The Olympic trials for whitewater canoe and kayak include four runs down a whitewater course, spread out over two days of competition. The setting in 2024 was perfect – we had beautiful weather in sunny Oklahoma City, cooled by a little wind and some morning rain. The Olympic and American…
For driven people, the instinct to do more is understandable. Achievement brings validation, security, and a sense of identity. We all want to feel like we matter. In competitive environments, success often feels like the byproduct of volume – more effort, more output, more wins. The early stages of a…
History is riddled with talented players and teams who underachieve. Stories of championship teams also include moments wherein supreme talent glosses over character issues... the unfortunate part of these stories happens after the banner has been hung. Athletes who, never having built resilience, integrity, empathy, self-awareness, or emotional mastery find…
The ABC model in behavioral psychology outlines the relationship between antecedents, behaviors, and consequences. It serves as a diagnostic tool in various settings, but understanding behavior requires considering broader antecedents, including physiological and cultural factors. Integrating contemporary frameworks like HOP and CARE enhances this model, promoting sustainable behavior change through…
Youth athletes often face the combined demands of school and club sport participation with limited (if any) recovery between competitive seasons. Continuous training without adequate rest can contribute to overuse injuries, psychological burnout, and diminished performance – rather than progressive development they were aiming for (Brenner, 2007). Addressing overuse effectively…
James (Jim) Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E Proprioception is the body’s quiet cartographer. It is the internal sense that continuously draws and redraws a map of where we are in space (Proske & Gandevia, 2012). Without requiring sight or thought, it allows us to know the position of our limbs, the…
Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E In 2014, pediatric occupational therapist Angela Hanscom set out to better understand the student experience by sitting in on middle school classes. She sat. She sat some more. She then noticed that a day’s worth of sitting was affecting her ability to focus. She asked…
Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E “That dog won’t hunt,” said the football coach about the athlete lagging during the final sprint. A tough appraisal. One of the most common psychological pitfalls in coaching is the fundamental attribution error (FAE). This principle, well-established in social psychology, refers to the tendency of…
Pat Williams, the legendary co-founder of the Orlando Magic, left an indelible mark on professional basketball and the city of Orlando. Over a remarkable 51-year career in the NBA, Williams exemplified what it means to be a leader—not only in title but in vision, courage, and service. Williams began his…
Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E When I was playing football, more always seemed better. More loud music, more intensity, more work… counterintuitively, my methods did not always lead to more productivity or improved performance. When I started my coaching journey, my worst moments followed a similar path. I had not…