Shows
Way of Champions Podcast# 427 Dr. Haley Perlus, Performance Psychologist: Competitiveness is a Skill, and Thoughts Don't Have to Become ThingsDr. Haley Perlus (@drhaleyperlus) is a Performance Psychology expert, speaker, and author specializing in helping business leaders, entrepreneurs, and high achievers apply the mental strategies of elite athletes to reach peak performance. With a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology and certifications in coaching, fitness, and nutrition, she transforms high-stress environments into arenas for success. A former high level ski racer, her expertise has been sought after by top athletes, Fortune 500 companies, and top executives looking to master mental resilience, sustain focus under pressure, and turn obstacles into opportunities. She is the author of Personal Podium: How to Use Your M...2025-05-0155 minWay of Champions Podcast#426 Sam Morse, US World Cup Downhill Skier, on the Mindset of "Skiing Wicked Fast" and Finding an Identity Outside of SportSam Morse (@sammorseski) began skiing at age 23 months on the slopes of Sugarloaf. Nicknamed “Moose” for his solidness and Maine woods roots, he followed in his brother Ben’s foot steps to Carrabassett Valley Academy and then onto the US Ski Team. The 10 year veteran speed specialist on the US Ski Team, first broke onto the world stage when he became the Jr. World’s Downhill Champion in 2017, and he has continued his progress with top 10 finishes and a continual rise in the FIS points ranking. Also an avid climber, kayaker, and all around sports person, Morse is also involved a...2025-04-241h 05Way of Champions Podcast#425 How to Win the Inside Game Through Clarity, Purpose and Belonging with Author and Coach Steve MagnessSteve Magness (@stevemagness) is a world-renowned expert on performance. He is the author of the new book Win the Inside Game: How to Move from Surviving to Thriving, and Free Yourself Up to Perform. He is the author of the bestselling Do Hard Things, coauthor of Peak Performance. The Passion Paradox, and the author of The Science of Running. Collectively his books have sold more than three quarters of a million copies. Magness has served as a performance coach to numerous professional sporting teams, executives, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. He's worked with Olympians, athletes from every professional sports...2025-04-171h 19Way of Champions Podcast#423 Mark Bennett MBE, Former British Commando and Founder of PDS Coaching on The Rule of Three, and How Coaching Behaviors is the Key to ExcellenceMark Bennett (@pdscoach) is one of our most popular all-time guests, and for good reason. His coaching methodology through PDS Coaching has influenced countless teams and coaches throughout the NBA, MLB, professional rugby, soccer and Olympic and World Championships. John has had the pleasure of working with Mark, and it changed him forever as a coach. Mark has extensive experience working with the elite British military as a training designer, manager, coach, & senior instructor. He has also worked with both individual & team elite professional & amateur sports globally, including full seasons, & world, Paralympic, & Olympic preparation. Additionally, he has p...2025-04-041h 19Way of Champions Podcast#414 Meredith Civico, Rutgers Field Hockey Head Coach, on Taking Your Core Values from the Wall to the Ball This week we welcome Meredith Civico to the podcast, a coach who worked with Jerry as a 2005 national champion player at Maryland and whose program currently works with John. She enters her 14th season at the helm of the Rutgers field hockey program in the fall of 2025. She has won 135 games in that time, reaching at least nine wins in 10 different seasons and leading the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances and the 2021 Big Ten Tournament Title. Since Meredith and John began working together in 2018, the Knights have 43 wins over Top 20 teams, including 3 top 10 wins in 2024. The Knights finished t...2025-01-311h 15
The Athletics of BusinessThe Champion Sports Parent with Dr. Jerry Lynch & John O'SullivanYouth sports are more than just games—they foster personal growth and shape future success. They teach values like teamwork and resilience that impact both personal and professional development. For parents, it’s a balancing act between supporting their child and trusting the coach’s role in building character. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds, while also preparing young athletes to navigate challenges both on and off the field. In this episode, I am joined by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, the authors of The Champion Sports Parent. Our Guests John O'Sullivan is a TE...2024-10-231h 04Way of Champions Podcast#399 Acacia Walker-Weinstein, 2x NCAA Champion Coach of Boston College Women's LacrosseAcacia Walker-Weinstein joins us this week on the Way of Champions, continuing our October run of champion coaches. Walker is the Head Women's Lacrosse coach at Boston College, the 2024 NCAA Champions. As either a player or coach, Walker has participated in 20 of the last 21 NCAA Tournaments and was a part of Northwestern’s three consecutive NCAA titles from 2006-08 as an assistant coach. Since becoming head coach in 2012, she has led BC to 7 final fours, national titles in '24 and '21, three ACC regular-season titles and two ACC championships. She has coached three Terwaaraton Award winners, 35 All Americans and is...2024-10-171h 20
ParentingAces - The Junior Tennis and College Tennis PodcastHow to Be a Champion Sports Parent ft John O'Sullivan & Jerry LynchWelcome to Season 13 Episode 39 of the ParentingAces Podcast, a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, Lisa chats with John O'Sullivan and Jerry Lynch, authors of the newly-released book, THE CHAMPION SPORTS PARENT.Jerry Lynch and John O’Sullivan are leadership, performance, and team culture specialists. Their work has received global acclaim in youth, high school, collegiate, and professional athletics. They are highly sought after by teams, schools, and sport governing bodies around the world for their work in athletic performance, coach education, and parent engagement. Jerry and John cohost the Way of Champions Pod...2024-10-0257 minWay of Champions Podcast#396 The Champion Sports Parent: Practical Wisdom for Raising Confident, Competitive, Mentally Tough AthletesIn this weeks episode, John and Jerry discuss their brand new book The Champion Sports Parent: Practical Wisdom for Raising Confident, Competitive, Mentally Tough