Sports present a variety of opportunities for us to talk with our kids. During these moments, the parent and the athlete are more than likely discussing what shouldn’t be done in a certain situation or what shouldn’t be done overall. Do you see a common theme in both of these circumstances? A better strategy is …
End Practice Early to Build Mental Toughness
What often frustrates parents is that they have to continually nag, beg, or plead for their child to practice. There are not many secrets to success. However, one secret that I think holds true is the ability of, “Just One More.” When we are tired and fatigued, the key is to be able to endure, …
The Culture of Excellence
When I talk to kids about being successful and reaching their goals, I talk a great deal about having the intestinal fortitude and desire to succeed. If you don’t have a burning passion driving you to be the best, whether it is in sports, school, or in life, chances are you will not reach your …
Dan Jansen
Many of you may not know the name Dan Jansen, but at one time, he was one of the most famous athletes in the world. He was a speed skater for the U.S. Olympic team in the late 80’s and early 90’s and was the consensus #1 athlete in his sport. To give you an …
Is weightlifting safe for kids? If so, what age is lifting appropriate?
There are two types of resistance training that often get confused with one another…weight lifting and strength training. I define weight lifting as when someone lifts external weights or objects other than ones own body weight, and strength training as when you apply resistance against a muscle. Both these terms are synonymous in that they …
Is weightlifting safe for kids? If so, what age is lifting appropriate?Read More
Winners, Losers, & At-Leasters
Wade was a very talented 12-year-old hockey player, but he was a coach’s nightmare. He would only play hard when he felt like it, which was, unfortunately, only about a quarter of the time. Not surprisingly, Wade’s father also worked whenever he felt like it. He had Dilbert comic strips up in his office and …
Chess and Mental Toughness
Imagine yourself watching your favorite sporting event. It is inevitable that during the course of the game, you will hear the announcer say “Some athletes are just born mentally tougher than the rest,” or “They have a natural ability to be mentally stronger than their opponent.” While it is a true that the very best …
Doing Your Best When It Means The Most
The world’s best athletes know how to find that higher level of focus and effort every time they hit the field. Part of the reason for this is that at a young age, they were inspired and learned a strategy or motivation technique that allowed them to relax during the big game, but at the …
Don’t Do This
Why are some people able to rise to the occasion during the biggest sports moments or when the chips are down, and others cannot? Take the Super Bowl for instance. How is it that Adam Vinatieri as a member of the New England Patriots can kick not just one, but two game-winning field goals in …
The Science of Speed Training
Back in the early 1990’s when I first started to teach speed training, many coaches and parents did not believe that speed could be improved. Most people thought that you were either born with speed or not. Research and the evolution of performance training completely changed this paradigm. We now know that speed can absolutely …
The Most Important Thing Any Parent Can Do To Improve Their Child’s Athletic Performance
Sleep: The Essential Nighttime Workout I know we probably threw you off with the title of this month’s parent tip, however that statement couldn’t be more true. Parents and coaches, I know you stress to your kids and athletes the importance of exercise and getting the proper amount of physical activity. I know you also …
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Ever Think That Your Favorite Food Could be Your Biggest Performance Hindrance?
I believe everyone would agree that food allergies exist. This goes without saying. For example, a person eats shellfish, or a child eats peanut butter, and their throat closes up seconds later. Immediate food allergy reactions are clear but not all food allergy reactions are the same and can occur with a longer time lapse. …
Ever Think That Your Favorite Food Could be Your Biggest Performance Hindrance?Read More