Coaching Well: Why Do We Coach?
This article was originally published in The Fairfax Times, June 2010. It so saddens me to read the endless stories of remarkably talented athletes like Tiger Woods and Ben Roethlisberger behaving badly– these lives, full of potential, are then misspent by their worst natures. We are left asking: “How did we let these athletes get […]
The Parent-Coach-Kid triangle
“As a parent, it’s your job to see the very best in your child,” a coach once told our team parents. “It’s my job to see them as they are and to help them be better.” He was right. None of us is objective about our own child. But a good coach can be. I […]
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 […]
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’ […]
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 […]
Signs and Symptoms of Overtraining
Increase in Resting Heart rate (taken before getting out of bed in the morning for at least 10 consecutive days). Persistent muscle soreness. Fatigue. Reluctance to train. Body is tired and heavy. Pattern of skipping practices or games. Sleeplessness: trouble falling asleep, wake during the night. Decrease in appetite. Weight loss. Irregular menstruation in females. […]