By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES - With school being dismissed only a week ago in Niles, most would think the students would have some time to hit the beach or get that much needed rest and relaxation.
While that may be true for most, it's not the case for Niles' football team as they are already preparing for the 2005-06 football season.
Members of the team had the opportunity to listen to John Rowbotham, a clinician for Bigger Faster Stronger, Wednesday evening at the high school.
There, Rowbotham, led a "Be An 11" seminar to give the team advice on how to be successful on and off the field.
Be An 11 seminars are aimed at changing lives and winning Championships.
The dynamic seminar presenters infuse athletic programs with a greater vision. Along with that vision, they teach the athletes how to set higher goals, work harder and become better people as they create their own value system with high standards.
On a scale of 1 to 10, each participant will Be An 11 athlete, student, communicator, community member and leader.
Rowbotham has been working with BFS for three years. Prior to working with BFS, Rowbotham played defensive back for the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes football team in Tacoma, Wash. 
At the seminar, players, their parents and the coaches found out what it is going to take to have a successful program.
They were divided into three groups and had to come up with goals for this year's team and how to achieve them.
Some of the goals for the coaches were a state championship and to make the All-Academic State list.
Some of the goals for the players were, like the coaches, to win a state title and to get support from the staff and the community.
The parents would like to give as much support as they can to their athetes by doing things like holding fundraisers, continuing the ever so famous tailgating party before the home games and they would like to purchase thunder sticks, the noise makers, to let the team know they are at the games to support them.
Bigger Faster Stronger is the most widely used strength and conditioning program in America. Every year over 300 schools nation wide sponsor a BFS clinic and find it to be one of the best experiences they have ever had.