There are now some 200 clubs in the UK active in girls’ rugby. Some teams survive and thrive, but many do not. However, sections that fail rarely do so because of a lack of interest or ability of the players, but due to problems with coaching. John Birch, an experienced county coach of girls’ rugby…
Many talented high school football players do not get the opportunity to receive scholarships offers from big DI schools, but luckily, they still have the ability to try and be a walk-on to their dream school such as University of Alabama. The term walk-on is used in sports; this usually happens in American college athletics,…
Connor Heyward is currently a sophomore running back at Michigan State University. He is originally from Duluth, Georgia where he was so versatile that he was able to play five different positions in high school including quarterback, receiver, running back, safety, and punter. Connor was able to play as a true freshman in 12 games…
Coaching cues for the glide shot put can be separated into two sections: the back of the circle and the power position/release. With this method, the athlete can have one cue before the throw and one cue during the throw. Overloading the athlete with too much information can result in poor performance. For most beginning…
Phase 1: Stability and Endurance Goal: Correct muscle imbalances caused by injuries sustained during a grueling season, and build a foundation for heavy lifting and more advanced exercises. Overview: Focuses primarily on bodyweight and core stability exercises that improve flexibility, core strength and balance, and eliminate imbalances. Intensity (percent of your max) is low and…
Finger Grip At our camps and clinics we simply take a batting glove, and mark a line across so it comes from the index finger down. It keeps our hand and our bat on top of the finger grip which is what we’re looking for. If we can keep the bat from getting back in…
1) 1v1 Drill Superb dribbling skills can be very useful for wide players. They must be able to beat their opponent down the wing and still have enough time to cut inside, to shoot, to square the ball, or to get to the end line to deliver a cross for the forwards to attack. When a winger…
The name of this page is Gimme One Thing, but I’m going to give you two things to think about the next time your chipping issues flare up. Remember the words bottom and bounce. What do they mean and how do they apply to better chipping? When you think bottom, your focus should be on…
Easily the most underrated part of goalkeeping is footwork. The very best goalkeepers in the world can move instinctively all over their box to always be in position for different shots and passes that come their way. This drill requires the goalkeeper and a partner. Place four cones in either in a box or rectangle…
1. Protective gear isn’t just about safety; it makes you learn faster. If you’re learning to ride as a young (school-age) kid and have a kid’s ability to naturally bounce off the ground and not get hurt, you can skip over this (except the helmet). But the #1 thing I tell adults learning to snowboard…
There are now some 200 clubs in the UK active in girls’ rugby. Some teams survive and thrive, but many do not. However, sections that fail rarely do so because of a lack of interest or ability of the players, but due to problems with coaching. John Birch, an experienced county coach of girls’ rugby…
The name of this page is Gimme One Thing, but I’m going to give you two things to think about the next time your chipping issues flare up. Remember the words bottom and bounce. What do they mean and how do they apply to better chipping? When you think bottom, your focus should be on…
With New Year resolutions in full swing, gym memberships are being handed out left and right (not for free, unfortunately). But let’s be real here guys, before you go signing a year-long contract, how likely are you to actually go to the gym for the rest of year? Some people just aren’t gym people and…
When it comes to shooting a score, you’re going to make or break your round on the par 4s. Consider how I played them at the Masters: I was three under for the week—including 10 birdies—and even par in the final round. I wouldn’t have won without playing them so well. Why are the par…
Running Do modified versions of sprint workouts (short distances) Use sprint drills with high jump technique Increase intensity of workouts over time Develop good sprint mechanics and technique Approach (High Jump Foot Placement) Blind 10 step approach (on the track) Have athlete run a straight line 10 step approach with maximum controllable speed Mark the…
Sometimes it can be a headache to be a softball coach, especially if you’re coaching youth players. Kids can be undisciplined, their skills unpolished and you also have to deal with their parents who watch every game. What you can change is the way you handle them, and that’s what I’m going to share with…
Dynamic Warm Up & Athletic Work – 10 to 15 minutes This is probably the #1 thing missing from most youth practices. It helps prevent injury, improves performance, and improve athletic ability. What good is a basketball player who is injured or is not athletic enough to utilize the basketball skills developed? The better the…
Around the CrossFit world, you hear some version of this phrase fairly often: “…where the loudest cheers are for the last to finish.” I think this is a great sentiment, but sometimes I wonder if this mindset can be a little off the mark when it comes to encouraging new and struggling athletes. Here’s an…
Little League Coaching Tip #1: Become Familiar With Your League. – Becoming familiar with your league rules, regulations, and policies is an important step in becoming an effective Little League coach. The analogy I would use here is that if you were going to volunteer in a foreign country and chose not to learn the…
