Catch Them Being Good! …A great title taken from a recent book written by Tony DiCicco (former women’s US National soccer team head coach) and Colleen Hacker, PhD (sport psychologist and consultant to this team). It’s good advice for parents. … Continue reading
‘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 … Continue reading
Aw Abby! Abby Wambach won’t be with her team, the Washington Freedom, for their next game. She is serving a one-game suspension for a tackle she made on star opponent, Daniela, at the Freedom’s game Sunday night. As the result … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Do you wonder how you can: increase the fun in our children’s sports activities diffuse the fear of failure eliminate confusion between roles and expectations relieve the tension we feel as we drive up to the athletic complex Sports are … Continue reading
1. Knows that exercise is stress. An athlete must rest and recover to build. 2. Will increase intensity slowly (not > 10%/week). (Coaches often coach to the highest common denominator. This puts the lowest fitness at risk.) 3. Will build … Continue reading
Coaches: Give players the resources to cope with the stress of the game: help them focus on the task and what they CAN control (their game, their aggressiveness, their attitude) and not what they CAN’T control (game outcome, play of … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
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 … Continue reading
Youth Athletes , Distinguished by Age and Gender When we watch our children learning to play sports, it can be difficult to remember that they are children. We sometimes expect more from them than their chronological age and physical and … Continue reading