Run…It’s the natural pace of kids
No Pain. No gain. Fuhgettabout it. That’s for adults. And that’s because we’re old. This is the old advice. Exercise for us is scheduled, measured and altogether serious. Ushering kids into this is making them old before their time. Have you ever been to a Chuck E Cheese’s? It’s a kids’ games arcade with pizza […]
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 […]
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 […]
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: […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
What Causes Overtraining?
Overtraining injury may be the result of one or several of the following: Activities which require repetitive motion. Increasing intensity or duration of training too quickly. Lack of fitness, especially core strength. Failure to fully rehab after an injury, come back too soon, not allow enough rest for recovery. Poorly functioning equipment. Shoes are generally […]
Play it safe, but play
Spring is coming! Our kids are streaming back to the playing fields. No one is happier about this than I am. Youth sports have so much to offer our kids – physically, emotionally, socially – as long as they’re not side-lined by injury. Did you know?* Sports injuries to youth (0-14 years) in 1997 cost […]