Developing proper training habits is more important than setting goals
For youngsters, goal setting is not the Holy Grail that many make it out to be. More important to athletic success is forming proper habits.
14 May 2023 (102 views)
For youngsters, goal setting is not the Holy Grail that many make it out to be. More important to athletic success is forming proper habits.
14 May 2023 (102 views)
Canadian Sport for Life Society releases Long Term Development 3.0
The latest edition of the Sport for Life Society's landmark resource recognizes sport and physical activity as "powerful agents for developing individuals and society as a whole."
30 April 2023 (119 views)
The latest edition of the Sport for Life Society's landmark resource recognizes sport and physical activity as "powerful agents for developing individuals and society as a whole."
30 April 2023 (119 views)
"What's the second best way?"
Memories from my coaching career focus more on personal interaction than high achievement. I suspect this is true of many former coaches.
16 April 2023 (197 views)
Memories from my coaching career focus more on personal interaction than high achievement. I suspect this is true of many former coaches.
16 April 2023 (197 views)
Requiring commitment in youth sports is a terrible idea
Athletes invested in their youth sport programs attend more practices and perform better than those forced to participate through idealistic participation rules
02 April 2023 (151 views)
Athletes invested in their youth sport programs attend more practices and perform better than those forced to participate through idealistic participation rules
02 April 2023 (151 views)
For sport parents: A 30,000 foot view of the youth sport experience
It's easy to miss the big picture of youth sport because we're often overwhelmed with the technical stuff
19 March 2023 (161 views)
It's easy to miss the big picture of youth sport because we're often overwhelmed with the technical stuff
19 March 2023 (161 views)
Pay-to-play in college sports is now on the table
What was unthinkable just a few years ago is now a possible, and reasonable outcome in collegiate sport. However, Olympic sports are on even shakier ground.
05 March 2023 (198 views)
What was unthinkable just a few years ago is now a possible, and reasonable outcome in collegiate sport. However, Olympic sports are on even shakier ground.
05 March 2023 (198 views)
Centralized vs. decentralized sport development systems
The Cold War battle of economic systems created sport development frameworks that are still used today.
19 February 2023 (328 views)
The Cold War battle of economic systems created sport development frameworks that are still used today.
19 February 2023 (328 views)
Has swim training lost the plot?
The rising cost of youth sport participation is slowly lowering skill levels by forcing coaches to focus on metabolic training rather than instruction in developmental groups.
05 February 2023 (262 views)
The rising cost of youth sport participation is slowly lowering skill levels by forcing coaches to focus on metabolic training rather than instruction in developmental groups.
05 February 2023 (262 views)
Debriefing 2022: Takeaways from the archives
A curated list of topics impacting youth sport right now or in the near future.
11 December 2022 (514 views)
A curated list of topics impacting youth sport right now or in the near future.
11 December 2022 (514 views)
What kind of ethical thinker are you?
Ethics is more than simply determining right from wrong. Sometimes it's important to understand why something is right or why it's not.
27 November 2022 (303 views)
Ethics is more than simply determining right from wrong. Sometimes it's important to understand why something is right or why it's not.
27 November 2022 (303 views)
The problem of the late-starter athlete in youth sport programs
We don't often think of age and experience as demographic forces. But just as gravity or compound interest are omnipresent in other aspects of our lives, age is a tsunami in youth sport.
13 November 2022 (338 views)
We don't often think of age and experience as demographic forces. But just as gravity or compound interest are omnipresent in other aspects of our lives, age is a tsunami in youth sport.
13 November 2022 (338 views)
What hath Covid wrought?
NGBs want the kids back, but the pandemic showed parents what life could be like without the daily grind of transporting kids to practices, late night dinners, and long weekends.
30 October 2022 (320 views)
NGBs want the kids back, but the pandemic showed parents what life could be like without the daily grind of transporting kids to practices, late night dinners, and long weekends.
30 October 2022 (320 views)
The parent, coach, athlete relationship is not as straightforward as you think
Transformative youth sport programs exist because of the people involved in them and their own agency within the role they play.
16 October 2022 (356 views)
Transformative youth sport programs exist because of the people involved in them and their own agency within the role they play.
16 October 2022 (356 views)
Not competing at a young age can be a good thing
NGBs should delay competition for their youngest athletes.
02 October 2022 (333 views)
NGBs should delay competition for their youngest athletes.
02 October 2022 (333 views)
Proposed rule changes will weaken or destroy Title IX
Instead of proposing changes that might actually improve the application of Title IX, the Biden administration is codifying woke ideology that will only weaken it or, worse yet, make it irrelevant.
18 September 2022 (356 views)
Instead of proposing changes that might actually improve the application of Title IX, the Biden administration is codifying woke ideology that will only weaken it or, worse yet, make it irrelevant.
18 September 2022 (356 views)
Women's diving, one of Malaysia's premier sports, has been eliminated from the upcoming Malaysia Games
Dropping the women's diving events from the 2022 Games highlights a gaping hole in Malaysia's sport development process.
04 September 2022 (435 views)
Dropping the women's diving events from the 2022 Games highlights a gaping hole in Malaysia's sport development process.
04 September 2022 (435 views)
Gladwell's Law: In any sporting endeavor, elite achievement comes at the cost of mass participation
NGBs can improve developmental programs with a few simple changes to the competitive environment.
21 August 2022 (414 views)
NGBs can improve developmental programs with a few simple changes to the competitive environment.
21 August 2022 (414 views)
Can team culture affect high performance?
The secret to success is consistently doing a lot of ordinary things right.
07 August 2022 (417 views)
The secret to success is consistently doing a lot of ordinary things right.
07 August 2022 (417 views)
NGBs that raise their average training age can achieve total world domination in their sport
The average training age of an NGB's athlete pool can be an important, long-term membership metric.
10 July 2022 (477 views)
The average training age of an NGB's athlete pool can be an important, long-term membership metric.
10 July 2022 (477 views)
Declining populations will affect national sport development
The effect of falling fertility rates on sport may not be as dramatic as that felt from the pandemic but it's real and already underway. The smart money is on sports that can adapt.
26 June 2022 (694 views)
The effect of falling fertility rates on sport may not be as dramatic as that felt from the pandemic but it's real and already underway. The smart money is on sports that can adapt.
