Athletics
“Everyone Gets a Trophy:” The Best Mantra to Combat this Mindset
For more than a decade, articles have been written and conferences have been hosted to address the growing number of parents, coaches and teachers who promoted the “Everyone Gets a Trophy” mindset. This mindset started around the turn of the century to reward kids just for participating. We saw the need to affirm students just…
Continue ReadingA Job That Coaches Can’t Neglect
The story unfolds before our very eyes. Legendary head basketball coach Rick Pitino, of the Louisville Cardinals, received a clear message from the NCAA: “You can’t claim you didn’t know what was going on.” You’ve likely heard the story. Last month, the NCAA released its findings on the prostitutes and strippers invited to “serve” the…
Continue ReadingSix Simple Ways to Better Engage Generation Z
We are leading, coaching, parenting, and teaching kids who’ve never lived a day in the 20th century. They’ve only known a world of terrorism, recession, racial unrest, corporate scandals, under-employment and uncertainty. They’ve also only known a world of portable devices, multi-tasking, social media, multiple personas and a complex world where they are more about…
Continue ReadingThree Mindsets to Build in Students and Athletes: Podcast #47
Today, I’m excited to share with you a conversation with Joe Castiglione. Castiglione is currently the Athletic Director at the University of Oklahoma and the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletic Programs. In 2009, Joe Castiglione was named National Athletic Director of the Year by the Sports Business Journal. Here are some highlights from our conversation.…
Continue ReadingSix Questions That Help Students Exceed Expectations
We’ve developed terms in our English language to describe certain mindsets. I decided to create one of our Habitudes® from two of them: Shortcuts and Second Miles. The Short Cut. This is a term we use to describe the act of getting around the system. When we find a way to shorten the process or reduce…
Continue ReadingThe Ingredient that Moves a Teen from Mediocre to Excellent
Growing up, my hero in major league baseball was Pete Rose. He played baseball with speed and energy. When at bat, if he was walked, he would run (not walk) to first base. He stole bases and popularized the head first slide back in the late 1960s. His sense of passion gave the Cincinnati Reds…
Continue ReadingEight Action Steps for Managing Team Expectations
When we work with athletic departments, under the leadership of J. T. Thoms, we almost always take surveys of both coaches and student athletes. They provide us with data that informs our events and ensures that our partnership is guided by their pain points. These surveys also furnish us with a clear picture of what…
Continue ReadingHow to Help Your Team Bond Quickly
They made it look so easy. I am speaking of Team USA in the World Baseball Classic last month. Thirty-four guys from different professional teams got together to play against the world’s best baseball teams—and they won it all. How could such a diverse group that played together less than three weeks become such a…
Continue ReadingFive Gifts Athletes Need From Coaches
Recently, I had the opportunity to share with the NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics) community the following thoughts. I wanted to share them with you as well… I made an observation some time ago that’s been confirmed over and over, among student athletes. Most want to be “seen” as leaders, but few want…
Continue ReadingWhy Resiliency Is Rare
Last December, I spent time with my long-time friend, Dave Dravecky. Dave was the major league pitcher for the SF Giants, who in 1989 threw the “pitch heard round the world.” Dave was diagnosed with cancer in his pitching arm and was forced to leave the game he loved. But he fought back and against…
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