Two Things That Drive Parents Nuts
These are the two extremes I see in athletes.
Idle Laziness: this is the one that frustrates parents the most
Manic Busyness: this is the one that ends up deeply concerning parents the most
What is Idle Laziness? Simply put, it's the athlete who says he or she has big goals and dreams, but their actions almost never match those goals. Aside from games or practice, they sit on their phones, they play video games, and their life is all about being comfortable.
One downfall to this one is that they do not reach their full potential. The other downfall I will mention in a moment...
What is Manic Busyness? It's the athlete who is so obsessed with being the best and reaching the pinnacle that they cannot stop to smell the roses, or even see them.
It's never enough for them. More film, more practice, more camps, more teams, more skills...their love of the sport and desire to be great has become the #1 pursuit of their life-- an idol if you will-- and it's actually keeping them from t...
Success is Better Than Failure
It sounds good, and we get it (sort of)...
"To fail is to succeed!"
"Failing is a GOOD thing!"
"To succeed or fail makes no difference."
I've said similar things.
But let's be honest, success is better than failure.
That being said, there is utility to failure.
Failure, when looked at objectively, when assessed properly, and when executed on after the fact, leads to better chances of success in the future.
Do not miss this...
If you are currently succeeding in your sport, enjoy it! Really. Take the mental and emotional "break" to deeply enjoy it. You won't always be winning or succeeding. Sports are not a linear path. There is failure involved.
You might get cut from a team soon. You might play the worst game of your career tomorrow. You might get chewed out by your coach tomorrow. You might digress in your mechanics or in a particular skill and feel like a rookie again at times.
But failure lasts only a little while. It's temporary. And it's meant to teach you, not torment ...
Social Media & 7 Ways to Get Locked In [ATHLETE]
Most athletes do not think about the effect social media has on their ability to lock in and focus in their sport (and in school).
Social media and it's short form content nature is designed to keep you and I distracted, bouncing from one thing to another. You may spend hours on it at a time, but in reality, you are task jumping the entire time.
Have you ever watched how quickly people scroll from one Instagram post to the next? Or how fast they jump from one Snapchat message to the next? Or from TikTok video to the next?
Think about it, your social media habits are training your brain not to focus for long periods of time.
In sports and in school, you need to be able to focus in order to dominate.
Just imagine how good you could be at your sport if you were able to lock in and focus like a champion?
I'm not going to tell you to stop social media forever, because I wouldn't do that either. But here are 7 ways to improve your focus-ability.
7 Ways to Improve Your Ability to Lock...
Bad Coach? 3 Ways to Thrive Anyway
Can you still have a positive experience and come out on top in your sport if you have an unkind, command and control, never give praise or encouragement kind of coach?
You can if you learn to take back control of 3 things.
Athlete, you do not have to suffer mentally or emotionally just because you have a coach who does not treat you the way you deserve to be treated.
3 Ways to Take Back Control of Your Experience in Sports
1. Control what you FOCUS on.
I know, your coach never recognizes your progress. Never tells you good job. Always points out where you fall short. And never really gives you guidance and attention to help you improve.
But what DO you have?
- Teammates that you love being around!
- A sport you love playing!
- You have skills you have developed!
- You have goals to work towards!
What you focus on ends up being your experience, regardless of what your coach says, does, doesn't say, or doesn't do.
2. Control what things MEAN to you.
Your coach hasn't pa...
Tips for Parents and Coaches in Today's CRAZY Youth Sports World
Recently I sat down and had a conversation with John O'Sullivan, founder of The Way of Champions Podcast and Conference. John has a movement that is all about Changing the Game for youth athletes- "giving the game back to them" as he likes to say.
On this episode we share practical tips for parents and coaches to be better about letting go of control, giving ownership of the sport back to their athlete, how to motivate in inspire athletes to be the best they can be, some "do's and don'ts" and common mistakes we see parents and coaches making today, and more.
We also discuss how we make the magic that happen at our training gyms for teen and college athletes, Player's Fitness and Performance. We discuss what the MORE really means in our recently trademarked tagline, More Than Just a Gym.
Enjoy!
