Continue reading »]]> Several years ago I had the pleasure of meeting a recent graduate, Brad Stoffers, from Boston University’s masters program in coaching education.  Brad immediately impressed me with his intelligence and passion for coaching education.  In the time since his graduation, Brad has created a great resource for coaches of all sports.  I highly recommend you check it out via this link.

Continue reading »]]> State high school athletic associations around the country are being confronted with parents and members going to court after a call has been made.

Anyone can go to their local court house, fill out the paper work and alleged that someone assaulted them.  The venue does not matter where the incident occurred, it is up to the magistrate to determine if the matter warrants further action.  It is your right, but is it morally right?

For coaches on the ground it is up to them at the time of the incident to appeal to the officials for a call.  Post game a parent who is still not satisfied with the situation takes the matter to their athletic director to take the matter up with their athletic association for investigation and response.

Secondary school and college associations have processes in place to change policies but after a contest is over there are only fine points to change an outcome.

Many of us discuss officiating by complaining about it.  You think that the cat calling seconding guessing from the sideline makes better officiating, think again. 

I like the response that we need more experienced officials.  You love your sport and don’t play or coach anymore?  Apprentice, take the test and get out there.  $35 to $100 a game is good pocket change and is great exercise.

Parents need to understand the rules of the game, the school and the association.  It is in the participation agreement with your school.  The agreement that you sign is trading your rights for the ability to practice and play.  The agreement usually states the potential consquences for playing, injury, dismemberment and possible death.

If there is evidence of malice and the parties don’t act, go to court.  An incidential hit without a call does not prove malious.

Should it be concerning that the two officials did not notice and a coach did not protest the lack of a call illustrates to me that they did not see the hit or they thought it was incidental to play.  But I wasn’t there and there is no film to review.

What is your call?

Check out the article here.

Continue reading »]]> I have made watching Massachusetts School of Law’s Sunday television show a habit.  They discuss many subjects and have had occassional shows about sports related topics.  Massachusetts institutions have been on the cutting edge of concussion research and treatment.

Continue reading »]]> One strength and conditioning coach that I pay particular attention to is Vern Gambetta.  Vern is a well published and respected expert regarding the training of athletes.  One thing I really enjoy about Vern is his dedication to continual learning–he does not stop looking, researching and experimenting to find new ways to aid athletes.

You can keep up with Vern on Twitter and YouTube.

Continue reading »]]> Sure, this month’s resource is late being posted. The important thing is that I made the end of the month deadline!

If you are a coach concerned with creating a sports environment that advocates and encourages your athletes to compete “clean,” then the online resources of the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) is as resource you want to check out.

Find the link on the Institute’s homepage and explore what the WADA has to offer for free.

Continue reading »]]> I found a nice set of iPhone apps that can aid a coach in learning and teaching the rules of their respective sport.

The first one is called Sport Rule Books which can be found at iTunes.  This app allows you to store the rule books from most professional and collegiate sports onto your phone.

The second app is iReferee which is developed by the makers of Sport Rule Books provides a coach the visual signals a referee or umpire will use in the following sports:

√ Football Referee Signals
√ Basketball Referee Signals
√ Baseball Umpire Signals
√ Soccer Referee Signals
√ Volleyball Referee Signals
√ Hockey Referee Signals

It also provides links to most international and NCAA sport rule books.  Find it online here.

Continue reading »]]> Several weeks ago, my wife Elizabeth and I went to the Somerville Theater to listen to Marc Cohn, a singer-songwriter well known for his tunes Walking in Memphis, Silver Thunderbird, and True Companion.  Beth and I have been big fans of his since 1991.

So what does this have to do with inspiration, you ask.  Over the past 15 years, I have become a big fan of the stories behind how people achieve.  What drove them to do what they do.

When we saw him in concert in February, Marc Cohn shared with the audience the story behind his debut album titled Marc Cohn.  It was 1985 and he was struggling in New York City as a singer-songwriter.   He was reading a copy of Musician magazine which featured an article by songwriters who were suffering writer’s block.  James Taylor, a huge musical influence on Marc, suggested that a trip to new places was key.  Opening yourself to new people and places was very helpful to Taylor; so Cohn books a few trips including one to Memphis, Tennessee–the home of blues.

While in Memphis, Cohn visited Graceland and the church where singer Al Green is the pastor.  But what really makes an incredible impact on Cohn is a night at the Hollywood Cafe, a small diner on Highway 61 in Mississippi.  There he meets Muriel, a 65 yr old teacher moonlighting as a singer.  Over the span of a few hours, Cohn stays at the cafe listening to Muriel play the piano and sing a number of blues and spiritual songs.  He introduces himself and soon finds himself singing alongside her.

What happened next was magical.  Cohn had lost both of his parents by age 12 and as you can imagine those events had a profound influence on his life.  Muriel whispers in his ear and basically tells him he needs to move on about his parents and get on with his life.  By the way, Cohn did not tell us what Muriel said to him during the concert–as you can imagine it must still be a very emotional topic for him to share.  Check out Songfacts for all the details.

Well, Cohn finally leaves the Hollywood Cafe very early that morning and immediately flys home.  Soon he is creating the songs that led to him winning the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1991.  Before his album came out, he went back to see Muriel to play his songs for her.  She told him, “Play that one again with my name in it, I like that one the best!”

So, a young Jewish man from New York City opens his heart to an elderly African-American woman in a Mississippi roadside cafe–they come from so different worlds–but worlds bridged by music.  Cohn realizes his life’s dreams by lowering his emotional defenses and allowing  Muriel to help him heal. A very powerful relationship was borne.

I have written about this story–not because I like Cohn’s music but because it is a wonderful example of one person enabling another’s success.  Much like coaching.  I like to tell my athletes and students (and my daughter too) that “asking for help is a sign of strength not a sign of weakness.”  Cohn in his own way that night asked for help.  Muriel answered his call.

In Inspiration Part II, I will tell my story of inspiration regarding the creation of the Institute and those who have inspired me.

Continue reading »]]> A coach is recorded in uncontrolled rant.  Saying nasty and hurtful things in the locker room.

She took her team’s effort a personal insult to her and wigged out.  She lost her job and the player that recorded her received a two-day detention.

The important lesson is not that she got caught, but how she spoke to her team.  We do have to be cognizant that more and more of life is recorded and can be played back and edited on a whim.

Listen to the recording what do you think?