes should arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure. If anything is left
behind or if there is an issue, there will still be time to act. Remember; do not leave your house
without your passport and wallet! You will hand over your passport and travel sleeve to your
leader at the airport for safekeeping.
Due to increased security restrictions, family members are not allowed to come through
airport security without a special pass.
Some important reminders for your travel days:
• We need to express respectful behavior to our groups and to others both on the
airplane and at the airport.
• Be aware of others around you
• Keep your noise level down
• Stay in your assigned seats on the plane except to use the lavatory
• You should leave a good impression on people by showing respect and courtesy to
everyone.
When you arrive and check‐in in Hollabrunn, you will bring your things to your assigned
room. It is important to realize that your assigned roommate will most likely be travelling
on a different flight and may not be there when you arrive. Athletes will be arriving
throughout the day and into the evening.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Conference Call #3
I want spend time going over some aspects of travel you should begin thinking about now with your parents. First off, you should start considering what type and how much spending money you will bring with you to Europe. I strongly recommended that you bring more than one form of currency during the program, whether it is a credit card, debit card or cash. You should bring enough money with you to last the duration of the program. You should not expect to be able to receive a wire transfer except in emergency situations as your program event schedule may make it difficult to get away during bank hours.
A good amount to figure is $15 – 20 dollars per day for snacks, extra food and drinks etc. You all will have different needs for how many souvenirs and extra items you purchase to bring home, so make sure you discuss spending money amounts with your parents. You will have 3 meals a day provided but it is still a good idea to have some pocket money available if you get hungry in between meals. If you have a favorite snack item for before or after practice like a power bar or cliff bar, you can bring some along as long as they are sealed.
There a few options I recommend for different forms of currency to take. Athlete’s can be issued a credit card linked to a parent’s card and given a lower spending limit. This is a good option that allows athletes an addition measure of security during travel. If you are going to be getting a credit card for the trip, make sure you apply with enough time for the card to be issued and sent to your home.
Traveler checks are another form of currency. I typically don’t recommend traveler checks since they are not widely accepted by stores. An athlete might have to go to a bank or currency exchange kiosk and present his or her passport as identification to cash the check. This is problematic because athletes do not have access to their passports since leaders hold on to them for safekeeping.
I strongly recommend that all athletes carry a small amount of cash in dollars and local currency at all times. Obviously, if lost or stolen it cannot be cancelled and replaced. For this reason, I do not suggest that athletes carry their entire quantity of spending money in cash. Athletes should exchange some money prior to travel.
Debit or ATM cards are a good option and athletes can travel with a card that is linked to a bank checking account, not savings accounts. Many European ATMS do not offer withdrawal of funds from savings accounts so if you plan on travelling with a debit card, make sure it is linked to a checking account. Athletes should have the PIN number to their debit cards in case they need more spending cash.
Leaders will assist athletes in exchanging currency as needed. Athletes should not expect to be able to exchange money at the airport upon arrival but they will have a change to do so shortly after arrival. There is also typically a small fee for exchanging currency. The value of the U.S. dollar differs worldwide, so consider the exchange rate when planning your budget.
Remember athletes, you have been accepted as Sports Ambassadors because others believe you are mature enough to handle these responsibilities. Learning to be responsible for your own money is a great opportunity to build independence and maturity. We expect that you will have no problem representing your country and communities in an appropriate Ambassadorial manner.
As some of you will have parents, family or friends travelling to Vienna to watch the games, I want to spend a little time talking about our expectations any of you who will have visitors.
Any athletes with guests or parents travelling nearby are expected to abide by the same rules as all other athletes. Any of your guests will need to arrange their own travel, transportation, and hotel accommodations. Parent Information will be coming soon to the Locker Room website and this will include suggested hotels, points of interest in Vienna and other tips for travel in the area for them.
While on the program, no athlete is to be removed from any part of the scheduled program by the accompanying visitor without pre-arrangement with both the program office and guardian by filling out a Land Deviation Waiver. You can find this form in the Locker Room under Documents, then Downloads or in your Game Plan. Visitors must also properly sign out athletes with their coach. If your parents are travelling, please remind them about this policy and about the Land Deviation Form.