26 June 2022 (694 views)
Fitness vs. training: Why the difference matters
Training is temporary, fitness is forever
12 June 2022 (502 views)
Training is temporary, fitness is forever
12 June 2022 (502 views)
Reviewing the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines put in very strong efforts. But the size of the Games is getting out of hand. Smaller economies will soon be reluctant to host.
29 May 2022 (1089 views)
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines put in very strong efforts. But the size of the Games is getting out of hand. Smaller economies will soon be reluctant to host.
29 May 2022 (1089 views)
Parent expectations in youth sport programs
Understanding parent expectations does not mean changing the athlete development process. It means understanding who the client really is and what is or isn't driving them your way.
15 May 2022 (628 views)
Understanding parent expectations does not mean changing the athlete development process. It means understanding who the client really is and what is or isn't driving them your way.
15 May 2022 (628 views)
Athleticism reimagined
It's not rocket science! Youth sport coaches can be trained to teach proper movement, understand movement sequencing, and identify and correct movement chain errors.
01 May 2022 (729 views)
It's not rocket science! Youth sport coaches can be trained to teach proper movement, understand movement sequencing, and identify and correct movement chain errors.
01 May 2022 (729 views)
Culture and national sport success
Sport provides one of the most visible examples of a society's efficiency in organizing, governing, and administering large scale endeavors.
17 April 2022 (561 views)
Sport provides one of the most visible examples of a society's efficiency in organizing, governing, and administering large scale endeavors.
17 April 2022 (561 views)
The transgender issue is a wake up call for sport
Thinking that common sense will fix everything and that leaders will come to their senses is dangerous and will soon lead to a sport environment we don't recognize.
03 April 2022 (594 views)
Thinking that common sense will fix everything and that leaders will come to their senses is dangerous and will soon lead to a sport environment we don't recognize.
03 April 2022 (594 views)
Should the Olympic committee have a role in youth sport governance? You bet!
They already do, but reform is needed and the USOPC may be the only way to get it done.
20 March 2022 (576 views)
They already do, but reform is needed and the USOPC may be the only way to get it done.
20 March 2022 (576 views)
Norway's three-peat in the Winter Games
Norway's Olympic success is rooted in mass participation, thus demonstrating that sport can be universally enjoyed while developing athletes with extraordinary ability.
06 March 2022 (624 views)
Norway's Olympic success is rooted in mass participation, thus demonstrating that sport can be universally enjoyed while developing athletes with extraordinary ability.
06 March 2022 (624 views)
How does a sport make it into the Olympic Games?
My red rover skills are still first rate. Can I still have an Olympic career?
20 February 2022 (666 views)
My red rover skills are still first rate. Can I still have an Olympic career?
20 February 2022 (666 views)
Who speaks for sport?
Allowing trans women to compete as females is an ideological attack on objective reality and possibly the biggest leadership blunder in sport history.
06 February 2022 (683 views)
Allowing trans women to compete as females is an ideological attack on objective reality and possibly the biggest leadership blunder in sport history.
06 February 2022 (683 views)
Sport dropout: Why do young athletes leave sport programs?
If youth sport is a universal good then we should know more about why athletes dropout of our programs.
23 January 2022 (690 views)
If youth sport is a universal good then we should know more about why athletes dropout of our programs.
23 January 2022 (690 views)
Transgender women athletes have an unfair advantage in female sport…and we all know it
Does inclusion trump fairness? How we answer that question will determine what sport looks like for a long time to come.
09 January 2022 (1137 views)
Does inclusion trump fairness? How we answer that question will determine what sport looks like for a long time to come.
09 January 2022 (1137 views)
The difference between self-confidence and self-efficacy
Sometimes the lingo is confusing but in this case it pays to understand the difference.
12 December 2021 (864 views)
Sometimes the lingo is confusing but in this case it pays to understand the difference.
12 December 2021 (864 views)
The use of performance enhancing drugs in youth sport provides a teaching moment in ethical reasoning
"An ethical man knows what to do. A moral man does it." Youth sport is an ethical reasoning laboratory that we really should take advantage of more often.
28 November 2021 (699 views)
"An ethical man knows what to do. A moral man does it." Youth sport is an ethical reasoning laboratory that we really should take advantage of more often.
28 November 2021 (699 views)
The current NCAA model may be finished
The recent National Labor Relations Board memo may be the tipping point needed to start paying collegiate athletes. Olympic sports face a "Now what?" scenario.
14 November 2021 (783 views)
The recent National Labor Relations Board memo may be the tipping point needed to start paying collegiate athletes. Olympic sports face a "Now what?" scenario.
14 November 2021 (783 views)
Burnout and dropout are not the same thing
Dropout is a phenomenon in youth sports. Burnout is a psychosomatic condition that can occur later in an athlete's career.
31 October 2021 (737 views)
Dropout is a phenomenon in youth sports. Burnout is a psychosomatic condition that can occur later in an athlete's career.
31 October 2021 (737 views)
Do our youngest athletes really need to compete?
Knowledge that changes behavior loses its relevance. Knowledge that does not change behavior is useless.
17 October 2021 (707 views)
Knowledge that changes behavior loses its relevance. Knowledge that does not change behavior is useless.
17 October 2021 (707 views)
Are small town athletes better at deliberate practice than their big city counterparts?
Deliberate practice is what passion looks like. It's not something you feel, it's something you do and once athletes learn to practice this way there are few limits on the level of skill they can develop.
03 October 2021 (1245 views)
Deliberate practice is what passion looks like. It's not something you feel, it's something you do and once athletes learn to practice this way there are few limits on the level of skill they can develop.
03 October 2021 (1245 views)
Overcoming diminishing returns in high performance sport
The age/performance curve shows why many elite athletes never reach their genetic potential. How coaches and NGBs can help more athletes perform at the edge of their ability.
19 September 2021 (1040 views)
The age/performance curve shows why many elite athletes never reach their genetic potential. How coaches and NGBs can help more athletes perform at the edge of their ability.
19 September 2021 (1040 views)
Clubs are the key to getting youth sport back to normal
No one knows if the pandemic has changed youth sport culture yet. But if we are to get back to 'normal' then sport clubs must be recalled to life.
05 September 2021 (795 views)
No one knows if the pandemic has changed youth sport culture yet. But if we are to get back to 'normal' then sport clubs must be recalled to life.
05 September 2021 (795 views)
Who won the Olympics?
