A good little article from Good Sports. http://www.goodsports.com.au Finals season is an exciting time for any junior team, and as a coach or a parent, it’s natural to want to see the team have success. This time of the year can also be tricky for junior coaches, with pressure from parents, supporters and the club…… Continue reading BEING A GOOD JUNIOR COACH
WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
As we head into the final third of completion, your thinking could make all the difference to how the season ends. Whether you’re winning with a great chance for finals football, or not winning and trying to work out how you stay motivated, your thinking plays a massive part. By the time we are 17…… Continue reading WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?
MISTAKES MATTER
We generally want to protect our own kids from making mistakes, because we know it can be painful, or humiliating or disappointing. Yet what science teaches us is that it is the mistakes that develop people the most, particularly when they then work out how to rectify it themselves. It’s what I call “mistake momentum”,…… Continue reading MISTAKES MATTER
THE F FACTOR
I think most of us would know that the main reason kids (and adults for that matter) play football is for the F factor, FUN FUN FUN. If they enjoy it, they will keep coming back for more. The level of enjoyment is also linked to how much effort they will put in, and how…… Continue reading THE F FACTOR
THE PERFECTIONIST ATHLETE
(from John O’sullivan at Changing the Game Project) The perfectionist athlete. This is an athlete who has attached his identity to his achievements, or lack thereof. And being perfection focused instead of process oriented can be the downfall of many a young athlete. Sadly, perfectionism is on the rise according to recent studies, and nearing…… Continue reading THE PERFECTIONIST ATHLETE
FUN V COMPETITION
Extracted from John O’Sullivan’s blog: http://www.changingthegameproject.com She asked me “when do kids shift from having fun to being competitive in youth sports?” We get this question a lot, from parents of children 8-18. Our answer: They don’t! Fun and Competition are NOT mutually exclusive. Youth Sports should be both! How adults define fun is not how children…… Continue reading FUN V COMPETITION
FOCUS & CONFIDENCE
In football, it is common to find yourself or your team under the pump, facing challenges and losing the plot, right in the middle of a game. With so much activity and noise distracting you, feeding your thoughts and competing for your attention, staying focused and confident is imperative. This is true for a coach,…… Continue reading FOCUS & CONFIDENCE
