The larrikin is praised in Australian culture as iconic, Peter Lalor of Eureka Stockade notoriety, the infamous bushranger Ned Kelly, television’s Chips Rafferty and Paul Hogan, even our own one-time Prime Minister Bob Hawke. It’s thought that this idolatry of the larrikin arose as a reaction to the corrupt constabulary […]
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The road to becoming a professional sports coach is a challenging one. There are many amateur sports coaches operating today without any formal qualifications. There have been, mainly in the past, some sports coaches at the highest level who have achieved outstanding results without being formally qualified. The question is, […]
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The Tokyo Olympics are in trouble. The immediate issue is COVID-19. Case rates in Japan are rising while vaccination rates are low. It will take a logistical miracle to figure out protocols and rules on how to follow them effectively. Public pressure is mounting to cancel them altogether. However, there […]
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Come on, Marty, let’s jump in the DeLorean, get up to 88 miles per hour, and head back to the 80s! As we make this jump, or perhaps a better term considering the subject of this article would be “ollie,” back in time, we’re going to see the start of […]
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We read about all the magnanimous generosity of sports stars in the world; giving of themselves because they have the means to help or because the cause touches them in a special or personal way. LeBron James is giving back to his hometown of Akron, Ohio to the tune of […]
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Triple world champion surfing superstar Mick Fanning was famously attacked by a shark in the middle of competition at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa in 2015. Spectators watched on as the Australian fought off the three-meter shark with a punch to the back on live television. The highly praised event […]
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Last week did not get off to a good start for my home team Houston Astros. Their tour of shame entered the Bronx on Tuesday for a three-game set, and the Yankees fans did not disappoint. The socially-distance crowd of ten thousand treated the Astros with the expected anti-social behavior. […]
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I recently heard a podcast from two former NFL players discussing Tim Tebow’s return to the NFL, nearly a decade later. Their comments summarized were that Tebow only got the job because 1. Who he knew and 2. He is just a great human. They also referenced his stint in […]
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As I wrote in my last article, sports have been on the chopping block of school budgets for decades. Physical education classes and extracurricular programs at all grade levels have suffered as districts insist on exam preparation as a more worthwhile pursuit. This is a dangerous trend, as a wealth […]
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Older elite athletes are something that you do not see very often. Many times, an athlete’s mental and emotional abilities far outweigh their physical abilities. I personally enjoy watching the old person running out on the pitch, field, court, or swimming in the pool. It really shows that with some […]
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It seems we are coming out of this for real. Vaccine distribution is outpacing many even optimistic expectations and trendlines are headed in a positive direction. People are demonstrating far greater confidence in their choices, including this author, who even dined out inside and took public transportation for the first […]
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We are all aware of the need to establish a winning culture in sport to achieve optimal performance, but it should also be considered that sport can affect the culture in a society. This is not a new concept; studies have indicated that sport can incite such a wave of […]
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After an undiagnosed stress fracture led to an horrific ankle fracture during a routine, aspiring Olympic gymnast Georgia Simpson came to the realization that she would never compete again. Simpson was told that she should “toughen up” and with that her career was over. Years later she laments that “…our […]
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Most people will now be aware of the ethical mess that some National Governing Bodies (NGBs) get themselves into when the media publicly denounce sports coaches accused of abusive behaviour. In the UK we have seen high profile cases involving football, gymnastics and swimming to name but a few. However, […]
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Big-time data analytics has arrived in college football. FCS Division school Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina has hired Kevin Kelley to coach the Blue Hose next year in the Pioneer League. Kelley has been a successful high school coach at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas. For the last […]
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Paul Simon wrote a song back in the mid-80s with a chorus that states, “If you’ll be my bodyguardI can be your long lost pal, I can call you Betty, And Betty, when you call me, you can call me Al.” While Paul Simon, a lifelong New York Yankees fan, […]
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“In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time.” – Robert Collier Melbourne Victory FC were fortunate to have the massively talented Adama Traora on board and the Spanish born superstar was equally […]
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On 5 April five swim coaches from the same swim club all resigned from their posts – just one week before Club Swimming re-opened in the UK. The coaches had all been suspended and were all facing disciplinary hearings. What makes the matter more significant is that the Coaching Team […]
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This past year or so has been tragic. There has been so much death and so much destruction to our way of life. And, unfortunately, our culture has been in survival mode, and it is going to take us years to understand and appreciate all that we have lost. We […]
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As youth it is perceived that coaches know best, that is their job, right? To lead, guide, develop, and improve? At what point do we transition from coaches being all-knowing, to seeing athletes as equals on the pitch? Or do we ever? Recently, Syracuse Men’s Lacrosse has seen their players […]
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For kids, we often view sports as a way for them to stay healthy, have fun, and get some fresh air. The benefits, though, go deeper, as a study from the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity reveals. After examining decades of educational data, researchers Francois Trudeau and […]