The Games are much more than a simple medal count. A sensible scoring system could add a new layer of excitement to the quadrennial spectacle. In this article I propose a framework for such a system.
22 August 2021 (1098 views)
The Games are much more than a simple medal count. A sensible scoring system could add a new layer of excitement to the quadrennial spectacle. In this article I propose a framework for such a system.
22 August 2021 (1098 views)
Is sport using its human capital effectively?
Many countries are spinning their wheels when it come to capitalizing on their sport talent
08 August 2021 (881 views)
Many countries are spinning their wheels when it come to capitalizing on their sport talent
08 August 2021 (881 views)
A proposal for a maturity index to help identify early- and late-maturing athletes in local clubs and teams
Being able to identify early- and late-maturing athletes gives coaches one more tool they can use to understand the demographic forces at work in their athlete pools
25 July 2021 (921 views)
Being able to identify early- and late-maturing athletes gives coaches one more tool they can use to understand the demographic forces at work in their athlete pools
25 July 2021 (921 views)
Is amateurism dead? The Supreme Court says maybe
Amateurism is on life-support and may not survive its next court challenge
11 July 2021 (879 views)
Amateurism is on life-support and may not survive its next court challenge
11 July 2021 (879 views)
The cost of participation is changing the youth sport landscape in North America
Rising costs that make youth sports an upper middle class activity are bad socially and hurt sport performance overall
27 June 2021 (1456 views)
Rising costs that make youth sports an upper middle class activity are bad socially and hurt sport performance overall
27 June 2021 (1456 views)
Using the Pygmalion Effect in sport
How coaching expectations influence athlete outcomes
13 June 2021 (6877 views)
How coaching expectations influence athlete outcomes
13 June 2021 (6877 views)
Does early sport specialization reduce athleticism
The current trend toward early specialization is hurting development of athleticism
30 May 2021 (1024 views)
The current trend toward early specialization is hurting development of athleticism
30 May 2021 (1024 views)
Understanding the relative age effect
It exists in any data set that tracks growth or performance of youngsters. The question is not, is it there? The question is what to do about it?
16 May 2021 (1458 views)
It exists in any data set that tracks growth or performance of youngsters. The question is not, is it there? The question is what to do about it?
16 May 2021 (1458 views)
The nine pillars of sport development
Applying the Anna Karenina Principle to sport development
02 May 2021 (1479 views)
Applying the Anna Karenina Principle to sport development
02 May 2021 (1479 views)
Using training age to gauge athlete experience
Training age provides an indirect measure of an athlete's experience in sport
18 April 2021 (984 views)
Training age provides an indirect measure of an athlete's experience in sport
18 April 2021 (984 views)
What would you do differently if there were no such thing as talent?
How we think about ability and learning changes the nature of youth sport programs and affects sport on a national and individual level
04 April 2021 (1443 views)
How we think about ability and learning changes the nature of youth sport programs and affects sport on a national and individual level
04 April 2021 (1443 views)
Athlete development measurements and the lingo that goes with them
Knowing when athletes begin peak height velocity can help coaches design stronger foundational programs
21 March 2021 (2246 views)
Knowing when athletes begin peak height velocity can help coaches design stronger foundational programs
21 March 2021 (2246 views)
Retention and Training Age
Metrics That Shape the Future of Our Sports
07 March 2021 (1258 views)
Metrics That Shape the Future of Our Sports
07 March 2021 (1258 views)
Fear of missing out is hurting youth sports
23 October 2018 (5708 views)
23 October 2018 (5708 views)
Deliberate practice vs. late specialization
24 September 2018 (1528 views)
24 September 2018 (1528 views)
Is talent identification even possible?
17 September 2018 (1418 views)
17 September 2018 (1418 views)
Who won the Asian Games?
10 September 2018 (1667 views)
10 September 2018 (1667 views)
Re-thinking the mission of Malaysia's sport associations
03 September 2018 (1611 views)
03 September 2018 (1611 views)
Using maturity offsets to determine age at peak height velocity
27 August 2018 (12887 views)
27 August 2018 (12887 views)
The youth sport talent illusion
How we confuse early-maturers with good athletes
13 August 2018 (2189 views)
How we confuse early-maturers with good athletes
13 August 2018 (2189 views)
The tip of the iceberg
What are we seeing when we watch elite sport performances?
30 July 2018 (1767 views)
What are we seeing when we watch elite sport performances?
30 July 2018 (1767 views)
7 things youth sport coaches should know
25 June 2018 (1572 views)
25 June 2018 (1572 views)
Who is responsible for athlete performance
Athletes, coaches, or committees?
18 June 2018 (1518 views)
Athletes, coaches, or committees?
18 June 2018 (1518 views)
Creating a culture of achievement in sport
05 June 2018 (1638 views)
05 June 2018 (1638 views)
Sport development in the headlines (sort of)
Is Malaysia really serious about revamping their sports system?
28 May 2018 (1469 views)
Is Malaysia really serious about revamping their sports system?
28 May 2018 (1469 views)
Who won the Commonwealth Games?
A points analysis of the Gold Coast games
23 April 2018 (1585 views)
A points analysis of the Gold Coast games
23 April 2018 (1585 views)
Kaizen: Improving sport administration will improve performance
02 April 2018 (2012 views)
02 April 2018 (2012 views)
What can Malaysia learn from Norway about sport development?
05 March 2018 (1784 views)
05 March 2018 (1784 views)
Dealing with more than one email address and other communication ideas
More efficiency tips for coaches
26 February 2018 (1531 views)
More efficiency tips for coaches
26 February 2018 (1531 views)
What can you do to work more efficiently?
Efficiency tips for coaches
19 February 2018 (1592 views)
Efficiency tips for coaches
19 February 2018 (1592 views)
LTAD: Training to compete
22 January 2018 (1887 views)
22 January 2018 (1887 views)
Sport clubs are the lifeblood of national sport development
They need help from sport associations to do their job
15 January 2018 (1574 views)
They need help from sport associations to do their job
15 January 2018 (1574 views)
Take a chance!
Sometimes taking risks is the only way to improve
18 December 2017 (1321 views)
Sometimes taking risks is the only way to improve
18 December 2017 (1321 views)
How we calculate age in youth sports can have benefits and consequences
11 December 2017 (6298 views)
11 December 2017 (6298 views)
Can bio-banding help reduce the relative age effect in sport?
