Inspiring Athletes through Coaches' Continuous Learning
Remember, personal development is not solely about acquiring knowledge and skills for yourself; it is about inspiring and empowering others to embark on their own growth journey. Being an authentic role model can ignite a spark within your athletes, fostering a lifelong commitment to personal development.
The Flow Factor: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of Young Athletes
In the pursuit of athletic excellence, student-athletes can benefit greatly from achieving the "flow state," a mental state characterized by heightened focus, enjoyment, and a sense of control. Coaches play a crucial role in helping young athletes tap into this extraordinary state, where performance seems effortless and personal bests are often achieved. By understanding the chemistry of flow, coaches can foster a supportive environment that encourages growth, exploration, and self-confidence. Key strategies for cultivating flow in student-athletes include setting clear goals, providing immediate feedback, encouraging deep practice, developing mental resilience, and fostering a supportive team environment. When coaches successfully guide their athletes toward the flow state, they unlock their true potential, both on and off the field.
How can we teach kids about emotional intelligence? (Emotional Intelligence part 2)
Be a role model. Parents want me to teach them the tricks of raising an emotionally intelligent child. And what they don’t realize is that the real trick is their development of the skills and modeling them. Your kids are not going to talk about their feelings unless you talk about your feelings.
Why does emotional intelligence matter? (Emotional Intelligence part 1)
People sometimes think of anger and stress, and anxiety as bad. But there are no bad emotions. All emotions are information. Let’s say you have a kid or a significant other, and you’re plotting yourself in the red with those people; you’re angry. That’s an indication that you’ve got to work on your relationships. It’s not a bad thing. You’ll want to ask yourself, what’s going on in your life? Is it that you have no space? Are the people you’re with bringing you into the red? Is it your work? And then start setting goals—say, I want to be 5% less red next week. You’re not going to get rid of your red. Because life is about being in the red and blue. We’re complex people who should feel the full range of emotions.
I learned it from watching you!
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 give a student-athlete a controlled environment to learn how to manage feelings and emotions; the coach as the teacher. That teaching is one of the biggest lessons a coach can teach an athlete under their supervision.
Time Out or Pause?
Games are high-stress for everyone—players, coaches, parents, and fans alike experience increased heart rates and crazy emotions throughout the game. I often get asked, “How do I make my athletes more mentally tough?”
The Promises of Coach John Wooden
Promises to Keep, left for us to ponder by the late great coach John Wooden.
Focusing on the Process, Not Just the Outcome
Always remember the profound impact you can have as a coach when you shift our focus beyond the scoreboard. By prioritizing the process, fostering a love for the game, and cultivating a positive team culture, you empower your athletes to grow as skilled competitors and as resilient individuals with a lifelong passion for their sport. Together, let's embark on this transformative journey, where every step taken is a victory in itself.
Every Child Just Wants to be Seen
We can love someone and still be less than present at times. But to “see” someone requires us to be fully engaged and present.
Activity: Hero, Hardship, Highlight
The Purpose of this activity is to challenge each athlete to reflect on their life and nail down three moments that have aided in who they are today.
To Scold or Mold
"A coach is merely the extension of a child's dream." Former South African Rugby National Coach Peter DeVilliers leans in, piercing me with his eyes while the echo of his words bounces around in my head. He continues, "At the end of your life, you will be called into account for all the kids who were put under your supervision." Coach DeVilliers raises both hands up high in a victory pose. "These kids are gold! They are precious minerals that can be shaped and formed, and it is your duty to play your part!"
The Leadership of Alice and Dorothy
These two legends of literature have many great pearls of wisdom, especially regarding leadership. Recently, I read both Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz, and I find it interesting how much of each adventure has been left out of the popular movie adaptations. Still, and more importantly, I was surprised at the number of applicable life lessons to be learned from Alice and Dorothy.
Thirty years of coaching: Two Paths
In the world of coaching, there are two distinct paths one can choose to embark upon. The first path is a journey of continuous growth, learning, and improvement. The second path, on the other hand, is a repetition of the same year, repeated 30 times over. The choice between these two paths ultimately determines the trajectory and success of our coaching careers.
Freedom of Speech and the Social Media Scrub
It is not easy to be a child these days, with every moment being recorded and archived. Mistakes can follow them for life and limit their future opportunities. Let's help them see the ridiculousness of social media and teach them to add positivity to the world.
Coach the species, not the sport
"Records are deceiving, buddy." He went on, "I won't know how I did as a coach for 10, maybe 15 years. When those young men finish college, start a family, and are productive members of society, then I'll know I did my part well. I have never forgotten that conversation.
Normalizing Championship Reps
Normalize the idea of championship reps. The big game may be months away, but the preparation starts today, right now.
The Gift of Struggle
A man once tried to help a struggling butterfly out of its chrysalis by slitting it open. A beautiful butterfly emerged, but its wings were tiny and not yet fully formed. Since the process was prematurely interrupted, the butterfly could never fly. Trying to shortcut the process and help, the man instead doomed the creature. The struggle is necessary for the butterfly, as it is for us.
Girl Push-ups
Your words matter. Your influence is strong. What you tell your athletes will echo in their minds for the rest of their lives. Chose your words carefully.
