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…
By Gary McChalicher, Justin Loudon, and Jim Davis Sports offer the most powerful learning environment on the planet, IF we decide to use that platform wisely. Power does not always elicit positive outcomes. While ‘sports gone wrong’ is still a daily headline, intentional, thoughtful coaching can teach lessons that last…
By Carissa Gump, OLY, MPA At a certain point in their athletic journeys, athletes inevitably confront the daunting inquiry: “Now what?” This pivotal question is not exclusive to seasoned professionals or Olympians but also resonates with young athletes at the recreational level, middle school, high school, and collegiate level as…
By Carl J. Evans Healing an injury will cause an athlete to confront challenges no amount of drills or practice could ever prepare them for. Still, one essential element of the healing process is often overlooked because it is hidden and shrouded in a stigmatized silence. We need to talk…
Grit is defined as "the tendency to sustain interest in and effort toward very long-term goals (Duckworth et al., 2007). It belongs in a coach/educator's toolkit. The term "toolkit" refers to skills and strategies used by the professional with a student, and taught to the student for future use. We…
The e-sports landscape is rapidly expanding. Hundreds of millions of people tune into live events and millions of dollars are offered in scholarships and tournament prizes. Roughly 200 colleges across the nation have developed varsity e-sports programs and that number continues to grow. Now, as colleges recognize the potential value…
The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is the hub of strength and conditioning in the United States. Founded in 1978, the NSCA is home to more than 60,000 members and certified coaches. S&C continues to expand. There are nearly 27,000 high schools in the United States. Strength programs, and…
For coaches using sport as education, remember to create opportunities for service-learning. It is one of the most powerful ways connect your team to the community. The New Trier Powerlifting Team has been active for more than a decade. From the beginning, they have held tight to an important mission:…
By Chris Dertz On Saturday, December 10th, over 50 high school students representing five area schools gathered at Golder College Prep in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood for a powerlifting meet. Golder College Prep, the newest member school of the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association (IHSPLA), hosted the aptly named Westtown…
A quick trip to the emergency room had me stitched up and crutching my way back to work the next day. That day I spent about 10 hours on my feet. The swelling was worse than I thought it would be and that night was a painful one. I went…