Adults, athletes and students trying hard to improve and perform. Trying to move forward a step from where they were yesterday. Challenging oneself, challenging a child, to improve and be better. Using time and knowledge to become more of what we can be. There are times when our best plans as teachers, coaches and parents […]

Comes with the territory? We all knew we were entering an arena of scrutiny, criticism and people constantly looking over our shoulders? When did teachers and coaches get to be the bad guys and girls? When did we lose the trust? Aren’t 95+% of us doing a fantastic job? It feels terrible to feel underappreciated. […]

One of the most difficult challenges I had as a coach was to explain to my athletes about officials being human and that not all decisions in a game or meet would be correct. It was easy to tell them that the judges would be wrong sometimes but I also felt it a duty to […]

No one to rescue you. No one to make excuses to. No safety net. Maybe even no 2nd chances or “do overs.” Start this lesson in the reality of young/middle/later life situations at what age? I guess we should start with is this a good lesson to teach our children? That at a certain stage […]

There is a place for “be happy with yourself all of the time.” There is a place for looking at your current situation and saying “I am okay.” We certainly don’t want to beat up ourselves all of the time. But is it okay to say “I am okay” when you aren’t where you want […]

There is a breaking point. There is a point when teachers and coaches can feel “why bother.” We want so much to do all of the right things for ALL of our students and athletes. That is impossible, we know, but we try. We all start out with so much energy, ambition and desire to […]

A crime. A disservice. Just not acceptable. Every child is capable of journeying 50 miles, 100 miles or 500 miles. To raise, guide, and motivate a child to only part of their potential is just not right. A 50 mile child who is only encouraged to go 20 miles is losing all of the benefits […]

A child who works to feel “proud?” A child/athlete/student who is taught about the concept of “pride” in effort, accomplishment and improvement? A lesson worth teaching. It is hard to learn about pride when you are given a lot. It is hard to learn about pride when no matter what your effort or performance, you […]

Most athletes can be in the top ten, 11th – 20th or last/left behind. The position of an athlete is up to them for the most part. To stay motivated, to aspire to improve, the athlete needs to visit an uncomfortable place for them once in awhile. The athlete who is only allowed to believe […]

Parents, Teachers, Coaches – A Trap To Avoid Too much success can be bad for children. Children needing success to be happy is not the best. Strange statements but think about them a little bit. A coach who measures success by the size of the trophy will not be happy with 2nd. When being 2nd […]