Exercises to Develop Coordination
One of the keys to success in any sport is coordination. While some children are naturally more coordinated than others, there are several things that can be done to help a young athlete continue to progress in this area of development. Brian Grasso suggests the following 12 exercises to help young athletes improve their coordination skills. Read more
Obtaining A Scholarship in Tough Times
Putting a child through college has never been an inexpensive investment. Finding a college that will provide a full ride athletic scholarship is getting more difficult. With the current state of the US economy, those dollars are becoming harder to come by. The following article, by Brian Davidson with National Collegiate Scouting Association, discusses this issue and how the economy is affecting college-aged athletes. Read more
How Your Hockey Player Should Deal with Fear
Learning something new, or being unsure of an outcome can leave even the bravest individual a little uneasy. For children, fear is very common. Their growing minds can often create fears out of situations that are easily rationalized by adults. Add to this a new and unknown, sport, team or coach and fear can all but paralyze even the best athlete. The following article provides advice to help use fear to become a stronger athlete and competitor. Read more
Is Your Player Getting The Most From Your Investment?
Involvement in youth sports is a huge investment for families. Not only are their monetary expenses involved, there are also time commitments to be considered. When considering the sacrifices made by parents, players and coaches, it is important to examine just what everyone is receiving for the commitment they have made to the team. Read more
How Coaches Can Help Athletes Take the Lead
Creating players with drive and motivation is not an easy job. There are many things that coaches can do to encourage a youth athlete to become self directed, however, a lot of this determination comes from within the athlete. Here are five characteristics of a self-directed athlete and tips to bringing them out in your players. Read more
Why You Should Demand Equal Playing Time
One of the main ways that children learn about a sport is to play the game. Focusing too much on winning and less on getting experience is not only detrimental to a young child’s self esteem, it takes away valuable lessons that can only be learned in a game situation. The following article discusses why equal playing time is such an important part of player development. Read more
How to Properly Maintain Hockey Equipment
Hockey equipment can be a big financial investment. Keeping this investment in the best possible condition can be difficult, especially considering they are being utilized by children. Here are some great tips to keep your child’s hockey gear in top working order and extend the time that it is able to be used. Read more
Flexibility in Youth Athletes: What You Need to Know
Flexibility is an important component in overall fitness. However it is only a small part of true fitness. There are many misconceptions about flexibility and many less than reliable measurement tools. The following article from Brian Grasso helps to debunk some of these myths and provides age appropriate flexibility expectations. Read more
Save Your Garage Door with The Sniper’s Edge
The Sniper’s Edge Shooting tarp is a new product designed to prevent home damage from shooting pucks and balls. It’s also designed to help players improve their shooting accuracy. So is it worth it? Here’s our review of the Sniper’s Edge. Read more
How to Avoid 4 Common Recruiting Frustrations
While college recruiting for many student-athletes is a rewarding and educational experience, the process can also be extremely frustrating and overwhelming. Unfortunately, this frustration often times results in too many student-athletes wondering “what could have been” and leaves everyone involved pointing the finger at someone else at the end of the process. Typically, there is no “one person” to blame and the common excuses are entirely understandable given the lack of experience most families have with recruiting. In the article below, NCSA Sports President Chris Krause, discusses how to avoid the four common recruiting frustrations.
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