A coach's mission to build, not break
I was asked recently to share my greatest coaching memory. Seems like a bit of a daunting task because I’ve been honored to be a part of several teams that went from losing seasons to final four finishes within the span of weeks. I’ve experienced underdog victories and comebacks that are movie making material. I’ve… Continue reading Greatest Coaching Moment
Ever wake up in the morning, early on a Saturday and the alarm is blaring because it's time to get up for practice and wonder if you should even bother? You're exhausted, as most teens are, from the constant pulling in many directions, conflicting standards of different authorities in your life, navigating new territory pretty… Continue reading This used to be my playground
Once the season was getting into full swing and the expectations and tone had been set, practice had started and games were coming up, there almost always seemed to be this big dip in energy. It's like I could feel some of the positive excitement fading away and my connection that seemed strong at the… Continue reading Beat the Culture Plateau
The Culture Pit. Maybe every coach hasn’t faced this yet, but chances are that if you've taken on a new program there's a culture issue hiding below the surface. I’ve walked into culture disasters so many times that the signs are like giant red flags. For someone experiencing it for the first time, the signs… Continue reading The Culture Pit
I know there are at least a few coaches out there holding onto punishment-based ideology. I mean, lets face it… our ego feeds off nothing more greedily than when someone crosses our instructions and we get to make them pay for it, right? I say jump, you say how high. It’s my way or the… Continue reading Punish this…
Call me whatever you want, but don’t call me nice. The first thing I think of when I hear that word is doormat. “Well, we have to be NICE to those players because this, that, and the other. So, we can’t enforce our rules all the time.” "We are short numbers, we have to be… Continue reading Don’t call me Nice
I met Lizzie (from London) in Prague when we played lacrosse together in the Prague Cup this past summer. She'd asked me to bring her a copy of my book, which she read during our 10 days of adventure and lacrosse playing in Berlin and Prague. We spoke about my philosophies as a coach and… Continue reading To my recruits and anyone who plays for me..from an athlete’s POV
I am excited to announce the winner of the second annual Jeffrey Howard Conord Scholarship for Team Leadership and Valor for the 18-19 School year is Ben Olson. Ben is a 2018 Graduate of Blaine High School in Minnesota and is an accomplished cross country skier with reputation for training with dedication and focus. His… Continue reading 2018-19 Jeffrey Howard Conord Scholarship Winner Announced!
It’s the worst way to learn something. It doesn’t allow for time or space to think and make decisions. It doesn’t answer a fundamental “why”. It doesn’t allow thinking to measure effect of actions. It doesn’t allow for the brain to even engage or hear itself. It causes panic and a distrust of one's own… Continue reading Are you giving your kid a disadvantage to learning?
No one wishes for heartache. No one daydreams about massive disappointment. You don't hear about anyone making goals or grinding for change that's in a direction going away from their plans and dreams. No one marks the calendar for the day they hope what they want most is shattered on the floor. But we try… Continue reading Shattered