04 December 2017 (1834 views)
04 December 2017 (1834 views)
Understanding the role that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play in the athlete development process
20 November 2017 (2326 views)
20 November 2017 (2326 views)
Great expectations: Expect more, get more!
What we learn from raising the bar in sport performance
14 November 2017 (1527 views)
What we learn from raising the bar in sport performance
14 November 2017 (1527 views)
Why process is more important than outcome in a learning environment
25 September 2017 (1709 views)
25 September 2017 (1709 views)
Sport associations are embracing physical literacy training
18 September 2017 (1700 views)
18 September 2017 (1700 views)
Creating a true sport development system in Malaysia
11 September 2017 (4663 views)
11 September 2017 (4663 views)
Who won the SEA Games?
04 September 2017 (2376 views)
04 September 2017 (2376 views)
KL2017: Reporting individual sport results deserved better planning
29 August 2017 (1664 views)
29 August 2017 (1664 views)
Can we please forget about ways to identify talent and just work on getting more athletes?
07 August 2017 (1752 views)
07 August 2017 (1752 views)
Using the team selection process to boost motivation and increase athlete participation
24 July 2017 (1812 views)
24 July 2017 (1812 views)
LTAD: The Train to Train stage
10 July 2017 (3283 views)
10 July 2017 (3283 views)
LTAD: The Learn-to-Train stage
26 June 2017 (2244 views)
26 June 2017 (2244 views)
Athletic training for youngsters
12 June 2017 (1651 views)
12 June 2017 (1651 views)
Visualization and imagery in sports
05 June 2017 (1815 views)
05 June 2017 (1815 views)
Young, single-sport athletes suffer more injuries and do not reach their full potential
29 May 2017 (1961 views)
29 May 2017 (1961 views)
Transformational vs. transactional coaching
23 May 2017 (2143 views)
23 May 2017 (2143 views)
Will they come back tomorrow?
The most important KPI for youth sport coaches
08 May 2017 (1647 views)
The most important KPI for youth sport coaches
08 May 2017 (1647 views)
Advice to parents of young athletes
01 May 2017 (1548 views)
01 May 2017 (1548 views)
Is VIP leadership of sport associations a good idea?
22 March 2017 (1735 views)
22 March 2017 (1735 views)
What happens after an athlete's initial introduction to sport?
27 February 2017 (1569 views)
27 February 2017 (1569 views)
"Where do athletes come from?"
A paper presented at the Kuching sport psychology conference
16 January 2017 (1761 views)
A paper presented at the Kuching sport psychology conference
16 January 2017 (1761 views)
Understanding sport talent pathways
09 January 2017 (1912 views)
09 January 2017 (1912 views)
Make 2017 the year of the growth mindset
02 January 2017 (1578 views)
02 January 2017 (1578 views)
Teaching physical literacy skills in youth sport practices
12 December 2016 (1670 views)
12 December 2016 (1670 views)
Developing sport from the ground up
How does the process really work?
06 December 2016 (1327 views)
How does the process really work?
06 December 2016 (1327 views)
Pay for what you want
Less government funding may be the best strategy for sport development
21 November 2016 (1624 views)
Less government funding may be the best strategy for sport development
21 November 2016 (1624 views)
The 10,000 hour rule: "Not for the faint of heart nor for the impatient"
14 November 2016 (1848 views)
14 November 2016 (1848 views)
Parent involvement in their child's sport participation sometimes backfires
07 November 2016 (1594 views)
07 November 2016 (1594 views)
How to do the measurements for determining peak height velocity (PHV)
24 October 2016 (5358 views)
24 October 2016 (5358 views)
A foreign coach is not always the answer
17 October 2016 (1553 views)
17 October 2016 (1553 views)
Tips on creating an effective coaching environment
10 October 2016 (1928 views)
10 October 2016 (1928 views)
Peak height velocity and aerobic development
Using simple measurement data to inform training decisions
26 September 2016 (5003 views)
Using simple measurement data to inform training decisions
26 September 2016 (5003 views)
Early sport specialization is still not a good idea
19 September 2016 (1500 views)
19 September 2016 (1500 views)
What kind of data do we need to develop sports?
13 September 2016 (1696 views)
13 September 2016 (1696 views)
The attrition and transformation models of sport development
05 September 2016 (1820 views)
05 September 2016 (1820 views)
Solve for <x>
29 August 2016 (1471 views)
29 August 2016 (1471 views)
Artificial elimination of athletes from training and competition hinders sport development in Malaysia
15 August 2016 (1585 views)
15 August 2016 (1585 views)
Time is the most important factor in talent development
01 August 2016 (3331 views)
01 August 2016 (3331 views)
What if opportunity never knocks?
13 June 2016 (1678 views)
13 June 2016 (1678 views)
The long-term athlete development framework offers youngsters a chance at sport success and an active and healthy life
06 June 2016 (6685 views)
06 June 2016 (6685 views)
Early sport specialization is not a good development strategy
30 May 2016 (2374 views)
30 May 2016 (2374 views)
What does a declining population mean for sport?
2 February 2016 (4781 views)
2 February 2016 (4781 views)
Coaching 'flow'
11 November 2015 (1776 views)
11 November 2015 (1776 views)
The coach's role in creating a deliberate practice environment
02 November 2015 (1777 views)
02 November 2015 (1777 views)
When should athletes specialize in a single sport?
11 September 2015 (1685 views)
11 September 2015 (1685 views)
The Holy Grail of health, wellness, and sport development
Physical literacy
1 September 2015 (1770 views)
Physical literacy
1 September 2015 (1770 views)
Revisiting the 10,000 hour rule
Some practical thoughts on talent and practice
10 August 2015 (1777 views)
Some practical thoughts on talent and practice
10 August 2015 (1777 views)
The power of 'not yet'
20 July 2015 (1637 views)
20 July 2015 (1637 views)
Let's stop trying to identify sport talent and start developing it
22 June 2015 (2018 views)
22 June 2015 (2018 views)
1. Using maturity offsets to determine age at peak height velocity
27 August 2018 (12887 views)
27 August 2018 (12887 views)
2. Using the Pygmalion Effect in sport
How coaching expectations influence athlete outcomes
13 June 2021 (6877 views)
How coaching expectations influence athlete outcomes
13 June 2021 (6877 views)
3. The long-term athlete development framework offers youngsters a chance at sport success and an active and healthy life
