If you asked almost any middle school, high school, collegiate and professional coach to name the one skill or character trait that is THE MOST important to the future success of an athlete, and most benefits the team that the athlete is on, many coaches (if not most) will tell you “the most valuable attribute a player can have is Mental Toughness.”... › Read more
In part 1 of Mental Toughness for Youth Sports we discussed when working with youth players, it is much easier and much more effective to define mental toughness in relation to key on-court/on-field and off-court/off-field BEHAVIORS. Key mental toughness behaviors are very easy to understand, simple to create a plan for, and simple to execute. In addition, behaviors can often be scored, which means that improvements can be measured and monitored... › Read more
One of the greatest needs of almost every coach, athlete and team, is a drill or mechanism that can enhance a team’s focus, poise, and mental toughness – in a relatively short space of time. Why a relatively short space of time? › Read more
An often-ignored component of speed training is intelligent recovery. Elite teams know that effective recovery between practices and games can result in fewer injuries, greater speed, strength, and conditioning gains, in addition to greater energy reserves and intensity for that next all-important game... › Read more
Following the cardio flush for lactic acid, ten minutes of self-myofacial release (foam rolling) should be done on a hard foam roller from head to toe to bring muscles back to their optimal length (the term is called optimal length tension relationship in muscles) and is another critical key to recovery. Athletes need to be shown how to do this correctly... › Read more
Dear Icebox: I have plenty of athletes who are tough and talented, but not motivated to do the extra work necessary over the Summer to come into pre-season both improved and in shape. How do you increase the motivation of athletes for the Summer when they are away from the coaching staff and the school setting? › Read more
The most talented player on my college team is habitually late to practice and other team sessions. Though he is usually a selfless player on the court and usually treats his teammates with respect, I think his lateness sets a bad tone for the team, especially since he is a senior and is not setting a good example to the younger players... › Read more
Here is a sobering thought....In the entire history of high school and collegiate sports, the most important individual and team championship skill is often the skill that is practiced the least...namely to develop the necessary level of composure to perform extremely well under pressure... › Read more