Athletics
Mental Toughness Exercises for You and Your Students
19shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Did you know some of the greatest examples of “mental toughness” are unlikely heroes who failed or performed poorly prior to their rise to achievement? In other words, they all experienced a setback before they made a comeback: Roger Federer, the greatest tennis player in history, with seven Wimbledon…
Continue ReadingThe Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Student Athletes
11shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I just spent some time with athletic coaches from the Southeastern Conference. These are stellar people, many of whom have coached for decades. And they are coaching at the Division One level, the highest tier for student-athletes. So, I was a bit surprised when three of them spoke to…
Continue ReadingHow Nick Saban Develops Grit in His Players
20shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Coach Nick Saban came up with a new way to define mental toughness for his football team. During spring training, 2018, the national champion head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide told a story to his players. While Saban was weather-proofing his Florida home, storm windows were being chosen…
Continue ReadingWhy Today’s Athletes Are Lonely & What to Do About It
18shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I’m not sure what you think NBA players do between games, but my guess is, it’s wrong. Those young players are not merely signing autographs, attending parties in their honor and soaking up culture and society. According to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, many of them are lonely. In fact,…
Continue ReadingWhat Parents Should Say as Their Kids Perform
In my work at Growing Leaders, we enjoy the privilege of serving numerous NCAA and professional sports teams each year. After meeting with hundreds of coaches and athletes, I noticed an issue kept surfacing in our conversations. Both the student-athlete and the coach were trying to solve the same problem. What was that problem?
The parents of the student-athletes.
Continue ReadingThe Truth About Ownership in Athletics Today
9shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn Most coaches I talk to today mourn the struggle they have with their young players taking “ownership” of the team. Why aren’t they more responsible? Why don’t they think for themselves? Why do they need me to confront poor behavior from teammates and not do it themselves? Where…
Continue ReadingOne Secret to Survive the Coaching Climate Today
20shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn If you are not an athletic coach, have you paused to consider what it’s like to be one? If you are a coach, do you realize how much your profession has changed in the last two decades? It’s enough to rattle anyone. Allow me to share one case study,…
Continue ReadingA Powerful Leadership Lesson from a Super Bowl Athlete
38shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn You don’t have to love football to know—the 2019 Super Bowl will take place this Sunday. The NFC champion Los Angeles Rams will take on the AFC champion New England Patriots in my hometown, Atlanta, Georgia. Two great teams will square off to determine who will be the champion…
Continue ReadingHow to Help Your Student Athletes Win On and Off the Field
4shares Facebook Twitter Google+ Pinterest LinkedIn I’d like you to reflect on a statement that four student athletes made to me in 2018. Perhaps it will spark a relevant conversation on your team: “I feel my coach only sees me as an athlete, not as a human being.” Whether we know it or not, we…
Continue ReadingAthletes & Mental Health: Two Changes We Need to Make
12shares 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:…
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