Feedback Has a Budget
I have a coaching confession. There have been plenty of moments when I gave an athlete five pieces of feedback, watched them perform the next rep, and then wondered why …
Coach the Change, Not Just the Drill
Coaches love routines right up until the routine stops working. Then we become amateur meteorologists, air traffic controllers, and hostage negotiators all at once. A bus is late. A gym …
Consistency Is Not Sameness
Coaches love consistency. We want consistent effort, consistent communication, consistent standards, consistent routines, and, if the universe is feeling generous, consistent officiating. Consistency is usually a good thing. The problem …
Your Drill Has a Hidden Tax
I love a good practice plan. There is something deeply satisfying about looking at a sheet of paper with neat time blocks, drill names, goals, and arrows. It gives the …
The Space Between the Whistle and the Instruction
There is a tiny moment in almost every practice that coaches tend to fill immediately. We blow the whistle, stop the drill, and start talking. Sometimes we are halfway through …
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 …
Navigating Tough Conversations: A Guide for Neurodivergent Athletes
When you’re a young athlete, navigating your way through tough conversations with your coach can feel like you’re entering a battlefield, armed with only your words. The pressure to perform, …
The Hidden Struggles of Neurodivergent Athletes
As coaches, we pride ourselves on being able to read our athletes. We see when they’re tired, when they’re frustrated, when they need encouragement, and when they need a good …
Psychological Safety for Neurodivergent Athletes
Psychological safety gets tossed around a lot in coaching circles these days, but let’s be honest—most of the time, it’s treated like an afterthought. Sure, every coach wants their athletes …
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 …