06 June 2016 (6685 views)
06 June 2016 (6685 views)
4. How we calculate age in youth sports can have benefits and consequences
11 December 2017 (6298 views)
11 December 2017 (6298 views)
5. Fear of missing out is hurting youth sports
23 October 2018 (5708 views)
23 October 2018 (5708 views)
6. How to do the measurements for determining peak height velocity (PHV)
24 October 2016 (5358 views)
24 October 2016 (5358 views)
7. Peak height velocity and aerobic development
Using simple measurement data to inform training decisions
26 September 2016 (5003 views)
Using simple measurement data to inform training decisions
26 September 2016 (5003 views)
8. What does a declining population mean for sport?
2 February 2016 (4781 views)
2 February 2016 (4781 views)
9. Creating a true sport development system in Malaysia
11 September 2017 (4663 views)
11 September 2017 (4663 views)
10. Time is the most important factor in talent development
01 August 2016 (3331 views)
01 August 2016 (3331 views)
11. LTAD: The Train to Train stage
10 July 2017 (3283 views)
10 July 2017 (3283 views)
12. Who won the SEA Games?
04 September 2017 (2376 views)
04 September 2017 (2376 views)
13. Early sport specialization is not a good development strategy
30 May 2016 (2374 views)
30 May 2016 (2374 views)
14. Understanding the role that intrinsic and extrinsic motivation play in the athlete development process
20 November 2017 (2326 views)
20 November 2017 (2326 views)
15. Athlete development measurements and the lingo that goes with them
Knowing when athletes begin peak height velocity can help coaches design stronger foundational programs
21 March 2021 (2246 views)
Knowing when athletes begin peak height velocity can help coaches design stronger foundational programs
21 March 2021 (2246 views)
16. LTAD: The Learn-to-Train stage
26 June 2017 (2244 views)
26 June 2017 (2244 views)
17. The youth sport talent illusion
How we confuse early-maturers with good athletes
13 August 2018 (2189 views)
How we confuse early-maturers with good athletes
13 August 2018 (2189 views)
18. Transformational vs. transactional coaching
23 May 2017 (2143 views)
23 May 2017 (2143 views)
19. Let's stop trying to identify sport talent and start developing it
22 June 2015 (2018 views)
22 June 2015 (2018 views)
20. Kaizen: Improving sport administration will improve performance
02 April 2018 (2012 views)
02 April 2018 (2012 views)
21. Young, single-sport athletes suffer more injuries and do not reach their full potential
29 May 2017 (1961 views)
29 May 2017 (1961 views)
22. Tips on creating an effective coaching environment
10 October 2016 (1928 views)
10 October 2016 (1928 views)
23. Understanding sport talent pathways
09 January 2017 (1912 views)
09 January 2017 (1912 views)
24. LTAD: Training to compete
22 January 2018 (1887 views)
22 January 2018 (1887 views)
25. The 10,000 hour rule: "Not for the faint of heart nor for the impatient"
14 November 2016 (1848 views)
14 November 2016 (1848 views)
26. Can bio-banding help reduce the relative age effect in sport?
04 December 2017 (1834 views)
04 December 2017 (1834 views)
27. The attrition and transformation models of sport development
05 September 2016 (1820 views)
05 September 2016 (1820 views)
28. Visualization and imagery in sports
05 June 2017 (1815 views)
05 June 2017 (1815 views)
29. Using the team selection process to boost motivation and increase athlete participation
24 July 2017 (1812 views)
24 July 2017 (1812 views)
30. What can Malaysia learn from Norway about sport development?
05 March 2018 (1784 views)
05 March 2018 (1784 views)
31. Revisiting the 10,000 hour rule
Some practical thoughts on talent and practice
10 August 2015 (1777 views)
Some practical thoughts on talent and practice
10 August 2015 (1777 views)
32. The coach's role in creating a deliberate practice environment
02 November 2015 (1777 views)
02 November 2015 (1777 views)
33. Coaching 'flow'
11 November 2015 (1776 views)
11 November 2015 (1776 views)
34. The Holy Grail of health, wellness, and sport development
Physical literacy
1 September 2015 (1770 views)
Physical literacy
1 September 2015 (1770 views)
35. The tip of the iceberg
What are we seeing when we watch elite sport performances?
30 July 2018 (1767 views)
What are we seeing when we watch elite sport performances?
30 July 2018 (1767 views)
36. "Where do athletes come from?"
