Peaking vs Freshness in Team Sports

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There is a growing school of thought that training you team to “peak” at a certain time of the year is no longer the best idea in team sports.

In individual sports like swimming or track, sure, peaking will always be important. it’s pretty obvious that the athlete wants to peak at precisely the right time to put in their best performance of the season in the big event.

But with team sports, it’s not all that feasible that coaches will be able to get all their athletes – or at least the right group of them – to peak at the same time. Injuries, different work-ethics, and varying outside factors of each athlete all contribute to an unmanageable peaking calendar. [Read more…]

Attitudes are Contagious; Catch a Good One

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Researching mental skills of elite athletes prodcues several qualities associated with psychologically strong athletes.

Confidence, ability to manage emotions, self-motivation, use of imagery, and the ability to focus.

And one of the most valuable qualities is the ability to maintain a positive attitude. Is attitude something that separates the mediocre players from the great ones? Alone, no. Combined with other positive qualities, yes. [Read more…]

Why Kids Get Burned Out

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By Tim Nash

Burnout is one of those words we choose to use when we feel like exaggerating, or when we need an excuse.

Are you really burned out on a type of food, a television show, or maybe a sport? Or have you just spent an inordinate amount of time on it lately? Does a busy day really burn out kids to the point where they turn down an invitation to a social or sporting event by saying, “No, I’m burned out?” Or they just tired?

Burnout, however, is a real concern among young athletes. It’s cited as the reason kids stop trying, under-perform and quit altogether.

[Read more…]