Author: Dan Peterson

This is the second of a three-part special book excerpt from The Playmaker’s Advantage. Part 1 can be found here. By Daniel Petersonand Leonard Zaichkowsky, Ph.D. Visit any sideline of…

This is the first of a three-part book excerpt from The Playmaker’s Advantage, available wherever books are sold. By Daniel Peterson and Leonard Zaichkowsky, Ph.D. How hard could it be?…

In June, when the world’s best men’s soccer teams kickoff World Cup 2018, we will be painfully reminded that Team USA will not be among them for the first time…

While the age of specialization in youth sports has created more skilled athletes entering high school, it also has caused a rash of overuse injuries. Training the same movements continuously…

It’s official: Concussions can be tricky to diagnose during a game. There are obvious cases where players show classic symptoms of disorientation, dizziness and loss of memory. But there are also borderline…

Let’s say that three months from now you check off your New Year’s resolution of losing 20 pounds through better eating and more exercise. As you enjoy your celebratory DQ Blizzard,…

For many runners, the ultimate bucket list goal is to finish a marathon at some point in their lives. If running is good for overall health, then more running must be the…

Sometimes multitasking should just be avoided. We all know that texting and driving is dangerous, and even talking on a phone while driving can be distracting. But what about texting…

The well-known formula for how to lose weight seems like simple math: calories in minus calories out. Yet anyone who has struggled with weight loss knows that there must be something…

When it comes to staying hydrated on the field, one of the recommendations often repeated is to “drink before you’re thirsty.” While staying hydrated is important, a group of medical…

Go climb a tree! No, seriously, it’s good for young brains to climb trees, jump on rocks, balance on a log and many other outdoor activities. Known as proprioceptive tasks,…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s sports science writer. Each week in the world’s top soccer leagues, injuries take an expensive toll.  Millions of dollars of talent left on the substitutes bench…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. If you visit any gym, weight room or running track, you are sure to see the…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. Ask a group of grade school students to name their favorite class and the overwhelming and…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. In the month of October, thousands of runners are nearing the end of their summer-long training schedules…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. With the arrival of the Fall sports season, many high school and college athletes are finding…

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes. It’s late in the fourth quarter, the third period, stoppage time or even that last mile….

By Dan Peterson, TeamSnap’s Guest Writer about sports science and skill development for young athletes The 10,000-hour theory has become the American dream for developing athletes. Just work hard enough and…

For many elite team coaches, the greater challenge in developing top young athletes is not improving the ones on your team, but rather finding the talented kids that got away…

What we don’t know can hurt us.  Those words are true across much of sports, but especially when dealing with kids.  Young athletes depend on parents and coaches for knowledge and…