A paper presented at the Kuching sport psychology conference
16 January 2017 (1761 views)
A paper presented at the Kuching sport psychology conference
16 January 2017 (1761 views)
37. Can we please forget about ways to identify talent and just work on getting more athletes?
07 August 2017 (1752 views)
07 August 2017 (1752 views)
38. Is VIP leadership of sport associations a good idea?
22 March 2017 (1735 views)
22 March 2017 (1735 views)
39. Why process is more important than outcome in a learning environment
25 September 2017 (1709 views)
25 September 2017 (1709 views)
40. Sport associations are embracing physical literacy training
18 September 2017 (1700 views)
18 September 2017 (1700 views)
41. What kind of data do we need to develop sports?
13 September 2016 (1696 views)
13 September 2016 (1696 views)
42. When should athletes specialize in a single sport?
11 September 2015 (1685 views)
11 September 2015 (1685 views)
43. What if opportunity never knocks?
13 June 2016 (1678 views)
13 June 2016 (1678 views)
44. Teaching physical literacy skills in youth sport practices
12 December 2016 (1670 views)
12 December 2016 (1670 views)
45. Who won the Asian Games?
10 September 2018 (1667 views)
10 September 2018 (1667 views)
46. KL2017: Reporting individual sport results deserved better planning
29 August 2017 (1664 views)
29 August 2017 (1664 views)
47. Athletic training for youngsters
12 June 2017 (1651 views)
12 June 2017 (1651 views)
48. Will they come back tomorrow?
The most important KPI for youth sport coaches
08 May 2017 (1647 views)
The most important KPI for youth sport coaches
08 May 2017 (1647 views)
49. Creating a culture of achievement in sport
05 June 2018 (1638 views)
05 June 2018 (1638 views)
50. The power of 'not yet'
20 July 2015 (1637 views)
20 July 2015 (1637 views)
51. Pay for what you want
Less government funding may be the best strategy for sport development
21 November 2016 (1624 views)
Less government funding may be the best strategy for sport development
21 November 2016 (1624 views)
52. Re-thinking the mission of Malaysia's sport associations
03 September 2018 (1611 views)
03 September 2018 (1611 views)
53. Parent involvement in their child's sport participation sometimes backfires
07 November 2016 (1594 views)
07 November 2016 (1594 views)
54. What can you do to work more efficiently?
Efficiency tips for coaches
19 February 2018 (1592 views)
Efficiency tips for coaches
19 February 2018 (1592 views)
55. Artificial elimination of athletes from training and competition hinders sport development in Malaysia
15 August 2016 (1585 views)
15 August 2016 (1585 views)
56. Who won the Commonwealth Games?
A points analysis of the Gold Coast games
23 April 2018 (1585 views)
A points analysis of the Gold Coast games
23 April 2018 (1585 views)
57. Make 2017 the year of the growth mindset
02 January 2017 (1578 views)
02 January 2017 (1578 views)
58. Sport clubs are the lifeblood of national sport development
They need help from sport associations to do their job
15 January 2018 (1574 views)
They need help from sport associations to do their job
15 January 2018 (1574 views)
59. 7 things youth sport coaches should know
25 June 2018 (1572 views)
25 June 2018 (1572 views)
60. What happens after an athlete's initial introduction to sport?
27 February 2017 (1569 views)
27 February 2017 (1569 views)
61. A foreign coach is not always the answer
17 October 2016 (1553 views)
17 October 2016 (1553 views)
62. Advice to parents of young athletes
01 May 2017 (1548 views)
01 May 2017 (1548 views)
63. Dealing with more than one email address and other communication ideas
More efficiency tips for coaches
26 February 2018 (1531 views)
More efficiency tips for coaches
26 February 2018 (1531 views)
64. Deliberate practice vs. late specialization
24 September 2018 (1528 views)
24 September 2018 (1528 views)
65. Great expectations: Expect more, get more!
What we learn from raising the bar in sport performance
14 November 2017 (1527 views)
What we learn from raising the bar in sport performance
14 November 2017 (1527 views)
66. Who is responsible for athlete performance
Athletes, coaches, or committees?
18 June 2018 (1518 views)
Athletes, coaches, or committees?
18 June 2018 (1518 views)
67. Early sport specialization is still not a good idea
19 September 2016 (1500 views)
19 September 2016 (1500 views)
68. The nine pillars of sport development
Applying the Anna Karenina Principle to sport development
02 May 2021 (1479 views)
Applying the Anna Karenina Principle to sport development
02 May 2021 (1479 views)
69. Solve for <x>
29 August 2016 (1471 views)
29 August 2016 (1471 views)
70. Sport development in the headlines (sort of)
Is Malaysia really serious about revamping their sports system?
28 May 2018 (1469 views)
Is Malaysia really serious about revamping their sports system?
28 May 2018 (1469 views)
71. Understanding the relative age effect
It exists in any data set that tracks growth or performance of youngsters. The question is not, is it there? The question is what to do about it?
16 May 2021 (1458 views)
It exists in any data set that tracks growth or performance of youngsters. The question is not, is it there? The question is what to do about it?
16 May 2021 (1458 views)
72. The cost of participation is changing the youth sport landscape in North America
Rising costs that make youth sports an upper middle class activity are bad socially and hurt sport performance overall
27 June 2021 (1456 views)
Rising costs that make youth sports an upper middle class activity are bad socially and hurt sport performance overall
27 June 2021 (1456 views)
73. What would you do differently if there were no such thing as talent?
How we think about ability and learning changes the nature of youth sport programs and affects sport on a national and individual level
04 April 2021 (1443 views)
How we think about ability and learning changes the nature of youth sport programs and affects sport on a national and individual level
04 April 2021 (1443 views)
74. Is talent identification even possible?
17 September 2018 (1418 views)
17 September 2018 (1418 views)
75. Developing sport from the ground up
How does the process really work?
06 December 2016 (1327 views)
How does the process really work?
06 December 2016 (1327 views)
76. Take a chance!
Sometimes taking risks is the only way to improve
18 December 2017 (1321 views)
Sometimes taking risks is the only way to improve
18 December 2017 (1321 views)
77. Retention and Training Age
Metrics That Shape the Future of Our Sports
07 March 2021 (1258 views)
Metrics That Shape the Future of Our Sports
07 March 2021 (1258 views)
78. Are small town athletes better at deliberate practice than their big city counterparts?
Deliberate practice is what passion looks like. It's not something you feel, it's something you do and once athletes learn to practice this way there are few limits on the level of skill they can develop.
03 October 2021 (1245 views)
Deliberate practice is what passion looks like. It's not something you feel, it's something you do and once athletes learn to practice this way there are few limits on the level of skill they can develop.
03 October 2021 (1245 views)
79. Transgender women athletes have an unfair advantage in female sport…and we all know it
Does inclusion trump fairness? How we answer that question will determine what sport looks like for a long time to come.
09 January 2022 (1137 views)
Does inclusion trump fairness? How we answer that question will determine what sport looks like for a long time to come.
09 January 2022 (1137 views)
80. Who won the Olympics?
The Games are much more than a simple medal count. A sensible scoring system could add a new layer of excitement to the quadrennial spectacle. In this article I propose a framework for such a system.
22 August 2021 (1098 views)
The Games are much more than a simple medal count. A sensible scoring system could add a new layer of excitement to the quadrennial spectacle. In this article I propose a framework for such a system.
22 August 2021 (1098 views)
81. Reviewing the 2022 Vietnam SEA Games
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines put in very strong efforts. But the size of the Games is getting out of hand. Smaller economies will soon be reluctant to host.
29 May 2022 (1089 views)
Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines put in very strong efforts. But the size of the Games is getting out of hand. Smaller economies will soon be reluctant to host.
29 May 2022 (1089 views)
82. Overcoming diminishing returns in high performance sport
The age/performance curve shows why many elite athletes never reach their genetic potential. How coaches and NGBs can help more athletes perform at the edge of their ability.
19 September 2021 (1040 views)
The age/performance curve shows why many elite athletes never reach their genetic potential. How coaches and NGBs can help more athletes perform at the edge of their ability.
