Jon Lynch, MS, CSCS*D, RSCC*D Clap……….. Clap……. Clap… Clap. Clap. Clap. “Lemme get a Boom on Tick, Tick”: TICK, TICK, BOOOOOM! The slow clap – the universal signal in football that it’s time to LOCK-IN once again did its job. This time, it marked the opening of the Gridiron Performance…
Leadership is one of the most discussed topics in education, business, sport, and personal development. Entire industries have been built around helping people become better leaders. Yet despite all the books, podcasts, seminars, and certifications, effective leadership can be captured in a remarkably simple framework: Know the Way. Go the…
The path to sustainable performance is not universal. Guidance to this end is not as simple as “start time-blocking your day” or “just be positive” or “jump in an ice bath every morning.” While any of those might have the potential to be good advice, the advice is only good…
Angela Duckworth is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, founder of The Character Lab, and the reason “grit” has become a ubiquitous term in modern performance development. Grit is a prized mental disposition, and Duckworth literally wrote the book on it. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance has…
There is a moment you see over and over again in youth sports. A young athlete steps into the box, tight grip, busy mind, trying to remember every instruction they have ever been given. Mechanics pile up. Expectations creep in. The moment gets heavy. And just like that, performance becomes…
The Lost Boyz organization, on Chicago’s south shore, recently held an event in honor of Reverend Jesse Jackson. The theme of the day was “Somebody”- acknowledging that all the young athletes truly matter. The title of the event comes from Jackson’s famous quote: “I am somebody. I may be poor,…
Three maxes on the same day? Who came up with this sport?? Powerlifting competitions represent the culmination of a structured training cycle. In the weeks leading into a meet, lifters progressively increase intensity, often reduce total volume, and taper fatigue so that maximal strength can be expressed on a specific…
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…