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, […]
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 […]
Spring is for Training, Find Your Seat
I was so excited to go see my first Spring Training baseball game, the Orioles vs the Braves. I’m not really a fan of either team. I’m a fan of the game and the sport. I love being at the ball park, which brings back great memories of the days my mom and I saw […]
ACL Risk Assessment: 5 Simple Tests Every Parent and Coach Can Do
Do you want to know if you kid is at risk for an ACL tear? You don’t need a special assessment program or highly trained health professionals to run an assessment. You can evaluate your own kids to decide whether there is cause for concern. Here are five tests every coach and every parent can and […]
Parent Delusional Disorder: the Seven Word Recovery Program
I just love to watch you play! That’s what I want my kids to know. That’s what I came for. Not to show you off. Not for bragging rights. Not even to celebrate when you win, although that’s nice when it happens. No, I came to the game because I love to watch you play. […]
How (Not) to Raise a Narcissist
We are raising narcissists, or so a new study reports. The study, authored by Brad J. Bushman, PhD, professor of communication and psychology at the Ohio State University, asked 565 children aged 7 to 11 years – the years when kids start to compare themselves with other children – and their parents about self-esteem, parental warmth, […]
Physical Literacy, the Long Term Investment We Make in Our Kids
Kids are expensive these days, aren’t they? Toys, games, school supplies, activities, classes, technology and fashion. We want to give our children the best of things, but replacing the $100 graphing calculator three times because they can’t find the last one or buying them 3 pairs of Uggs so they’ll have colors for each outfit […]
When Good Sportsmanship Doesn’t Make the Cut
“Nice guys finish last.” It stings to be the parent of the kid whose primary objective was “to be a good teammate” as she is cut from the high school JV squad. Why does it hurt so much? Because, for her whole life you have been teaching her that sportsmanship is the main thing. Surely […]
Videos for the Fit2Finish Book
Here are the video links for my new book Fit2Finish: Keeping Your Soccer Players in the Game. Find your age group. Find your fun. Try it out. All the Fit2Finish games are fueled by the science of healthy sports but designed to blend performance into your practice. (Just don’t tell them it’s good for them!) […]
Dynamic Warm Up Game: blend technique, fitness and injury prevention in 10 minutes
Looking for a fun way to add variety to your warm up? Try this dynamic warm up from Fit2Finish. Keep players moving with the ball. Condition their dribble, introduce them to plyometrics, and work on their technique, timing and field sense, all in a small space. Here’s the video on the Fit2Finish Youtube channel. Be […]
