Enjoy the following insights from Carolyn and join her Skype yoga and online nutrition log analysis online at http://www.fitforlivinglife.com.
The National Alliance for Youth Sports can be found at:
http://www.nays.org/
Q & A with Carolyn Moos 6’5” USA B-Ball, B.A. Stanford, FIBA/WNBA, M.A. USC, ACE Personal trainer, yoga instructor and nutrition consultant.
1. Young players often go through shooting slumps and tend to put their head down and get down on themselves so how can volunteer coaches help them stay positive during those stretches where nothing is going their way?
Carolyn’s Response: Help point out the skills that they have proven over and over again in practice and game settings. Encourage them to continue to show all those skills in that they have exemplified in a game setting and then continue working on new skills in a practice setting. Playing through challenging moments is key to success as it exudes a grounded mentality and consistency in effort. Focus on defense, rebounding and hustle plays as these never should slide. There are effort related performance outcomes and skill related performance outcomes. The effort related ones should always be in place and that is something to feel great about. Remind the student-athlete that even the greatest of athletes may have a more difficult game and the best ones continue to work hard in practice and prepare for the next opportunity to shine.
2. Many girls tend to be more sensitive to criticism than boys, so how can volunteer coaches provide constructive criticism to help the youngster without hurting their feelings or confidence in the process?
Carolyn’s response: I have coached boys and girls for a number of years since 1996 in various camp settings, small groups and private lessons. I think it is very important for all athletes despite their gender, to feel encouraged and motivated. Part of being a great coach is recognizing what inspires and encourages. Content is often interpreted much differently based on the tone of your voice along with the words that are said. Pay close attention to body language and tone. I also think it is very important to sit each athlete down individually (away from the team context) and ask them what they feel has been most helpful and motivating to them. You can gauge and adjust your coaching style, while conveying that all you say as a coach is to help each athlete reach his or her individual fullest potential. Being spoken to is a gift and you are never picking on an athlete, but rather helping them be their best. I always tell athletes the more I speak to you and help correct you, the more potential I think you have and this is a true gift. They then learn to appreciate and take in constructive criticism. I have an older brother and I feel that siblings are a great way to naturally integrate this in the home as they encourage each other to be their best.
3. At the youth sports level coaches have no control or idea what their players are eating before practices or games. How important is pre-game nutrition for athletic performance for kids ages 12 and under and how can coaches deliver a positive message to influence healthy eating habits?
Carolyn’s Response: This is probably one of the areas I am MOST passionate about as I started studying sports nutrition on my own at a very young age. My curiosity was a reflection of my desire to put on lean muscle tissue in a healthy way. I was so thrilled with the power of nutrition and it has a tremendous impact on mental and physical performance as well as recovery. I specialize in strategic macronutrient profiling, meal timing and glycemic index to optimize blood glucose and absorption of amino acids. I teach techniques on planning, preparation and storage for meals every 3 hours. Planning ahead for the entire week such that a variety of proteins, carbs and good fats are consumed is very important. I plan all my meals on Sunday and store them for the week. Meal planning affects body composition (muscle to fat ratios), metabolism, recovery and overall physiological functioning. I have course work and nutrition log analysis that I provide to my clients that I offer online at www.fitforlivinglife.com. I help my clients by phone, e-mail and Skype so they can be located anywhere in the world and work with me. I also teach yoga by Skype to individuals and teams as well as basketball lessons, clinics and camps. I also promote not drinking alcohol and I have been this way my whole life. I feel nutrition and lifestyle choices should be introduced as early as possible and when appropriate.
4. Looking back on your youth sports experiences growing up what did your coaches do to make practices fun so they were something you looked forward to being a part of?
Carolyn’s response: Every child and teen is different when they articulate what they think is fun. I am put together a little differently than some as I enjoy running and working out hard and getting bruises here and there or just playing hard. Some children don’t enjoy certain aspects of competition or the cross training. I personally thrive on both. Once I finished my homework after a quick power nap I was off to the gym and nothing could pull me away from hard workouts. I am still this way to this day. Makeup of children and what they enjoy is very personal. It is important for coaches to add fun games that are mixed in with skill work. There are different games for different ages that reflect their growth, development and goals for being part of a team. Building new friendships, getting fit through fun activities and just enjoying time during practices may be the main focus for some. Others may want to really improve, compete and strive to reach their full athletic potential in a competitive sense. I think it is best to gauge the expectations from the participants and shape the practices and experiences around their expectations.
5. Too many children today are specializing in one sport at an early age, leading to overuse injuries and burnout. Did you play a variety of sports growing up and how important was it in your development to play different sports and have breaks from playing basketball?
Carolyn’s Response: I really appreciate the fact that my parents introduced me to a variety of athletic experiences: dance (hip-hop, ballet, jazz), swim team, downhill skiing, tennis, soccer, hockey, horseback riding (competitive show jumper), volleyball, track and field, cross-country running, golf, flag football (with friends) and basketball. I didn’t start basketball until the end of 6th grade and I was very athletic and tall (6’ by 6th grade). The moment I came home from my first basketball practice I was elated, as I knew this was the sport for me. I loved to run and the pace and rhythm was a great fit for me. I think it is very important to cross-train (yoga, weight room, cardio, non-impact (pool, stairs etc.)) as well as limit the sports you play by 9th or 10thgrade. I narrowed down my sports by 9th grade year as I then had won a national championship with my AAU team and made the USA Basketball team. I cut out track and field and cross-country and volleyball so I had time to get in the weight room and train specifically for basketball. I also needed my time to study, rest and just prepare for the game I loved. I feel it is essential for teens to love what they do. This makes them look forward to everyday, every practice and every moment. To this day I love the game of basketball and enjoy coaching boys and girls and seeing their eyes light up when they learn a new skill or apply it in a game. I give lessons, run clinics and camps and really enjoy seeing the athletes I work with grow up and become amazing people on and off the court. More information on my nutrition, yoga and basketball work can be found at www.fitforlivinglife.comand you can contact me at [email protected].