Treating Emotional and Physical Health Like Twins

In Guy Winch’s TED Talk, “Why we all need to practice emotional first aid,” he proposes the idea that emotional care needs to be as commonplace as physical care. He gives an example of how natural it is for a five-year-old with a cut to put a Band-Aid on it; however, when people are feeling lonely or sad, they are told to brush it off–it is rare that people prioritize their emotional health in any way similar to that of their physical health. Often, we are taught to be “tough” and to not let our emotions get the best of us; there’s a stigma surrounding emotional reactions, a stigma that […]

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How We Show Up Matters

Seconds tick by on the clock like hours.  It feels like the game is already over.  You’re down – both in score and morale.  So what’s the point?  Why bother?  Why keep playing?  Well, as Yogi Berra once put it, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.” Thanks Yogi, but we all know how difficult it can be in these moments to maintain optimism and enthusiasm – especially when no one else around us is doing it either.  So what can we do about it? In any given event, our emotions are going to get triggered.  It’s natural to have an immediate knee-jerk (emotional) reaction.  In these situations, we tend to […]

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Sport Spotlight: Rowing

Overview and History Rowing is an Olympic sport practiced all around the world. Sometimes called crew in the United States, rowing began in ancient Egypt. The premise of the sport is to propel the boat forward in the water using oars for recreational or completive purposes. In the U.S., rowing competitions are referred to as regattas where boats race each other for time. Boat sizes range from a single scull that holds one person to a coxswain that holds eight people. Rules and Regulations The world championship race is 2,000 meters long and has elements of both a long and short distance race. Rowing is unique in its motion from other sports in that […]

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Everyone Can Be a Champion, Just Like Matthew Williams

Matthew Williams is a champion. He trains five days a week to excel in both basketball and speed skating and has gone on to represent Canada in international competition. In his inspiring TED Talk, Williams discusses how society has become more accepting of athletes with intellectual disabilities—however, we still have a ways to go. “The world does not see all people like me as champions,” Williams says, “Not long ago, people like me were shunned and hidden away. There has been lots of change since Special Olympics began in 1968, but in too many cases, people with intellectual disabilities are invisible to the wider population.” Unfortunately, too many athletes have not been given the opportunity […]

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In the Wake of Yeo’s Firing, How Do Coaching Changes Affect Team Performance?

Last weekend’s game against the Boston Bruins would prove to be Yeo’s last with the Wild. After yet another loss for the team, Yeo was let go after five years—though he thought his time would continue since General Manager Chuck Fletcher told him that his job was safe just a week earlier. Even after being told that he was fired, he fought for more time to work with the team, not wanting to leave them during the middle of the season. Yeo was quickly replaced by John Torchetti of the Iowa Wild until a more permanent option is found. The unexpectedness of Yeo’s removal and the certainty he held in […]

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From Super Bowl 50 to–Retirement? Managing Breaks From Our Game, Both Brief and Indefinite

This Sunday millions of people will be huddled around their televisions with an array of jalapeño poppers and chips and guac to watch the Carolina Panthers take on the Denver Broncos (as well as the commercials). There has been a lot of talk surrounding Superbowl L as Peyton Manning squares off against Cam Newton–specifically around Peyton and if this will be his final game. Whether that is the case or just a rumor, athletes’ decisions to end their playing careers altogether or take breaks from their game are some of the most difficult decisions they must make. There are many factors that play into deciding whether to take a break from/stop playing a sport […]

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