The Coach Pickles's blog

Should Sports be 'Dumbed Down?'

Submitted by The Coach Pickles on Tue, 07/14/2009 - 21:24. | comments

The idea of “dumbed down” sports is a scary concept for some. It can be hard for many adults, especially coaches, to accept. The mere idea of doing so can bring their coaching into question and evoke feelings of hesitation, resistance and fear. Many are often quick to admit, “My dad never ‘dumbed down’ sports for me, and I turned out fine.” However, watch a seasoned coach try to teach a young child without “dumbing down” sports, and they fail miserably. Still, purists claim “dumbed down” sports coaching is anything but natural.

Are Your Kids Saying the Darndest Things?

Submitted by The Coach Pickles on Mon, 06/08/2009 - 23:23. | comments

Art Linkletter, 96, is a pioneer of talk radio who crossed over into television in the 1950's. He hosted a little show called House Party where in one segment he use to interview young children. This segment of his show was so popular that it was reproduced for television in 1998. The message Art Linkletter's timeless work offers is something we, as adults, must not forget when raising or working with children in these modern times.

Kid Instinct to Be Competitive and Win

Submitted by The Coach Pickles on Fri, 04/24/2009 - 06:32. | comments

Is it human instinct for kids to be competitive and win? Many adult's will misinterpret young children's survival instinct for an affinity to win or be competitive. Few would disagree that children are innately selfish. Some are more outwardly selfish than others. When a younger child takes another child's toy, it is not about having the toy and being competitive or better than the other child. The child with the toy is only looking out for his or her best interest.

Baby Dills, Basketballs and Whackers

Submitted by The Coach Pickles on Sat, 03/28/2009 - 23:35. | comments

Introduction
There is no limit to what we, as adults, can learn from children. How often is the case we are quick to correct young children who mistakenly call something by the wrong name. But, how often does it happen that we, and our sophisticated adult minds, forget what something is called and resort to describing it by what it does until we can later remember or relearn its proper name.

Mistaken Identity

How Do We Get Coaches "Teaching" More than Coaching?

Submitted by The Coach Pickles on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 17:03. | comments

Sports

The question is, how do we get coaches, and sports parents for that matter, to begin teaching young athletes instead of increasing their coaching intensity and raising expectations?