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2/14/2026
Faith Connection Sport
Faith Connection Sport
Kicked off NBA All-Star Weekend by attending the inaugural Faith Connection Sport Conference, hosted by Sinai Temple and Rabbi Erez Sherman, host of the Rabbi on the Sidelines.
We often hear coaches and athletes reference prayer or attribute success to a higher power, but what does the connection between faith and sport actually look like in practice? How do we create an inclusive environment that honors athletes, coaches, and practitioners of all faiths and backgrounds?
One quote that resonated with me came from Eric Rubin, Executive Director of Project Max, a movement fighting racism, antisemitism, and intolerance through sport and technology: “I don’t care what faith you have… but have faith.”
I had the opportunity to hear from an impressive group of panelists, including Angel McCoughtry, Lisa Leslie, Tamir Goodman, and Bob McKillop, each offering a unique lens on how faith shapes identity, resilience, and performance.
Here are a few of my key takeaways:
• Faith and sport do not have to compete. When aligned, they can enhance one another.
• Sport can function as a form of faith through storytelling, shared rituals, song, purpose, and community.
• Faith grounds athletes when performance outcomes fluctuate through shifting identity from “What have I done?” to “Who have I become?”
• Injury is one of the most unpredictable parts of sport. Leaning on faith can be pivotal in the recovery process.
• Prayer alone doesn’t put the ball in the basket. Faith must be paired with daily work.
• Faith is necessary not only in victory, but in the darkest moments.
As John Wooden said:
“You must believe in what you're doing, that what you're doing is the proper thing, the right thing. And you must have faith that things will end up as they should — which doesn't mean as you want them to, but as they should.”
As a mental performance coach, conversations like this remind me that identity, meaning, and belief systems are not separate from performance, they shape it.
Coaches and sport psychology professionals: how do you create space for conversations around identity and belief within your teams while remaining inclusive of athletes with diverse faiths and worldviews?
1/13/2026
Learning to fall down
Learning to fall down
My first ice skating lesson began with my instructor telling me to fall down.
Naturally, I was confused. But the point quickly became clear: falling down is a part of learning how to skate, so you need to know how to get back up before you can move forward.
Looking back years later, that lesson became even more powerful:
You can’t learn a new skill without learning how to recover when things don’t go as planned.
Most of us have fallen on the ice before. When you’re not prepared, it can feel embarrassing. Sometimes, it might make us want to step off the rink altogether.
Preparation matters. Knowing how to fall safely and get back up quickly makes all the difference.
When working with athletes, developing personalized post-mistake reset routines is crucial so they can reset, refocus, and move on quickly after an error.
High performers don’t avoid mistakes,
They learn how to recover from them.
When mistakes are accepted as part of the process, athletes don’t just bounce back, they grow.
10/9/2025
‘Flush It’: A Simple Mental Cue With Big Impact
‘Flush It’: A Simple Mental Cue With Big Impact
I spent the day at Madison Square Garden for the Jr. New York Knicks Coaches Convention, presented by Hospital for Special Surgery. It was an incredible opportunity to learn, connect, and grow as a coach.
Highlights included a hands-on session with Allan Houston and an insightful Q&A with Patrick Ewing. One of my favorite moments? Hearing Ewing tell a young player to “flush it” after a tough game. This simple but powerful self-talk cue is a great reminder for athletes (and coaches too) not to let one performance bleed into the next.
Beyond the legends, it was inspiring to connect with fellow coaches from across the Metro NYC area, sharing experiences, tips, and a passion for helping young athletes succeed.
I left feeling energized, motivated, and reminded that the right mindset, both for players and coaches, can make all the difference.
💡 Takeaway: Sometimes the best coaching advice comes in small, memorable phrases. What’s your favorite self-talk cue to keep moving forward?
10/1/2025
Slower Time, Stronger Mind: Lessons From My Solo HYROX
Slower Time, Stronger Mind: Lessons From My Solo HYROX
I almost set myself up for failure.
Last week, I shared my nerves about competing in my first solo HYROX knowing it would likely take me longer than the race I completed with a partner.
And I was right. I did finish slower, about 9 minutes behind my previous time.
Now, I could have let this get to me. But instead, I got ahead of the problem and approached the race with intentional mental preparation:
I redefined success. Instead of focusing on my time, I celebrated the process- the months of training, the grit it took to prepare, and the fact that I was taking on a new challenge.
I visualized myself working through the tough moments, when I’d want to slow down or give in, and prepared to keep pushing.
I narrowed my focus during the race. Focusing on one run, one station at a time kept me from getting overwhelmed by the big picture.
Without that mental preparation, the story could have been very different.
Instead, I crossed the finish line proud and strong. Both physically and mentally.
Now, I’m ready to recover, reflect, and aim for my next race!
💡 I’m curious- what strategies do you use to stay focused and keep pushing when things get tough?
9/21/2025
Why My Solo HYROX Isn’t About the Finish Time
Why My Solo HYROX Isn’t About the Finish Time
A week from today, I'll be competing in my first solo HYROX, and I’ll be honest, I’m nervous.
I’ve caught myself focusing on my end-time. In my first race back in June, I competed with a partner. We finished in 1:47, which was slower than I hoped, but I reminded myself that the goal of the first race was simply to finish.
Now, heading into my second race, I thought: shouldn’t I be faster this time? But racing solo is a whole new challenge. Eight runs, eight stations, no breaks. It’s double the work and an entirely different category of achievement.
So instead of defining success only by the clock, here is how I’m reframing it:
1. Process over outcome. My time is just one data point. My effort, grit, and mindset are what define me as an athlete.
2. Redefining success. I’ve spent months training, running, lifting, and improving. Race day is the culmination of all that work. Success also looks like:
- Completion: finishing my first solo HYROX
- Consistency: sticking to training even when I didn’t feel like it
- Mindset: noticing negative self-talk and reframing it
- Enjoyment: having fun along the way
- Growth: seeing how I’ve evolved as an athlete
3. Acknowledging the new challenge. This isn’t about being “slower” than before- it’s a completely different test. And even though I’ll be racing solo, I will have friends and family there to support me and cheer me on. I may be competing alone, but I won’t be alone.
The finish line doesn’t define me. The work I’ve already put in does.
💡 I’d love to hear- how do you reframe success when the pressure is on?
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