Russ Hafferkamp is recognized by the athletic world as a leader in the career development of both college- and elite- level athletes. Not only is he the founder of the Athlete Career Network, Inc. and the Managing Director and Co-Founder of Career Athletes LLC, but he is also the talented author of Career Ball: The Sport Athletes Play When They’re Through Playing Sports, a must-read for any athlete contemplating their life after sports, as well as any parents whose children may be considering a career in athletics. Somehow, even with all of these things on his plate, Russ has managed to find the time in his busy schedule to sit down and answer some questions for Rams on Demand:

ROD: First off, for those reading this who do not know, what do you and your company, CareerBall, do?

RH: CareerBall actively promotes the importance of competitive athletes paying close attention to the pending ‘life after sports’ moment that comes for every athlete. CareerBall works closely with Career Athletes (www.careerathletes.com), the leading provider of career opportunities and preparation for collegiate student-athletes, to promote better career planning and connections for competitive athletes.

ROD: In your article, “The Crisis Facing America’s Athletes,” you gave the statistic that 400,000 men and women compete in collegiate sports programs, and 7.5 million kids play high school sports. That is quite the number! You also detail the increasing demands for their time from their respective sports. Is there anything that can be done to ease the burden put on kids by athletic programs?

RH: Parents will always strive to protect their children and give them advantages, and sports seem to fit this bill more and more each year. Sports keep kids active and structured, focused throughout school and, now, they serve as an advantage to getting into college. I think sports will continue to be an attractive vehicle for parents to direct their kids, and the participation numbers will increase over time.

ROD: You mention in your blog that the ‘dumb jock’ stereotype persists, yet the competition for admission into major universities has stiffened. Therefore, admission standards for student-athletes are on the rise. So, in your opinion, why does the mindset that student-athletes are just ‘dumb jocks’ persist?

RH: The same way ‘dumb blondes’ stereotype still exists, ‘dumb athletes’ will always be a stereotype. Society enjoys a good stereotype. There are plenty of dumb athletes , to be sure, but more and more athletes realize that to get into college, grades are becoming an equal part of the equation.

ROD: In movies, books, and television, the pressure put on the athletes at the high school level to perform on the field has been well documented. It seems that in states like Texas, the pressure to perform is even higher. What would you say to/about the parents and coaches who treat their child athletes as if they are professionals and put so much pressure on them to excel on the field or court?

RH: This is a parent problem, not an athlete problem. Many parents live vicariously thru their children and when the child does not perform, it is the parent who becomes embarrassed. This whole parent-pressure issue says more about the parents and most thinking people are beginning to see this is becoming a problem.

ROD: Have you noticed specific changes in the mindset of the athletes, coaches, and parents over the last twenty years or so when it comes to athletic excellence? At what age do sports stop being a fun game for kids to play and transform into a means to get ahead? Who do you hold most responsible for this transition? Is it the kids, the parents, the coaches?

RH: Sports cease to become fun for anybody when the pressure of performance exceeds the human need to enjoy the activity. A bad coach, a losing team, a misguided parent…these can kill off joy for an athlete, and the path of least resistance is to quit. Unfortunately, really serious athletes – those in club programs throughout school – usually burn out right after high school if they do not have the skills to make it big at the college level.

ROD: Given your experience with helping athletes succeed after sports, I wonder what advice you would give to Sam Bradford. As you know, he was the number one pick in the NFL Draft this year. Many Rams fans are understandably excited by what this pick means for the future of the Rams, but others of us are concerned for what this means in term of the pressure it will put on Sam. What advice would you give to Bradford about the potential pitfalls ahead for him? What advice would you give him as far as protecting himself financially? How would the advice you give to Sam (who is on the verge of signing a $75 million-plus contract) differ from the advice you would give to, for example, a seventh-round pick like George Selvie?

RH: There are plenty of bad examples for Mr. Bradford to follow if he does not want to protect his new fortune. He needs objective advisers and needs to remain realistic that his profession will not last a lifetime. Mr. Selvie needs the same advice, but he should also read CareerBall, as he will most certainly need a career path once his playing days are over.

ROD: Regarding the recent stories out there about athletes receiving benefits from college boosters (especially the story about Reggie Bush), do you feel a college education is adequate compensation for these eighteen- to twenty-two-year-old kids who are making these institutions millions? With college sports (specifically football and basketball) becoming more and more like a business, where athletic directors and coaches are making millions, is it fair that the actual reason for the success of the sports (the players) are not receiving a slice of that pie, or is a ‘free’ education enough of a slice?

RH: Revenue sports athletes need to be compensated and incented for their participation at the D1 level. I envision a payment scale for team performance as well as an incentive scale to stay in school and work toward graduation.

ROD: Do you notice a substantial difference in the confidence levels of the student-athletes? Is this boost in self-confidence applicable more to the so-called ‘star’ athlete, or does just giving in to that team mentality boost the confidence of the athletes with lesser ability? Does this differ much from the sense of fulfillment associated with, say, learning an instrument?

RH: Our society is way more confident (or arrogant) than ever before, and athletes are no exception. It seems this notion of ‘overpowering’ people and problems give everybody a hall pass to be a bully, and people are buying into it. Being a great athlete is also about being a great person, which means remaining modest even when you have better skills than the next person.