Athletes. They wrote this book as a companion to last year's The Champion Teammate, so that parents can best support their children along their athletic journey. Many parents have grown frustrated by the youth sports industrial complex and want to know how to create an exceptional sporting journey for your athletes. They have you heard about concepts such as confidence, mental toughness, and competitiveness, but are not quite sure how to help their athletic child d...2024-09-271h 13Way of Champions Podcast#394 Juwan Brescacin, Professional Football Player and 2x CFL Grey Cup ChampionJuwan Brescacin (@jbrescacinjones82) is a former collegiate football player at Northern Illinois University and the 15th overall Canadian Football League draft pick in 2016. He played 8 years professionally in Canada, winning two Grey Cups (2018 and 2022) before retiring and founding the High Point Athletes Foundation. Today he is pursuing a masters in psychology while mentoring young athletes and teaching them the mental and physical skills needed to exceed on and off the field. In our chat today, we discuss Juwan's athletic journey, overcoming devastating injuries, being mentored as a young athlete, and winning his final Grey Cup as a senior player...2024-09-121h 08Way of Champions Podcast#379 Andrew Simpson, Founder of Player's Fitness and Performance, on How to Create Magic Moments in the Gym Andrew Simpson (@coachandrewsimpson), Founder of Player’s Fitness & Performance (PFP), fell in love with fitness while in college. He discovered that by transforming his own energy, athleticism, and mindset, he was able to change his life for the better and knew he needed to help others do the same. In 2013, Andrew established PFP and began a lifelong mission to ignite change and raise the bar for leadership in gyms and youth sports across the country. Over the past decade, Andrew and his team have coached more than 1,000 student-athletes and adults to become more confident and reach their fu...2024-05-3054 minWay of Champions Podcast#378 John and Jerry Discuss our New Book The Champion Sports Parent, Managing Loss and Disappointment, and MoreWelcome to a new edition of one of our famous fireside chats, where John and Jerry discuss some of the common questions we receive. This week we are discussing our new book The Champion Sports Parent, which will be released in late summer. The book is a companion to our 2023 bestseller The Champion Teammate, and is a guide to help parents be the best they can be for their kids. We break down some of the chapters and themes and ways parents can help their athletes perform their best and become a champion teammate while using sports to fulfill a...2024-05-2358 minWay of Champions Podcast#377 Jamie Mittelman, Host of Flame Bearers Podcast, on the Importance of Telling the Stories of Women Olympians and ParalympiansJamie Mittleman (@flamebearers) is the Founder & Host of Flame Bearers. Founded while Jamie was receiving her Masters of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, Flame Bearers is the first global storytelling platform celebrating the stories of women Olympians and Paralympians. From household names to unsung heroes around the world, each featured story highlights the successes, struggles, and social issues that drive the world’s most prestigious athletes. Flame Bearers brings these champions’ stories to life via podcasts, videos, and live events. Jamie also has her MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business and a Bachelors in International Studie...2024-05-1659 min
The Athletics of BusinessThe Champion Teammate: Cultivating Growth and Collaboration in Leadership with John O’Sullivan and Jerry LynchJohn O’ Sullivan John O’Sullivan is an internationally known TEDx Speaker and the founder of Changing the Game Project, which he started in 2012. He is the author of two #1 Bestselling books Changing the Game and Every Moment Matters and a leading youth sports blogger, while being a host of the Way of Champions Podcast, one of the top-rated podcasts in the world for coaches. Former collegiate and professional soccer player, and has coached for over 20 years on the youth, high school, and college levels. He has consulted with US Olympic Committee, US Soccer, USA Foot...2023-07-2658 minWay of Champions Podcast#332 Dr Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan On Being a Mindful Coach and Leading with Intention, Influence, Inspiration, Instinct and InsightThis week on the podcast, John and Jerry break down Jerry's newest book, The Mindful Coach: Leading with Intention, Instinct, Influence, Inspiration and Insight. The book is a wonderful read with short lessons around incredibly critical components of mindful leadership, We pay special attention to egolessness and detachment, two qualities that are not discussed enough in the realm of leadership. The book also contains 99 questions for the reader to answer that are at times challenging, yet very insightful and will help you discover your why, what and how of exceptional coaching. REGISTRATION FOR 2023 WOC CLOSES JULY 14! The 2023 Way...2023-07-071h 07Way of Champions Podcast#326 The Champion Teammate: John and Jerry Discuss the Launch of their New Book, Why They Wrote it, and Their Favorite ChaptersThis is a very special episode of the podcast this week as John and Jerry celebrate the release of their brand new book The Champion Teammate: Timeless Lessons to Connect, Compete and Lead in Sports and Life. We are so excited for this collaboration, as it is the book all of our teams have been asking for the last few years; a book they can read together, study together, and have great group discussions about to help shape their culture, develop leaders, and build a stronger team bond. In this episode we break down the reasons why we...2023-05-261h 16Way of Champions Podcast#319 A Mediterranean Tapas Chat with Todd Beane of TOVO Academy, Skye Eddy of Soccer Parenting, and John O'Sullivan of Changing the Game ProjectThis week we bring you a special episode recorded in Sitges, Spain with TOVO Academy Founder Todd Beane (@_ToddBeane), Soccer Parenting founder Skye Eddy (@SoccerParenting), and John. We all happened to cross paths in Spain when John's team was participating in a training week at TOVO, and we took the opportunity to have a few tapas and record our conversation. It's a wonderful conversation about coaching, challenging your athletes, accountability, parent engagement, and so much more. This is an unstructured, unplanned conversation, so its like you are a fly on the wall (just waiting to see if