Journal of Psychology and Sport
In the early morning, before the sun has baked the mist of night from the green expanse of Skokie playfields in Winnetka, Illinois, you can find Coach Mike Hohensee mentoring student athletes. He’s adjusting the technique of a talented young quarterback. He’s focused on footwork, posture, and the nuances of elite performance. The athletes he’s…
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This article was first published with Power Athlete – thanks to their editors for the opportunity. Coaches are in the business of taking people to places they would not have been able to go alone. They are leaders, mentors, and motivators. They are guides. For these Sherpas of athletic purpose, there is nothing more frustrating…
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This article was originally published over at TeamEmbrace.net Skip Bayless made headlines this week with his callous response to a professional athlete’s mental health concern. Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott admitted that when the quarantine first began he struggled with anxiety, loneliness, and depression. Bayless wasn’t having it. “I don’t have sympathy for him going public…
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John Ratey changed my life. As an athlete and coach, I had felt the connection between body and mind – for me, there was never truly a divide between the two. Body and mind were part of the same synchronous unit. But it was not until I read Dr. Ratey’s book, “SPARK: The Revolutionary New…
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It is human nature to jump to conclusions based on our experience. Though the bark of a dog or a baby’s cry could mean many things, the listener will experience an immediate reaction. If the initial reaction is that the dog is angry and the baby is hungry, they will be correct… occasionally. Experienced professionals…
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Challenge is necessary. Stress is necessary. When they occur in appropriate doses and are balanced by proportionate recovery, challenge and stress create growth. Elite coaching cultures balance challenge and support, stress and recovery, in a way that makes growth not only a consistent possibility but an expectation. As a young coach I didn’t understand that,…
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June 1, Washington, DC Character.org has certified 246 Promising Practices in schools and organizations across the country that foster character development in our children and teens. The Good Athlete Project’s Character by Design workshop was one of them. Jim Davis, Director of the Good Athlete Project, acknowledged that “although we do not do our work…
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There is one universal truth experienced by every athlete: one day, their career will be over. They might not enjoy their experience. They might never win a game. Life lessons are certainly not assured. The only guarantee is that their careers, as surely as they begin, will one day end. Athletes usually know when the…
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By Jen Foust Potential is defined as “a quality or ability that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.” In a strength and conditioning setting, the lessons taught in a weightroom can have a direct and lasting impact on an athlete. It might be the perfect place to maximize potential. It is…
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The overwhelming majority of conversation in the coaches locker room is positive, supportive, and fun. It hinges on strategy, planning, and getting the most out of young people. The coaches’ locker room is not a dark and dangerous place; rather, it offers an opportunity to bond and connect. Locker room talk, from my experience and…
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