Confidence is a Feeling, Competence is a Behavior
Tuesday, 24 May 2022
We have all seen the interview many times. The star athlete comes off the field or court, and the first question the interviewer asks is “You were looking really confident out there today, what was your secret?” We might even say the same thing to our own young athletes that we coach and mentor: “Wow,
- Published in Confidence, sport psychology, Sports Parenting
#273 Dan Abrahams, Sport Psychologist, on Creating a Mental Framework, Stomping the ANTS, and Improving Your Inner Dialogue (replay)
Friday, 20 May 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Dan Abrahams is a sport psychologist who works alongside individuals, teams, coaches and organizations globally. He is known for his passion to de-mystify sport psychology and for creating simple to use performance techniques. A former professional golfer and PGA qualified, Dan has a First Class Honors degree in Psychology and a
- Published in Podcast, sport psychology
Don’t Win the Race to the Bottom During Tryout Season
Wednesday, 04 May 2022
“My kid is so stressed, she is so worried she won’t be able to play with her friends anymore,” a mom recently wrote us. “We have friends who tell us their daughter is physically ill with worry. She is 10!” Sound familiar anyone? It is the annual rite of passage we call tryouts in youth
- Published in Tryouts
#269: Dr Lee Hancock, Performance Psychologist, Discusses his New Book “Talent Zones: 10 Tools to Help Kids Develop Their Talents”
Friday, 22 April 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Dr. Lee Hancock (@DrLeeHancock) is a professor, performance psychology coach, and program creator who works with students, athletes, coaches, educators, parents, organizations, and other high-level performers. Dr. Hancock earned his Master’s and Ph.D. from Arizona State University and is a tenured professor in kinesiology at California State University Dominguez Hills. He
- Published in Coaching, Podcast, Talent Development
#268 Mark Bennett Masterclass Part II: How to Implement the PDS System, Avoid Common Mistakes, and Engage Parents and Coaches in the Process of Creating the Needs Centered Environment
Friday, 15 April 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher In Part II of our Masterclass with Mark Bennett, founder of Performance Development Systems, we build upon last week’s session and cover how to implement the PDS needs centered approach, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to engage fellow coaches and parents in the process. If you have come here
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week we bring you Part I of a two episode masterclass with Mark Bennett (@PDScoach). Mark has been one of our most popular guests over the years, and has been training, coaching & mentoring individuals and teams since the early 90s, including world and Olympic champions, professional rugby teams, the
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week on the Way of Champions Podcast, we dive into the archives from episode 162 and welcome Chris Armas, currently the assistant coach at Manchester United in the English Premier league. Previously Chris has been the Head coach of Major League Soccer clubs Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls,
#261 Luke Chadwick, Former Man United Player, on the Genius of Alex Ferguson, Struggles with Mental Wellness, and his Mission to Make Youth Football Fun Again
Friday, 25 February 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Ex-Manchester United football player Luke Chadwick played over 460 professional games for clubs such as United, West Ham, Stoke and others before retiring and beginning his coaching journey. Luke was a young boy who dreamed of running out at Old Trafford. But the reality of the pressure of being a professional
- Published in mental health, Podcast
#260 Dr Martin Toms: “You Coach a Child, Not a Sport!” (replay)
Friday, 18 February 2022
Dr Martin Toms is a senior lecturer in Sports Coaching in the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, College of Life and Environmental Sciences at the University of Birmingham (UK). He has has been involved in sport coaching and development for a number of years, and has experience of teaching in schools, as well as coaching
#259 Juan Gonzalez Mendia, Professional Rugby Coach and Coach Educator: “If We Do Not Engage with Parents, We May Never Know What is Going on in a Kid’s Life”
Friday, 11 February 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Juan Gonzalez Mendia is a well known rugby coach and founder of Sudamerica Coaching (@sudcoaching), whose goal is to develop coaches, educators, professionals and volunteers through education and mentoring programs within their sporting or educational organization, and bringing increasing awareness on the importance of conscious, caring and people-centered environments. His organization
Can You Over-Sample in Youth Sports?