there is...2023-04-071h 19Way of Champions Podcast#313 Some Thoughts on Parent Engagement, Building Trusted Relationships, and Coach/Parent/Athlete Accountability with John O'SullivanThis week John shares his thoughts after two weeks on the road visiting college teams and conducting some parent and coach workshops on some topics that have come up a lot recently. Quite a few coaches have asked about parent engagement and how to work with those parents who just don't get it, and John shares his ideas around building trust, and making deposits in the trust bank so you can make withdrawals at a later date when you do screw up, or have to be a bit more demanding. He discusses his thoughts on communication, some tools to...2023-02-2820 minWay of Champions Podcast#300 John Kessel Returns: "If You Coach the Person, the Skill Will Develop; if you Coach the Skill the Person May Not."Thank you for helping us reach 300 episodes of the podcast! To celebrate we will go to one of our earliest guests, and great friend of our work John Kessel. John recently retired from USA Volleyball (USAV), where he had worked since 1985, most recently as the Director of Sport Development. He is one of the most sought after coach educators and speakers in the coach development space. John served as the staff liaison for Disabled Programs, USA Deaf Olympic Teams, Starlings USA, National Parks and Recreation Assoc., the YMCA and over 30 other Affiliated Organizations working with USAV. He was Secretary...2022-11-251h 07Way of Champions Podcast#296 John and Jerry Ask Us Anything Episode: Using Exercise as Punishment, Do We Need a National Sports Ministry, When is is the Right Time to Quit My Coaching Job, and MoreThis week on the podcast, Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan answer some questions sent to us by our Patreon Podcast Champions. These are our biggest supporters, and we gave them the chance to ask us anything. The most popular type of questions revolved around some recent topics, including: using physical exercise as punishment do we need a national sports governing body in the US? If my club or school does not align with my values when I am coaching, should I leave? How do we improve grassroots coaching, and what should we teach them first? We had...2022-10-281h 03Way of Champions Podcast#286 John Kessel, Former USA Volleyball Director of Sport Development: "Lines Teach You How but the Game Teaches You Why!"John Kessel (@JohnKesselUSAV) is the recently retired Director of Sport Development for USA Volleyball and one of the most sought after coach educators and sport developers in the world. John has been coaching since 1971 at the collegiate level or above, including Women’s U.S. Open titles in 1986 & 1987, Disabled Programs, USA Deaf Olympic Teams, Starlings USA, National Parks and Recreation Assoc., the YMCA and over 30 other Affiliated Organizations working with USAV. He was Secretary of the NORCECA Technical and Coaches Commission, and Director of Development for World ParaVolley. He was Team Leader for the 2000 USA Olympic Beach Volleyball Teams in...2022-08-191h 10Way of Champions Podcast#285 Dave Aranda, Baylor Football Head Coach, on Winning the Big 12 Championship and Sugar Bowl in 2022, and the Importance of Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Finding Your Coaching WhyDave Aranda is the Head Coach of Baylor Football, the 2021 Big 12 Champions and winners of the 2022 Sugar Bowl. A 2020 National Champion Asst. Coach at LSU and a 26-year coaching veteran, Dave Aranda was named the 28th head coach in Baylor Football history on Jan. 16, 2020. In 2021, Aranda's Bears tied for the best turnaround in college football, boasting a ten-win improvement from the previous year, including a school-record five wins against ranked opponents. Aranda came to Waco after four seasons as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at LSU, including a 2020 National Championship and a 2019 SEC Championship. Widely considered one of...2022-08-121h 02Way of Champions Podcast#274 Dr Jerry Lynch on Everyday Champion Wisdom: Mindful Lessons in Mastery for Coaching, Competing and Cohesive TeamsDr Jerry Lynch, our esteemed co-host of this podcast, has just released his fifteenth book Everyday Champion Wisdom: Mindful Lessons in Mastery for Coaching, Competing, and Cohesive Teams. In this week's episode, John and Jerry discuss the book, which is a collection of Jerry's greatest hits over fifty years of working within elite collegiate, Olympic and professional sports. His teams have won 115 conference, regional and national championships, and his new books shares 142 short, poignant lessons from each of those teams. It includes wisdom from his consultancies with 12 Hall of Fame coaches, his daily blogs, his Way of Champions podcasts...2022-05-271h 09Way of Champions Podcast#273 Dan Abrahams, Sport Psychologist, on Creating a Mental Framework, Stomping the ANTS, and Improving Your Inner Dialogue (replay)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 Masters degree in Sport Psychology. Dan is the author of several sport psychology books as well as the host of The Sports Psych Podcast, one of our personal favorites .Dan is a returning guest to the show (see episode #003) and it was again an incredible conversation. We discuss ways...2022-05-201h 22Way of Champions Podcast#272 Jonah Oliver, Performance Psychologist, on Taking Positive Action, Building Capacity to Embrace Pressure, and Finding Your Why in Order to Perform Your BestJonah Oliver (@jonah_oliver1) is one of Australia’s leading performance psychologists. Combining his training in sport psychology and neuroscience, Jonah brings a unique, simple and effective approach to facilitating peak performance. Over the past two decades he has worked with a wide variety of clients: ranging from professional golfers (caddying on the PGA tour), Olympic athletes, professional soccer teams, AFL clubs (Gold Coast Suns Football Club, Essendon Football Club), car racing teams (Porsche – Le Mans World Champion) elite tennis players and coaches, indigenous performing artists, and endurance tri-athletes to name just a few. He specializes in the...2022-05-131h 09Way of Champions Podcast#271: Dan Coyle, NYT Bestselling Author on Culture, Zero Tolerance for Brilliant Jerks, and Establishing a Playbook for Building Safety, Vulnerability, and Shared PurposeDaniel Coyle (@DanileCoyle) is the New York Times bestselling author of The Culture Code, The Talent Code, The Little Book of Talent, The Secret Race, Lance Armstrong’s War, and Hardball: A Season in the