This one is for the Ladies....

This one is for the ladies!... and their parents.... and their coaches, and team-mates.... This is a brilliant look into the struggles that young female athletes face as their (our) bodies change. Lauren Fleshman was a collegiate runner at Stanford during the time that I ran for the University of Washington. Lauren was GOOD. She was fast and..... tiny. 

This one hits close to home for 2 reasons: 1) I was a college runner and can identify with all of her words about the experience. and 2) Because I experienced these things, I went on to study sport psychology and write my masters dissertation on the coaches role on female distance runners' eating related issues. (If you'd like more information on my dissertation, please shoot me an email!)

The female-athlete triad is a very real issue that is quite common among female athletes. The issues associated with the triad (amenorrhea, disordered eating and low bone mass density) can have a lifelong impact on the athlete, and in severe cases is fatal. It has become increasingly important for young female athletes and their parents to understand the issues and impacts associated.

This is a letter that current Lauren wrote to high school/college Lauren. It's a good read for any female athlete, as well as coaches and parents of female athletes. Support and HOW you provide (or receive) support is integral to the appropriate development and lasting career of the female athlete. I think THE MOST powerful line in this wonderful letter is this: "You will see girls react to a changing body in three ways: give up, ride it out, or fight against it. With 100 percent confidence, I can tell you the best choice is to ride it out. The best is yet to come." 

Thank you, Lauren. You are a fantastic example and role model for the future of women in sport. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these issues, please email me at linden.j.thompson@gmail.com

OPINION: Let them coach!

Good Morning!

I've been thinking a lot about the role of coaching in an athlete's quest for success in sport. We need coaching and to become masters of our crafts our education should never stop. That being said, I've had many a discussion regarding disappointment (and even anger) with coaching. It comes from both the athletes and their parents (or significant others, in some cases).

Here are some thoughts I have on coaching and what happens when someone becomes disappointed, upset and even defiant towards their coaches:

1. PUT YOURSELF IN THIER SHOES: Your coach is a coach because of the years of education and experience he or she has. He/she has spent years leaning from others and has gone through the ups and downs that you are going through now. Failure and problem solving are part of the learning process. Learn to cope and thrive the same way your coaches did when they were learning.
2. ALWAYS REMAIN COACHABLE: Whether you are an individual athlete, or part of a team, it is your job to keep an open mind and be as "coachable" as possible. The moment you believe you know more than your coach, or you begin to question the directions your coaching staff are giving to you, your progression (and/or your team's progression) stops and you may create an undesirable environment that stops the progression for others around you. 
3. PARENTS - YOU AREN'T THE COACH: Parents, you love your children and would do anything to make them successful. The coach who is charged with passing on their collected information and talent to your young athlete is the professional. Not you. The coaching staff may not have the same approach as you do (maybe they are more harsh, and maybe they are more passive)... but it is your young athlete's job to adjust and learn to cope with various coaching styles. Be an advocate for that development, not a hindrance. 
4. SOMETIMES IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT: Not all coaches are a good fit for all athletes. If you find yourself struggling to progress and you know you've given it an honest effort, it may be time to try and find a better coaching fit. Maybe your coaching staff doesn't have the same vision for your athletic career (different goals or intensity); it is also possible to "outgrow" a coach.  You have to know when it's time to move on OR when you're just making excuses.

As athletes (and parents or spouses of athletes) we inevitably run into trouble with coaching. It is important that as athletes we remain coachable and reasonable when we hit turbulence during our careers. Part of my job as a Mental Performance Coach is to help an athlete through any one of these bullet points (or all of them...). Coaches are key to your athletic success and whether you'd like to become more "coachable" or you feel strongly that you need to make a change in your coaching, I can help guide and mediate that process for you.

As always, please feel free to email me with questions! I've turned on the comment section for this post and I'd love to hear your feedback or additions to this idea!

Until next time,

Lindy