Wednesday, 02 February 2022
Every month we get interesting emails and messages from our Changing the Game family, and once in a while we get one that is worth throwing to the community. We got an email from a set of parents, both former NCAA Division I athletes, with three young children highly involved in sports. As avid readers
- Published in Specialization, Sports Parenting, Talent Development
#257 Wim Van Zwam, USSF and UEFA Licensing and Coach Mentor, on Coaching the Person First, Creating a Great Learning Environment, and Why Every Coach Needs a Mentor
Friday, 28 January 2022
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Wim Van Zwam (www.TwoWayCoaching.com) is the former lead instructor for United States Soccer Federation Pro license, and currently is back in the Netherlands teaching the UEFA A Youth license. He works in a mentorship and instruction role with coaches at the professional academies in the Netherlands such as Ajax, AZ Alkmaar,
- Published in Coaching, mentorship, Podcast
#253 Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach: “Is there a Difference Between Coaching Girls and Coaching Boys?” (replay)
Friday, 31 December 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach (@DrDCoachScience) is an associate professor of Athletic Coaching Education, director of the Center for Applied Coaching and Sport Science at West Virginia University and president of the United States Center for Coaching Excellence. She is an Association of Applied Sport Psychology certified consultant, public relations and outreach head
#252 How to Transform the Culture of Your Youth Sports Program with Nate Baldwin, Founder of Red Ball Nation (replay)
Friday, 24 December 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Nate Baldwin (@NBaldwin75) has nearly 20 years of recreational sports industry experience as an entrepreneur, program administrator, and advocate for inclusive, high quality sport experiences. Nate’s diverse career has spanned from the creation and management of a successful adult recreation organization in Denver, CO, to the revitalization of the Appleton (WI)
- Published in Podcast, Problems in Youth Sports
#251 “It’s Not D1 or Bust!” A Conversation with Nick Buonocore, Founder of the Reformed Sports Project
Friday, 17 December 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Nick Buonocore started The Reformed Sports Project to provide a platform for coaches and athletes from the highest levels to share their perspective and experiences with parents and kids. What started as a a few interviews and some social media posts with quotes from these athletes and parents has turned into
Our 2021 Books of the Year
Wednesday, 01 December 2021
Well, as 2021 rolls into December it is that time of year again, time to highlight our favorite new books of 2021. This has certainly been a year for reading and reflection, and our sports world continues to be turned upside down by the ongoing pandemic. Many coaches, parents, and youth sports advocates have invested
- Published in Book reviews
#248 Stuart Armstrong: A Conversation with The Talent Equation Host About the Latest Developments in Coaching Education
Friday, 26 November 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week we welcome back Stuart Armstrong (@stu_arm) to the podcast. Stuart is the Head of Coaching for Sport England and the host of one of our favorite podcasts, The Talent Equation., He spends his days helping to elevate the coaching profession, develop educational pathways for grassroots coaches, and so much
#245: NYT Bestselling Author David Epstein: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World (replay)
Friday, 05 November 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher David Epstein (@DaviidEpstein) is the author of Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World, and of the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance. He has master’s degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and a
- Published in Podcast, Specialization
The One Sentence That Can Change an Athlete’s Life
Tuesday, 26 October 2021
As coaches, sometimes we wish we had a magic power, a word or phrase that could get an athlete to focus, commit, and excel. Yes, we must invest and connect with them. Yes, it takes time to build trust and to build a relationship that can bear the burden of truth. As author Dan Coyle
- Published in Coaching
#241: Ben Sherwood, CEO of MOJO, on the Biggest Issue in Youth Sports and the Need to Help Recreational Coaches Up Their Game
Friday, 08 October 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Ben Sherwood, founder and CEO of MOJO, and has coached his sons for the last 12 years in four sports. During that time, he also served as president of the Disney ABC Television Group and president of ABC News. Like many recreational coaches, he noticed that there were few if any
How to Help Your Athletes Build Great Habits and Break the Bad Ones
Tuesday, 21 September 2021
“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. They are the foundation of mastery.” – James Clear “I wish my kid would practice more on his own,” said one mom to me at a recent talk. “He could be so much better if he applied himself.” “I hear you,” said her friend. “If he spent as
#233 Dr. Jean Cote: Long Term Athlete Development Starts with Immediate Positive Experiences
Sunday, 15 August 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Dr. Jean Côté (@JeanCote46) is professor and Director in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen’s University at Kingston (Canada). His research interests are in the areas of children in sport, coaching, positive youth development, and sport expertise. Dr. Côté has published more than 130 papers on a variety
- Published in Coaching, Parenting, Podcast, Specialization
#229 Rasmus Ankersen: How to Find and Develop the Talent That Whispers
Sunday, 18 July 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Rasmus Ankersen (@RasmusAnkersen) is an internationally known author, speaker, and film producer and one of the worlds leading experts on talent identification and development. He is also the co-director of football for Brentford FC of the English Premier League and Chairman of Champions League club FC Midtjylland of the Danish Super
- Published in Podcast, Talent Development
#227 Shay Haddow: How to Develop Confidence in Your Athletes
Sunday, 04 July 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Shay Haddow (@shayhaddow) is an expert coach and speaker on confidence and mindset for female athletes. Having worked with hundreds of youth female athletes and college teams from across the country, she’s empowered girl athletes to build unshakable confidence so they can live and play to their fullest potential. As the
- Published in Confidence, Podcast
#224 Naomi Osaka and Athlete Mental Health: A Conversation with Dr. Jarrod Spencer
Sunday, 13 June 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week on the podcast we delve into an incredibly important topic, the mental health and well-being of our athletes. With the recent withdrawal of one of the world’s top tennis players, Naomi Osaka, from the French Open due to depression and social anxiety, this topic has been in the news
- Published in mental health, Podcast
#217 The Power of “I Love to Watch You Play” with 4x Emmy Award Winning Sports Journalist and Producer Asia Mape
Sunday, 25 April 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher Asia Mape is a 4x Emmy Awards winning sports journalist and producer, and the founder of the incredible website “I Love to Watch You Play.” She has covered five Olympic games, two Super Bowls and nearly every major sporting event in the world. She has also interviewed hundreds of the top
- Published in Podcast
#214 Olympic and World Cup Champion Mary Harvey: Protecting the Rights of Children in Sport
Sunday, 04 April 2021
Mary Harvey is currently the CEO for the Centre of Sports and Human Rights and has dedicated herself to making sport better for athletes of every age. She enjoyed an illustrious playing career in soccer, winning the 1991 World Cup and 1996 Olympic Gold with the US Women’s National team, and since then has spent
- Published in Podcast
#212 Early Specialization, Diversification, and the Battle to Provide Healthy Youth Sport Experiences with Dr. Joe Baker and Sandy Mosher
Sunday, 21 March 2021
Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week on the WOC Podcast we ae so excited to welcome back Joe Baker from York University in Canada, along with one of his PhD students Sandy Mosher @sandymosher. You can follow Joe at @bakerjyorku on Twitter. This was a very challenging podcast, as you all know what an advocate
- Published in Podcast