Projects. Coyle works as an advisor to the Cleveland Guardians of MLB, as well as numerous teams in sports, business and the military throughout the globe. We had Dan on the podcast back in May 2018 when he released his book The Culture Code, and we are excited to have him back on this week to discuss his newest book The Culture Playbook, a practical guide...2022-05-061h 02Way of Champions Podcast#254 How to Avoid Burnout, Find Balance, and Refire in 2022: A Fireside Chat with John O'Sullivan and Dr. Jerry Lynch2021 was a tough year for all of us. 2022 is not starting out any easier. So many coaches have told us that they feel exhausted, at wits end, burned out, frustrated, and more. That's why Jerry Lynch and I decided to kick off 2022 with one of our Fireside Chats and to discuss avoiding burnout, finding balance, and not just resetting but re-firing in 2022. If you are new to our podcast, Dr. Jerry Lynch is our sometime co-host and Founder of Way of Champions. He is the author of 14 books and one of the leading sports and performance psychologists i...2022-01-071h 00Way of Champions Podcast#231 Jerry Lynch on his new book The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and LifeThis week I have the pleasure of interviewing my podcast co-host Dr. Jerry Lynch as he releases his 14th book The Competitive Buddha: How to Up Your Game in Sports, Leadership and Life. When Jerry first told me about this book about a year ago I was so curious about the title and how he would weave the principles of Buddhism with leadership, culture building and competitive sport. He did it ever so well, so good in fact that Steve Kerr signed on to write the forward. In our chat today, we discuss the origin of the t...2021-08-011h 00Way of Champions Podcast#220 Surviving and Thriving During Tryout Season with John O'Sullivan and Jerry LynchThis past week, John has been assisting his local competitive soccer club with their annual tryouts, and like most years, tryouts are a trying time! How do you balance the "as many as possible, as long as possible" philosophy with facility shortages, lack of trained coaches, and the fact that competitive teams and leagues require different levels of commitments than some are willing to make? How do athletes prepare mentally to perform their best? How can parents support their kids during this time? How do you support the child who gets cut or moved to a new team? And...2021-05-161h 13Way of Champions Podcast#215 "The Children are Listening!" How to Build Psychological Capital with Your Athletes with John YeagerThe children are listening, they are paying attention, and they need us more than ever. That is what our guest this week John Yeager is telling us. John Yeager is a positive psychology consultant and performance coach who works with coaches and athletes at the youth, high school, college, Olympic, and professional levels. As a former elite athlete, John was both collegiate and professional Lacrosse Player and is a member of the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame. He has also been a coach and currently is the chief education officer at Yeager Leadership, his presentations and training programs...2021-04-101h 06Way of Champions PodcastSteve Kerr, 8x NBA Champion Player and Coach, on Building a High-Performing Culture (replay) This week on the podcast, we are airing a replay of a man who needs no intro, 8x NBA Champ and current Golden St Warriors coach Steve Kerr. We are replaying this today because Steve will be one of the presenters at our 2021 Way of Champions Virtual Conference, joining fellow coaching legends Quin Snyder, Cindy Timchal, Anson Dorrance, Jenny Levy, George Mumford, and more TBA. You can discover more about the event here: https://changingthegameproject.com/2021-way-of-champions-conference/ In our discussion with Steve, John and Jerry ask: What makes a great coach? How do you build a championship culture? Why should a...2021-02-281h 03Way of Champions PodcastFireside Chat w/ John, Jerry, James, and some Podcast ChampionsThis week on the 200th episode of the Way of Champions Podcast we invite a few of our Podcast Champions to ask questions to John, Jerry, and James. It has been a wonderful journey the last few years to spend time with some of the best minds in the sports community. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your support and for allowing us to be a part of your own athletic journey. The questions below were what was asked but so much more was discussed! For an invitation to be on the next time we bring on o...2020-12-271h 28Way of Champions PodcastHow to Support Your Athlete's Mental Health: A Fireside Chat with John and JerryThis week John and Jerry host a fireside chat to discuss the mental health and well being of our athletes. For many kids, this month brings a close to their Fall sports season, and with many winter sports shut down (wrestling, basketball) many of our athletes may be experiencing more social isolation than ever before. We have been told by many parents that if it were not for sports this summer and fall, their son or daughter would have really been struggling. A University of Wisconsin study in May found that 65% of young athletes were experiencing anxiety symptoms, and 68% w...2020-11-151h 11Way of Champions Podcast"Great Athletes See The Field From Above" with Michael Murphy, author of Golf in the KingdomThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast John and Jerry welcome Michael Murphy, author of Golf in the Kingdom. This is a little bit different of a conversation than we normally have on here, but well worth your time. Jerry and Michael go way back and Jerry credit Micheal as being a huge influence on Jerry’s work. We dive into a great conversation about what it is like for coaches and athletes to see the big picture and what it is like to be an astronauts of inner space. Michael Murphy is Co-founder and Chairman Eme...2020-08-231h 09Way of Champions PodcastHow to Overcome Disruption and Build More Team Unity with Dr Wade Gilbert and Dr Jerry LynchThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome back Dr. Wade. Gilbert, an award-winning professor in the department of kinesiology at California State University at Fresno and the author of Coaching Better Every Season: A year-round system for athlete development and program success. We started with an insightful discussion on Zoom fatigue, etiquette and breakout rooms, talked about the idea of disruption and how it impacts team unity, how to manage the uncertainty of players during this time. Dr. Gilbert holds degrees in