Simple Formula For Athletic Success By Dr. Alan Goldberg-Sports Psychology for Athletes, Coaches & Parents Want a very simple formula for athletic success? Then, GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE. If you learn to live by these four, very basic words, they will help you take your physical talent as far as humanly possible. Success comes to those who regularly practice stepping outside of their comfort zone. Read more:

The Story Behind The National Anthem   On this day, the birth of our nation we must understand that freedom has costs and meaning. Remember those who have brought us the freedom and the ability to represent our country in the pool. Here is the story of OUR flag. The item that is raised when we win Gold, Silver or Bronze. And then, if we have won, we sing our National Anthem or USA Swimming’s fight song. See the story behind the song. Watch here:

  “Conquer the Greatest Distraction of All”  Dear Parent, Learning the skills of mental toughness is one of sport’s greatest challenges.  Would you like to learn how to help that process along? This month’s Positive Parent Video on our web site, “Conquer the Greatest Distraction of All” describes the roadblocks to your child’s concentration and provides strategies for improving focus during competitions.  The concepts apply to every sport and life in general!  Be sure to check out the video’s companion Game Plan .pdf document to put this concept into practice. ...

Boys & Girls Club Nationals Make Time Magazine   CVST's Boys & Girls Club Nationals meet was featured in an article by Robert Sullivan a parent with the Marlins Swim Team and a writer for Time Magazine .  The article, published yesterday in the Living Section, is entitled The Unexpected Rites of Fatherhood.  It is about a dad who reflects on the changes in his teenage children.    Click Here   to read the article.  

A Quick Lesson in Antioxidants for Swimmers By Chris Rosenbloom, PhD, RDN, CSSD A young swimmer emailed me and wanted to know if antioxidants would help her swim better and recover faster. A great question, so here is a primer on antioxidants, with tips to help you choose antioxidant-rich foods. When you exercise, you take in more oxygen by deep breathing and then you deliver that oxygen in your blood to working muscles. As your muscles work, they generate power for sport but also generate molecules called free radicals. These...

Concussion Information Sheet for Parents & Swimmers   Dear Parent/Guardian and Athletes,  This information sheet is provided to assist you and your child in recognizing the signs and symptoms of a concussion.  Every athlete is different and responds to a brain injury differently, so seek medical attention if you suspect your child has a concussion. Once a concussion occurs, it is very important your athlete return to normal activities slowly, so he/she does not do more damage to his/her brain. read more...  

GameOn4Kids June All-Star – Savannah Rude CVST's Savannah Rude (10) has been named a GameOn4Kids.com June All-Star.  Game On 4 Kids web site is Tampa Bay's premier source for youth sports.  To view Savannah's article on the Game On 4 Kids web site, Click Here. 

Build Your Plate   Maintaining a consistent and balanced diet is essential to preparing the body to perform at an elite level. Swimmers should be conscious of the fuel being absorbed by their body and understand how it impacts their performance. Build balanced meals with "Choose My Plate", where you can plan, track and create nutritional meals to fuel your training. Check out more tips from the USDA by  clicking here. To view Team USA's plates and recipes click here .  

Video Contest: Safety During Warm-Ups   We already know that swimming makes you smarter. Now it’s time to put your smarts and creativity to the test with USA Swimming’s #WarmUpSafety video contest. Submit your video before July 31 and you could win a $250 gift certificate for swim gear! Here’s how it works… Using the hashtag #WarmUpSafety, create a fun and educational video on Instagram showing the importance of safety during warm-ups. The more creative, the better! The 10 finalists will be voted on at the 2014 United States Aquatic...

Webinar: “Give Your Child Emotional Intelligence for Sports and Life” Register Now! Dear CVST Parent, Wouldn’t it reassuring to know the best strategies for helping kids handle their emotional ups and downs?  Check out the “Parents” section of our web site (Growing Champions for Life) where you’ll find the registration link to this month’s Life-Skills Webinar, “Give Your Child Emotional Intelligence for Sports and School” scheduled for Thursday, June 19th.    You’ll also enjoy this month’s article, “Family Traditions Create Great Memories.” There are some great tips for starting traditions...