ROD: You hear stories in the media and on television about athletes who are allowed to coast through school on their athletic ability alone; they are not held accountable on the ‘student’ part of being a ‘student-athlete’ and are held to a lower standard behind the scenes. First, in your experience, does this go on, and if so, how prevalent is it at the high school level? At the college level? What challenges do these individuals who are allowed to go through school without receiving an education face when their athletic ability is no longer enough?

RH: Over time, life has a way to balance the playing field for everybody. If you get to skate, you will only skate to the level of your intelligence or luck. I think the high school athlete gets more coasting room than the college athlete. College is becoming just too competitive to give breaks to anybody on a grand scale.

ROD: Is there anything specific you would say to those Rams on Demand members out there who have children who are interested in giving organized sports a try?

RH: Sports are a 100 percent terrific source of positive learning for young people. Parents just need to realize that sports are not a sure-fire way into college for their kids or an activity that should take 100 percent of their free time. Balance sports with life, and you have a winner.

ROD: I know you gave the specific statistic for the number of athletes who face financial hardship after their careers end in your book CareerBall: The Sport Athletes Play When They’re Through Playing Sports. Would you mind sharing that with us here?

RH: It’s a known fact that over 60 percent of NBA and NFL alumni athletes face financial or personal hardship within three years of retirement. This is largely the result of no prior planning for life after sports and placing 100 percent of their self-identity into that of being an athlete. Life is so much more than sports, but sadly, many athletes cannot balance the requirements of working with the requirements of living a balanced life

ROD: What kinds of programs do organizations like the NFL and NBA have in place to counsel young people who come into the league on handling themselves, specifically their finances? Would you say these programs are effective, given the number of athletes who face financial hardship once their careers end, or do you put the onus on those individuals?

RH: Almost every professional league provides counseling to its athletes on financial planning, personal comportment, etc. The problem is that it is largely a one-time counseling session, and the leagues then rely on the agents to provide ongoing counseling in critical life area… subjects in which they do not have a particular expertise.

ROD: In your experience, what is the most common mistake athletes make when it comes to managing their money?

RH: They make the mistake of thinking that it is all about ‘wealth creation’, but it is really about ‘wealth-preservation’.

ROD: Have you seen a trend in the number of athletes who make their primary residence in a state with no income tax? Is this something that comes into consideration at any point?

RH: Not particularly, as most athletes live in the city in which they play. Income tax avoidance is only a small part of money management.

ROD: Speaking of ‘trends’, how often would you say (approximately) athletes get ‘taken’ by poor investment schemes?

RH: Athletes are predisposed to take risks, and many athletes ‘swing for the fences’ when it comes to investments. You don’t have to be an athlete to be taken by the concept of a terrific investment that promises to double or triple your money.

ROD: You mention in your blog that many athletes are reluctant to seek counseling for fear of a certain perceived stigma attached to asking for help. In your experience, does this pertain only to student-athletes, or have you noticed this with professional athletes as well?

RH: Asking for help is not something that comes easy to any athlete, male or female, old or young. Everybody needs help at some time of their life, and 80 percent of intelligence is the ability to ask a great question from people who might know the answer.

ROD: We often hear stories about professional athletes being unable to leave behind certain people from their younger lives who may not be the best influences on them or have their best interests in mind. I heard a story about a NBA player who paid a friend of his six figures just to call him in the morning and wake him up. On one hand, it is very admirable of them to want to take care of the people who took care of them, but at what point should they draw a line? How prevalent is this in your experience, and are today’s athletes open to taking advice regarding their entourages?

RH: I personally think any athlete that has a large entourage of followers will not be open to any type of advice on the merits of entourages.

ROD: Have you noticed a correlation between personal conduct and post-retirement security? In other words, have you noticed that athletes who tend to run into off-the-field trouble tend to have financial difficulties more often than athletes who tend to stay out of trouble?

RH: It all comes down to judgment – who has it, and who does not. I see no correlation between athletes who run into trouble if they possess bad financial skills, but I see plenty of correlation between trouble and athletes who possess bad judgment.

ROD: What would you say is the number one contributing factor to athletes running into financial trouble?

RH: The instant changes from poverty to wealth with no reasonable experience to manage large sums of money. That, and the misguided belief that the money will never stop flowing. It all ends, at some time, for most everybody.

ROD: For those out there who would like to read more of your opinion on these issues or may want to seek your advice personally, where should they look?

RH: If you are a current or former NCAA or NAIA student-athlete, you need to go to www.careerathletes.com and register immediately. Your career is very important, and you need to make important connections. If you are an athlete in need of individual counseling, start by picking up a copy of my book, CareerBall, which can be purchased through Amazon on my website at www.careerball.net. If you still require or seek individual counseling for a specific area of your life, contact me directly at russ@careerball.net, and I’ll talk it over with you.

Thanks so much to Russ for the enlightening advice he’s given all the athletes out there. Any parent out there who reads should be sure to pick up a copy of Careerball or contact Russ to help their child overcome the obstacles they will face as an athlete. Again, thanks so much to Russ Hafferkamp for such an insightful interview and for spending some time with R.O.D.