Monthly Archives: February 2012

The “Politics” of Youth & Interscholastic Sports

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Dr. Chris Stankovich

Are there “politics” in sports?  ABSOLUTELY! But aren’t there “politics” in almost every aspect of life, too?  What I mean is that anytime you have people left to make subjective opinions and appraisals you are going to inevitably have others …

Posted in Athletic Counseling, Communicating with Coach, Evaluating Talent, Leadership and Role Modeling, Off Field Issues, Parent Training, Playing Time, Social Responsibility, Sport Philosophy, Sport Psychology, Sport Sociology, Sports Culture and Society, Sports Leadership, Sports Parenting, Sports Performance Science, Team Building, Team Chemistry, Team Cohesion, Training and Development, Youth and Interscholastic Sports, Youth Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What to Do if Your Kid is Good at Sports, But Doesn’t Like Playing Them?

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Dr. Chris Stankovich

A common question I receive from youth sports parents is why some kids who display above-average athletic skills seem to struggle with focus and motivation.  Of course, there are many reasons why this may occur, but one reason that is …

Posted in Athletic Counseling, Coaching, Communicating with Coach, Parent Training, Quitting, Sport Psychology, Sport Sociology, Sports Culture and Society, Sports Leadership, Sports Parenting, Sports Performance Science, Training and Development, Youth and Interscholastic Sports, Youth Sport Burnout, Youth Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Player’s Number and Athletic Identity

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Dr. Chris Stankovich

In sports, unlike most other life endeavors, participants are often more readily known and recognized because of their number as much as they are their name.  In basketball, #23 will always be Michael Jordan’s number, and in hockey #99 belongs …

Posted in Athletic Counseling, Boys Sports, Coaching, Girls Sports, Leadership and Role Modeling, League Operator, Off Field Issues, Parent Training, Pro and College Sports, Sport Psychology, Sport Sociology, Sport Specialization, Sport Transitions, Sports Culture and Society, Sports Leadership, Sports Parenting, Sports Performance Science, Sports Retirement, Sports Safety, Team Building, Training and Development, Youth and Interscholastic Sports, Youth Sports | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How Thoughts and Behaviors Impact Athletic Performance

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Dr. Chris Stankovich

The most popular and effective forms of psychotherapy today are grounded in cognitive-behavioral philosophies and techniques. Cognitive-behavioral psychologists help clients improve both their irrational thinking as well as their maladaptive behaviors.  For example, someone battling obesity might benefit from learning …

Posted in Athletic Counseling, Boys Sports, Coaching, Communicating with Coach, Girls Sports, League Operator, Parent Training, Performance Enhancement, Pro and College Sports, Sport Psychology, Sports Parenting, Sports Performance Science, Uncategorized, Youth and Interscholastic Sports, Youth Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Excellence in Sports (and Life) Doesn’t Happen Casually

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Dr. Chris Stankovich

I am very fortunate that I have had the opportunity to work one-on-one with many amazing athletes during the course of my career, and from those experiences I can emphatically state that in the vast majority of cases the success …

Posted in Athletic Counseling, Coaching, Emotional Intelligence, Habit Change, Leadership, Leadership and Role Modeling, Life, Performance Enhancement, Sport Philosophy, Sport Psychology, Sports Leadership, Sports Parenting, Sports Performance Science, Youth and Interscholastic Sports | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment