Why Coach, Coach!
Recently I had the honor of giving an impromptu racquetball clinic to a group of high school kids. It was a great group of kids and fun coaching them up! But I asked them all a question none of them could answer. I get this blank look from racquetball team members always on this one […]
Hinders in Hinterlands!
This one came via the fb network to my desk- “Coach-my opponents in doubles say I take up too much room. When I move to the ball I stay away from it and move toward it only before my shot. They say this inconveniences them and they get out of position. What do you think […]
Hold Your Fire!!
Photo courtesy of RestrungMagazine! Hold your fire!!! Ever been in a match and had a serve really working for a game and a half only to see it not be effective the last game and a half? Like listening to a great song, over playing that serve gets old and loses its effectiveness. A good […]
Go For It
So I am channel surfing the other day and I run across a panel discussion with an actor whose name escapes me, some business dude(I think) and two people I did recognize, Marcus Luttrel (of sole survivor fame) and Michael Strahan (of NY Giants football fame and recently everywhere on tv). Michael Strahan said something […]
GTD-Guilt Trip Defense!
Don’t fall for the Guilt Move!!! Good competitors know how to play the guilt game; the game within the game. Move 1-Did you get that? Answer-yes-guilt thought-gee I hope my opponent does not think I’d cheat. Move 2-Come on, are you going to take that? Answer-yes-guilt thought-Gosh I sure hope my opponent does not think […]
Play Like a Champion
So I have these athletes moving up through the chain of excellence. Their games are getting better and better. They defeat someone they have never beaten before and folks are beginning to notice their improvement. Then they begin to think, “I have arrived.” I don’t need to practice as much and I can just play […]
Help-My Opponent is Trash-Talking!
“Coach, my opponent’s talking trash to me and cheating! Every time I play this guy in practice he resorts to cheating and trash talking. Do you have any advice? It threw me completely off my game and I ended arguing instead of playing.” First-this happened in practice. Practice is just that. I think it is […]
The Governing Bodies
Jumping in on a social media argument can be dangerous! I suggest not posting anything without investigating. Things may not be as black and white as they seem. Here are the facts on a few of these entities. USA Racquetball-I have to say they try. They are not out to get you or me; but […]
Self Limited Or True Talent?
Open, Pro play observations: it is my experience that the top athletes who come to me often put themselves in a category. (You could say this about most athletes at all levels now that I think about it)-that includes me in my heyday!) Mostly that category is qualifier. This self-limiting category hurts athletes mentally because […]
Guidelines, Not Rules?
So I am riding along with a player in the car who says this statement to me. “Racquetball is really hard to teach to players.” Naturally I respond, “Why?” He went on, “Because you cannot make one rule for everything. People ask me what is the right way to do this or that, and […]