physical education, human kinetics, and education and has taught and studied coaching a...2020-07-261h 06Way of Champions PodcastHall of Fame Coach Tara Vanderveer, Head Coach of Stanford Women's Basketball TeamThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast, we welcome Tara Vanderveer, Head Coach of the Stanford Women’s Basketball team. Coach Vanderveer is a 2-Time national champion coach, has been to 12 Final Fours, coached the 1996 US National Team at 1996 Olympics, and has been named Pac-12 Coach of the Year 10 times! She is also one of only nine NCAA Women's Basketball coaches to win over 900 games, and one of ten NCAA Division I coaches – men's or women's – to win 1,000 games. Coach Vanderveer was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. In this episode,Coach Vanderveer shares what it is like t...2020-05-031h 03Way of Champions PodcastHow to Support Your Athletes During COVID-19John O’Sullivan and James Leath get together and do a free webinar about how to support your kids and your athletes during these uncertain times. First, John shares practical advice about what you should do to help kids cope with what is going on, including defining success, being careful not to rupture any relationships, and do whatever you can to build a sense of purpose and responsibility. Then, James shares from a previous webinar about how to create a virtual practice session with your athletes, from creating a group chat, to choosing a video platform, to organizing the session. To watch the rep...2020-03-221h 08Way of Champions PodcastQuin Snyder: NBA Head Coach, philosopher, and Master of the Relationship GameThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome NBA Head Coach of the Utah Jazz, Quin Snyder. We discuss Coach Quin’s journey of going from a player to a coach and how coaching overseas overseas helped him create his coaching philosophy. Coach Snyder is not like a lot of coaches, in that he is a super deep thinker, pulling from his his experience getting a degree in philosophy and completing a law degree. Coach Quin my also be the only NBA coach with an MBA. Join John, Jerry, and Coach Snyder as they discuss leadership, building cu...2020-03-151h 10Way of Champions PodcastRaising Strong, Resilient Girls through Positive Psychology with author and coach Lani Silversides This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome, Lani Silversides. Lani is a former Division I athlete, current high school mathematics teacher, high school varsity and youth coach, sport psychology enthusiast, avid photographer and mother of two. We dive into transitioning from high school to college sports, the importance of understanding sport psychology as a coach, tips on coaching female athletes, and we also spend some time talking about her book, A Strong Girls' Guide to Being: Exercises and Inspiration for Becoming a Braver, Kinder, Healthier You Highlights from the Podcast: Lani talks about playing multiple sports growing up...2020-02-161h 09Way of Champions PodcastHow to Help Athletes Transition Out of Sports with former NFL player Phil CostaThis week we welcome Phil Costa, former NFL Player for the Dallas Cowboys. We dive into a question every athlete must eventually face when they come to the end of their plying career: "What now?” Phil shares his experience trying to remake himself after football is over, we discuss how sports prepares athletes for life, when the best time for an athlete to network is, and w also spend some time talking about his great book, The Transition Playbook for ATHLETES: How Elite Athletes WIN After Sports Highlights from the Podcast: Paul talks about how he came up with h...2020-02-0948 minWay of Champions PodcastThe Future Coach: Incorporating psychology into every session with EPL and Olympic Sport Psychologist Tom BatesThis week we welcome back to the podcast Sport Psychologist Tom Bates. Tom has over 15 years working with youth and senior domestic international athletes, coaches, managers and teams helping them to perform under pressure and be at their best when it matters the most. We discuss implementing sport psychology into daily practice, how to bring values to life on your team, and three questions every team needs to address when trying to improve the culture. We also spend some time talking about his great book, The Future Coach - Creating Tomorrow's Soccer Players Today: 9 Key Principles for Coaches from S...2020-02-021h 12Way of Champions Podcast"In Search of Greatness" with Film Director Gabe PolskyIf you have not yet watched In Search of Greatness, you will want to after this incredible discussion with the movie’s director Gabe Polsky. We dive deep into his time with some of the greatest athletes of our time, including Wayne Gretzky, Pelé, & Jerry Rice. The film also features Muhammad Ali, Einstein, David Bowie, Serena Williams, Michael Jordan among others. During our conversation, Gabe shares his insights about the film and his own observations about the status of youth sports and the journey some people go on to to becoming the greatest of all time. Highlight...2020-01-2858 minWay of Champions PodcastHow to Develop Thinking Players with 10x NCAA Champ and Lacrosse Legend Gary GaitHow do you get buy-in from athletes? Why is it important to not try and fit players into a system? How can being a creative thinker make you a better coach? Join us as we answer these questions and much more of Gary Gait, considered by many as the greatest lacrosse player of all-time. Gary is currently the head coach of the women's lacrosse team at Syracuse University. Gary has won championships as a collegiate and professional coach. When Gary was playing, he was a 4-time All-American at Syracuse and has been inducted into the United States Lacrosse Nat...2020-01-191h 13Way of Champions PodcastLandon Donovan and Carrie TaylorWe are super excited to have USMNT Legend and current SD Loyal Head Coach Landon Donovan on the podcast, joined by his assistant coach Carrie Taylor. Many of you know Donovan, the all time leading scorer for US Soccer, 6x MLS Champion, and the namesake of the Major League Soccer MVP award. Taylor is the only woman currently coaching professional soccer in the US, and is highly experienced on all levels of the game. In this great podcast, we cover a variety of topics. Highlights from the Podcast: How to create a positive environment for a pr...2020-01-121h 03Way of Champions PodcastBo Eason, NFL All Pro, Broadway star, and author of There is No Plan B for Your A GameFrom the football field, to the stage, to becoming a best-selling, author Bo