Visitors will be welcome to all tournaments and ceremonies, but we ask that they do not attend training camps since those are closed to allow the teams and athletes to focus. When attending the tournament, we ask that guests remain positive about the coaching, the officiating and the manner of play of all athletes. Coaches will handle any disagreements regarding the manner of play. Visitors who do not abide by these behavioral expectations may be removed from the play area. We hope that doesn’t happen so please keep in mind Ambassadorial behavior is expected from both athletes and any guests you bring.
Another thing to consider is how you plan on staying in touch with home. Athletes should not plan on calling home every night. International collect calls are very expensive and in some cases, the international connections can cost up to $15 per minute. Calling from your hotel room will not be an option as most hotels charge a fee for calling out of a room even when doing so with a calling card. Any phone or incidental charges to the hotel room will need to be paid before check out.
Calling cards can be used on the phones in the hotel lobby so having a card is still a good way to stay in touch with home. A calling card can sometimes be linked to your home phone number so that the charges will appear on your monthly home phone bill. If you plan to follow this method, you should make sure that there is an international plan linked to the card, or the charges will be unusually high.
Another option we highly recommend is renting an international cell phone. People to People partners with Cellhire for international phone rental, so if you think this might be a good choice for your please write down and visit their website at www.cellhire.com/ambassador.
Internet access may be limited while on Program so please do not count on communication via e-mail.
For the last two years the Program Office staff, who travels to Austria updated a daily blog with pictures and information for parents back home. If you want to take a look at this I will post the link to the blog which is www.ptpaustria.blogspot.com. There are some great tournament pictures there from 2008 and 2009 and pictures of the opening ceremonies. One of the most popular events for athletes are the opening ceremonies.
At 60 days prior to us leaving, a day by day itinerary will be posted for you to follow. At 30 days prior to departing the Program Office will confirm and post the list of accommodations you will be in each day. Our program is going to be a really interesting blend of training camp, international tournament play and cultural activities. In this call I want to highlight an activity we will be doing which is very unique and ties in to some of the reading you have been doing. After we first arrive and spend time training in a lovely little town call Hollabrunn about an hour outside Vienna, we will leave by motor coach for some cultural activities in Austria and Germany. One of these will be in the region of Carinthia, Austria, in the historic town of Friesach (Freez-ahk). The first records of the city date to the Middle Ages and the time of the Crusades. While we are in Friesach we will be learning from our Delegation Manager and the town residents about life in the Middle Ages. You are going to get to try your hand at medieval sports like archery and in the evening, we will be having a medieval banquet for dinner. We will actually get to spend the night in large pavilion style tents in the shadow of the castle walls. The tents are very thick and sturdy, and athletes will all have their own separate field beds or bunk beds with heavy wool blankets. It will be a huge adventure and a very unique experience.
I hope you all have been reading your Explore Before You Go guides for Austria and Germany. Reading these and learning about the history of both countries before we arrive can enrich your time spent on the program. Make sure you take the quizzes for both Austria and Germany too.
A good amount to figure is $15 – 20 dollars per day for snacks, extra food and drinks etc. You all will have different needs for how many souvenirs and extra items you purchase to bring home, so make sure you discuss spending money amounts with your parents. You will have 3 meals a day provided but it is still a good idea to have some pocket money available if you get hungry in between meals. If you have a favorite snack item for before or after practice like a power bar or cliff bar, you can bring some along as long as they are sealed.
There a few options I recommend for different forms of currency to take. Athlete’s can be issued a credit card linked to a parent’s card and given a lower spending limit. This is a good option that allows athletes an addition measure of security during travel. If you are going to be getting a credit card for the trip, make sure you apply with enough time for the card to be issued and sent to your home.
Traveler checks are another form of currency. I typically don’t recommend traveler checks since they are not widely accepted by stores. An athlete might have to go to a bank or currency exchange kiosk and present his or her passport as identification to cash the check. This is problematic because athletes do not have access to their passports since leaders hold on to them for safekeeping.
I strongly recommend that all athletes carry a small amount of cash in dollars and local currency at all times. Obviously, if lost or stolen it cannot be cancelled and replaced. For this reason, I do not suggest that athletes carry their entire quantity of spending money in cash. Athletes should exchange some money prior to travel.
Debit or ATM cards are a good option and athletes can travel with a card that is linked to a bank checking account, not savings accounts. Many European ATMS do not offer withdrawal of funds from savings accounts so if you plan on travelling with a debit card, make sure it is linked to a checking account. Athletes should have the PIN number to their debit cards in case they need more spending cash.
