How to Handle Late Athletes with Empathy
When a Player Shows Up Late One morning, my team had an early game. We were scheduled to meet at 8:00 a.m. to warm up when I received a text from a parent saying they were stuck in traffic and would be about 30 minutes late. The player would arrive before game time, but not […]
Mid-Season Check-In for Coaches: Build Team Culture & Refocus Goals
When I coach, I often describe the season as a marathon, not a sprint. Over four or five months, and twenty to thirty games, progress doesn’t happen all at once. It builds day by day, through consistent effort. Ideally, that work culminates in a season everyone can feel proud of. For some teams, that means […]
Coaching the Reset
Mistakes are a constant in sports. The mistake itself is never the real issue, it’s how we respond to it that matters. Mentally tough athletes don’t fear mistakes; they expect them. They understand that being human means getting things wrong sometimes. What sets them apart is that they have a routine or a way to […]
How to Teach Young Athletes to Be Great Teammates
I recently met with the San Bruno 8U softball team for a team-building session focused on one important theme: being a good teammate and learning how to support one another. This group of girls has been playing together for a while, and they are incredibly talented. That’s exactly why this conversation mattered. Building strong teammate […]
Energy Givers vs. Energy Takers: A Simple Team Culture Shift That Wins Games
After a breakout win with outstanding performances from every player, my team was feeling on top of the world. They had just experienced something powerful: the realization that the energy they bring into a game can influence the outcome. Before the game, our team talk centered on the idea of being an energy giver versus […]
Confidence Bucket: A Simple Team Activity That Builds Confidence & Connection
Last weekend, my team was playing in a tournament, and confidence was the theme of our morning team meeting. We talked about how confidence isn’t something we are born with, it’s a skill that is built over time. Another theme our team had been exploring was connection. Connected teams are successful teams. I wanted to […]
Positive Coaching Alliance East Bay Youth Sports Symposium: Leadership & Empathy in Youth Coaching
Last weekend, I had the privilege of attending the East Bay Youth Sports Symposium hosted by the Positive Coaching Alliance. The free event welcomed youth sports coaches from across disciplines, and the diversity of the audience beautifully reflected the Bay Area itself. It was a fulfilling day of connection, learning, and shared purpose. The Keynote […]
Team Captain Expectations and Responsibilities: A Leadership Guide for Coaches
Every player who chooses to join a team steps into leadership. Simply signing up requires commitment, discipline, and a willingness to work toward something bigger than oneself, qualities that define a leader. While each athlete leads in their own way, Team Captains are entrusted with an elevated role. They are called to model integrity, accountability, […]
Supporting Teenage Girl Athletes Without Reinforcing “Not Enough”
One of the most eye-opening books I’ve read about supporting teenage girls is Enough As She Is by Rachel Simmons. In it, she talks about the quiet but constant message girls receive: you are not enough. Not doing enough. Not thin enough. Not pretty enough. Not smart enough. That message is everywhere and it hurts […]
Why Girls Quit Sports at 14- and What Coaches and Parents Can Do
According to the Women’s Sports Foundation (WSF), girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14. While this statistic is often shared online, what’s less discussed is why it happens. Limited access plays a significant role, girls have 1.3 million fewer opportunities to participate on high school teams than boys […]