It's good to be back in the gym.

We had our first off-season practice last week with the Austin Royals. After my much needed break, it felt really good to be back. Usually the first practice back I don't do any instruction (unless needed) and just play some games. The girls who haven't been playing get to brush off the cobwebs and don't have to listen to my instructional voice yet.

Can I tell you...the ENERGY in the gym was AMAZING!!! That might be the best first off-season practice that I remember!!!

But, why? What is different about this group? Or is there a difference?

First of all, energy in the gym is definitely contagious. I have been teaching for years that we have to talk and work hard and encourage each other and that will be contagious. It is 100% of the time. I can't think of a single time that girls didn't bring up their energy when others were talkative and energetic. Or a single time that girls didn't lose energy when someone wasn't bringing them up.

Secondly, this group of girls is just competitive. I have spent the last 20 years pondering competitiveness and teaching girls to be competitive. There is some great reading out there about this topic. (Some of my favorites are: Gender and Competition by Kathy DeBoer and The Vision of a Champion by Anson Dorrance and Gloria Averbuch)

And I have definitely not always been successful. But at the end of the day, some people are just naturally more competitive. I have found that not everyone needs to be competitive, but if there are a few the others girls will rise to that competitive level.

And that is what is definitely true about the girls that were in the gym last week.

What are your thoughts about teaching competitiveness to girls?

#coachforhisglory