my senior athlete wants to quit
You pour into an athlete for years, and then in their last year, they want to quit…
If you coach long enough, this will happen to you. What do you do? I made a short video about it here. It was inspired by a conversation I had this morning with a collegiate college coach about a player on her team that is struggling to be "all in" for her senior year. Click here to check it out. In a nutshell, I told her to give the athlete two options: No, or hell yes. Let me explain…
Activity: Legacy Letters
Completing a season in a sport is something most people will remember for the rest of their lives. Like I mentioned before, a great culture is created by coaches, athletes, administrators, and parents who are intentional about the sport experience. Writing a Legacy Letter is an excellent way for an athlete to pass on the lessons and traditions learned while competing in something they love. We all want our seniors to graduate, but the culture and traditions they helped create should not graduate with them.
"Off-Season" or "Prep-Season"?
There is no such thing as an “off-season” when you want to be the best. There is pre-season, in-season, post-season, then prep-season.
Control What You Can in the Moments You Own
No matter the situation, you control your attitude and effort. Do this whenever you feel overwhelmed. Make it a habit to take a beat and breath. Practice positive self-talk and tell yourself what you need to hear to get back out there and perform at your highest ability.
Motivation Versus Inspiration
Coach, your athletes are watching you. Your words are motivational, but your actions are what inspire them. Be intentional about what they see, and leave a legacy mark on their character that transcends performance and the scoreboard.
Winning and Losing, According to John Wooden
John Wooden, legendary former UCLA basketball coach, did a TED Talk before he passed away about how to find success. I have watched it many times, and even shown it to a few teams I have worked with.
The Resilient Athlete
A resilient athlete is "able to access their talent at the highest level they are capable on a consistent basis regardless of the situation."
Activity: Skittles and Sprints
Forget all that noise. You can yell all you want, but true motivation comes from adding in competition. And if you are a parent, let's be real: you know the reality of the importance of bribing your child! Here is one way to get your athletes to increase their cardiovascular fitness at the end of practice and have fun while doing it!
Control Your Emotions, Coach
Young athletes are not adults and do not have the life experience to be held to the expectation of being able to control their emotions. Sports gives a student a controlled environment to learn how to manage feelings and emotions, and the coach is the teacher. That teaching is one of the biggest lessons a coach can teach an athlete under their supervision.
Most Parents are wrong about Sport Specialization.
The research doesn't support the idea that kids need to specialize to be great, scientifically or antidotally. Plus, if most kids are specializing in a sport at an early age, and most kids don't get scholarships or get to play at the professional level, then maybe don't do what most kids do.
The Choices That Make Us
"There is a choice you have to make,
In everything you do.
So keep in mind that in the end,
the choice you make, makes you."
I Just Want to Be Seen
When I messed up, and my pity party was over, I would look up in the stands and make eye contact with my dad. He would smile, give me a thumbs up, and that is all I needed from him.
That is all the kids need--your presence. The rest is just noise.
Success is in the Details
Coach, challenge your athletes to set the standard for the team. They will not adhere to seemingly arbitrary rules handed down on a piece of paper or written on a wall. You didn't when you were an athlete and neither will they. However, if you can get them to feel how the expectation will help them, you will see improved compliance.
The Double Defeat: Can you lose twice in one competition?
The beauty of athletics is the dance between opponents, each responding and reacting to the other as they pour out their mental and physical strength in an attempt to become the victor until the next battle.
Belief and Sharing a Vision
Coach, your team needs to know you believe in them. I’m not talking about blind faith, but real belief in their abilities to compete and be successful because you have created an environment of competition, growth mindset, and constant improvement. Set them up for success, then get out of the way!
Starve the Anxiety: A Technique on How to Reduce Performance Anxiety
This is a breathing technique you can use not just in sport, but in life, as in preparing for a test, walking into a big presentation, or calming yourself before engaging in an uncomfortable conversation.
The Art of Yelling in Youth Sports
Kids are not mini adults and for that reason we cannot assume they have the emotional experience or maturity to understand what is going on during intense moments.
Meeting Your New Team
Too many coaches think the most important thing in a meeting is to tell the players what they need to know. Yes, there is a time for that, but not enough coaches give space for their players to share. There is wisdom to be learned from a coach, and just as much from an athlete. Remember, as coaches we’re in the business of training the adults of tomorrow, adults who will be reminiscent of the things they learned from their coach (good and bad) above the stats and win/loss column.