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Since Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea FC in July 2003 a number of managers have come and gone and yet trophy winning has been consistent. Managers have been sacked after winning a European cup (Di Matteo and Sarri) whilst club legend Frank Lampard was sacked at the beginning of this year […]
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The news on Monday that Nadia Comanenci, one of the greatest, if not the greatest Olympic women’s gymnast, is reported to have suffered what is described as “horrorific abuse,” at the hands of her coach Bela Karolyi and his wife Marta, is less shocking than it is saddening. Reports that […]
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Are you looking for a new, interesting, and cheap hobby? Disc golf is all of those things and more. You’ll find an incredibly welcoming community, full of long time vets, tons of newcomers, and every skill level in between. The beginnings of disc golf occurred in the 60s when “Steady” […]
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In my last article Where There’s Smoke? Or … Unwitting Target? I wrote about the sexual assault case currently being heard in Sydney Australia. NRL footballers Jack de Belin and Callan Sinclair await their fate as the jury continues to deliberate. The pair have pled not-guilty in a case that […]
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As we all know the best sports coaches are the ones that are able to create strong relationships with their athletes and hence help facilitate great performances from them. As a leader they inspire, motivate and are able to get under the very skin of the athlete, especially those who […]
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Getting drafted in the first round of the NFL draft is an incredible accomplishment. Not only do you have to be a great player who has demonstrated the ability to play at the highest level, but you also have to convince teams that you can make the transition to the […]
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One of the concepts most of us learn early on in life is the one about turning the other cheek. Essentially, according to the concept, if you are wronged by someone, you should not immediately retaliate against the person who wronged you as that person will eventually get their “just […]
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There are countless reports in the media of sexual assault cases involving famous people, certainly sports stars feature largely among them. Whether or not they are guilty is beyond the scope of this article, but one might pose the question … why, if the accusations aren’t true, are they such […]
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NBL (National Basketball League) Australian National team head coach, Brett Brown stepped aside late in 2020 amid issues of the NBA possibly delaying its 2020-2021 season which had caused uncertainty for the Tokyo Olympics campaign. There was a real concern that his sudden departure in such a climate would adversely […]
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More so than other sports, Major League Baseball is woven tightly into the culture of our society. The two evolve together. Last weekend, the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers completed the second of two consecutive weekend series. Not only were they seven great games with a sense […]
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Many parents often start their kids in school a year later than they are actually eligible. There are often many reasons for this: size, social development, signs of delayed learning, etc. A common one, is often so their child can be bigger for sports in the future. A concept I […]
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In his book Late Bloomers, Rich Karlgaard explores the world’s “obsession” with early achievement and young talent. From the business world — think Mark Zuckerberg — to the film industry, Karlgaard argues that we seem to crave prodigies and actively seek out the same outcome for our own kids. The […]
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Have you ever had a coach, teacher, parent, boss or anyone else ever tell you that “we have always done it this way”? After decades or centuries, some things really do not change. Is it because the way something is done is really the best way, or is it because […]
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After actively representing NFL players as a certified contract advisor- more commonly known as an agent- for a decade, almost every question I am asked, even today, about my time as an agent centers around the NFL Draft, which starts on Thursday night. There is something about this non-sporting, sports […]
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For abusive cultures to survive and even prosper, the abusers need to be supported, they need facilitators. The facilitators are usually management or a funding agency with the role of facilitator varying dependent upon the individual circumstance. Some facilitators of abuse in sport will claim to have not known what […]
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April 25 is ANZAC Day (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps). On this day in 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. A great legacy has been left to the generations that followed; a legacy of great […]
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There is no doubt that self-confidence is an important factor regarding successful outcomes in sport, both for the coach and for the athlete. Having complete trust and confidence that a goal can be achieved is a trait found in the most effective sports coaches. It is also one that has […]
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What has gotten you through the past year? Have you taken up baking sourdough bread or nurturing a small jungle of houseplants? According to psychologist Adam Grant, many of us have been in a state of languishing. We’re not depressed or burned out, but just feeling joyless and aimless. The […]
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This past weekend, in Niles, Michigan, a youth flag football game took a turn for the bizarre and dangerous. A coach for one of the teams playing became incensed at a call made by officials during the game and decided he needed to come onto the field to argue the […]
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Earlier I wrote “Sex, Lies, and Who Can Score the Most Points” about a certain lewd act in a public toilet being filmed and distributed by someone looking over the top of the stall. It seems that the person who is in the most trouble is the one who filmed […]