Leaders will assist athletes in exchanging currency as needed. Athletes should not expect to be able to exchange money at the airport upon arrival but they will have a change to do so shortly after arrival. There is also typically a small fee for exchanging currency. The value of the U.S. dollar differs worldwide, so consider the exchange rate when planning your budget.
Remember athletes, you have been accepted as Sports Ambassadors because others believe you are mature enough to handle these responsibilities. Learning to be responsible for your own money is a great opportunity to build independence and maturity. We expect that you will have no problem representing your country and communities in an appropriate Ambassadorial manner.
As some of you will have parents, family or friends travelling to Vienna to watch the games, I want to spend a little time talking about our expectations any of you who will have visitors.
Any athletes with guests or parents travelling nearby are expected to abide by the same rules as all other athletes. Any of your guests will need to arrange their own travel, transportation, and hotel accommodations. Parent Information will be coming soon to the Locker Room website and this will include suggested hotels, points of interest in Vienna and other tips for travel in the area for them.
While on the program, no athlete is to be removed from any part of the scheduled program by the accompanying visitor without pre-arrangement with both the program office and guardian by filling out a Land Deviation Waiver. You can find this form in the Locker Room under Documents, then Downloads or in your Game Plan. Visitors must also properly sign out athletes with their coach. If your parents are travelling, please remind them about this policy and about the Land Deviation Form.
Visitors will be welcome to all tournaments and ceremonies, but we ask that they do not attend training camps since those are closed to allow the teams and athletes to focus. When attending the tournament, we ask that guests remain positive about the coaching, the officiating and the manner of play of all athletes. Coaches will handle any disagreements regarding the manner of play. Visitors who do not abide by these behavioral expectations may be removed from the play area. We hope that doesn’t happen so please keep in mind Ambassadorial behavior is expected from both athletes and any guests you bring.
Another thing to consider is how you plan on staying in touch with home. Athletes should not plan on calling home every night. International collect calls are very expensive and in some cases, the international connections can cost up to $15 per minute. Calling from your hotel room will not be an option as most hotels charge a fee for calling out of a room even when doing so with a calling card. Any phone or incidental charges to the hotel room will need to be paid before check out.
Calling cards can be used on the phones in the hotel lobby so having a card is still a good way to stay in touch with home. A calling card can sometimes be linked to your home phone number so that the charges will appear on your monthly home phone bill. If you plan to follow this method, you should make sure that there is an international plan linked to the card, or the charges will be unusually high.
Another option we highly recommend is renting an international cell phone. People to People partners with Cellhire for international phone rental, so if you think this might be a good choice for your please write down and visit their website at www.cellhire.com/ambassador.
Internet access may be limited while on Program so please do not count on communication via e-mail.
For the last two years the Program Office staff, who travels to Austria updated a daily blog with pictures and information for parents back home. If you want to take a look at this I will post the link to the blog which is www.ptpaustria.blogspot.com. There are some great tournament pictures there from 2008 and 2009 and pictures of the opening ceremonies. One of the most popular events for athletes are the opening ceremonies.
At 60 days prior to us leaving, a day by day itinerary will be posted for you to follow. At 30 days prior to departing the Program Office will confirm and post the list of accommodations you will be in each day. Our program is going to be a really interesting blend of training camp, international tournament play and cultural activities. In this call I want to highlight an activity we will be doing which is very unique and ties in to some of the reading you have been doing. After we first arrive and spend time training in a lovely little town call Hollabrunn about an hour outside Vienna, we will leave by motor coach for some cultural activities in Austria and Germany. One of these will be in the region of Carinthia, Austria, in the historic town of Friesach (Freez-ahk). The first records of the city date to the Middle Ages and the time of the Crusades. While we are in Friesach we will be learning from our Delegation Manager and the town residents about life in the Middle Ages. You are going to get to try your hand at medieval sports like archery and in the evening, we will be having a medieval banquet for dinner. We will actually get to spend the night in large pavilion style tents in the shadow of the castle walls. The tents are very thick and sturdy, and athletes will all have their own separate field beds or bunk beds with heavy wool blankets. It will be a huge adventure and a very unique experience.
