Helping High School Athletes Balance School and Club Sports
This week, as the high school fall sports season started to ramp up, I had multiple conversations with my players and their parents about how to balance playing high school and club sports. As a high school coach, I encourage my athletes to play multiple sports. There are physical and mental benefits to cross-training, and […]
What Does It Mean to Develop Youth Athletes?
It is tryout season for school teams, club teams, and recreational leagues. I have been hearing coaches and leaders in the industry talk about how some teams are being formed primarily to achieve and win, while other teams are coming together with a focus on developing athletes. I would argue that teams that focus on […]
The First Two Weeks: Setting the Tone for Your Season
Whether you are coaching 8U, high school, or college, your first impression as a coach matters. You only get one opportunity to communicate and show your players and parents that you are a caring, trustworthy coach. That trust is built through intentional actions from the very beginning. This is why I place so much emphasis […]
Summer Camp Counselor Training: Creating Safe, Fun, and Inclusive Sports Camps
Kids have fewer than 70 days of summer vacation each year, and they choose to spend some of those days with us at camp. That is both a privilege and a responsibility. The way we lead, encourage, teach, and connect with campers can shape memories they carry long after camp ends. The Positive Coach’s Summer […]
More Than a Game: Leadership, Opportunity, and the Rise of Girls Flag Football
This past weekend, I was invited by Coach Jose Sanchez to lead a mental skills and leadership station at the Her Is Us Foundation’s Banderas United Girls Flag Football Event. Coach Sanchez created both the foundation and Banderas United to give girls ages 7–18 the opportunity to experience one of the fastest-growing sports in the […]
Supporting LGBTQIA+ Athletes: 3 Essential Books for Coaches
As coaches, inclusivity starts with us. It is reflected in the words we use, the standards we set, and the environment we create with our teams every day. Just as we ask our athletes to continue learning and growing, coaches should also stay open to learning how to build spaces where every player feels safe, […]
End of Season Reflection Questions for Coaches
All season long, we ask our players to be open to growth. Growth comes through feedback, trial and error, honest conversations, and personal reflection. As coaches, we must be willing to embrace that same process if we want to become the best versions of ourselves for our athletes. At the end of a long season, […]
Coaching with Heart: Returning to Mercy Softball
Sometimes you need the people who know you best to remind you who you are. That is exactly what happened to me this year when I said yes to coaching my high school alma mater’s softball team. Four years ago, I left what I once believed was my dream job as the Assistant Head of […]
Coaching Team Culture and Confidence at the Philadelphia Coaches Conference
This week, I traveled to Philadelphia for the Philadelphia Coaches Conference at Temple University. I was excited for the opportunity to learn and present alongside so many passionate coaches. Most of the attendees were youth sports coaches from the Philadelphia area, along with a few local college coaches. The keynote speaker was K.C. Keeler, Temple’s […]
Rethinking End-of-Season Awards
Traditionally, teams at every level celebrate the end of a season by recognizing individuals. Awards like Most Valuable Player, Most Improved, Leadership, or Team Spirit are common ways coaches highlight standout contributions. While each program may approach this differently, the underlying goal is usually the same: to honor players who made a meaningful impact. And […]