By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him) Since January of 2022, I (David “Dirk” Smith), have accompanied the Pride Cheerleading Association (PCA) on the famous #CheerBus as they travel around to the different sports at the Sin City Classic. The purpose of the PCA and the Cheer Bus is to help raise spirits and bring energy into the different … Continue reading Las Vegas, Three Big Busses Full of Cheerleaders and Three Years of Adventures with the Pride Cheerleading Association at the Sin City Classic
Soliciting Donations, Interacting with Strangers, and Raising Money as a Measure of Sport Performance
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him) A lot My primary work is in sport, specifically in sport psychology, sport science, and sports diversity. But, some of this work has also crossed over with my hobby as an amateur videographer, specifically with my time spent with the volunteer cheerleaders at the Pride Cheerleading Association (PCA). … Continue reading Soliciting Donations, Interacting with Strangers, and Raising Money as a Measure of Sport Performance
Finding the “Community” within the LGBTQ+ Community, and How They Are Helping Launch My Career in Sport Above and Beyond – A Retrospective Appreciation
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc, CSCS, SDL (He/Him) A few weeks ago, I (David “Dirk” Smith), gave a presentation to a bunch of my sport psychology colleagues and peers on navigating sport as an openly gay sports professional. As anybody in the LGBTQ+ community will tell you, sport has often been unkind if not outright … Continue reading Finding the “Community” within the LGBTQ+ Community, and How They Are Helping Launch My Career in Sport Above and Beyond – A Retrospective Appreciation
Exercises and Drills for Developing Mental Conditioning in Athletes
Athletes will hit the pitch, pool, or ice to train technics and tactics, hit the gym to train physical conditioning, but where do you train the mental conditioning? How do you train the mental conditioning?
Dryland Speed and Coordination Training for Swimmers
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc, CSCS, SDL (He/Him) At the very beginning of my Strength and Conditioning career pursuits, I attended a day long workshop hosted by one of the snottiest universities I had ever been to. While I was never a student at Snooty University, I had worked there and also trained there at … Continue reading Dryland Speed and Coordination Training for Swimmers
Fit for Fat, My Story of Ü100 and Creating One of the Only Fitness Classes Specifically for Larger People
By David “Dirk” Smith, M.Sc., SDL (He/Him) It is well established that the fitness industry is obsessed with weight loss and aesthetics when it comes to marketing fitness and exercise for people. The pervasiveness of fitness and diet culture has become an obsession in our modern society where a person’s physical appearance is often subject … Continue reading Fit for Fat, My Story of Ü100 and Creating One of the Only Fitness Classes Specifically for Larger People
Working with LGBTQ+ Athletes: Considerations for Sport Psychologists, Coaches, and Other Sport Practitioners
If you work in sport and you think this article doesn’t apply to you, you’re wrong. Every coach, sport psychologist, and other practitioner in the field has, had, and/or will have an LGBTQ+ athlete under your guidance and care. Whether they choose to be visible or not is entirely their business and it’s not your job to say otherwise. However, it is your job to ensure that the space you are providing to practice and participate in sport is built around an inclusive, safe, accessible, and empowering climate for all your athletes.
Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) My recent article on the four the four pillars of athletic development talks about how building successful athletes and a team are rooted in the different skills and competencies of mental, physical, tactical, and technical conditioning within sport. During my time with the soccer team, as the team’s strength … Continue reading Athletic Development as a Complex Adaptive System
Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
By Dirk Smith, M.Sc, SDL (He/Him) At first glance, the title sounds contradictory, as any coach, athlete or experienced gym goer might know, power and endurance are not exactly synonymous with each other. In certain sports, most notably swimming which inspired this article, but also cycling, wrestling, gymnastics, speed skating, and rowing having power and … Continue reading Building Power for Endurance and Endurance for Power
Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
There are many “performance” sports in which the sport itself built upon the measure of success based on judgement from a panel of professionals with in depth knowledge of the sport and its rules. These sports, such as ice skating, gymnastics, cheerleading, dancing, and others often attract an audience who come to see the show … Continue reading Sport and Performance: Building a Relationship with Your Audience
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