I hope you all have been reading your Explore Before You Go guides for Austria and Germany. Reading these and learning about the history of both countries before we arrive can enrich your time spent on the program. Make sure you take the quizzes for both Austria and Germany too.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Women's Final Four
If you ever have the opportunity to experience a final four, I HIGHLY recommend it. After Sunday night, I have now had the opportunity to be in attendance at two women’s final fours...both in San Antonio, Texas. What an absolutely awesome atmosphere! Being an Oklahoman, I was there both times to root for the University of Oklahoma, better known here as OU. (Boomer-Sooner!) Even though OU fell a bit short, I have to say that getting the opportunity to be there to see Baylor’s Brittney Griner, Standford’s Nnemkadi Ogwumike and Jayne Appel, and this year’s entire University of Connecticut team live, in action, just 4 rows up from court level was pretty sweet in itself. I’m not sure there are many places where you can see such amazing athleticism, talent, and passion in one spot. The fans are ridiculously enthusiastic as well. I met plenty of people that were diehard fans for one of the four teams in the final four, but I also met people that had no ties to any of the teams but were just lovers of the game of basketball and didn’t want to miss out.
To me, the best action was on the basketball court, but it was also pretty cool to be out on the river walk and see the players and teams out amongst the rest of us “Regular Joe’s”. (No, I wasn’t out stocking for autographs, but I’m sure you could have caught me gawking at Tina Charles when she strolled by!) I didn’t stay for the championship game this year as duty calls back at school, but I did 8 years ago when OU made it to the finals to play Connecticut. I’ll never forget that experience and now I have another one to add to the memory books. Come to think of it, I’d place the excitement and fun of my People to People trip last year right up there with both of these experiences!!! Happy Hoopin' Everyone...Andrea Guziec
To me, the best action was on the basketball court, but it was also pretty cool to be out on the river walk and see the players and teams out amongst the rest of us “Regular Joe’s”. (No, I wasn’t out stocking for autographs, but I’m sure you could have caught me gawking at Tina Charles when she strolled by!) I didn’t stay for the championship game this year as duty calls back at school, but I did 8 years ago when OU made it to the finals to play Connecticut. I’ll never forget that experience and now I have another one to add to the memory books. Come to think of it, I’d place the excitement and fun of my People to People trip last year right up there with both of these experiences!!! Happy Hoopin' Everyone...Andrea Guziec
Summary Conference Call #2
First, as a review, your Health Forms should have been faxed or mailed to the program office by March 1. For any of you guys who are new to the program please make sure you have your parents complete and submit this form to the Program Office in Spokane, WA. The correct fax number is on the form itself and is 888-222-8898. Remember to keep the original for yourself since you will need to bring a copy in your travel sleeve when you arrive.
Another reminder is passports, if you have not submitted an application yet, please make it priority to get your passport photos printed and submit your application. Once you receive your passport, please be sure to make a photo copy of the picture page. You should then print your full name and your delegate ID number on the upper right corner of the passport copy. This copy and your passport itself should then go into your travel sleeve. It is vital that you have a photocopy of your passport in your carry on luggage during travel to ensure that your passport can be replaced if lost. Athletes, you also need to bring two extra passport photos to ensure swift replacement in the event that a passport is lost or damaged.
As we get close to travel your final information packet will be sent out and this will include your Sports Uniforms. The package will be sent from the Program Office directly to your homes so it is important to make sure that you give the Program Office your sizing information for both the polo shirt they will provide and for your uniforms. If you haven’t done this yet please make sure you go online to your Locker Room website and click on the “My Sports Information” tab with your parents and update your uniform information. If no size is listed than the uniform cannot be sent or may be quite late in arriving, so please make sure you update your sizing information in the Locker Room.
Your uniforms will be mailed directly to your homes, so if you provided a P.O. Box address as your contact information when you applied to the program, you should make sure the Program Office has your physical address used for shipping. If you aren’t sure what address you provided, you can e-mail the Program Office at info@peopletopeople.com. Make sure you include your name and contact information in any email to the Program Office so that they can find your account.
When you are in that “My Sports Information” section, make sure to complete your sport-specific information. Before we travel we are going place you into interim teams based on this information. During the first two days of training camp when we arrive, all rosters will be finalized. All teams will be subject to change based on coach assessment each of your skill sets. That said, each one of you has earned the opportunity to contribute to the success of the team and coaches will focus on giving equal playing time to all Sports Ambassadors. Every member’s contribution is important to the success of the team.
