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The Reality of Youth Burnout
It’s no secret that youth are specializing in sports at younger and younger ages. Parents have a dream —a defined future, if you will —that has their son or daughter playing collegiate or professional sports. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with dreams, there is something amiss with ignoring the […]
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In the Blood: Family Culture & Sports
It has often been said that the family that plays together, stays together. A determinant of sporting participation in youth is the sporting culture that runs through the family. The propensity to play sport is greatly increased when this culture of active involvement exists at home and the child has […]
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The Corinthian Spirit: Integrity, Fairness and Loyalty
The one thing we know for sure is that the vast majority of athletes and sports coaches abhor cheating – they just cannot stand seeing cheats prosper. There are so many great athletes across sports that have been denied the gold medal because of cheating. Cheating destroys dreams and causes […]
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Hope is Dope!
“Dude, You’re On ESPN!” That’s what Dom Valdespino told his girlfriend, Hope Trautwein, after she completed the impossible last weekend, a perfect perfect game. That’s right, two perfects. Twenty-one batters came up, and twenty-one batters struck out. No one put a ball in play. Nobody had done this before in […]
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Why Do We Overlook Toxicity In Leaders Simply Because They Perform Well?
As someone from New England, anything that has to do with bad news for New York sports teams generally makes me happy, especially if it has to do with New York’s American League baseball team. However, this time the news involves their National League counterpart, the New York Mets, and […]
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The Dirty Art of Sportswashing
Saudi Arabia has reportedly spent $1.5 billion on bolstering its reputation by investing in major sporting events. Grant Liberty from the Human Rights Organization says that the Saudi kingdom has generously bankrolled high-profile events such as chess championships, golf, tennis, and the Saudi Cup which cost $60m alone, making it […]
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Spring into Fall Ball: The Importance of Spring Football in Player Development
FBS spring football is in full effect with Powerhouse Clemson hosting its spring game this past Saturday. After a yearlong hiatus due to COVID, it is exciting to see traditional spring football back. The games are a chance for fans to get excited about their teams and get a good […]
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Golf is Not a Game of Perfect
Golf is the antidote to our anxious western culture. To be successful at golf, you have to unlearn many habits that have been drilled into us in school and later as we worked our way up the corporate ladder. Frederick Winslow Taylor and his scientific management style have turned us […]
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PIVOT!! PIVOT!!
When we hear the word “pivot” I’d be willing to bet many of us first think of Ross Geller’s famous “PIVOT!! PIVOT!!” Growing up a dancer, when I hear the word pivot, I think of a change of direction, or a turn. Pivoting is common in many sports: basketball players […]
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The Wrong Platform: Athletes Spreading Disinformation
I’ve written in the past about the role athletes can play in promoting positive change in their communities. Their platform offers unparalleled influence, and several serve as community leaders and activists for noble causes. Athletes are blessed with the right amounts of wealth, celebrity, and admiration to exert significant sway. […]
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Are All of Your Organization’s Actions in the Best Interests of the Athletes and Team?
Yesterday, Culture in Sports participated in our first webinar. It was with Drexel University’s School of Education’s Sport Coaching Leadership Program. It was a great opportunity for us to share what we are currently working on at Culture in Sports. In addition to writing every day about all topics within […]
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The Coaching Relationship; Avoiding Toxicity
A few hours after this article drops, Culture in Sports will be presenting its first webinar in conjunction with Drexel University’s School of Education’s Sport Coaching Leadership Program. The title and subject matter of this webinar is” A Bad Playing Field: Recognizing and remedying toxic cultures in sport: Perceptions for […]
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The Lessons of a Value Based Culture in Performance Sport
How do we instil the values into the athletes in our shared sports culture? How are these values created and subsequently evolve? Are they set in stone for any member of the sports culture to sign up to or do they evolve organically in line with the values of the […]
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You Don’t Have to be a Star To Shine
I remember in the ‘good old days’ when psychology wasn’t associated with youth sports and we weren’t encumbered with scholarly theory on whether or not we should be rewarded for showing up. Yes, we did show up for the fun; for our love of the sport, but it is undeniable […]
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Persistence, Determination and Performance
If there was ever an example of a sporting legend that displayed an unprecedented degree of persistence and determination it would be the mountaineer Edward Whymper. There can be no doubt, in the mind of sports coaches, over the importance regarding the part that persistence and determination play in helping […]
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You Can’t Hoot with the Owls at Night and Fly with the Eagles in the Morning
Have you seen Ted Lasso yet? If not, you should. It’s not really about what you expect it to be. Sure, the show chronicles a folksy American football coach from Kansas going to England to coach a Premier League team. Much of the comedy centers around the clash in cultures […]
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Pete Rose and the Astros
I realize that seeing the title of this article may cause some confusion. To clarify up front, no, Pete Rose has nothing to do with the Houston Astros, and they have nothing to do with him. However, they both have some similarities when it comes to the sport of baseball. […]
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The Digitization of Sports Paraphernalia
2021 has been the year of cryptocurrency. Millions have taken the plunge into the unknown, purchasing digital assets as if, suddenly, the mystery and uncertainty surrounding the blockchain has gone up in smoke. Digital assets have taken center stage and investors, athletes, and sports fans are taking notice. The popular […]
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Mental Health & Sports
“Cycling gave me something to live for, no doubt about it.” – Justin Lang Australia is a country that loves its sports, but unfortunately for most people, once they’re out of school they begin to lessen their active involvement. We all know the physical benefits of sport but the benefits […]
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Hey, You’ve Got Politics in My Sports
I love both chocolate and peanut butter. Put the two together, and you have magic. This simple but genius idea behind Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups has made Halloween and Easter better holidays. It also created one of the most effective marketing campaigns ever. A guy walking down the street eating […]
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“Sport has the Power to Change the World”
Nelson Mandela is famously quoted as saying “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.” This is one of my favorite […]
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Are We Burning Kids Out?
Youth sports are a staple of American culture, often viewed as the surest track to developing talented athletes. It makes sense — more practice time and more gameplay lead to better skill and fitness. For parents hoping to see their kids earn a college scholarship or start a pro career, […]
