Being a ski coach is a tough job. There is everything you need to know about conditioning, technique, tactics, equipment, and, of course, the mind. There are the logistics of organizing training, travel, and races for a group of athletes, and adapting to the ever-changing conditions inherent in ski racing. There are also the not-very-fun [...]
Episode #10: Fear of Failure (Part II) of my Raising Young Athletes podcast is the fourth of seven in a series that examines obstacles that can prevent athletes from performing their best and enjoying their sports experiences. This episode is the second of two parts that explores the powerfully negative impact of fear of failure on [...]
Episode #9: Fear of Failure (Part I) of my Raising Young Athletes podcast is the third of seven in a series that examines obstacles that can prevent athletes from performing their best and enjoying their sports experiences. This episode is the first of two parts that explores the powerfully negative impact of fear of failure on [...]
In 2011, when my daughters were five and three, we joined the Sugar Bowl Ski Team. At that time, I wrote an article titled, “Momma, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be…Ski Racers.” In the article, as our family was just entering the ski racing world, I expressed considerable ambivalence about whether I wanted [...]
My last post, Sport Parents, We Have a Problem, clearly touched a nerve in the sport parent community with more than 12,000 views on Facebook alone, generating dozens of comments and my receiving many emails and messages in respond. The responses were 99.9% supportive of my perspective (one fellow spoke out quite vociferously against it). [...]
I'm excited to announce the publication of my latest parenting book, Raising Young Athletes: Parenting Your Children to Victory in Sports and Life. Here's what the book is about: Sports are an amazing environment in which to raise children. The benefits they gain from athletic participation are many including physical (e.g., health, fitness, mastery), personal (e.g., passion, [...]
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently from athletes, coaches, and parents is: What does it take to be a successful athlete? For any athlete who wants to be their best, this is no easy question, yet one that is worth asking and worth even more to answer. First, let me address how I [...]
One of the questions I’m asked most frequently from racers, coaches, and parents is: What does it take to be a successful ski racer? For any racer who wants to be their best, this is no easy question, yet one that is worth asking and worth even more to answer. First, let me address how [...]
I have three favorite sayings when it comes to being the best athlete you can be. First, “If you want to perform like everyone else, be like everyone else.” In other words, if you want to be a decent athlete among many, do what they do. Second, an old Texas adage says, “If you all [...]
I have three favorite sayings when it comes to being the best ski racer you can be. First, “If you want to ski like everyone else, be like everyone else.” In other words, if you want to be a decent ski racer among many, do what they do. Second, an old Texas adage says, “If [...]
