Posts

4 Reasons Not To Punish With Pushups

Did you ever have to run laps when you were late to practice? For many of us, we grew up with coaches and dance directors who used physical punishment for bad behavior and mistakes. It’s relatively common to have a team do wall-sits when…
assistant coach

The Most Important Conversation You Need To Have With Your Assistant Coach

Are you lucky enough to have an assistant coach? Maybe you are an assistant coach who is eager to help the team.  Or maybe you’re like me, for a long time I was a head coach doing everything alone and wishing for some help!  I…

Comparison is the Thief of Joy

President Theodore Roosevelt said it best: comparison is the thief of joy. What truly brings you JOY when you coach? Take a minute and think about that. For me, it's seeing the “lightbulb” moments in my dancers' faces. Like when…

The 1 Personality Trait You Have To Be Aware Of As A Successful Coach

On the outside, I am positive, happy, easy to get connect with, and friendly. None of that is fake. It’s all part of who I am. But what you don’t see on the outside is how self-conscious I am.  As part of my academic work, I…

7 Proven Steps to a Successful Goal Setting Meeting

I’m going to be blunt: The number 1 mistake coaches make with their early-season goal setting meeting, is to set those goals, and then forget it. They start out all excited, but there’s no real strategy behind it, so there is no positive…
Balance

The Shame of Failing at Work-Life​ Balance

Work-life balance is a myth. Yet there are so many podcasts and books out there about how to balance work and life so that you never feel overwhelmed or guilty. It’s impossible. But not because it’s impossible to balance, but…

3 Things I Wish I Knew About Saying Goodbye

At the end of every season, there comes a time to say goodbye. Every year, as both a teacher and a coach, I watch young men and women I’ve grown close to graduate and move on to the next phase of their lives. Whether it’s at banquets or…
change

The Most Meaningful Way To Implement Change This Season

At the beginning of the season, we are usually filled with excitement, renewed passion, and an intense commitment to make this season better than the last. If you’re a dedicated coach, (and you’re here reading this looking for inspiration,…
Dance team

A Personal Coaching Philosophy Proven to Make You Feel More Fulfilled

It took me years to come up with my own personal coaching philosophy.  Years of experience, trials, challenges, successes, and choices. After all of that time, my personal coaching philosophy is simple but powerful. And above all else,…

Technology & The Adolescent Brain

How to coach today's smartphone -addicted dancer If you feel like your dancers are more emotionally unstable than years before, there's a lot of research to support you. Because of technology, more and more people are growing up with a lack…