19 September 2021 (1040 views)
83. Does early sport specialization reduce athleticism
The current trend toward early specialization is hurting development of athleticism
30 May 2021 (1024 views)
The current trend toward early specialization is hurting development of athleticism
30 May 2021 (1024 views)
84. Using training age to gauge athlete experience
Training age provides an indirect measure of an athlete's experience in sport
18 April 2021 (984 views)
Training age provides an indirect measure of an athlete's experience in sport
18 April 2021 (984 views)
85. A proposal for a maturity index to help identify early- and late-maturing athletes in local clubs and teams
Being able to identify early- and late-maturing athletes gives coaches one more tool they can use to understand the demographic forces at work in their athlete pools
25 July 2021 (921 views)
Being able to identify early- and late-maturing athletes gives coaches one more tool they can use to understand the demographic forces at work in their athlete pools
25 July 2021 (921 views)
86. Is sport using its human capital effectively?
Many countries are spinning their wheels when it come to capitalizing on their sport talent
08 August 2021 (881 views)
Many countries are spinning their wheels when it come to capitalizing on their sport talent
08 August 2021 (881 views)
87. Is amateurism dead? The Supreme Court says maybe
Amateurism is on life-support and may not survive its next court challenge
11 July 2021 (879 views)
Amateurism is on life-support and may not survive its next court challenge
11 July 2021 (879 views)
88. The difference between self-confidence and self-efficacy
Sometimes the lingo is confusing but in this case it pays to understand the difference.
12 December 2021 (864 views)
Sometimes the lingo is confusing but in this case it pays to understand the difference.
12 December 2021 (864 views)
89. Clubs are the key to getting youth sport back to normal
No one knows if the pandemic has changed youth sport culture yet. But if we are to get back to 'normal' then sport clubs must be recalled to life.
05 September 2021 (795 views)
No one knows if the pandemic has changed youth sport culture yet. But if we are to get back to 'normal' then sport clubs must be recalled to life.
05 September 2021 (795 views)
90. The current NCAA model may be finished
The recent National Labor Relations Board memo may be the tipping point needed to start paying collegiate athletes. Olympic sports face a "Now what?" scenario.
14 November 2021 (783 views)
The recent National Labor Relations Board memo may be the tipping point needed to start paying collegiate athletes. Olympic sports face a "Now what?" scenario.
14 November 2021 (783 views)
91. Burnout and dropout are not the same thing
Dropout is a phenomenon in youth sports. Burnout is a psychosomatic condition that can occur later in an athlete's career.
31 October 2021 (737 views)
Dropout is a phenomenon in youth sports. Burnout is a psychosomatic condition that can occur later in an athlete's career.
31 October 2021 (737 views)
92. Athleticism reimagined
It's not rocket science! Youth sport coaches can be trained to teach proper movement, understand movement sequencing, and identify and correct movement chain errors.
01 May 2022 (729 views)
It's not rocket science! Youth sport coaches can be trained to teach proper movement, understand movement sequencing, and identify and correct movement chain errors.
01 May 2022 (729 views)
93. Do our youngest athletes really need to compete?
Knowledge that changes behavior loses its relevance. Knowledge that does not change behavior is useless.
17 October 2021 (707 views)
Knowledge that changes behavior loses its relevance. Knowledge that does not change behavior is useless.
17 October 2021 (707 views)
94. The use of performance enhancing drugs in youth sport provides a teaching moment in ethical reasoning
"An ethical man knows what to do. A moral man does it." Youth sport is an ethical reasoning laboratory that we really should take advantage of more often.
28 November 2021 (699 views)
"An ethical man knows what to do. A moral man does it." Youth sport is an ethical reasoning laboratory that we really should take advantage of more often.
28 November 2021 (699 views)
95. Declining populations will affect national sport development
The effect of falling fertility rates on sport may not be as dramatic as that felt from the pandemic but it's real and already underway. The smart money is on sports that can adapt.
26 June 2022 (694 views)
The effect of falling fertility rates on sport may not be as dramatic as that felt from the pandemic but it's real and already underway. The smart money is on sports that can adapt.
26 June 2022 (694 views)
96. Sport dropout: Why do young athletes leave sport programs?
If youth sport is a universal good then we should know more about why athletes dropout of our programs.
23 January 2022 (690 views)
If youth sport is a universal good then we should know more about why athletes dropout of our programs.
23 January 2022 (690 views)
97. Who speaks for sport?
Allowing trans women to compete as females is an ideological attack on objective reality and possibly the biggest leadership blunder in sport history.
06 February 2022 (683 views)
Allowing trans women to compete as females is an ideological attack on objective reality and possibly the biggest leadership blunder in sport history.
06 February 2022 (683 views)
98. How does a sport make it into the Olympic Games?
My red rover skills are still first rate. Can I still have an Olympic career?
20 February 2022 (666 views)
My red rover skills are still first rate. Can I still have an Olympic career?
20 February 2022 (666 views)
99. Parent expectations in youth sport programs
Understanding parent expectations does not mean changing the athlete development process. It means understanding who the client really is and what is or isn't driving them your way.
15 May 2022 (628 views)
Understanding parent expectations does not mean changing the athlete development process. It means understanding who the client really is and what is or isn't driving them your way.
15 May 2022 (628 views)
100. Norway's three-peat in the Winter Games
Norway's Olympic success is rooted in mass participation, thus demonstrating that sport can be universally enjoyed while developing athletes with extraordinary ability.
06 March 2022 (624 views)
Norway's Olympic success is rooted in mass participation, thus demonstrating that sport can be universally enjoyed while developing athletes with extraordinary ability.
06 March 2022 (624 views)
101. The transgender issue is a wake up call for sport
Thinking that common sense will fix everything and that leaders will come to their senses is dangerous and will soon lead to a sport environment we don't recognize.
03 April 2022 (594 views)
Thinking that common sense will fix everything and that leaders will come to their senses is dangerous and will soon lead to a sport environment we don't recognize.
03 April 2022 (594 views)
102. Should the Olympic committee have a role in youth sport governance? You bet!
They already do, but reform is needed and the USOPC may be the only way to get it done.
20 March 2022 (576 views)
They already do, but reform is needed and the USOPC may be the only way to get it done.
20 March 2022 (576 views)
103. Culture and national sport success
Sport provides one of the most visible examples of a society's efficiency in organizing, governing, and administering large scale endeavors.
