Last week, I discussed the speed and strength program that helped make Aziza Ayoub a state champion. Obviously a large part of her success was the running plan her track coach had her on. Our speed and strength program was just part of the ingredients for her success. I finished up last week talking about [...]
If you have a youth athlete who is actually a great athlete, then you can do wonders with your team. One of those athletes can carry your team to the finals in your league. But, what you might not realize is at that level your youth athlete can make an impact on your team and [...]
What I do not like about the youth sports atmosphere currently is the seriousness level that is being played at such a young age. I’m not a big fan of the glorification of the Little League World Series for example. They are playing that thing at a time when kids should be playing with their [...]
I think the toughest thing for kids to handle is being cut from a team or not making the ‘A’ team that they wanted to. I’m not talking high school kids, I’m talking junior high age or younger. We have put such an emphasis on sports that there is a heck of a lot of [...]
Speed is a skill. Speed is a skill that can be taught. Throwing the football is also a skill. That is why you have quarterback coaches out there making crazy money because they are teaching you the finer points of throwing the football. Speed is a skill that can be taught IF you have someone [...]
Every summer we get a bump in attendance as kids want to take advantage of no school, extra free time, and get better. We also lose a handful of kids because the summer training with their school is ramping up. The summer training is supposed to handle all the needs of the athlete – speed, [...]
My youngest was playing in her last soccer tournament of the season. This was the last game. They had played two games the day before and a game earlier in the day. This was it. They immediately scored a quick goal on this team and was up 1-0. Not too long after that her team [...]
Speed is so important for an athlete. Some teams will be constructed for the sole purpose of having speed at all their positions. Kids get college scholarships based on running a particular time for a drill. Kids are drafted for that same reason. It is tough to judge whether a young athlete will develop speed [...]
I was talking to a buddy about his kid who plays on the school baseball team and he was railing on the coach. Being a coach, I like to cut them some slack, but when there are bad ones there are bad ones. But, is this a bad coach? First off, my buddy was a [...]
The spring season is upon us. Teams are going through all their preseason work. One of the rituals, unless it already has happened, is the picking of the captains. Who among the group of kids is going to show the traits that you look for in a leader? As a coach, what are these traits [...]