Athlete Era

Partnership spotlight 🤝

Let's welcome a new partner to the Athlete Era team! 👏

Softball Alberta has a mission of promoting and fostering the development of softball in the Province of Alberta. We've teamed up to help them deliver the best grassroots coaching resources to their members. 🥎

We can't we to see what this year brings for this amazing organization! 📈

Partnership spotlight 🤝

Let's show some love to the organization leading softball in our province! 👏

Softball Saskatchewan is committed to providing its coaches with accessible resources to help develop, lead, promote, invest in and build the sport of softball in Saskatchewan. 🥎

Tap the link to see how our partnership has helped them achieve their goals in the last year: https://www.athleteera.app/post/softball-saskatchewan-success-story

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

Who from the office likes to cross-country ski the most? ⛷

A. Tobias
B. Andrew
C. Cody

Let us know who you think it is in the comments below!👇

Shared goal-setting is essential in sports for achieving success as a team. 🏆

When everyone is working towards a common objective, it creates a sense of unity and motivates individuals to perform their best. 🤝

Swipe through to see the 3 key components of shared goal-setting! 🙌

Check out the latest interview with North Pacific Juniors Volleyball Club to learn how coaches are using shared goal-setting is being implemented today!

Birthday week! 🥳

The first week of March is a big one for Athlete Era. 🤩

Two of our awesome developers, Cody and Rutvik, both celebrated their birthdays this past week.

Join us in wishing them a HUGE Happy Birthday! 🎉

Mentorship is key! 🔑

Coaching can be challenging, especially if it's your first time.

No matter if you're an experienced veteran or you're just getting started, having a mentor can be a great tool to help you throughout the season!

Unsure of where to start? Check out the latest interview with Split Second Basketball to see what their club is doing to bring new coaches on board. 👌

Feel good Friday! 😁

We hope you're feeling as good as Bubzy!

Have a good weekend everyone!

Volunteer coaches play a vital role in youth sports! 🙌

but it's important to recognize the potential issues that can arise from overloading them with responsibilities. 🧐

Without proper support and training, burnout and ineffective coaching can occur. 🙁

To ensure the well-being of our coaches and the athletes they serve, here are 3 ways to empower volunteer coaches! 💪

👉 If you're curious to see an organization put this into action, check out our latest interview with Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club!

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

What is Segun's favourite soccer team? ⚽️

A. Manchester City 🔵
B. Liverpool 🔴
C. Real Madrid ⚪️

Let us know which team you think it is in the comments below!👇

Partnership Spotlight 🤝

Let's show some love to our amazing partners from Sweden! 🇸🇪

SWE3 was formed in 2022 through the merger of the Swedish American Football Association and the Swedish Field Hockey Association.

They are a leader in promoting the Swedish sports movement and the creation of physical literacy-enriched opportunities for youth. 🏃🏃‍♀️

We can't wait to see what the future holds for this amazing organization! 🙌

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

What is Cody's favourite NHL team?

A. Carolina Hurricanes 🌀
B. Edmonton Oilers ⛽️
C. Boston Bruins 🐻

Let us know which team you think it is in the comments below!👇

What is the Athlete Development Model? 🧐

Athlete development models have become increasingly popular in recent years as a way to help young athletes reach their full potential. 📈

The idea behind these models is to create a long-term plan that takes into account the different stages of a young athlete's development, from childhood to adulthood.

Parents play a crucial role in the athletic development of young athletes. 🙌

This makes understanding the athlete development model an important step in ensuring sport has a positive impact on a child's development.

👉 Swipe through to learn what it is and what you can do as a parent to help promote it!

AE Arcade Night 🕹

There's nothing like bonding over a few games of bowling capped off with an ultra-competitive race at the arcade. 👀

Can you guess who was the best driver?

Supporting young coaches can be hard. 🤯

Especially if they're coaching for the first time.

Here are 3 ways you can support them and make sure they come back season after season! 💪

📚 Provide up-to-date resources

This could be things like practice plans and team management tools.

🧑‍🏫 Professional development opportunities

Encourage coaches to get their certifications and attend coaching clinics.

🫂 Develop a support network

Make sure coaches always have mentors that can provide feedback on difficult situations.

👉 Click the link to watch the latest interview to see how the Saskatchewan Soccer Association is supporting their young coaches!

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

What sport did Andrew play?

A. Soccer ⚽️
B. Hockey 🏒
C. Football 🏈

Let us know who you think it is in the comments below!👇

Why volunteer coaches are important 💪

Volunteer coaches play a crucial role in the development of young athletes and the growth of youth sports programs.

In fact, approximately 70% of youth sports programs across the United States rely on volunteer coaches. 🤯

Here are just a few reasons why volunteer coaches are so important.👇

💰 Cost-effectiveness: Volunteer coaches can help keep program costs low, allowing more kids to participate.

🏡 Community involvement: Coaches who volunteer can encourage more people to become involved in their local communities.

📈 Improved sports programs: Volunteer coaches can bring a fresh perspective no matter how much experience they have. This can help bring new innovative ideas to the program!

Want to learn more about how programs can embrace volunteer coaches?

👉 Click the link in the bio to watch our interview with Coach BJ from Colorado Storm Basketball Club!

Developing a coaching community. 🤝

Coaches play a vital role in shaping the lives of young athletes, and having a community of support is crucial for their success and well-being. ⚖️

A coach's community can include other coaches, mentors, and even parents and athletes.