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An unnamed Parramatta NRL (National Rugby League) player has apparently been filmed having consensual sex with a woman in a public bathroom in a leaked video earlier this week. This footage was obtained by a third party allegedly present at the time. Catharine Lumby, leading gender advisor, has slammed ARL […]
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Sunday night’s announcement that twelve of the largest European soccer teams were pulling out of UEFA Champions League competition to form the new European Super League rocked the football world. The reaction was loud and intense. Politicians screamed. Fans of rival clubs, both in and out of the proposed new […]
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In an organization or team, a weak culture is an inspiration killer and demotivates, nobody is likely to stand up and be noticed, or do anything noteworthy, unless they feel safe to do so. In a corporate environment that would result in an extremely stagnant operation that is full of […]
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There are plenty of quotes and cliches about the mental aspect of sports. Mountaineer Edmund Hillary, the first to climb Mount Everest, once said: “It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves.” Muhammad Ali stressed that the will must be stronger than the skill. And as legendary women’s basketball […]
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Professional athletes, especially the stars, are frequently envied for their athletic abilities. Everyone has their favorite player that they try to model their game after, or go around yelling things like “Kobe!” when throwing garbage into the bin. However, there is an absurd amount of negativity that surfaces anytime one […]
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There is little purpose in rooting for or even loving a team that fails to extend an honest effort or reasonable level of respect to their fans. That’s true of players and management alike, and every franchise should begin to make a reasonable effort to eliminate sexual and gender based harassment from their culture because it is the right thing to do.
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For many in sport, striving to be their best and comparing their efforts against their competition is what pushes the boundaries of performance. Double Olympic Heptathlon Champion Daley Thompson once said he would train twice on Christmas day as he presumed his competitors would only train once. The word competition […]
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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 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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“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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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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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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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 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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“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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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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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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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, […]
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Being a coach is not easy. A coach must look out for the safety and well being of the athletes, team, assistant coaches, and support staff. A coach has to provide a safe environment, not only from physical dangers or injuries, but mental and emotional safety as well. In many […]
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Among the most, if not the most, intense and competitive athletic events in the world are the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. The reasons are simple enough, every nation has a limitation on Olympic slots, either through qualification or by invitation. The U.S. is a big nation with a large number […]
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The teenaged years are so difficult, there is much to learn to become an independent adult and if there is no one there to help them to understand that mistakes do happen, and to help them learn to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions, that journey becomes overwhelming and fraught. […]
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Taking place in April 2021 is Athletics Australia’s Australian Track and Field Championships. The event will be held in Sydney and is the largest annual athletics event in Australia and the Oceania region, traditionally attracting more than 3,500 athletes from across Australia and the Pacific. When I think of athletics, […]
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It can be said of most human beings, including sports coaches, that they never fully achieve a complete fit with any role they have chosen in their life. It is always under construction – a process of becoming. Although some of the greatest amongst us come very close, being completely […]
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Have you ever been to a yoga class? If not, you should try it sometime. You learn a lot about yourself, mostly about how inflexible you are. It is a place without judgment. At least they say it is. You hear a lot about this journey you are on, about […]
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This week in the United States we welcome back our national pastime, the sport of baseball. I know, there are some people who may argue that American football should be the national pastime, however, I’m sorry to tell those folks this, but baseball has that locked down. To quote a […]
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The other day I spoke with my 15 (and 9 months as she likes to frame it for obvious reasons) year old sister about her most recent soccer tournament. She tells me it was close to Richmond, VA, two hours from our hometown in Silver Spring, MD. I was surprised. […]
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There is much talk in business communities in the need to change their practices to attract more employees from diverse backgrounds as well as women – particularly within traditional male dominated industries. More women than ever before, from all economic and ethic backgrounds, are visibly breaking down barriers that once […]
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1. Do the things that make you happy. When I say to do the things that make you happy I do not mean pick up 4 bottles of wine on your way home from work and finish them all. Although wine may make you happy, go deeper than that. Find the […]
