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…
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…
By: David Gardy Ermann[1] For the first time since the 2015-16 season, the Denver Broncos will be in the playoffs. The last time the team made it to the postseason, Peyton Manning—in his final career game—led the Broncos to victory in Super Bowl 50. Now, eight seasons later, the Broncos…
There’s more to sports than just winning games. That’s obvious to anyone reading Beyond Strength. But when it comes to teaching “life lessons”, there is debate regarding which lessons to teach. If you’re hoping to build strong, empowered, fulfilled people, you might want to consider some of the components of…
By Rijad Pekmez I’ve spent more than a decade in weight rooms. First as an athlete, now as a performance coach. My role is to guide athletes in becoming stronger, faster, and more efficient in their respective sports, all while helping them achieve both individual and team-oriented goals. And let…
Jim Davis, Ed.M., MA, RSCC*E Milo of Croton was one of the strongest, toughest humans walking the planet around 500 BC. He was a renowned wrestler and strongman. He won an Olympic wrestling championship, and undocumented legends of his feats range from tossing boulders to wrestling lions. The legend of…
Kimberly Brancato, J.D. Burnout in sports is increasingly recognized as a significant factor contributing to declining participation rates among young athletes. A recent study by Dr. Bianca Edison, noted that only 39% of high school seniors are participating in organized sports, a significant decline from the nearly 90% of kids…
The following is Part One of a transcript collected from a commencement speech delivered at Newfound Regional in June of 2024; Bristol, New Hampshire. “It’s time to move on to the next chapter of your life. This will be an exciting one. I believe that you’re ready. I have great…
By Dr. Zac Shutler, Ed.D. I was scrolling through social media at our hotel as my (then) 13-year-old son was preparing his uniform and his gear for another long day of travel baseball. I came across a post by a former Major League Baseball player that grabbed my attention. As…