When you arrive on site, there will be Athletic Trainers and Delegation Managers who will join us. The Athletic Trainers that will support us in Austria will be responsible for handling minor medical situations like icing, taping, bandages, etc. during training camp and competitions. Athletic Trainers will also offer taping assistance in the morning and evening. If you require taping, please bring your own tape and pre-wrap for this purpose. We will also travel with a foreign Delegation Manager who will assist with all aspects of daily activities and itinerary including making sure each team is informed about daily schedules and meal times etc. Our Delegation Manager is a great resource for teaching us about Austrian customs and culture. While a lot of people we meet will know English, the official language in both Austria and Germany is German and our Delegation Manager will help you communicate.
Some last housekeeping reminders before we move forward, if you haven’t finished getting all your Recommendation Forms yet make sure you have these completed and submit them to either me or the coach who conducted your interview. There are also now two Explore Before You Go documents posted to the “Learning Center,” one for Austria and one for Germany which you should print and read to start familiarizing yourself with the history of both countries. Even though we are going to be learning so much onsite, I want you all to have a little background information so you call really understand the cultural significance of the places and people we will visit.
In our March and April conference calls we will be spending a lot of time covering pre-travel information that will help you get ready to travel, especially how and what to pack for your program. For those of you who want to start thinking about this beforehand, there is a packing list and dress code in your Game Plan. One thing you might want to begin brainstorming on some ideas with your parents are good will gifts for the athletes you will meet during the program. As a representative of People to People Sports Ambassadors and of the United States, we recommend that each athlete should come prepared with several good will gifts. Good will gifts are often given by our athletes at the end of their first international game and are token gifts given as gestures of friendship and goodwill to opposing team members. They could also be given to bus drivers, Delegation Managers, and other people you meet during the travel experience. They aren’t meant to be huge or expensive and any gifts that you bring should be small sized items such as magnets, lapel pins, pens, pencils, key chains, recipe collections, or other anything else you can think of which may symbolically represent the United States or your local area. It is important to remember that when giving a good will gift, you should NOT expect a gift in return.
Another reminder is passports, if you have not submitted an application yet, please make it priority to get your passport photos printed and submit your application. Once you receive your passport, please be sure to make a photo copy of the picture page. You should then print your full name and your delegate ID number on the upper right corner of the passport copy. This copy and your passport itself should then go into your travel sleeve. It is vital that you have a photocopy of your passport in your carry on luggage during travel to ensure that your passport can be replaced if lost. Athletes, you also need to bring two extra passport photos to ensure swift replacement in the event that a passport is lost or damaged.
As we get close to travel your final information packet will be sent out and this will include your Sports Uniforms. The package will be sent from the Program Office directly to your homes so it is important to make sure that you give the Program Office your sizing information for both the polo shirt they will provide and for your uniforms. If you haven’t done this yet please make sure you go online to your Locker Room website and click on the “My Sports Information” tab with your parents and update your uniform information. If no size is listed than the uniform cannot be sent or may be quite late in arriving, so please make sure you update your sizing information in the Locker Room.
Your uniforms will be mailed directly to your homes, so if you provided a P.O. Box address as your contact information when you applied to the program, you should make sure the Program Office has your physical address used for shipping. If you aren’t sure what address you provided, you can e-mail the Program Office at info@peopletopeople.com. Make sure you include your name and contact information in any email to the Program Office so that they can find your account.
When you are in that “My Sports Information” section, make sure to complete your sport-specific information. Before we travel we are going place you into interim teams based on this information. During the first two days of training camp when we arrive, all rosters will be finalized. All teams will be subject to change based on coach assessment each of your skill sets. That said, each one of you has earned the opportunity to contribute to the success of the team and coaches will focus on giving equal playing time to all Sports Ambassadors. Every member’s contribution is important to the success of the team.
When you arrive on site, there will be Athletic Trainers and Delegation Managers who will join us. The Athletic Trainers that will support us in Austria will be responsible for handling minor medical situations like icing, taping, bandages, etc. during training camp and competitions. Athletic Trainers will also offer taping assistance in the morning and evening. If you require taping, please bring your own tape and pre-wrap for this purpose. We will also travel with a foreign Delegation Manager who will assist with all aspects of daily activities and itinerary including making sure each team is informed about daily schedules and meal times etc. Our Delegation Manager is a great resource for teaching us about Austrian customs and culture. While a lot of people we meet will know English, the official language in both Austria and Germany is German and our Delegation Manager will help you communicate.