Serving you,
Coach Andrew J Simpson
Coach #1 Tip for Player Mental Health
Coach,
Each and everyday I want to encourage you to pick one player minimum, look them in the eyes, and from your heart say to them, "I care about you. You're going to do great things in your lifetime."
This communicates two things to them:
1. "You have value."
2. "You have a purpose beyond athletics. The best is yet to come for you."
So many of the athletes you coach do not yet believe these truths about themselves.
If you do this every single day, you will hit your entire team multiple times in a single season.
Words change lives.
And a coach's words are among the most life-changing for a young man or woman. This is the Love-Powered Coaching that I talk about in The Youth Truth book.
As a society, I do not think it is right that we blame coaches for the majority of athlete mental health issues (although there are plenty of cases where this is warranted). Blaming does not encourage or empower. It does not fix anything.
However, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that a coach...
Balancing High Effort and Patient Endurance
Recently I was a guest on the Lead Em Up Podcast to talk all things athlete confidence, mindset, and peak performance habits. Coaches, parents, athletes, this one is a MUST LISTEN TO.
A key part of the conversation was when we got into talking about how "Balancing High Effort and Patient Endurance" is the KEY to reaching full potential.
Listen to this conversation between Adam, Kyle, and myself.
Dedicated to your athlete's success in sports and life,
Coach Andrew J Simpson
IT'S HERE! You can now grab my new book, The Unstoppable Athlete: 12 Keys to Unlock Your Full Potential. Mindset, Confidence, and Peak Performance Habits for Teen and College Athletes Who Play Sports.
Get The Book TODAY Plus 5 Key Bonuses Guaranteed to Give Your Athlete the Edge
From Pressure to Power: Supporting Your Athletes Success
From Pressure To Power Strategies For Youth Athletes With Andrew Simpson
In a world where youth sports are increasingly competitive and high-pressure, the role of parents in coaching young athletes has become more critical than ever.
In today’s episode, our host, James McLamb, is joined by sports coach Andrew J. Simpson, the visionary founder of PFP (Player's Fitness and Performance). They discuss how to help young athletes grow in all areas, not just physically but also mentally and emotionally.
They talked about the immense pressures young sports lovers face and shared tips on being a successful athlete while staying healthy. The conversation looked at the tough side of youth sports, a fast-growing area where the demands can sometimes take away the fun and lessons sports should bring.
Andrew underlined the invaluable role of parents in this journey, how their support, guidance, and teaching of good values can shape their child's sports experience without pushing them too...
3 Easy to Apply Keys to Confidence
“I am just not confident. My coach says I just need to be confident, but I don't know how. I know I can be better than I’m currently showing. I hate feeling like this, Coach Andrew.”
That’s a conversation I recently had with a young female lacrosse player. The truth is, it's a conversation I have almost everyday! Luckily, there are 3 quick and easy things an athlete can do to get confident.
It is upsetting when I watch this common, fixable problem break the hearts of mom and dad. It's upsetting watching your son or daughter doubt him or herself, lack self-belief, lower their standards, and hold back.
How many others are there?
How many kids out there have the desire to be successful yet are left feeling hopeless, unworthy, and anything but successful?
3 Keys to Confidence
1. Know, Focus On, and Double Down On Your Strengths.
When you focus on where you are lacking, falling short, or weak, you feel anything BUT confident. Write down your strengths and talents, now...
Inspiring Conversation with a College Athlete
Something very special happened recently- I got to be on a podcast with an amazing athlete whom I have had the extreme pleasure to coach since 2016.
Rachel Roupe is an elite, D1 college athlete, but she is much, much more than that. She is an incredible person and leader. Her mindset and her habits are what every parent wants for their children and what every coach wants on their team.
Parents and coaches -- I recommend listening to the interview below, facilitated by Dave Vassilaros, Host of the KidFirst Sports Show. In fact, send it to your athletes or listen to it in a car ride with them, parents.
During the interview we share countless gold nuggets such as how Rachel overcomes perfectionism and fear of failure, how she has become the dominant leader and athlete that she now is, while maintaining mental health and a healthy perspective along the way, and much more.
Enjoy and leave a comment below!
Dedicated to your athlete's success in sports and life,
Coach ...