17 April 2022 (561 views)
Sport provides one of the most visible examples of a society's efficiency in organizing, governing, and administering large scale endeavors.
17 April 2022 (561 views)
104. Debriefing 2022: Takeaways from the archives
A curated list of topics impacting youth sport right now or in the near future.
11 December 2022 (514 views)
A curated list of topics impacting youth sport right now or in the near future.
11 December 2022 (514 views)
105. Fitness vs. training: Why the difference matters
Training is temporary, fitness is forever
12 June 2022 (502 views)
Training is temporary, fitness is forever
12 June 2022 (502 views)
106. NGBs that raise their average training age can achieve total world domination in their sport
The average training age of an NGB's athlete pool can be an important, long-term membership metric.
10 July 2022 (477 views)
The average training age of an NGB's athlete pool can be an important, long-term membership metric.
10 July 2022 (477 views)
107. Women's diving, one of Malaysia's premier sports, has been eliminated from the upcoming Malaysia Games
Dropping the women's diving events from the 2022 Games highlights a gaping hole in Malaysia's sport development process.
04 September 2022 (435 views)
Dropping the women's diving events from the 2022 Games highlights a gaping hole in Malaysia's sport development process.
04 September 2022 (435 views)
108. Can team culture affect high performance?
The secret to success is consistently doing a lot of ordinary things right.
07 August 2022 (417 views)
The secret to success is consistently doing a lot of ordinary things right.
07 August 2022 (417 views)
109. Gladwell's Law: In any sporting endeavor, elite achievement comes at the cost of mass participation
NGBs can improve developmental programs with a few simple changes to the competitive environment.
21 August 2022 (414 views)
NGBs can improve developmental programs with a few simple changes to the competitive environment.
21 August 2022 (414 views)
110. Proposed rule changes will weaken or destroy Title IX
Instead of proposing changes that might actually improve the application of Title IX, the Biden administration is codifying woke ideology that will only weaken it or, worse yet, make it irrelevant.
18 September 2022 (356 views)
Instead of proposing changes that might actually improve the application of Title IX, the Biden administration is codifying woke ideology that will only weaken it or, worse yet, make it irrelevant.
18 September 2022 (356 views)
111. The parent, coach, athlete relationship is not as straightforward as you think
Transformative youth sport programs exist because of the people involved in them and their own agency within the role they play.
16 October 2022 (356 views)
Transformative youth sport programs exist because of the people involved in them and their own agency within the role they play.
16 October 2022 (356 views)
112. The problem of the late-starter athlete in youth sport programs
We don't often think of age and experience as demographic forces. But just as gravity or compound interest are omnipresent in other aspects of our lives, age is a tsunami in youth sport.
13 November 2022 (338 views)
We don't often think of age and experience as demographic forces. But just as gravity or compound interest are omnipresent in other aspects of our lives, age is a tsunami in youth sport.
13 November 2022 (338 views)
113. Not competing at a young age can be a good thing
NGBs should delay competition for their youngest athletes.
02 October 2022 (333 views)
NGBs should delay competition for their youngest athletes.
02 October 2022 (333 views)
114. Centralized vs. decentralized sport development systems
The Cold War battle of economic systems created sport development frameworks that are still used today.
19 February 2023 (328 views)
The Cold War battle of economic systems created sport development frameworks that are still used today.
19 February 2023 (328 views)
115. What hath Covid wrought?
NGBs want the kids back, but the pandemic showed parents what life could be like without the daily grind of transporting kids to practices, late night dinners, and long weekends.
30 October 2022 (320 views)
NGBs want the kids back, but the pandemic showed parents what life could be like without the daily grind of transporting kids to practices, late night dinners, and long weekends.
30 October 2022 (320 views)
116. What kind of ethical thinker are you?
Ethics is more than simply determining right from wrong. Sometimes it's important to understand why something is right or why it's not.
27 November 2022 (303 views)
Ethics is more than simply determining right from wrong. Sometimes it's important to understand why something is right or why it's not.
27 November 2022 (303 views)
117. Has swim training lost the plot?
The rising cost of youth sport participation is slowly lowering skill levels by forcing coaches to focus on metabolic training rather than instruction in developmental groups.
05 February 2023 (262 views)
The rising cost of youth sport participation is slowly lowering skill levels by forcing coaches to focus on metabolic training rather than instruction in developmental groups.
05 February 2023 (262 views)
118. Pay-to-play in college sports is now on the table
What was unthinkable just a few years ago is now a possible, and reasonable outcome in collegiate sport. However, Olympic sports are on even shakier ground.
05 March 2023 (198 views)
What was unthinkable just a few years ago is now a possible, and reasonable outcome in collegiate sport. However, Olympic sports are on even shakier ground.
05 March 2023 (198 views)
119. "What's the second best way?"
Memories from my coaching career focus more on personal interaction than high achievement. I suspect this is true of many former coaches.
16 April 2023 (197 views)
Memories from my coaching career focus more on personal interaction than high achievement. I suspect this is true of many former coaches.
16 April 2023 (197 views)
120. For sport parents: A 30,000 foot view of the youth sport experience
It's easy to miss the big picture of youth sport because we're often overwhelmed with the technical stuff
19 March 2023 (161 views)
It's easy to miss the big picture of youth sport because we're often overwhelmed with the technical stuff
19 March 2023 (161 views)
121. Requiring commitment in youth sports is a terrible idea
Athletes invested in their youth sport programs attend more practices and perform better than those forced to participate through idealistic participation rules
02 April 2023 (151 views)
Athletes invested in their youth sport programs attend more practices and perform better than those forced to participate through idealistic participation rules
02 April 2023 (151 views)
122. Canadian Sport for Life Society releases Long Term Development 3.0
The latest edition of the Sport for Life Society's landmark resource recognizes sport and physical activity as "powerful agents for developing individuals and society as a whole."
30 April 2023 (119 views)
The latest edition of the Sport for Life Society's landmark resource recognizes sport and physical activity as "powerful agents for developing individuals and society as a whole."
30 April 2023 (119 views)
123. Developing proper training habits is more important than setting goals
For youngsters, goal setting is not the Holy Grail that many make it out to be. More important to athletic success is forming proper habits.
14 May 2023 (102 views)
For youngsters, goal setting is not the Holy Grail that many make it out to be. More important to athletic success is forming proper habits.
14 May 2023 (102 views)