20 Things I Have Learned in the Past Year!

* Twenty thoughts from a man who coaches young folks version 2019.

1. “Because it’s fun” remains at the top of the list of reasons why young athletes want to play a sport. 

2. Not enough coaches and parents understand the learning process. The best learning happens slowly. Both parents and coaches are rushing skill acquisition on their children and athletes to the detriment of a foundation of fundamentals.

3. We think our child won’t make it to the USWNST because she did not walk until she was almost two. Last time I checked, every woman playing for the US team knows how to walk. Some simply learned earlier than others.

4. Stop rushing young athletes. Teach them well and let them develop.

5. Mom. Dad. Grandparents. Aunts. Uncles. Friends – invest in a camera that will allow you to take pics and video well away from where the little ones are practicing. I get it. You’re trying to go all Annie Leibovitz, but now your little one is paying attention to you and not the drills or our instructions. 

6. We have created a culture where children are terrified of making mistakes. Seems as if we have forgotten that failure is a pretty damned good teaching tool.

7. “Oh, they play everything!” the mom said. “He’s doing flag football, soccer, baseball and basketball. She’s doing soccer, tennis, basketball – and she’s going to try volleyball this year, too.” Folks, I’ll neither confirm nor deny my getting teary-eyed after that conversation.

8. I am thoroughly amazed at what the young brain can learn in eight minutes a day. 

9. I was thoroughly pissed to know that some folks cannot or do not spend eight minutes a day teaching or refining fundamental movement skills with their children.

10. My golf swing does not adversely affect my baseball swing. My baseball swing does not adversely affect my golf swing. I’m an athlete. I can do both because my brain and body can differentiate between the two. Develop more athletes, and you will not have this problem. 

11. If you see an athletic program that touts its business as a “head start” or any other advanced athletic phenomena – something that is going to get your athlete to a higher level quicker than another program – RUN AWAY AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. There is not a program anywhere there will “advance” your child faster than your child is able to develop. Again. Stop rushing these young athletes. Let them learn!

12. Do you know all the words to your child’s favorite songs?

13. Anybody with contacts at Netflix? ESPN? Or National Geographic? I have some ideas and some things to say about youth fitness and health and athletic development.

14. Parents you cannot be afraid to tell a coach that your athlete has neurological disorder. Will that knowledge affect the way I coach your athlete? Absolutely! It will my coaching better, because I can then apply different, and more effective, teaching techniques.

15. I love to see young athletes struggle a bit with learning a movement – sitting there watching their eyes look up there, muscles jitter here and flex there, a quick step back or forward accompanied by an inadvertent hop followed by frustrated hand to the face and that almost tearful look to me. And I reply, “I can see you thinking. Keep it up. Step. Hopandhit. Step hopandhit. Keep doing it. You almost have it.”

16. Watching the smile cross a child’s face who just earned a movement, that “a’ha moment” is addictive. 

17. Recently got an email from a parent who was surprised our program cared enough about her child that we reached out and inquired about some things we were noticing. In the parent’s words, “I appreciate that you actually consider the kids individually and it’s not just a money grab like so many kids’ things these days…” Folks, if you are running a youth program, be in it for the right reasons. Stop the lip service. Show you model works over the long haul. Be a unicorn. Should you make money? Of course. Just do not be a money grab.

18. If No. 17 got you in your feelings and made you think I am talking about you, good. I am. Stop being damned money grab and start caring about developing young minds and bodies.

19. A young athlete gave me the “Coach Smash!” nickname this week. I think that is T-Shirt worthy. 

20. Just read over the last 19 things and realized I that I was a little ticked this year (I am literally laughing as a type this sentence). But I am not going to change any of the previous because it is genuinely how I felt while typing. So, I will leave you with one extra - gotta end on a good note! 😂😂😂

*21. I love what I do.