Some last housekeeping reminders before we move forward, if you haven’t finished getting all your Recommendation Forms yet make sure you have these completed and submit them to either me or the coach who conducted your interview. There are also now two Explore Before You Go documents posted to the “Learning Center,” one for Austria and one for Germany which you should print and read to start familiarizing yourself with the history of both countries. Even though we are going to be learning so much onsite, I want you all to have a little background information so you call really understand the cultural significance of the places and people we will visit.
In our March and April conference calls we will be spending a lot of time covering pre-travel information that will help you get ready to travel, especially how and what to pack for your program. For those of you who want to start thinking about this beforehand, there is a packing list and dress code in your Game Plan. One thing you might want to begin brainstorming on some ideas with your parents are good will gifts for the athletes you will meet during the program. As a representative of People to People Sports Ambassadors and of the United States, we recommend that each athlete should come prepared with several good will gifts. Good will gifts are often given by our athletes at the end of their first international game and are token gifts given as gestures of friendship and goodwill to opposing team members. They could also be given to bus drivers, Delegation Managers, and other people you meet during the travel experience. They aren’t meant to be huge or expensive and any gifts that you bring should be small sized items such as magnets, lapel pins, pens, pencils, key chains, recipe collections, or other anything else you can think of which may symbolically represent the United States or your local area. It is important to remember that when giving a good will gift, you should NOT expect a gift in return.
Summary Conference Call #1
People to People International is celebrating over 50 years of world service. It was started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 as a way to bring the citizens of different countries together. People to People has always had a clear mission: to bring American students closer to people and cultures around the world.
As Sports Ambassadors you represent your school, community, state and country while traveling abroad. You will learn about other cultures, experience unique activities and meet local citizens. Sports Ambassadors come in all shapes and sizes but share many common traits: a curious and adventurous spirit, an open mind and heart, the desire to learn about other cultures and people, and the belief in President Eisenhower’s vision that each person can make a difference to achieve “peace through understanding.”
Sports Ambassadors in grades 9-12 are automatically enrolled in the tuition-paid courses called “Sports Ambassador Physical Fitness” and “Ambassadorial Studies.” Each of these classes is equivalent to 60 classroom hours or one trimester of credit. Athletes are evaluated by leaders throughout their program regarding their participation as well as Ambassadorial skills and sportsmanship.
There is also optional university credit available for Sports Ambassadors in grades 7-12. If you are in grades 7-12 you are eligible to earn university credit for courses administered directly by Eastern Washington University (EWU). If you are interested in this option, you can visit EWU’s website for the enrollment information and course offerings at ec.ewu.edu.
Your individual school districts set their own guidelines when accepting credit hours from other schools so I encourage you to meet with your academic advisors prior to travelling on the program in order to discuss adding the credit to your high school transcript.
The basic insurance plan than covers illness of injury while overseas is included in the program tuition. This plan reimburses athletes for any medical expenses incurred that exceed the amount paid by his or her personal insurance policy. Full details of this insurance coverage will be sent out to all athletes.
Athletes also have optional coverage that is automatically included on each athlete’s account. The Delegate Protection Plan brochure includes information on the optional $295 insurance. The optional insurance covers things like trip interruption, lost luggage, and trip delay as well as additional medical protection. A good example of how useful this can be is if an athlete got injured or sick right before travel and their doctor said they couldn’t travel, their parent could submit a claim to Berkley Care and be refunded the cost of their tuition less the $295 insurance premium. All athletes are automatically enrolled in this plan but may decline participation by notifying the Program Office up to 120 days prior to departure.
If you have any specific questions regarding the insurance plans, policies or coverage you can contact Berkley Care, who is the People to People insurance and claims administrator, and ask for the People to People Delegate Protection Plan Help Line at 800-332-7374 or 516-343-2720 during the hours 8am – 10pm EST, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST on Saturday.
An import matter to direct your attention to next is making sure you are ready to travel. Athletes, together with your parents please review the passport and visa information on either the Locker Room website or in your Game Plan book. Your Game Plan book is in the document download section of the Locker Room website.
If you haven’t applied yet, you can get the forms you need to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov and at some local post offices or public libraries. If you need help finding the nearest passport agency you use the website to help locate the best option. It is important to start this process as soon as possible as it can take time.
