Over-Coaching?
Micromanaging Racquetball matches seems to be the norm in junior Racquetball. When I attend National juniors I see all sorts of hand, arm, and weird signals from amateur and not so amateur coaches! When you see a young player looking back for serves it can result in that player winning short term but losing long […]
Want a Coach or Cheerleader?
“Coach, You have to change because so and so (an athlete I coach) does not like the way you coach. You never say anything nice!” “You need to be more positive.” This one has floated across my radar a few times over the years and forgive me if I am redoing a similar post but […]
Racquetball Nation Cleveration
Racquetball is a great sport. No matter who you are, the sport will humble you sooner or later. Time gets us all and despite all the training and practice, sooner or later the game begins to go south. There is a saying in the NBA that great players play above the rim early in ther […]
Believe!
I was reading a thing the other day that struck me. It was a response to someone who had said their career was ruined by a few experts who told them they would never be any good. The career was in acting and the responses were swift. They went like this, “You are not that […]
Stop the Choke
Dear Coach, I have an athlete who does everything great in practice but ina match is helpless and clueless. Do you have any advice for this athlete? Signed Coach of Choker! Dear Coach of Choker, This may quite simply a case of not being under enough pressure in practice. The more pressure you practice under, […]
Coach Everyone Like They Need
“Treat everyone the same!” Say what? I’m in a coaches meeting with other team coaches maybe 20 years ago when that comment was made. My eyebrows went up on that one. My years of experience in classroom teaching, football coaching, and tennis, not to mention racquetball had taught me the opposite. I do not treat […]
You’re All Against Me!
For those of you too young to remember, this was the classic Jan Brady line from the old tv show, The Brady Bunch. “You’re all against me, and you worst of all!” The psychology of one on one racquetball is a never-ending process. Because we see our opponent through the lens of our camera we […]
Happy Birthday USA!!
Happy 250th birthday!! Happy 4th of July! Happy Birthday USA! To understand the United States of America you have to think of a big family with many cultures, religions, and beliefs to blend into a society that reflects the world. Most of our ancestors came here to better themselves and give hope to the next […]
Skills Pay the Bills (Dan Malin)
Some years ago this question came to me through the chat room on a rare appearance on USA Racquetball Live Streaming in the men’s finals of the USA Racquetball Doubles and singles qualifying tournament. Forgive me because I am paraphrasing but it went something like this-“How much time do you recommend on court vs off […]
Road Map
If you are driving in your car you need a road map to reach your destination. Without a map (okay, or gps) you may never get where you are going. Your racquetball game is similar and it should have a destination. Every racquetball camp I give the scheduling lecture. The base for my lecture comes […]