TikTok Brain

As a coach I have seen an incredible change in focus with children today vs. coaching 20 or even 10 years ago. You used to have one or two players who were constantly fidgeting, talking, or distracted during a drill or discussion. Now it’s more common to find only one or two who are actually locked in. And this doesn’t create a problem just for the coach (who may be challenged with his own level of ADD) and focus of other players, it makes it difficult for the athletes themselves to focus, learn, and anticipate what they are going to do with the ball on the next play when it comes to them. Too often they become reactionary and in turn less aggressive, confident, and late to the play. 

I realize there are several causes and at some level its normal for kids, especially those that are younger, or going through changes in hormones in their early teens, but it has become such a common theme that I felt compelled to bring it up and share/request feedback on how others deal with it. “Running them” sometimes bring focus back briefly but can be overplayed. 

I’m interested in the potential causes and solutions and will be speaking with and sharing interviews with experts on the subject in the coming months, but one article I read in the Wall Street Journal entitled TikTok Brain Explained…struck me as interesting as to what may be contributing to a shorter and shorter attention span for us all. If you don’t have a subscription to WSJ and have trouble opening the link, let me know and I’ll send you a pdf version of the article.

Either way, please share your thoughts and approaches.