Author Archives

Wife, mother, Christ follower.

• When Parents Have FOMO in Youth Sports

  By pytallman on June 8, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  “Mom, why didn’t you put me in baseball when I was six?” My ten year-old’s words swirled through the air as we made our way through the parking lot after an evening little league game. I lost myself in thoughts… Read More ›

• Chicken and Broccoli: Putting Whole Thoughts Into Your Mind

  By pytallman on May 12, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  Location: Durham, North Carolina. Date: Late November/Early December, 1994 Event: worst game of my collegiate career. There are only two details I remember about this match. That I played the absolute worst match of my collegiate career and the epic… Read More ›

• Diagnosis. Human: A Story of Childhood Anxiety.

  By pytallman on April 9, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  I try to keep this blog to sports content as much as possible, but the truth is, I’m not just a former athlete, mom and wife, turned coach … I’m also just a regular person with regular issues and stuff… Read More ›

• Why I Like Training “By Myself”

  By pytallman on April 5, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  There are two times my brain is quiet and still: when I’m sleeping when I’m training. See, I’m a processor. I am constantly taking in information whether spoken or sensory or relational dynamics or environmental or that mosquito that just… Read More ›

• I’m Not Anxious, You’re Anxious: 3 Tips For Athletes (Who Aren’t Anxious)

  By pytallman on March 6, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  Anxiety is a normal human process. We inherited it from our ancestors who needed it to survive in a pre-historic era of actual, constant danger. Our ancestors, however, weren’t anxious because a bear or lion gave them the side eye,… Read More ›

• Coaches in China Shops – What’s Your Role in Coaching Youth Sports?

  By pytallman on February 15, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  Two years ago, I made the decision to get back into coaching. I didn’t come from a particularly decorated coaching career (if you can even call it that). A short three-year stint as a club coach in Southern California for… Read More ›

• But I *Really* Love Pepper

  By pytallman on January 22, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  Let’s get something straight right away. I love pepper. Not the spice, but volleyball pepper. Not new school over the net, nine person, four person, rotating pepper variations. Two person pepper, same side of the net, ball control until one… Read More ›

• Identity and Self-Worth in Sports

  By pytallman on January 16, 2018 • ( 0 )

  

  This is not another article about how you are more than your sport. This is not a post about how identifying with your sport is a bad thing and that you need to find balance. This is a post about… Read More ›

• Is it Really Burnout?

  By pytallman on January 12, 2018 • ( 3 )

  

  At the beginning of this year, we pulled the plug on Tae Kwon Do for our kids. We first started it for my son, who was four at the time, because it was recommended to us by our Occupational Therapist… Read More ›

• 5 Things That Haven’t Changed About Volleyball

  By pytallman on December 13, 2017 • ( 0 )

  

  Six rotation outside hitters. Liberos, defensive specialists. Contesting a play to reverse the call. Sideout scoring. Jump float. Kick saves. Number of substitutions. Purple cards. It’s safe to say our sport has changed quite a bit in the past decade…. Read More ›