Stretching Develops Flexibility in Body and Mind
Stretching Develops Flexibility in Body and Mind I often get the question: when should I stretch?* The short answer is: After your workout. After your game. After your run. There are 2 main reasons for this. One is physical: after exercise is when your muscles are warm and supple. Stretching afterwards allows them to lengthen, […]
Life on Soccer Sundays
A popular T-shirt reads: “Soccer is life. The rest is just details.” I would have worn this T-shirt when I was growing up. Athletics brought identity, order and discipline to my life. And the discipline I learned there, I brought to life’s other pursuits. Cut to today: my kids wear this T-shirt. And in spite […]
Behind Before You get Started!
It’s that time again: I call it overlap season. That season when the school year events have not quite concluded, but the summer events have already begun. Yes, my calendar is filled with end of year concerts, awards ceremonies, graduations and other culminating celebrations. Even luncheons thanking the volunteers, but who can spare the time? […]
Deny distractions by simplifying the skill
Help players defeat the distractions by highlighting the important steps in the skill and communicating them patiently and effectively. Demonstration by the coach is rarely an effective teaching method.
Catch Them Being Good!
…A great title taken from a book written by Tony DiCicco (former women’s US National soccer team head coach) and Colleen Hacker, PhD (sport psychologist and consultant to this team). It’s good advice for parents. It works for co-workers, employees and even bosses. And, sometimes, it’s hard to remember. On Mother’s Day one year, I […]
Act as if to conquer the what ifs
Tony DiCicco writes “attitude is a choice that can color any situation …and it’s contagious. …get your players to talk the talk and walk the walk…encourage them to act as if they are the players they want to be.” I’ve heard this expressed in other ‘environments.’ “Fake it til you make it’ or ‘do the […]
Abby Wambach’s Dangerous Play
Aw Abby! Abby Wambach won’t be with her team, the Washington Freedom, for their next game. She is serving a one-game suspension for a tackle she made on star opponent, Daniela, at the Freedom’s game Sunday night. As the result of Abby’s tackle, Daniela suffered knee ligament damage and a cracked tibia. Her season is […]
How to choose the right coach
From the player’s perspective, a good coach is someone who… Can motivate and teach Encourages and inspires Is insightful and compassionate Communicates in an understandable way You can communicate with You can trust and learn from Is a tactician Knows the fundamentals Explains and can physically demonstrate skills Develops character first, then the athlete Brandi […]
How to Win at Sports Parenting
Do you wonder how you can: increase the fun in our children’s sports activities diffuse the fear of failure eliminate confusion between roles and expectations relieve the tension we feel as we drive up to the athletic complex Sports are the perfect place to grow the relationship between yourself and your child which is always […]
Nine Rules of Good Training
1. Knows that exercise is stress. An athlete must rest and recover to build. 2. Will increase intensity slowly (not > 10%/week). (Coaches often coach to the highest common denominator. This puts the lowest in fitness at risk.) 3. Will build a base of fitness: gradually building intensity, peaking in season. 4. Will alternate hard […]