Do The Work Personal Training

I've been there too.

Not just as a coach but as a parent.

We feel like we aren't being heard. We're frustrated by the seeming lack of response. Their lack of change feels like a lack of care &, even worse, disrespect.

And then, we explode.

But, so often, the screaming is about making ourselves feel better & doesn't serve our actual interests, which is drive change & improvement

Youth athletes learn best in an environment driven by support & safety, not fear.

I was sitting in the coach's box yesterday when my instincts as a father almost took over.

We were in the midst of a Year 10 game of footy with plenty of testosterone being thrown around on the field when my son was slung to the ground in what, I thought, was a completely unnecessary manner.

I was ready to explode out of my chair. I wanted to scream at the opposition player as he got up. All the thoughts that we feel as protective parents went through my mind.

"Dirty player"
"Someone needs to calm him down"

As I chewed on my tongue waiting for the ball to be thrown up, something happened that made me glad I'd kept my mouth shut.

My son got to his feet & was offered a quick low five by the player who had tackled him.

He wasn't trying to hurt him. He was just trying to play the game physically & happened to bring him to ground with more force than he maybe intended.

I saw this countless times during the game yesterday. Boys would flatten each other but then immediately go to check on the opposition player or help one another up as the play moved on.

We aren't wrong to feel the way we do when we see our kids get hurt on a footy field. As parents & coaches, we would almost be neglectful if it didn't make us feel a little sick in our stomachs.

But we have to be able to slow our reactions because, often, the kids can sort this out without us needing to brandish another kid as 'flithy' or start screaming at umpires to 'protect the boys.'

All this does is heighten the emotion in the game, which, inevitably, leads to more hostility. All that hostility, generally driven by the helplessness that parents & coaches feel when they see a kid get hurt, is increase the chances that someone IS actually going to get hurt.

These are young men who are going through an incredibly challenging period of their emerging manhood. They're trying to understand what it is to be a 'man'.

They don't need to be taught aggression & vengence; our very nature is already fueling that. They need to be taught patience, tolerance & how to respond when challenging circumstances come their way.

At the end of the game, I had a terrific exchange with their assistant coach who complimented our boys on always showing up to play physically but fair.

The influence that coaches, managers & parents play on setting the gameday environment is immense. It fuels their emotions. They don't just hear the yelling & screaming, they feel it & it places them on edge.

These young men are already facing so much at this point of their lives. Sports is supposed to be a release & an escape from that.

Let them have it.

With Perth, this week, playing host to the annual Pro Wrestling Super Camp, we have seen wrestlers from all over Australia (& even one from Grapplemax Pro Wrestling Singapore) join us for a week of learning about best practice within the wild world of professional wrestling.

Part of that learning took place at the Diamond High Performance facility in Canning Vale.

While most will associate wrestler's gym programs with hypertrophy, pro wrestling's continued evolution sees different demands placed on its performers.

With speed & athleticism becoming more prominent features of a modern day wrestler, today's workout had a strong focus on power & athletic development.

The camp is hosted by Damian Slater & Davis Storm at the EPW School of Pro Wrestling

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SUPER CAMP 2026!

Our 10th go at this - wild to think! More awesome memories & connections have been made with representation from:

PERTH / ADELAIDE / MELBOURNE / SYDNEY / BRISBANE / ROCKHAMPTON / TOWNSVILLE / DARWIN / SINGAPORE.

Wonderful to be joined by Pia Faletti & Andrew Di Loreto for the Coach & Manager's season launch for the Piara Waters Junior Football Club last night.

They were extremely generous in sharing their knowledge with us all &, hopefully, getting some coaches thinking about how they approach their craft in 2026 & beyond.

Youth coaches.

Set the standard to your kids. Let them know what is & isn't acceptable.

And not just in what they are allowed to do but, in the words, & actions you put on display for them.

Tonight was everything great about the Piara Waters Junior Football Club

Friendly but, hard fought, competition between two teams, separated by age, but not by spirit & umpired by two blokes who are out there for their love of the club.

Community is far more important than goals, scoreboards & trophies.

Well done to all the lads (& my #1 lady) who represented themselves & their club beautifully 🧡🤍🩶

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$39/week to:

*Help your kids find their feet in a gym setting
*Take their athletic performance & confidence to a whole new level in 2026
*Invest in their future by helping them develop their physical & mental capabilities
*Teach them resilience & growth in a safe setting while being monitored by coaches with actual experience & knowledge
*Help protect them from injuries that are so common through the adolescent stage of development.

Sounds like a bargain to me.............................

Gym Starter Program | Your First Step in Athletic Development Strength. Confidence. Performance. For athletes aged 10–16. Secure Your Spot – Program Starts Oct 13