Mind-Body Training
Wayne Gretzky and Practice
On Wayne Gretzky’s birthday — he turns 51 today — I always think of practice and of Gretzky’s father, Walter.
One day, when Wayne Gretzky was already the greatest hockey player in the world, he was practicing with his team, the Edmonton Oilers. Walter watched from the stands.
Afterwards, the two drove home together.
“You just wasted two [...]
How J.J. Watt Did It
Not long ago, J.J. Watt was delivering pizzas for a living. Yesterday he delivered one of the biggest plays of Wild Card Saturday.
Watt intercepted an Andy Dalton pass and returned it for a touchdown, leading the Houston Texans past the Cincinnati Bengals in the first game of the NFL playolffs.
Watt’s, play according to Houston defensive [...]
Competition in Practice
Three factors — the NHL’s recent Winter Classic, the cold wave in the Northeast, and a conversation with mental toughness guru Craig Sigl — made me think of the Canadian game of shinny.
Shinny is a simple variation of ice hockey in which one player tries to keep the puck, and all the others try to [...]
The Emergence of Victor Cruz
Victor Cruz of the New York Giants is headed for the playoffs, and he’ll get more attention from the Atlanta Falcons than he did in the 2010 draft.
That’s because Cruz has emerged as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL after being passed over by every team in the league. That’s right. Less [...]
Enjoy the Journey
Here’s a quote that takes us beautifully into 2012:
“It is not in the pursuit of happiness that we find fulfillment, it is in the happiness of pursuit,” said Denis Waitley.
What a perfect message for you and those around you! Whether it’s a sports season, a business venture, or anything at all, enjoy the journey.
It’s not [...]
How to Create a Great 2012
What can you do to make 2012 your best year yet?
It all begins in the few precious hours before Dick Clark comes on TV and the ball comes down in Times Square. With one fun exercise you can create a year to remember.
Just use the Banquet Technique. It comes in three steps.
First, imagine that this [...]
The Power of Listening
The other day I read a Twitter profile that went like this:
“Strong opinions. Good listener.”
It made me think. Is such a thing possible?
How about you? Do you think those two qualities can exist side by side in a person? Can you really care, at the same time, about what YOU think and what OTHERS [...]
Recipes: For Pea Soup and Improvement
I just saw an article that began with the words “Here is a simple recipe for pea soup.”
Normally, that would not have meant much to me, but since I am a coach who is trying to teach others how to coach, the word “simple”really stood out.
Just the other day, I saw a coach who had [...]
Should Young Athletes Play More Than One Sport?
Is playing more than one sport a thing of the past? According to this article by renowned college coach Terry Pettit, it shouldn’t be.
Pettit writes: “The more neurological pathways a young athlete has experienced, the more likely they are going to be able to adjust in the future, which is why developing athletes should [...]
Exercising the Problem-Solving Muscle
In the word of sports parenting, here’s how you keep up with the Jones:
Personal coach.
Psychologist.
Nutritionist.
Lawyer.
Lawyer?
Yes, according to this article in The Record of Bergen County, NJ, one father is suing because his daughter did not make the All-County team. He claims this is hurting her college chances.
You can decide whether the father has a point [...]