Eason joins us on the Way of Champions Podcast to discuss peaking in youth sports, competing against difficult opponents, and the mentality it takes to be the best in the world. Highlights from the Podcast: Bo shares a defining moment in his life when he was told he was too small to play football Why most people are lousy at selecting future talent in young athletes Why don’t most high school stars go on to be professionals? What happens when NBA players reach their peak at 15-yea...2020-01-051h 10Way of Champions PodcastDr. Bob Weil, Sports Podiatrist, on Building a Foundation of Athletic ExcellenceIf the shoe fits, performance improves! That is the message our guest this week is so passionate about sharing. Dr. Bob Weil is a sports Podiatrist & host of “The Sports Doctor”, bbsradio.com/thesportsdoctor, a live weekly hour show featuring guests from all aspects of sports medicine, fitness & Wellness. We discuss Highlights from the Podcast: How does the way a shoe fits improve performance? What three things does Dr. Bob recommend when it comes to shoes? Chose the shoe that is designed for the sport. Be fitted properly. If there are constant concerns, consult a podiatrist. What role does genetics play in...2019-12-2948 minWay of Champions PodcastDr. Jay Martin, All-Time Winningest Men's Collegiate Soccer Coach Dr. Jay Martin, Head Men’s Soccer Coach for Ohio Wesleyan for the past 42 years is the winningest coach in college men’s soccer history. We talk with Coach Martin about the importance of making practice fun, how kids have changed in the past 43 years of coaching, and how to use player ideas to improv practice. Highlights from the Podcast: What brings Coach Martin back coaching after 4-+ years and two national championships? How have things changed in collegiate sports over the past 40+ years? The importance of creating an enticing practice. How does Coach Martin handle sport/academic conflicts? How have kids...2019-12-2249 minWay of Champions Podcast#136 Steve Kerr, 8x NBA Champion player and coach, on developing your culture and being a great coachWe have a treat for you this week!!! This week on the Way of Champions Podcast, John and Jerry have a discussion with 8x NBA Champion player and coach, Steve Kerr. What makes a great coach? How do you build a championship culture? Why should a coach ask their team, “How can I be better for you?” These questions and so many more are answered in this fantastic episode with one of the best coaches in the world. Highlights from the Discussion: How an NFL Football Coach helped Coach Kerr develop a coaching philosophy How to get players to bu...2019-10-131h 05Way of Champions PodcastEastern Philosophy Meets Western Athlete Performance: A Discussion with Chungliang Al HuangThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast, John and Jerry talk with Al Huang about how Eastern philosophy meets Western psychology and how it relates to athlete performance. All shares stories about going to work with professional coaches and sports teams, bringing this this message of athleticism and movement and balance. Al and Jerry have written multiple books together, including Thinking Body, Dancing Mind, Spirit of the Dancing Warrior, and The Way of the Champion. We hope you enjoy this episode with Chungliang Al Huang, as we talk about everything from Tai Chi, to movement to philosophy, to East meets...2019-09-291h 11Way of Champions Podcast#133 Highlight Episode: John and James break down the most interesting topics raised in recent interviews In this week’s episode we are changing it up a little bit. John and James go back a few episodes and discuss some of the major points from each interview. Some of the topics they dive into include what drives kids out of sports, if shaming bd sideline behavior is appropriate, and how to be a great parent/coach. Highlights from the Discussion: How making mistakes and showing vulnerability are valuable to coaches John shares a story about driving a child out of sport James shares a story about teaching a skill before demanding to see it during a ga...2019-09-221h 16Way of Champions Podcast#132 Professional Soccer Player Chris Wondolowski on building a warrior culture and becoming the all time leading scorer in MLS historyThis week on the Way of Champions Podcast, John and Jerry talk with San Jose Earthquakes’ Chris Wondolowski on building a warrior culture and becoming the all time leading scorer in MLS history. It is a great episode you are not going to want to miss! Highlights from the Discussion: Jerry and Chris discuss how quickly things improved over the past year How Chris accepted different roles at different parts of his professional career How the team turned around by becoming “La Familia" What needed to happen for the coaching staff to keep the team bought in to the n...2019-09-1557 minWay of Champions Podcast#129 Win the Day with sport psychologist and Way of Champions founder Dr. Jerry LynchHow does picking values make us better coaches? What are ways coaches can increase influence? How do we find life balance as a coach? All this and so much more as we welcome back sports psychologist Dr. Jerry Lynch fresh from the 4th annual Way of Champions conference. Jerry has a new book out, culminating five decades of work into one of the bet best on coaching you will ever read. Highlights from the Discussion: Wrap up of the Way of Champions Conference in Denver, CO Why Jerry wrote “Win the Day" What Pete Carrol taught Steve Kerr about values Je...2019-08-251h 03Way of Champions Podcast#128 Can We Stop the Officials Shortage by Shaming Parents and Coaches? A Conversation with Referee Brian Barlow This week’s podcast guest is Brian Barlow, Oklahoma father and soccer referee Brian Barlow. On his facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/youreoffside/, Barlow calls out parents who are caught on tape displaying poor sportsmanship and offers $100 to people who submit the videos to bring attention to the pervasive problem of parents acting badly at youth sport games. Whether you agree with the shaming of this behavior or not, we can all agree that sideline behavior of fans is a big problem and is the leading cause to the shortage of refs in all sports. Other Highlights from the Discus...2019-08-1758 minWay of Champions PodcastChampions Act Like Champions Before they Become Champions: How to Find Your Hidden Talent with Author and Coach Travis DaughertyIn this week’s podcast we welcome Travis Daugherty, a coach, teacher, speaker, and author of Hidden Talent: Uncovering What Really Makes a Champion a Champion. We