Toads - Total Athletic Development Systems

Axios Finish Line - 1 big thing: Upsides of aging happily This brilliant sunset over Buzzards Bay in Massachusetts was captured by Harvard political scientist and national security expert, Dr. Graham Allison.

LTAD - Long Term Athletic Development.

This could not be said any better.

Although this article is about the importance of good sleep for student athletes. The reasons behind the benefits apply to athletes of all ages. And, the recommendations on how to get it, apply to all ages as well.

How Much Sleep Do Student Athletes Need? | Sleep Foundation Sleep is a core component of recovery and repair for student athletes. Learn how much sleep student athletes need and how to improve sleep if you're an athlete.

I just finished reading Sam Walker’s The Captain Class where he set out to determine the greatest sports teams of all time. During his research he found that each team had a similar leader with certain characteristics. Sam defines the seven characteristics shared by the leaders of these teams. A great read for anyone interested in improving the leadership of their organization. And, for those parents with kids who play team sports, I would highly recommend you buy this book for them.

Additional thoughts:
1) It was interesting to read the stories about the teams and their leaders that made Sam’s list. Many of the teams were from sports that I don’t regularly follow: rugby, field hockey, soccer, etc. And, as an extension, I had never heard specific stories about their leaders.

2) A quote from Vince Lombardi that I had not previously heard - “Perfection is not attainable. But if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.”

3) Richard Hackman’s theory on effective leadership included four qualities, three that were NOT on the list: personality, values, charisma.