Support, Struggle, or Rescue?
I spend a lot of time thinking about how we support neurodivergent athletes. Between coaching, mental performance, and my doctoral research, neurodiversity has become one of those subjects that follows …
Sustainable Pressure vs Survival Mode
Pressure is unavoidable in sports. What matters is whether that pressure is sustainable or whether it quietly pushes athletes, coaches, and families into survival mode. This difference explains why some …
Pressure Is Not Intensity
Pressure vs intensity in sports is one of the most misunderstood differences in athletic performance. Many athletes believe that playing harder means playing faster, louder, and with more urgency. In …
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 We don’t have to throw the whole system out, but it’s time to rethink outdated habits.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 …
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 …
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: …