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Simon A Harling
Simon A Harling

31 Followers

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6 days ago

Fortune Cookie

We don’t eat fortune cookies because we enjoy the taste of them; we eat them because we want to know what happens in the end. Of course, neither you nor the cookie, know how it ends, but that’s not the point. The anticipation, joy, and fun of it all, matter more than the accuracy of the prediction. For those of us in the youth sports business; we would do well not to confuse what we do with the fortune cookie business. That said, we need to find a way to bring enrollment, commitment, and tension in a manner that matches the fortune cookie experience.

Coaching

1 min read

Fortune Cookie
Fortune Cookie
Coaching

1 min read


Sep 14

The future is regulated

One look at the Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan EPPP and it’s clear that the goal is to industrialise the production of homegrown talent. If you include the 12 teams in the Women’s Super League, that’s 104 teams, all approaching the problem of developing young players in much the same way. The task is to develop and share best practices. But that’s not the hard part. The hard part is treating people like humans while working in a system that expects you to think like a robot.

Parents

1 min read

The future is regulated
The future is regulated
Parents

1 min read


Sep 12

Pyrrhic victories in youth sport

A Pyrrhic victory is a term used to describe a victory that comes at such a high cost that it almost feels like a defeat. Sadly in youth sport (and parenting), the costs mount up, and defeat only shows up when it’s too late. The horse has bolted. Here are a few examples worth thinking about: Age group international honours. Fourteen years olds back squatting bodyweight +. Coaching your kid’s age group.

Coaching

1 min read

Pyrrhic victories in youth sport
Pyrrhic victories in youth sport
Coaching

1 min read


Sep 6

Show don’t tell

There’s a rule in copywriting that says “Show don’t tell“. By allowing readers to draw their own conclusions, the writer creates engagement. In coaching, there is a shift away from direct instruction, for much the same reason. However, the argument over whether we should show people or tell people is missing the point. Equally critical is the practice of providing people with information before they form an opinion, a crucial step in sound decision-making.

Copywriting

1 min read

Show don’t tell
Show don’t tell
Copywriting

1 min read


Sep 4

Raising curious kids

The kid who has the lead role in the school play, the school rugby team captain, and has 10 A* stars in GCSE. No, not that kid. The one, who asks questions, accepts challenges, and has taught themselves to play guitar. Give me that kid. If we want to change this crazy culture of ours we need to start paying attention to success that looks like failure and not failure that looks like success.

Parenting

1 min read

Raising curious kids
Raising curious kids
Parenting

1 min read


Sep 3

Glitching

The good news is that everything is working well. That’s what we want to hear. What we don’t want to hear is that the project has been plagued with glitches since we started. It’s clear that NHS managers don’t want whistleblowers. Fans of football clubs don’t want to see their team concede possession of the ball. And that if we are going to hear about the bad news it’s better to put it between two pieces of good news.

Glitching

1 min read

Glitching
Glitching
Glitching

1 min read


Aug 31

I don’t care that pink is your favourite colour.

If the rule is that you don’t eat breakfast cereal that colours your milk then pink milk is not an option. However much you like the colour pink. That’s the rule. If the guidance is to eat healthy, then just maybe pink is fine as long as the milk is organic. If you aren’t making progress, but repeating the decision, first check the rule book.

Food Rules

1 min read

I don’t care that pink is your favourite colour.
I don’t care that pink is your favourite colour.
Food Rules

1 min read


Aug 28

Oooh obstacles!

On summer break my kids have been designing obstacle courses for themselves. From hanging, climbing, kicking, ducking, leaping, jumping, to running. They have even drawn out various hopscotch formats using chalk on the local tennis courts. But, perhaps my favourite time during the summer holidays has been drafting in other kids and families to make up uneven, non-bio banded, community kickabouts on a smalled sided 5 a side pitch.

Parents

1 min read

Oooh obstacles!
Oooh obstacles!
Parents

1 min read


Aug 26

Yes club

An independent thinker doesn’t follow the crowd. Which is odd because there is wisdom in crowds. But the maverick knows that there is only wisdom in crowds that are capable of independent thought. To make progress, connect independent thinkers to a network, rather than focus on assembling a group that merely agrees with each other.

Yes

1 min read

Yes club
Yes club
Yes

1 min read


Aug 21

The act of publishing

An author is a writer who has published their work. Evidently, it’s not the task of writing, it is the skill and environment necessary to commit to the practice of shipping your work that makes the difference.

Publishing

1 min read

The act of publishing
The act of publishing
Publishing

1 min read

Simon A Harling

Simon A Harling

31 Followers

Coach, speaker, blogger on fitness, coaching & personal leadership https://linktr.ee/SimonHarling

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