Category Archives: All The Rest

These are not the posts I like to write, but these are the posts y’all love. So, because I think up these kind of posts too, I’ll share some things I’ve learned, coached and seen along the way. “The greatest burden a child must bear is the unlived life of its parents.” Carl Jung I’m notContinue reading “Some General Guidelines That May or May Not Help You Parent Your Athlete Child … or Not.”

In 3rd grade, some students are asked to read Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. The story is based on the life Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who is diagnosed with leukemia after being exposed to radiation caused by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. In the book, which differs slightly from her real life story,Continue reading “Origami for Athletes”

In 1991, the year I graduated from high school and started my collegiate athletic career at the University of Georgia, Dan Gookin wrote and published the very first “For Dummies” book, DOS for Dummies. Shortly thereafter, Windows for Dummies was published; and, if you didn’t know, now you do, over 1,600 titles of Dummies booksContinue reading “Gardening for Athletes”

Not all coaching or sports moments are created equally. As someone who recently stepped away from coaching a sport, I have been writing in my journal about things I loved about coaching, but also things – little minor things – that sort of creep up on you as pain points in coaching. Maybe they aren’tContinue reading “You Can Have a Sandwich or a Smoothie, Not Both”

“I don’t want to go to the game,” our son said slouching in an oversized chair in our living room. He was close to tears and fully dressed in his baseball jersey with his catchers bag packed and his cleats still red from the diamond dust of his last game.  It was June of 2020Continue reading “Trading in Cleats for Clip-ins: Why We Gave Youth Soccer the Boot”

Recently, I was filling out paperwork for my child’s school physical – better known in the sports world as the Pre-Participation Evaluation (PPE). On the back of page two was a form titled “Patient Health Questionnaire Version 4.” This page asked me to rate four questions from “not at all” (a score of zero) toContinue reading “Athlete Mental Health – Referral Channels and How They Work”

Several years ago, I wrote a post about identity and self worth in athletes. Since then, so much has changed in our world and in my life. With new context and thousands more coaching hours under my belt, I decided to update my thoughts on these concepts. “I AM AN ATHLETE” Michael Phelps is anContinue reading “Identity vs. Values in Sport”

A few weeks ago a thought popped into my head “I wonder whatever happened to that article I pitched to … ?” So I hit the command/F keys and searched my email for said inquiry. Found it. Sent September 16, 2020. Opened September 16, 2020. No response – and I guess I forgot to followContinue reading “Resiliency in Athletes: Of Ghosts and Gaslights”

One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from a book I’ve devoured (twice), notated and referenced over and over again – “Grit, The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” by Angela Duckworth. The full quote is eight words, but my favorite three are these “effort counts twice.” As much as talent counts, effort countsContinue reading “Designing Internal Pressure for Your Sports Training”

Bow tie passing for volleyball (or hockey), over the net cooperative pepper, Rondo, passing shuttles or run plays in basketball … no matter what you call them, ball control or cooperative team drills in sport are commonly used to develop sport specific skills, focus and create good mental patterns and brain grooves that make itContinue reading “Why Cooperation Drills Train Mental and Performance Skills”