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 …
Rethinking Coaching Habits in Youth Sports
TL;DR: Youth sports coaching needs an update. We don’t have to throw the whole system out, but it’s time to rethink outdated habits. We need more empathy, adaptability, and real …
Logical Fallacies Series: The Loaded Question
Loaded Question in Youth Sports: How This Fallacy Derails Coaching Conversations This post is part of my ongoing series on logical fallacies in youth sports and athlete development. If you …
A Conversation with Nicole Christner (Ep. 047)
Episode 047 | A Conversation with Coach Nicole – Life Pivots, Coaching Philosophy, and Embracing Growth | June 2025 In this episode of The MentalCast, host Dan Mickle interviews …
Logical Fallacies Series: Personal Incredulity
Personal Incredulity Fallacy is alive and well in youth sports. You see it every time a coach, parent, or club leader dismisses an idea with a shrug and a quick, …
Five Books That Changed My Life
Did five books really change my life? If you would have told me twenty years ago that I would write a blog about books that changed my life, I probably …
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 …
Dear Tradition, It’s Time We Talked.
There was this coach I once worked with who had a very specific whistle. Two quick tweets for water, one long tweet to circle up, and three short tweets to …
Nailing Your Tryouts Preparation
Tryouts preparation is on your mind, and you’re feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. It’s the time of year when those “what if” questions start swirling in your head: …
Turning Losses Into Wins
We’ve all been there. The team you’re cheering for seems to be stuck in a never-ending losing streak, and your athlete is feeling it. It’s tough when you see your …