Pick Up Soccer Alive and Well in Vienna, VA
I remember how excited I was as a kid when our team got to play the night game under the lights. Those big light standards hummed in the night sky, focusing all their energy on us, the stars of the show. It actually made it hard to see anyone in the stands, which probably was […]
What does an ACL really cost? The financial and intangible costs to players and families
Author note: Part I of 2 part article. Next Up — Balancing the Books: Effective ACL Prevention Is the Job of Every Coach I cautioned Katherine about the incidence of ACL injuries in athletic girls whose knees tended to fold inwards when they jumped and landed as hers did. The 8th grade basketball and lacrosse phenom […]
Taking Action Against Concussions: 8 Things You Can Do with Your Team Right Now
Concussions are a terribly important issue in sports today. You’ll get no argument from me. I came into the conversation early digging up the facts and shaking out the recommendations. Read my investigations here: Concussions: Not Just a Bump on the Head Concussions: What Parents, Coaches and Players Can Do The conclusions: We need to […]
Three strategies to help avoid soccer injuries: Safety, Gear, Move
It’s one of the great moments in a new soccer career: getting the first pair of cleats. Then you send them out onto the pitch and the little running feet in the scrum of kids are a veritable rainbow of color. It doesn’t take long until somebody’s laces come untied. Then someone else. Before you […]
The Key to Keeping Your Resolve: Find a Good Coach
Making resolutions is easy. Keeping them is hard. Why? Because we are very clear on where we’d like to end up, what we’d like to do, how we’d like to look or act or feel. We see people accomplishing things all around us. Success stories that we find inspiring and motivational. If they can do […]
Help, My Kid is Home for Winter Break!…10 Ways to Train the Mind and Body While Saving Your Sanity
So, you’ve got an active kid who is home for the holidays. Yeah, a few days engaged with the new toys and they’re bouncing off the walls. Or, whining that they’re bored, bored, bored. These days, the “boredom” sends kids to their screens. TV, computer, smart phone, ipad. You know the drill; it’s a sign […]
Avoid Injuries: Take Time Off
“But we can’t afford to rest. Our archnemesis has indoor space and they’re training twice a week. Plus, they’ve registered for two indoor leagues and a futsal session. We can’t rest; we’ll lose ground.” If this is going through your head, you’re not alone. It’s the “keep up with the Joneses” mentality that is rampant […]
Concussion Roulette: Unload That Gun
Finally! Some attention for women soccer players and concussions! Briana Scurry’s surgery and recovery are front page news in the Washington Post. The good news: Briana is experiencing relief from the concussion symptoms she has endured for several years. The bad news: We are still confused about what a concussion is. Post reporter Caitlin Dewey writes, […]
Two Simple Ways to Beat Shin Splints
As athletes switch surfaces, their legs, ankles and feet need to adjust. The extra pounding and unforgiving nature of gym floors and indoor courts can take a toll. Athletes need to strengthen their shins and increase the flexibility of their calves and ankles to create a natural cushion and responsive recoil as they move. Here […]
Could Kyah Simon’s ACL Tear Have Been Prevented?
Another one bites the dust. This time it’s Kyah Simon, 22-year-old Australian striker and Boston Breakers star, who tore her ACL just minutes after coming on for the Matildas in their friendly against the U.S. Women’s National Team on October 20. This one deserves special attention because she had just entered the contest. Some will ask, was […]