Peak Athletic Performance

Keeping a training journal can help an athlete understand not only what they did to perform at their best but their worst.

Whether it be track cycling, swimming, track and field, or cross-country, a taper is an extremely important part of achieving peak performance, but a full taper should only be done before the most important competitions, says two-time Olympic track cyclist and mom, Erin Mirabella.

Two-time Olympic track cyclist and mom, Erin Mirabella, talks about her experience with cross-training and offers advice to parents on helping their child find the right sport or cross-training regimen for them.

Massage therapy is often an overlooked component of good athletic training, yet the benefits of including this type of "passive" modality into an athlete's routine can mean the difference between reaching training goals in a more balanced way and overstressing the body. Neglecting the body and just going for the "burn" can sometimes spell disaster and lead to injuries requiring months of recovery on the sports sidelines.

Parents and coaches who help athletes develop a pre-competition routine will see enormous dividends.   Tweaked to fit a child’s specific needs, it can be valuable not only for sports (such as cross-country and track), but for tests at school, or virtually any activity.

Parents can help young athletes overcome anxiety and have more fun playing sports, including a technique called performance exhaling.