Team bonding, 1on1 conversations, goal setting, mid-season evaluations, and forming personal connections with athletes have become as important as building effective practice plans. Boys volleyball is becoming increasingly popular, as many decide to leave the field and step onto the hard court. With the transition, male athletes are entering an entirely new competitive environment. In […]

We hit the trifecta with former NFL player and Super Bowl champion (with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Roman Oben; athlete, sports dad and founder of the Oben Flag Football program. Roman has experienced sports from every possible angle and has some great advice for athletes and sports parents alike. Q: As a two sport college athlete, […]

No one likes to lose, especially when they feel like they gave their all and that they deserved to win. And while some players beat themselves up over a dropped pass, a missed kick, or a bad at-bat, other athletes look to play the blame game and pass the buck over to their teammates, the […]

Even though numerous studies have pointed out that unstructured playtime, like recess, improves children’s fitness, as well as benefits their social-emotional growth and academic performance, many schools across the country are cutting gym classes and shortening or even eliminating recess altogether. Some cite budget concerns, others are worried about student safety, while other schools want […]

According to Darkness2Light, an organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse, “retrospective studies show that one in four women and one in six men were sexually abused before the age of 18. This means there are more than 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S. Stories of sexual abuse in youth sports […]

Summertime is here! The weather’s warm, the grass is green and you’ve got practices to get to. If your child is involved in any summer sports, here are a few safety tips to ensure a happy and healthy summer sports season. 1. Make sure youth athletes are properly hydrated BEFORE practices/games. Dehydration should be a […]

If you ask any youth athlete in any sport what their favorite thing about practice is, not too many would list drills at the top of their list. Drills, while important to teaching athletes proper form and technique and helping the movement become second nature, aren’t usually the most interesting or fun part of a […]

Playing other sports expands a child’s athleticism by developing more motor skills, agility and coordination through the use of different muscles with different ranges of motion. Whether your favorite player is T.J. Oshie (Warroad) of the Washington Capitals, Riley Tufte (Blaine) of Minnesota Duluth or Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights) of the U.S. Women’s National Team, […]

Drafted with the No. 20 pick overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, Nick Schmaltz made his professional debut on Oct. 12, 2016. Q&A With Chicago Blackhawks forward Nick Schmaltz At a young age, Nick Schmaltz knew he wanted to play college hockey. The Madison, Wisconsin, native grew up idolizing players at […]

How to clarify expectations, establish realistic goals, and set a positive tone for the season