Excerpt From the Upcoming Coach Academy
Reading is a critical skill for volleyball athletes and coaches. This excerpt from an upcoming Coach Academy module will describe what reading is and how coaches can teach it to their athletes.
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Level: Beginner
What NOT to Do When Helping Athletes Develop Positive Body Image
It can be difficult to know what to do—and what not to do—to best help athletes with issues around body image. This is especially true when even seemingly innocuous comments can lead to issues with negative body image.
Volleyball Should Not Be Boring
Watching the kids in a small indoor gym training over three nets, I thought of all the lines we put kids into, the way we ignore the net, the way we inflict pain via the forearm pass and the way 6v6 is experienced by beginners. I get angry inside at knowing billions of kids over my lifetime have walked away from our sport for a lifetime because their introduction to the game is BORING. We must do better when we introduce this sport.
Five Signs of Dehydration and How to Best Rehydrate
Hot weather is coming, and that means your athletes are at a higher risk of becoming dehydrated during practices and games. And even mild dehydration can impact athletic performance, as well as an athlete’s general health.
Is My Young Athlete Mentally Well?
Mental wellness can be difficult for parents, coaches and other guardians to cope with when it comes to young athletes. Is a bad grade on a test just because an athlete didn’t study, or is it a sign of something deeper? Coaches and parents should be on the lookout for signs that an athlete’s mental health is suffering, and while they may not be equipped to help the athlete, guardians can help connect an athlete with the right professionals.
Three Healthy Recipes for Athletes with Dairy, Soy and Gluten Restrictions
It can be hard to make meals that are healthy and satisfying for athletes with certain food restrictions. But with a bit of prep and pre-planning, you can easily have snacks and meals on hand that are soy, dairy, and gluten-free.
Six Healthy Snacks to Keep in Your Sport Locker
As an athlete, it’s recommended that you eat every three hours throughout the day, so it’s important to find snacks that travel easily, offer the right nutrients, and actually taste good too. When it comes to nutrition, the goal is to find snacks that fill you up and keep you energized through an optimal blend of mostly carbohydrates, plus some protein and fat to help you feel satisfied for longer.
Nine Assumptions to Avoid for a More Equitable Team Environment
As a coach, your teams almost certainly contain a diverse multitude of athletes with different life experiences, and assumptions about them can be dangerous. Here are tips for acknowledging your current assumptions and create a more equitable team environment.
Coach’s Mental Health: How to Set Healthy Boundaries as a Coach
Creating strong boundaries is an important and often overlooked piece of the coaching dynamic. A lack of boundaries can not only impact a team’s success, but also lead a coach to experience burnout and negative mental health effects.
Why Coaches Should Prioritize Their Own Mental Wellness Too
It is easy for coaches to put aside their wellness during a season, but they shouldn’t. In fact, addressing their own mental health and wellness may make them a more successful coach and create a more cohesive team.