Parents Corner

by Dr. Stephen Walker – Editor-in-Chief - Podium Sports Journal No one ever wants to go there.  No one wants to see it happen.  As brutal and grueling as sport is there is one huge likelihood….and that is that we will experience injury.  Hopefully, it is just a ding…sprain…bruise…contusion…bug…or require a simple brace, ice...
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Consistent with other Posts on Podium – this article helps define mental training skills and priorities in being able to practice with a purpose and take those skills onto the field of play, in this case, the golf course.  Matt does a great job emphasizing the key elements to accomplishing just that.  Enjoy! –...
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Shawn Achor has been an innovator and key promoter of the principles in Positive Psychology.  As a researcher in this arena for the past 10 years, the results are gaining traction in numerous fields – but none need it more than in the field of coaching education.  Old school methodology, and hard-nosed tough guy...
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Editor’s note: This week the local paper did an expose about a local high school wresting coach who was arrested and charged with sexual assault on a minor by a person in a position of trust.  Turns out this coach has a stellar won-loss record, steered his team to a State Championship and was...
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by Stephen Walker, PhD and Alec Baker, PsyD “The most important reason that kids play sports is because it’s fun.  When it stops being fun, they’ll stop wanting to play, and they’ll stop learning.” – Harry Sheehy Parents have a huge impact on the quality of their sports kid’s experience.  This article is designed...
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by Ryan Rivera  After a Major Injury Athletes take a lot of physical abuse on their way to achieving greatness. They deal with nicks, cuts, aches and pains every day, and in general it’s easy to overcome those bumps and bruises and keep active. But when you suffer from a major injury, it can...
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by Will Murray & Stephen Walker Pre-race jitters bother almost everybody.  For some athletes, the jitters are so bad that they withdraw from some races or decide to give up racing altogether.  For others, those nervous feelings impair their ability to perform. One professional triathlete, an 11-time Ironman finisher, got so nervous before his...
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By Dr. Stephen E. Walker, PhD, CC-AASP Have you ever wondered how your thinking might influence your physical health, performance or well-being? In the second quarter issue of 2005, research was presented by Dr. Alan Rozanski in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology focused on developments in the field of Behavioral Cardiology....
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There are all kinds of coaches.  Some are CEO’s, some are Presidents of the United States, some are coaching the U12 soccer team down the road.  Some are good, some aren’t so hot, and a few are great.  Simon Hartley spoke of the “reasons” an athlete is training in the pool at 5am each...
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by Simon Hartley Be World Class Why does a swimmer get out of bed at 4am on a cold, wet Tuesday in December. Why do they drive all the way to the pool and swim up and down for two hours? Why do they then have a bite of breakfast before doing a tough...
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