Where Did Soccer Mom Go Wrong?
Part 2 in the 3 blog series: “Redeeming Soccer Mom” Soccer Mom has generated quite a lot of interest and not all of it positive. I found this out when I googled her. No longer just a Mom driving kids to their sports activities, Soccer Mom now seems to be: A crazy driver nearly causing […]
From Super Mom to Soccer Mom
First in a three blog series: “Redeeming Soccer Mom” Who is Soccer Mom? It’s hard to believe, but the term “Soccer Mom” has only been in regular use since 1996, when she was a highly sought after “swing voter” in the election of that year. According to Wikipedia, “One candidate Susan B. Casey ran with […]
Dick Schultz, Coaching God’s Way
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” ~I Corinthians 9:24 What prize are you running for? Who is your role model? Who is holding you accountable for how you run? These were the questions […]
Is it “just” Growing Pains?
I was stretching with my U13 soccer team after a scrimmage. Through a chorus of moans and evident wincing one player told me, “Coach, no one in my class can touch their toes.” Her teammates nodded in agreement. Yep, tight muscles in longer limbs are natural when they’re growing. But does that mean pain is […]
NEEDED: Coaches Who Teach, Not Just Recruit
We’re seeing an alarming trend among coaches of elite athletes in all sports today: recruiting their talent rather than building it. After all, in an environment that celebrates winning above all else, teaching the fundamentals takes too long. Why develop talent when you can recruit it? Why spend time in injury prevention drills, strengthening and […]
For young female athletes, selection is personal
I had a disconcerting phone conversation with a friend and fellow “soccer parent” the other day. She said her daughter is “on the bubble” between the ‘A’ and ‘B’ team. They are waiting to hear which team she will be playing for. The parent told me that it is likely she won’t make the ‘A’ […]
Is winning worth dying for?
Over the Edge,* a 1997 Sports Illustrated article, painted a scary picture of the motivations and standards behind a sampling of American athletes. They reported the results of a poll of 198 Olympians and aspiring Olympians. The athletes were queried based on two scenarios. First, you are offered a banned performance-enhancing substance with 2 guarantees: […]
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, […]
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.
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 […]