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“You died on a Saturday morning” No matter how many times I watch Forrest Gump, that line always gets to me. Why did Jenny have to die? She had worked so hard to overcome her demons and redeem herself. She, Forrest, and Forrest should have lived happily ever after in […]
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The nature of sports tends to obscure athletes’ human qualities. We often view them as a source of entertainment, as a distraction from the concerns of the real world. When they step out of their roles as performers, it’s taboo. Athletes using their voices to advocate a cause — a […]
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Both NCAA basketball tournaments have been very exciting and have proven that there are always Cinderella stories and games that come down to the final buzzer or whistle. There are heroes, villains, officials, and heartbreak around every corner. There is also at least one feel-good Disney story from each of […]
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Nobel winning Irish poet Seamus Heaney authored these lines in his translation of Sophocles’ drama, The Cure at Troy: “History says, Don’t hopeOn the side of the grave,’But then, once in a lifetimeThe longed for tidal waveOf justice can rise upAnd hope and history rhyme. So hope for a great […]
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Sport has had a long a varied history with ethics and ethical behaviour from the systematic abuse of gymnasts to the systematic doping in the peloton. Recently there seems to have been a split into two forms of ethical behaviour: not getting caught vs not doing it at all – […]
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Notwithstanding the skills and athleticism of the jockeys, the horses are athletes in the horseracing equation too. The jockey and the horse are teammates in the sport, a combination of muscle, mind, skill, and instinct from both parties. The horseracing industry certainly has its problems, these animals are collateral damage […]
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It is self-evident that the most effective sports coaches have a major influence, not only on their athletes but also on the sports organisation in which they coach. For sports coaches, especially those classed as ‘serial winners’, there exists what might be considered something of a paradox – that is, […]
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We are all from somewhere, and this is important because it is the beginning of our story. We don’t know how our story ends but we know where it started. Everybody has a story. Each story is different, and each one is interesting. People enjoy sports for many different reasons, […]
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With everything in life, there are risks. Getting out of bed in the morning can be a risky move in some cases. Even driving down the street to the grocery store can be a risky option. However, how you respond to those risks can determine your fate in life. In […]
Read More Player health and safety has always been more of an abstraction than a concrete practice in the sport of football. In an ideal world, “players play and coaches coach”, each relying on a third party (trainers, physicians, administrators, etc.) to set standards and make decisions on player health and safety. […]
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Talent may not always have character and attitude,however attitude and character will always contain some level of talent. Bill Sweetenham (elite swim coach) swimmingscience.net 23 October 2017 Take a deep look at the eyes of coach John Mosley in Netflix’s Last Chance U: Basketball series as they meet the camera […]
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You can tell a lot about an organization’s culture or an individual’s character by how they handle setbacks. There are two paths to go down, acceptance or denial. Setbacks are inevitable. We know this. Lately, it seems that they are coming at us more frequently and with more incredible velocity. […]
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If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get the results you’ve always got. Sometimes, that’s great, when your past results are winning. How long should leaders stay in their position of power? Some very successful coaches and leaders have had very lengthy stays in their positions: Bill Belichick, John […]
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The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament is in full swing, and teams are jockeying for this year’s championship trophy. The tournament is both a cultural staple, with millions of Americans filling out brackets each year, and a massive revenue source for the NCAA, top universities, and bettors. In 2019, March Madness […]
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As a leader and coach, I have always gone to bed always thinking about what I could do better for the athletes, team, or the people that I lead. I always try think of ways that I can help others on our team, help shed problems that a member of […]
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This week, three of the best known women’s college basketball coaches in the history of the game, made unprecedented public statements about inequitable treatment involving the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Culture in Sports’ own Jeremy Piasecki reported on this last week. https://cultureinsports.com/it-only-becomes-equal-ish-when-it-gets-too-loud/ South Carolina’s Dawn Staley, Stanford’s Tara Vanderveer, who […]
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How do you feel about athlete abuse? How do you feel about athlete abuse when it’s in your sport? Is it still abuse? How do you feel about athlete abuse when it’s by your friend? Is it out of character? Loyalty to sport and people we know and/or admire is […]
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It is just a game. No, I am not belittling or discounting any of the hard work that athletes, coaches, and staff put into competing. But I am talking about what people do after their team loses. Some coaches will yell at their team, others will blame the officials. Some […]
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Not many athletes use the psychological tactic of a ‘rating system’ as a means of performance enhancement, in fact according to coach Matt Horsnell, most competitive athletes would find the system has the other effect on them. Australian high-jumper Nicola McDermott, however, calmly dissects her performance into different categories and […]
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If you are of a certain age and enjoy country music at all, you immediately recognize the lyrics to Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys. Ed and Patsy Bruce wrote this song in 1975, but Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson made it famous in 1978. It […]
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