A Coach's Diary

So much of today’s world is driven by social media and the images that we see and create on it. With social media, you can be whatever you what to be, and what you see is the crafted, best version of everyone. This creates a level of comparison and scrutiny that we have never seen in the history of our world. Social media has changed everyone's lives, and it has brought difficulties that the modern athlete has to deal with that we didn't when we were growing up. Part of an athlete's journey, and part of growing up and maturing, is learning how to manage your image and how to manage how you handle how other people see you, talk about you, and perceive you. John Wooden once said, "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." Kobe Bryant once said: "When I was young, my mindset was image, image, image. I took that approach with the media. As ...

Social media can be your best teammate or most vicious opponent.  On one hand, it is a one-stop-shop for skills and drills that are being done by athletes like you and athletes who you want to become.  It is a great opportunity to see what athletes are doing around the world. With that comes comparison and comparison can be the thief of all joy.  I have spent many nights scrolling through the pages of athlete after athlete and coach after coach, comparing my ability and my kids' abilities vs other coaches and kids, and the anxiety that can come from that is just not healthy. When used right, social media is a great resource and a jolt of motivation.  When used wrong, it can create anxiety, depression, and unhealthy relationships. Social media is a great resource for seeing what other athletes your age are doing, but its just one resource. I can tell you firsthand that it is easy to go down the rabbit hole of going from video to video and profile...