Having a community of other coaches allows for the sharing of ideas and resources, as well as the opportunity for collaboration and problem-solving. 🙌

Here are 3 ways to support coaches!👇

1️⃣ Have a mentorship program

2️⃣ Have a platform that coaches can access to gain new insight. For example, a podcast.

3️⃣ Provide professional development opportunities

In conclusion, having a community of support is crucial for coaches to be effective in their roles.

For more great ideas on how to develop a coaching community, head over to the link in our bio and watch the interview with Derek Duman, president of the Oregon Basketball Coaches Association! 👀

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

Who rides their bike to work the most? 🚲

A. Corey
B. Andrew
C. Cody

Let us know who you think it is in the comments below!👇

The Benefits of Multi-Sport Participation 🏃‍♀️🏋️‍♂️🏀🏈

Playing multiple sports can be a great way for young athletes to develop not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.

It can also help them to reduce the risk of injury and gain transferable skills that can be used in all areas of life.

Here are some of the main benefits of multi-sport participation:

💪 Get Fit in More Ways Than One:

Multi-sport athletes have higher levels of overall fitness.

🧘‍♂️ Avoid Burnout

Multi-sport participation leads to greater sense of overall well-being.

🚑 Reduce Injury Risk

Young athletes who specialize in one sport have a higher risk of injury than those who participate in multiple sports.

🧠 Transferable Skills for Life

Athletes who play multiple sports tend to be better problem-solvers, more adaptable and better at working with others.

Encourage the young athletes in your life to explore different sports and discover the many benefits of multi-sport participation! 🌟🎉

How well do you know Athlete Era? 👀

Who do you think is the newest member of our team? 🤔

A. Segun
B. Rutvik
C. Tobias

Hint: we may have mentioned it before...🫢

Let us know who you think it is in the comments below! 👇

Optimal Challenge Theory 🧗‍♂️

Optimal challenge theory suggests that young athletes will be most motivated and engaged in their sport when the level of challenge is at an appropriate level for their abilities. 💪

This means that the coach should aim to provide tasks and activities that are challenging for the young athletes but still within their abilities to perform. 🗣

It's important as the coach can help to maintain the young athletes' motivation and engagement, which can lead to better learning, development, and performance. 🙌

Here are 3 ways coaches can implement optimal challenge theory! 👇

1️⃣ Add variety: For example, you could use 3 different stations to keep the practice interesting.

2️⃣ Welcome feedback and assessment: Make sure you are observing and listening to your players. This will help determine if the drill is too hard or too easy.

3️⃣ Create an inclusive environment: Coaches should encourage athletes to try different things and not be afraid of making mistakes. This will help get an accurate assessment of the level of difficulty.

Want to learn more? Click the link in the bio to check out our latest interview with Dr. Dean Kriellaars!

Demo day 🎤

Here's a sneak peek into a tradition we have at Athlete Era! 💯

Every 6 weeks, each team presents their work from the previous cycle! 👏

It's a great way to celebrate what we've accomplished and keep pushing forward! 📈

Stay tuned as we roll out some exciting new features in the coming months. 👀

Onward and upward!

The audience effect 👀

The audience effect is something external, such as a crowd, that can influence an athlete's performance.

It's caused when an athlete thinks they are being evaluated or judged.

This can have a negative or positive effect.

What can coaches do about it?

▶️ View performing in front of people as a progression. Especially with younger athletes.

▶️ Communicate with your athlete that you are there to help them.

▶️ Understand that athletes should practice executing skills without the presence of an audience first.

Happy New Year! 🎊

Athlete Era had an amazing year with our support for coaches getting better and better. 🙌

We can't wait to see what 2023 has in store! 📈

3 stages of learning 📚

Everyone goes through the same 3 stages when learning a new skill, regardless of their level of experience.

Here is a description of each stage below using the example of softball! 👇

Stage 1: Cognitive Stage 🧠

During this stage, the athlete is still trying to figure out what to do. The athlete must focus on things such as how to hold the bat, where to put their feet and the timing of their swing

Stage 2: Associative Stage 🔀

During the associate stage, the athlete is learning how to adapt the skill and perform it well. The athlete also starts to recognize cues from their environment such as the position of the outfielders and the type of pitch that is being thrown.

Stage 3: Autonomous Stage 🔒

During the autonomous stage, the athlete does not need to think about performing the skill but more so about how that skill can be used to affect the game. For example, a softball player in this stage may think about the direction they are going to hit the ball.

Now remember, each athlete will progress through these stages at different speeds.

Be patient with your players and make sure the cues you are giving them are in line with where they are in their skill development! 👍

Merry Christmas! 🎄

The team at Athlete Era wishes everyone a safe and healthy holiday season!

Who wore it best? 🎅

To get into the Christmas spirit, we thought we would put the team in the classic Santa hat and see who might give old St. Nick a run for his money. 👀

We think Bubzy looks pretty good! 🙌

Who do you think looks the best? Comment below!👇

Congratulations Argentina! 🇦🇷

This past Sunday, the country went on to capture its 3rd World Cup title to cap off an amazing tournament in Qatar!

We can't wait for 2026 when Canada joint-hosts the next world cup with the USA and Mexico. 👀

Shout out to Rutvik for guessing the correct winner. 🤝