Article List
DateSubjectAuthor
04/02/2003 Applied Listening
From childhood through adulthood, everyone always seems to ask "Are you listening?" In life, as well as in sports, listening skills are at least as important,... 		Jeff Farris
04/02/2003 Resetting Expectations
Albert Einstein once described insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." Different teams are motivated in... 		Jeff Farris
04/02/2003 Supporting a Coach's Discipline
Sooner or later, kids are going to get in trouble and a coach is going to take some form of corrective action. These actions can range from a discussion to a... 		Jeff Farris
03/30/2003 Using Your Teammates
It's natural to dream of shooting the game winning basket or scoring the go ahead goal or touchdown. However, as team skills increase, it becomes progressively... 		Jeff Farris
03/30/2003 The Importance of Regular Team Meetings
Youth coaches sometimes joke that the ideal youth team is a team of orphans. Though this approach is one solution to problem parents, there are other more... 		Jeff Farris
03/30/2003 Overcorrecting
In a car, a sudden swerve or overcorrection can sometimes lead to an even greater risk of a serious accident. These overcorrections are caused by a driver's... 		Jeff Farris
03/15/2003 Handling a Loss
If players play long enough they are going to lose their share of games and sometimes lose badly. Handling these losses is actually a more important lesson... 		Jeff Farris
03/15/2003 When What Parents Say Isn't What They Want
A typical parent interaction with a coach after a game or practice usually goes something like this: Great win! You really worked them! You annihilated them!... 		Jeff Farris
03/15/2003 Coaching Conflicts
As much as coaches want to help individual players, their overall responsibility is to the team. Youth coaches often seek compromises that try to reconcile... 		Jeff Farris
03/05/2003 Identifying Your Special Talent
Everyone would like to be the fastest or strongest player on the team. However, there can only be one "fastest" and one "strongest" player. For teams, this is... 		Jeff Farris
03/05/2003 Setting Goals
Good performance starts with good goals. Lou Holtz, one the of nation's most successful college football coaches, once said that "Of all my experiences in... 		Jeff Farris
03/05/2003 Managing Your Child’s Development
Just like children bring home homework that is beyond what a parent can help with, young athletes often progress beyond the abilities of a parent. If the... 		Jeff Farris
02/05/2003 Is Your Stomach Ready for the Game?
A player's stomach can be a big factor going into a game or practice. What players put in their stomachs hours before a game can make a big difference in game... 		Jeff Farris
02/05/2003 Practice Fun
For coaches, practice time is a precious opportunity to get players ready for the next game. For players, practice is an opportunity to spend time with friends... 		Jeff Farris
02/05/2003 Helping from the Sidelines
Parents are comfortable giving instructions to their child and this comfort naturally spills over into athletic competitions. However, when it comes to game... 		Jeff Farris
01/23/2003 Leadership
Team leaders are not just those designated as team captain. All players can provide leadership by what they say and what they do. These players not only want to... 		Jeff Farris
01/23/2003 Assigning Positions
Just like kids need to improve physical skills, they also need a better understanding of how a team works together. In their initial efforts, kids often attempt... 		Jeff Farris
01/23/2003 Five Things Not to Ask Your Child
It is well understood that youth sports is a team effort, but that team isn't just limited just to the players and the coach. Parents have much to offer their... 		Jeff Farris
01/02/2003 Basic Rules for Parents
Every year, 20 million children register for hockey, football, baseball, soccer, and other competitive sports. If you're the parent of one of those young sports... 		Jeff Farris
01/02/2003 24 Hour Rule
Youth sports can be an emotional experience. The physical activity of the kids can often spill onto the sidelines and into the stands and create strong... 		Jeff Farris