Journal of Psychology and Sport
Getting through the pandemic has taken resilience. In her mentorship of teacher-leaders, Dr. Lauren Casella notes that resilience has become a common thread. What sits below that resilience, she suggests, is faith. Optimism and faith. The idea is profound. And it makes sense. The ability to push forward is at least subliminally guided by the belief that there is something down the road worth pushing toward.
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On a beautiful September afternoon, I stopped in to watch a few of our Good Athlete Project coaches lead their teams in a tough youth football battle. It was everything one could ask for: energy, autumn atmosphere, support. The two coaches I watched did an amazing job toeing the line between tough and kind. They…
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When he played running back at Dartmouth, Bob Higgins’ specialties were picking up tough first downs and doing whatever was needed to prepare his team for their upcoming opponent. A knee injury halfway through his college career forced him to imagine life after sport and allowed him an opportunity to double down on academics. Higgins’…
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Aaron Willits, the newly appointed Head Football Coach at Knox College (Galesburg, IL), says that the Hulk image is not only a talking point with players, but serves as important metaphor for the Knox athlete. “It represents the ideal Knox football player,” says Willits. “You have to have some of Professor Banner in you to get into a school of this quality, and to succeed in the classroom,” he says, noting that “you also have to be able to flip the switch come game day and let the Hulk come out.” It is a metaphor for balance.
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with Nicole Brinker, by Chris Dertz Nine months after first emerging in the United States, it is clear that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are both unprecedented and wide-ranging. The raw data is grim. Currently, 22,000,000 Americans have been infected with the virus and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is projecting…
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Cleveland Brown’s Head Coach Kevin Stefanski just tested positive for COVID-19 and will sit out of the Browns’ playoff game against Pittsburgh. His response? Don’t complain; take the next step. “The players understand they have a job to do. They know that this thing isn’t stopping me or anyone… we’ve got to find a way.…
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by Spencer Boehm, Student-Athlete at Washington University (St. Louis) You walk into an auditorium to watch a classmate’s presentation. The classmate walks onto the stage with slumped shoulders. He addresses the audience and immediately crosses his arms. After a few minutes, he clutches the railing next to him with his hand. Within the first five…
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with Indiana University Head Football Coach Tom Allen On December 11, 2020, Tom Allen gave a keynote presentation at a virtual conference hosted by the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association. His guiding thesis was something all coaches, regardless of sport, would benefit from understanding: Mindset drives expectations and beliefs. Indiana football had not been…
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Millions have seen the viral video of a high school defensive lineman from Texas clobbering the referee after being ejected from a football game. It is a signal that the “sports-gone-wrong” concern has yet to be resolved. While his name can be found all over the internet, we will keep it anonymous here. Check out…
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By Maurice McDavid and Jim Davis The team setting offers coaches (mentors) to have essential conversations with athletes (students). It is not always easy, and the methods are not always obvious, but with the right approach, the team setting can be the platform for truly meaningful education. In a recent workshop with the athletes and…
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