For most of my life, my biggest fear was the fear of failure. I felt that I had the skills necessary to be a good football player, but what often crippled me was the constant thoughts that many young athletes deal with:
Read MoreIn the 16th century, a small village in northwest Hungary became known for an invention that changed the world. The village of Kocs (pronounced "coach") made its living from building carts and transporting goods between Vienna and Budapest.
Read MoreThere is no limit on “progress.” Talent is distributed unevenly, but there is no limit on how much we can improve what we start with. Never focus on what you started with. Always focus on making what you started with better. Seek progress.
Read MoreAlan Stein Jr. has a lot of experience working closely with top leaders in sports and business. He is the former performance coach for NBA superstars Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, and Kobe Bryant and is now helping athletes and businesses elevate their performance.
Read MoreAs much as any team in sports history, the Boston Celtics of the 1960s are known for their incredible teamwork. Head coach Red Auerbach said he paid his players more for what they could do to help the team win than for their individual statistics. Auerbach once told this story about former Boston Celtic Satch Sanders:
Read MoreYou're probably aware that birds often fly in a V formation, a flock of birds that flies together resembling a V. A really cool aspect of flying in this way is that, as each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for the bird immediately behind it. By flying in a V formation, scientists estimate that a flock of twenty-five birds can fly as much as 70% further than a solo bird using the same amount of energy.
Read MoreI recently heard a story from a couple hundred years ago that really got me thinking. Although the story has nothing to do with football, I couldn't help but think of offensive linemen as I heard it. See if you do as well:
Read MoreWhen a new coach is hired to lead a team, there is one determining factor that can help forecast whether or not success will occur: belief. If you don't have buy-in from your entire team and staff—even if the plan is perfect—it's not going to work.
Read MoreDwight D. Eisenhower is generally considered one of the better American presidents. Historical evaluations of his presidency place him among the upper tier of American presidents, but where he unequivocally ranks at the top of most lists, is his leadership and ability to rally his troops.
Read MoreIt was a particularly hot and sticky day at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904. As a result, people formed a long line in front of Arnold Fornachou's ice cream booth for something to cool them down. Ice cream on a hot day makes sense, which is why Arnold ran into a problem: he quickly ran out of paper bowls.
Read MoreIn art, academia, athletics, business, and life in general, there are exactly two types of talent: natural and chosen. Natural talent needs no explanation, of course. Whether or not we care to admit it, some people are just born better at certain things than others. We see it all the time.
Read MoreIn 2018, the national championship games in both major college sports (football and men's basketball) proved something remarkable. Alabama won the 2018 national championship in college football, while Villanova won the 2018 national championship in men's college basketball. Both teams were favored to win and both teams did, in fact, win.
Read MoreMatt Entz answered the question as honestly as he could. Prior to their matchup against South Dakota, the North Dakota State head football coach was asked about his thoughts on South Dakota starting a freshman at quarterback in the game.
Read MoreA lot of my writing is opinionated. This article is not one of them. This article deals with the cold, hard facts. I've written like this before, and it seems many people like living in the land of reality more than the land of deception. And the land of reality overtly supports the idea that multi-sport athletes make better football players.
Read MoreA clear distinction can be made between soft players and tough players. The usual contrasts typically feature physical components like aggression, tenacity, physicality, or the lack thereof. And these can certainly create a dividing wall between soft players and tough players.
Read MoreIf you're a coach, you probably have some players who—for whatever reason—don't seem to go all out. Whether it's in the weight room, conditioning, or practices/games, some players leave much to be desired when it comes to their effort.
Read MoreTheodore Roosevelt knew a thing or two about how to get a group of people to function well together. The revered American president successfully mediated the end of the Russo-Japanese War (which won him the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize), arbitrated a Franco-German conflict over Morocco, began construction of the Panama Canal, and even co-led a survey expedition through the Amazon basin after his presidency.
Read MoreChampions tend to have a few common denominators. Running the ball and playing good defense used to be chief among them. Today some might say it's first downs gained and generating takeaways on defense. Either way, commonalities exist between those at the top.
Read MoreYou've heard the comments before. "Football isn't safe! Football puts your future health at risk! Football players don't do well in school!" But are these claims true? Are they rooted in fact or merely sitting in the land of deception?
Read MoreIn the 2019 NFL Draft, a 5’10” quarterback was just taken with the first overall pick. Prior to that 2019 season, a 5’11” quarterback signed a four-year, $140 million contract, which was the largest in NFL history at the time. Most would argue that the best player in the NFL today is a 6’1” defensive tackle. Teams are starting to realize that it's smarter to recruit and draft great football players, not great size and potential.
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