Issues & Advice

Playing sports also translates directly to improvements in physical and mental well-being and is also likely to help children learn in the classroom. Swimming has played an essential role in making me who I am — both in and out of the water. I am 16 and just finished my junior year of high school. […]

Be careful how we praise. If we praise our children for their gifts, such as brains or athletic talent, they may believe those qualities are fixed and cannot be changed. What is the mindset of a champion? “It goes by different names, but it’s the same thing. It’s what makes you practice, and it’s what […]

The 10-yard splits can indicate a receiver’s initial burst off the line (often the most important skill for a receiver’s translation to the pro game) or a running back’s initial speed at the hand-off point. The most recognizable activity at the NFL Combine each year, the marquee event is meant to show players’ top-end speed. Starting […]

Strength training will make you an all around stronger player. If you train for volleyball tryouts by doing a strength training routine three to four days a week, you are going to find that you can hit and approach the net with much more power. Conditioning for volleyball tryouts should consist of a careful balance […]

Club soccer can require heroic measures on the part of adults — driving regularly to and from distant games, giving over sacred weekends to a child’s pursuit and dividing the family to deposit different kids at separate venues. In the late 1970s, when he was 10, Rob Nissen played for the only soccer team available […]

It taught me in a very vivid way that my children stronger than I think, that they are fully able to work through certain tough times without me trying to insert myself into the situation. There are moments in a sports parent’s life that are embedded in your heart and memory so deeply that they […]

They inspire love of swimming through their actions and interactions. They look for teachable moments. These are just coaches you want to know whether they are in summer league or the NCAA. Thousands of articles have been written about the qualities of the best swim coaches and the shortcomings of the worst. If you’ve been […]

Kids are a good judge of where they stand amongst their peers in terms of ability and hard work. When they improve and get faster, chances are they will want to keep coming back. What are the motivating factors that keep our children interested in swimming? Why do they want to stick with a sport […]

Defense is hugely influenced by your ability to respond to the offensive player. Your goal is to keep your offensive player in front of you, as far away from the goal as possible. How is your defensive game? Do attackers with quick feet blow by you? Are you losing time on the field because you […]

Back in January, I emailed and called a bunch of the coaches I knew in men’s soccer to see if one of them would give me a shot. Not only did all of them turn me down, but most of them also told me that there was no way I was ever going to play […]