“A free lunch is only found in mousetraps.” ~ John Capuzzi
Yesterday over lunch, some coaches were praising the work done by a colleague. They said that his team was working very hard.
But here’s a question: What exactly does it mean to work hard? It’s got to mean more than just working up a sweat. Anyone can do that.
“If at first the idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it.” ~ Albert Einstein
This is Day Two of the Gold Medal Squared coaching clinic in Catonsville, Md.
Though the sport is volleyball, the principles and ideas apply to coaching any sport. Two such ideas came across powerfully yesterday.
If there’s one thing that every coach and athlete wants to know, it’s how to get primed for the big game. There’s really only one answer to that question: There are no big games. There are only big moments, and the biggest moment is right now. Here’s how it works: Most people have no trouble […]
Yesterday a sports psychologist visited our team and, of all the things he said, the one that really stuck involved rejection. He said, “Make sure you get rejected by the right person. “If you’re thinking of attending a certain college, make sure you get rejected by the admissions department, not by yourself. “If you’re thinking […]
Three items today. First is the beautiful simplicity of beating the competition. Sports psychologist Dr. Rob Gilbert came to our gym yesterday and told our team about the crucial moment: “When you’re tired and frustrated is where it begins. Because that’s when others quit.” Right there Dr. Gilbert has explained the difference between winners and […]
Yesterday we began our off-season training camp and, after holding the first competitive drill, we posted the results. Not everyone was happy. Some players scored better than others. Here is what we said to those who were disappointed with their results. First, your score on the first day of training camp doesn’t matter nearly as […]
Yesterday I wrote about a summer reading list for student-athletes. Here are a couple of questions: First, why a summer reading list at all? Second, why only one book? As to why you have a summer reading list at all, students take a vacation from school, but they should never take one from growth. No […]
“A good book has no ending.” ~R.D. Cumming At this time of year, you hear about reading lists for students and for beach-goers. This one is for athletes — and it contains only one book! If you read nothing else between now and when training cap begins in August, make it “In These Girls, Hope […]
“The minute you start making excuses, you have one foot in the grave.” ~ Mark Messier Any time you or one of your players are tempted to make excuses, just think of Toni Clark. A native of Newark, N.J., Clark just graduated from Essex Community College despite being homeless for all her years at the […]
“In order to excel, you must be completely dedicated to your chosen sport. You must also be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept destructive criticism. Without 100 percent dedication, you won’t be able to do this.” ~ Willie Mays A few days from now, big-league baseball teams will be selecting the top […]