The Myth of “Mental Toughness”
The Myth of “Mental Toughness”: Why “Just Be Tougher” Doesn’t Work TL;DR Telling athletes to “just be tougher” doesn’t build mental skills; it just piles on shame and confusion. Real …
Honor The Past Without Being Trapped By It (S6:E06)
Honor the past. It is a phrase often heard in sports and coaching circles. But what does it truly mean? In this episode of The Mental Cast, host Dan Mickle …
Logical Fallacies Series: Slippery Slope
We’re back for another post in our series about logical fallacies, and this week is the Slippery Slope. If you’ve missed any, don’t worry, there’s still plenty more to come, …
Letting Go: When It’s Time to Walk Away
As coaches, we’re used to pushing athletes to overcome adversity, build resilience, and work through the tough times. But there are moments when the most important thing we can do …
The Road Back…To Me.
I don’t usually post much of my doctoral work. Most of it stays tucked away in papers, discussion threads, or quiet reflections between deadlines. But now and then, something comes …
Behind the Whistle: The Real Lives of Coaches
Coaching youth sports is more than just a job. It’s a passion, a commitment, and, often, a sacrifice. But it’s not all glory, wins, and high-fives. Sometimes, it’s about managing …
Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk
One of the most powerful elements in any team sport is trust. Without it, even the most skilled athletes won’t perform at their peak. Trust in the coach, in each …
Walking A Mile In Their Cleats
I once had a coach who thought motivation meant yelling at us until we “wanted it more.” Spoiler alert: it did not work. What did work? The coach who took …
More Than Words
Coaching is communication. But what happens when words aren’t enough? For many neurodivergent athletes—whether they’re autistic, have ADHD, dyslexia, or other cognitive processing differences—traditional verbal instruction can feel like a …
The Engagement Equation
Finding the right balance between fun & focus in practice isn’t a guessing game—it’s an equation.
Too much fun? Chaos. Too much focus? Boredom. The best coaches adjust in real-time, keeping athletes engaged & improving.
Here’s how to master it.