discuss how sports should bring families together, the importance of knowing your “why” as a coach, and why it is crucial to know the difference between talent and ability. Other Highlights from the Discussion: Making mistake as a young coach can help you later in your coaching career What do you do when winning doesn’t fulfill you like you thought it would Asking an athlete, "How would you practice if you were already the...2019-07-291h 03Way of Champions PodcastBonus Episode: John and Jerry do a deep dive into the 2019 Way of Champions ConferenceIn this bonus episode, John and Jerry discuss the Way of Champions Conference in Denver, CO on August 2-4. Visit https://changingthegameproject.com/wocconference for more information! WOCERALYBIRD for $100 off (good until June 15, 2019) Discounts for students from 1/2 off Group discount, 1/2 off with 5 or more coaches Highlights from the Podcast: Why Jerry is learning Spanish Wining an “empty” championship How to get your best athletes to buy into a culture change New stuff for this year’s conference Building a great culture: connection, caring and core values Jerry shares a story about working with Steve Kerr and Pete Carrol Learn more about the 4t...2019-06-0755 minWay of Champions Podcast#108 How to Find Your Coaching True North with Celia Slater and Jerry Lynch Celia Slater brings nearly 30 years of unmatched experience in college athletics as both an organizational head and a collegiate basketball coach, most recently serving as co-founder and executive director of both the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) and The Alliance of Women Coaches (The Alliance). The WCA started as a professional development program and, due largely to Celia’s efforts, soon exploded into a network of women coaches with an ever-growing grant to aid in expansion. On the court, Celia most recently served at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida, as head women’s basketball coach and member of the First...2019-03-311h 08Way of Champions Podcast#103 How to Build a Model Youth Sports Organization with John Leutkemeyer, Kirkwood (MO) Youth HockeyJoin us as we talk toJohn Luetkemeyer about how a youth sports organization went from a local disaster to national recognition based on volunteers changing how we trained players! It is an incredible conversation filled with nuggets of wisdom. John has been coaching since 2005 and have four of his own sons go through the program he shares with us. Quick Announcements: Way of Champions Conference will be in Denver, CO on August 2-4. Visit https://changingthegameproject.com/wocconference for more information! Visit us on: Web: https://changingthegameproject.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctgprojecthq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChangingTheGameProject/ Instagram: https://www.in...2019-02-251h 23Way of Champions Podcast#99 How to Help your Teams Overcome Fear in “Must Win” Games: A Fireside Chat with John and Jerry Do your athletes struggle with the right frame of mind for the “big game”? Does the pressure of a “must win” have an effect on their pre-game mindset? Tune in to hear about some strategies for keeping a cool head win it is all “on the line”. Getting in Touch: Jerry: wayofchampions@gmail.com John: john@changingthegameproject.com Show Notes 3:00 Show up to win the day instead of win the game 17:30 What is spiritual talent? 27:30 When the massive underdog wins because t...2019-01-281h 07Way of Champions Podcast#98 MLS All Star and US National Team Forward Brian Ching discusses his Journey from Hawaii to the World CupHe was not always the best player in the group, he didn’t play soccer year-round, and he didn’t have access to see the game being played by the best. He did work harder than anyone else and always kept the mindset there was room to be better. Because he chose work ethic as his guide, Brian Ching succeeded in soccer. Hear his story. Getting in Touch: Email: bkching@houstondynamo.com Twitter: @BrianChing About You can add Brian Ching to the growing list of players...2019-01-211h 02Way of Champions Podcast#97 “Nobody Becomes a Champion by Accident” with Dana Cavalea, Former NY Yankees Strength and Conditioning CoachYou can take courses, read a bunch of books, listen to a thousand podcasts on what you should be doing to be a champion. Dana Cavalea hs been there too, but he had a front row seat to Champion Habits as the Strength and Conditioning Coach of the New York Yankees, and he knows exactly what Champions do to be Champions. Getting in Touch: Website: danacavalea.com Email: dana@danacavalea.com Twitter: @danacavalea Book Link: Habits of a Champion About D...2019-01-141h 02Way of Champions Podcast#96 "Success is Not an Accident; Success is a Choice" with Alan Stein Jr., author of Raise Your Game: High-Performance Secrets from the Best of the BestIt’s not what the greatest performers do in the moment of competition that makes them the greatest. It is what they did in the “unseen” moments long before they take to the arena that matter. Success never happens in the moment. It is honed, crafted, practiced painstakingly in days, months, years prior. Choose to be successful now. Don’t wait for a lucky moment…Hear more insight from Alan in our latest episode. Getting in Touch: Book Website RaiseYourGameBook.com Website: AlanSteinJr.com Twitter: @AlanSteinJr About...2019-01-071h 12Way of Champions Podcast#95 5 Tools to Help You Win without Talking About Winning with longtime HS Basketball Coach Greg GarrisonWe present a lot of theory on the Way of Champions podcast, but putting that theory into practice is what matters most. In this episode, we talk with veteran basketball coach, Greg Garrison, about 5 practical methods you can use with any team, in any sport, to begin a culture of winning tomorrow. Enjoy the Show! Getting in Touch: ggarrison@asij.ac.jp Last chance to join us at the Future of Coaching Conference! Future of Coaching Conference Registration Page Ab...2018-12-3055 minWay of Champions Podcast#94 Can We Promote and Teach Creativity with James Vaughan from the Player Development ProjectWe all want our players to be creative. We structure the way they train to promote creativity. We talk to them about embracing creativity. However, because we structure it, are we prohibiting the potential for creativity to arise? Is the macro-culture of youth sports holding back creativity? James Vaughan, who did a PhD in studying the cultural significance of creativity in sports, weighs in on this topic. Enjoy the Show Getting in Touch: Twitter: @JimiVaughn