Athleticism vs Skill
In my professional rugby career, there were almost always two schools of thought related to players. Those who believed that natural athleticism honed and channelled in the right way in training could be superseded by individual skills development in terms of time, effort and energy. Then there is the second, where athleticism and physical dominance […]
Celebrating One Year at Tackle Smart Sports
A year ago we founded Tackle Smart Sports to bring safer tackling techniques, that can be trained in a controlled environment, to the football playing capital of America. We strive to teach kids the techniques that will help them tackle safer as well as land more tackles to be more successful players. Watch this video […]
Girls That Play American Football. Why Is Not That Common?
When girls think of a sport they’d like to join, a few things may come to mind. Soccer, martial arts, softball, tennis, basketball, and the like. But one sport notably off the list of many girls’ dream sports? Football. Sure, they might toss around a football with dad in the yard sometimes, but many girls […]
How To Safely Train During The Summer
Training during hot weather puts extra stress on your body and, if you don’t properly prepare, it can result in serious illness including heat cramps, heat syncope, heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Yet, the summer is an important time for young athletes to train and training during heat can actually produce a number of benefits. […]
What Are The Chances Of My Child Becoming A Professional Athlete?
As youth sports become increasingly competitive, more and more parents believe that their child will go pro and actively work toward their child becoming a professional athlete. A 2015 study found that 26% of U.S. parents of high school athletes hoped that their child would become a professional athlete. In contrast, however, the data shows […]
Young Athletes And Social Life
All teens face a variety of stressors, demands and pressures that are a normal and important part of their development. These pressures are increased for athletes who, in addition to balancing social and academic demands, are also balancing a rigorous training and competition schedule; working to develop healthy habits; and trying to ensure that they […]
Practicing Tackling Without Live Contact Situations’
Practicing Tackling without Live Contact Situations Tackling is a huge part of football, and I believe it’s not given enough focus. With injury rates – and especially concussions – an increasingly hot topic, there are ongoing efforts to make the game safer. One proposed way is decreasing the amount of time that athletes engage in […]
Foods To Have Before A Competition
Foods to Eat before a Competition Good nutrition is always important for growing kids, but the right nutrition is especially important before competition because it can help your child both perform better and recover faster. The right pre-workout meal will maximize performance while also minimizing muscle damage. So, one of the best ways you can […]
Sport Heroes
Sports Heroes One of the best ways to teach kids is through example. Whether you want to impart manners, sportsmanship or respect, modeling those characteristics can have a much bigger impact than any words or attempted lessons. Kids follow in the examples of adults around them and imitate the behavior of adults that they respect […]
WHY NECK STRENGTHENING IS IMPORTANT?
The Importance of Neck Strengthening for Athletes Participating in Contact Sports Neck strengthening exercises are one of the most effective ways to prevent concussions in contact sports. These exercises, which should be incorporated for athletes of all ages and ability levels, can help to decrease the impact that contact has on the brain. As a […]