How Exercise Makes us Smarter and Think Better
If I told you there was a new brain-enhancing drug and it’s free and available to everyone, would you take it? Actually, this drug has been around forever, we just didn’t know our brains were susceptible to it. We thought the brains we were born with were all we had to work with. We were wrong. Now we […]
The Pygmalion Effect: Believing in them can help them succeed
It’s not just myth. Expecting them to succeed can increase the chances they will. It’s called the Pygmalion effect and it’s real. Here’s how it played out for me. *** “Wish me luck! I’m headed out to play nine,” I call to Penny, the assistant golf pro, as I turn toward the door. The day […]
Smart Girls Wanted, Non-Athletes Need Not Apply
Here’s the truth: athlete beats non-athlete pretty much every time. If I am looking to hire you to work for me, smart is good, initiative is great, willingness to try new things is necessary, and good character is a must, but check the box marked ‘athlete’ and you move to the top of the resume pile. Provided you meet the other […]
Title IX: Gender Equality Still Needs Work
On June 23rd, 1972, the President signed Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 into law. It states that “…No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal […]
Want to be a Champion? Learn to be a Good Loser
All of the golfing world felt for Jordan Spieth as his ball splashed into the creek on the par three 12th at the Masters this weekend. When it happened a second time, I actually had to walk away from my t.v. set. I just couldn’t bear to watch as the kid collapsed in the biggest moment of […]
Facilitating the Mental Game with Athlete Journals
Have you ever noticed that girls like to ponder things? Me too. Have you ever wondered what they’re thinking about? Me too. Do you know the best way to find out? Ask them. But don’t expect it to be that easy. You have to read between the lines. Which means…get it in writing. I’ve had some […]
Raising Capable Kids in a Competitive Setting
So, if everyone in your class gets an A, what will you work on next semester? I asked of the PE teacher I addressed in the previous post Why All A’s is Failing Our Kids? “Integrity. Respect. Confidence. Protecting others,” he replied. How would he grade those? He didn’t really know. That’s because character is meant to develop organically, […]
Taking the Fear out of Post-Concussion Syndrome
It seems like nearly every soccer-playing kid has had a concussion these days. And even if we’re lucky enough to have kids still in the clear, we’re set on edge by the looming fear that the succession of “sub-concussive hits” now under intense scrutiny may be just as damaging as that one big blow that […]
The Secret to Sports-based Youth Development: Kids Working as Hard in the Game as they do On Their Game
What does the phrase, sports-based youth development, mean to you? We talk a lot about developmental soccer. We have developmental programs and developmental leagues designed to help kids make progress on their skills, fitness, mental toughness, and game play. We develop the sport, but what about developing the youth? It was something I had to take […]
Injury Prevention: Disparate Sides are as Hazardous in Sports as they are in Politics
What’s so bad about being sided? Nearly all of us have a side we prefer. We’re right-handed or left-footed or we may bat right and throw left, but when asked to choose a side, we do. This is why people like Oakland Athletic’s pitcher, Pat Venditte who throws both ways, is such a phenom, though even […]