I would like to highlight that there is a different process for athletes traveling on a non-U.S. passport. Any athletes who are traveling on Non. U.S. Passports are responsible to arranging any visa they might require for entry. If you are a non-U.S. Passport holder and you aren’t sure how to get started please note down the e-mail address for the Foreign Documentation Special at People to People, Miranda Hamilton, at : Miranda.hamilton@peopletopeople.com.
The last item I would like to cover with you tonight is your Health Form. Health Forms are located either online in the Locker Room or in your application materials. I need you all to fax or submit your health forms to the program office by March 1.
Some items of note on the Health Form are that all athlete health conditions must be indicated on the form. Full disclosure on your Health Form is important and designed to ensure every athletes’ safety during the program, not prevent them from traveling.
As Sports Ambassadors you represent your school, community, state and country while traveling abroad. You will learn about other cultures, experience unique activities and meet local citizens. Sports Ambassadors come in all shapes and sizes but share many common traits: a curious and adventurous spirit, an open mind and heart, the desire to learn about other cultures and people, and the belief in President Eisenhower’s vision that each person can make a difference to achieve “peace through understanding.”
Sports Ambassadors in grades 9-12 are automatically enrolled in the tuition-paid courses called “Sports Ambassador Physical Fitness” and “Ambassadorial Studies.” Each of these classes is equivalent to 60 classroom hours or one trimester of credit. Athletes are evaluated by leaders throughout their program regarding their participation as well as Ambassadorial skills and sportsmanship.
There is also optional university credit available for Sports Ambassadors in grades 7-12. If you are in grades 7-12 you are eligible to earn university credit for courses administered directly by Eastern Washington University (EWU). If you are interested in this option, you can visit EWU’s website for the enrollment information and course offerings at ec.ewu.edu.
Your individual school districts set their own guidelines when accepting credit hours from other schools so I encourage you to meet with your academic advisors prior to travelling on the program in order to discuss adding the credit to your high school transcript.
The basic insurance plan than covers illness of injury while overseas is included in the program tuition. This plan reimburses athletes for any medical expenses incurred that exceed the amount paid by his or her personal insurance policy. Full details of this insurance coverage will be sent out to all athletes.
Athletes also have optional coverage that is automatically included on each athlete’s account. The Delegate Protection Plan brochure includes information on the optional $295 insurance. The optional insurance covers things like trip interruption, lost luggage, and trip delay as well as additional medical protection. A good example of how useful this can be is if an athlete got injured or sick right before travel and their doctor said they couldn’t travel, their parent could submit a claim to Berkley Care and be refunded the cost of their tuition less the $295 insurance premium. All athletes are automatically enrolled in this plan but may decline participation by notifying the Program Office up to 120 days prior to departure.
If you have any specific questions regarding the insurance plans, policies or coverage you can contact Berkley Care, who is the People to People insurance and claims administrator, and ask for the People to People Delegate Protection Plan Help Line at 800-332-7374 or 516-343-2720 during the hours 8am – 10pm EST, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm EST on Saturday.
An import matter to direct your attention to next is making sure you are ready to travel. Athletes, together with your parents please review the passport and visa information on either the Locker Room website or in your Game Plan book. Your Game Plan book is in the document download section of the Locker Room website.
If you haven’t applied yet, you can get the forms you need to apply for a passport at travel.state.gov and at some local post offices or public libraries. If you need help finding the nearest passport agency you use the website to help locate the best option. It is important to start this process as soon as possible as it can take time.
I would like to highlight that there is a different process for athletes traveling on a non-U.S. passport. Any athletes who are traveling on Non. U.S. Passports are responsible to arranging any visa they might require for entry. If you are a non-U.S. Passport holder and you aren’t sure how to get started please note down the e-mail address for the Foreign Documentation Special at People to People, Miranda Hamilton, at : Miranda.hamilton@peopletopeople.com.
The last item I would like to cover with you tonight is your Health Form. Health Forms are located either online in the Locker Room or in your application materials. I need you all to fax or submit your health forms to the program office by March 1.
Some items of note on the Health Form are that all athlete health conditions must be indicated on the form. Full disclosure on your Health Form is important and designed to ensure every athletes’ safety during the program, not prevent them from traveling.
Conference Call #3
Conference Call #3 is scheduled for Sunday, April 18, 2:00 PM CST. I will email invitations in the next week. Please respond by confirming whether or not you will be able to make the call.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
COACH'S CORNER
Here is where the People to People coaches will share their travel experiences, coaching advice and anything else to help with the sports ambassadors pre-travel preparations.
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