Athletics
Athletes & Mental Health: Two Changes We Need to Make
10shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn You may remember Tyler Hilinski, the Washington State University quarterback who took his own life last January. His football team took a knee as they launched a new season this year—visually acknowledging their fallen teammate, and further shining a spotlight on a significant and growing issue for student athletes:…
Continue ReadingHow Do We Build Good Leaders in High School Athletics?
8shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn A high school basketball coach surprised me when he told me recently that he couldn’t get any of his boys on the team to be the “captain.” Typically, he said, the team votes on each season’s new captains, but when the votes were counted, the two students who got…
Continue ReadingSeven Ways to Prevent Athletes From a De-Commit or Transfer
9shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I know a high school senior who was recruited to play volleyball at a NCAA Division One School. Emily told me the coaches “courted” her for months until she finally committed to play there. And then, when she actually showed up to play, things were different. After a week…
Continue ReadingHow to Enjoy Watching Your Teens Play Sports
24shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I recently saw this sign (below) hanging near a youth sports field, just north of Atlanta, where I live. It made me smile and it had several people snapping photos of it prior to game time. Everyone was smirking, smiling or chuckling. The sign says so much about the…
Continue ReadingThe Fine Line Between Excellence and Obsession
8shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I recently met a family on a road trip who epitomizes today’s society. Their three children are the center of their lives. They spend most of their money to resource those children. Both screens and sports occupy the majority of their time. Because they have some discretionary income, they…
Continue ReadingBuilding a “Whatever It Takes” Attitude On Your Team
9shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn The phrase hung over the doorway of the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room for decades. It has been used over and over again by championship teams from all sports. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of life. It’s an attitude. “Whatever it takes.” Yet, after surveying young adults today I’ve…
Continue ReadingFive Steps to Ensure a Positive Mood
15shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn The one thing I hated most about my leadership in my early career was the unpredictability of my moods. I don’t think I was unusually moody, but I was aware that my disposition—sometimes volatile—affected the team I led. No doubt, they often wondered: Is this a good day to…
Continue ReadingLeading Student Athletes Who Don’t Think They Need a Coach
12shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Two years ago, UConn women’s basketball coach, Geno Auriemma, did an interview just before the Final Four. It was re-posted on Facebook a couple of months ago and has gained traction again with so many coaches across our nation. Ole’ Geno didn’t pull any punches in the interview. After…
Continue ReadingThe Only Way to Take the High Road
18shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Something happened last month that caught my attention, but it went unnoticed by most sports fans in America. Dwayne Casey had a breakout year as the head coach for the Toronto Raptors. The season was a record-breaking season, where he won more games for the Raptors than any other…
Continue ReadingMy Greatest Motivation as I Teach or Coach Students
8shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I was reviewing video of championship games and the interviews that took place afterward. This may not surprise you—but there was a pattern in the commentary coaches gave following the big game, and the season prior to it. Almost every time, the coaches said something like: I love these…
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