Player Development Project: www.playerdevelopmentproject.com Join us a...2018-12-241h 21Way of Champions Podcast#92 A Fireside Chat on the Future of Coaching with Mark Bennett, Stuart Armstrong, Juan Gonzales Mendia, and John O’SullivanBecome a fly on the wall and listen in as the experts behind the Future Coaching Conference plan out the sessions, discuss what it means to be a great coach, differentiate between resilience, grit, and mental toughness, and much more. Stuart Armstrong hosts from his car while driving the M6, and John, Mark, and Juan join him for an informal yet meaningful chat. Getting in Touch: Twitter: John - @CTGProjectHQ Stuart - @Stu_Arm Mark - @PDSCoach Juan - @SudCoaching T...2018-12-121h 10Way of Champions Podcast#90 How a Coaching Mentor Can Change Your Life with Alan Keane, England u18 Basketball Head CoachWe often talk on this podcast about theory and research, but this week we are talking about application. We have mentioned many times about the importance of getting a coaching mentor or at least a group of coaches to bounce ideas off of, get advice from, and help us raise our game. What does that feel like? Is it hard? What are the obstacles? What happens when you don't agree? What will your staff say when an outsider steps in? This week, we talk about all of that, and more, with Alan Keane (@CoachKeane14), Great Br...2018-12-031h 21Way of Champions Podcast#89 A Commitment to Changing the Culture of Coaching with Lynn Berling-Manuel, CEO of United Soccer CoachesTo make real change we need those in a position of influence to support and advance the cause. United Soccer Coaches is the largest coaching membership organization in the world and they have recently committed to changing the coaching culture. Listen to this conversation with Lynn Berling-Manuel. Show Notes 4:15 The single biggest change in US Soccer since Lynn started her journey 10:45 Whom do we serve in the game? 23:15 Pay to Play and the professionalization of youth sports 26:45 The development of Commitment to Culture 33:45 Wh...2018-11-261h 03Way of Champions Podcast#87 Becoming a Coaching Wizard with Russel Earnshaw and John Fletcher of The Magic AcademyInstead of coaching athletes for today’s outcomes, why not coach them in a way that prepares them to succeed in future seasons too? Teach them what they need to evolve as the game does too. Join Russel Earnshaw and John Fletcher of the Magic Academy to hear more. Show Notes 4:15 When you treat people well, the positive results naturally arise 11:00 “My job as a coach is not to make the players hate me” 22:45 The C.A.R.D.S. approach to coaching 34:30 The Magic Academy Card System2018-11-121h 20Way of Champions Podcast#86 Building faster, stronger athletes at every age with Olympic and World Champion strength coach Mike BoyleDoes weight lifting stunt growth? At what age should my kid start lifting? Mike Boyle is one of the pioneers in strength training and has worked at all ages and stages of sports. He answers these questions and more in this week’s episode. Show Notes 7:00 One of the original strength coaches still learning every year 12:30 You need to understand the sports and athletes you assist if you want to make a difference 19:15 Is it worth driving three hours for 30 seconds of actual ball contact? 31:30 Don’t drug...2018-11-051h 10Way of Champions Podcast#85 How to Transform the Culture of Your Youth Sports Program with Nate Baldwin, Appleton Parks and Recreation Sports CoordinatorAcross the board, youth sports participation rates are dropping and coach retention is extremely low, yet Appleton recreation is seeing an average of 60% increase in participation across its four biggest sports and coach retention is 90%. What are they doing differently? Show Notes 1:00 Nate’s backstory 12:30 If we are in it for the benefit of the kids, most solutions are obvious 16:00 Nate explains how the cultural change came out of the consistent core values 23:00 Appleton’s Core Value #1: Inclusion 30:00 Core Value #2: Intentional Skill Development 39:00 Core...2018-10-291h 09Way of Champions Podcast#83 Children Become the Messages They Hear the Most with Dr. Jim Taylor, Sports Psychologist and author of Raising Young AthletesWhat do you say to your athlete in the car ride to and from the game? What is the message during games, especially in those tense moments of high pressure? What we say to our children, becomes their inner voice. Listen in for Dr. Jim Taylor’s advice on creating successful youth athletes. Show Notes 8:05 From a nervous athlete to a Sport Psychologist – Jim’s beginnings 15:45 How much has sports changed over the years? 23:15 For all those athletes that make it, so many more were left behind on the path2018-10-151h 01Way of Champions Podcast#82 The Barcelona Way: Unlocking the DNA of a Winning Culture with author Damian HughesGreat cultures abound as examples of sporting success. The key is to build your own, using the success clues left by others as your guide. In this episode, Damien Hughes outlines the clues left by Barcelona and other great sports cultures so we can begin to develop a culture of success with our teams. Show Notes 10:15 What lead Damien to explore the Barcelona culture 19:00 Soft versus hard skills and their impact on performance 25:45 The 5 types of cultures 38:30 Pep’s process for turning things around at Barcelona 5...2018-10-081h 15Way of Champions Podcast#81 Lessons from Kris Van Der Haegen, Mark Upton, and Mark Bennett that have made me a Better CoachSports are as much a learning journey as for us as it is for the athletes we coach. We MUST be willing to learn from those around us and evolve for the sake of those we lead. In this episode, John shares the three greatest lessons he has learned over the last 80 shows. Show Notes 11:05 Kris Van Der Haegan “Who is in front of me” 39:30 Mark Upton “The value of games-based learning” 1:05:00 Mark Bennett “The Rule of 3” Getting in Touch Kris Van Der Haegen – 2018-10-011h 33Way of Champions Podcast#79 The Power of Influence: A Fireside Chat with John and Jerry about how coaches, parents and teammates can impact their teams in a positive way#79 The Power of Influence: A Fireside Chat with John and Jerry about how coaches, parents and teammates can impact their teams in a positive way What is influence, why is it never neutral, and how can we be more intentional about positively influencing our athletes? Join the Fireside Chat with Jerry and John now to find out more! Show Notes 11:30 Joy should be the first core value of sports 15:15 What is influence 26:00 The influence of Coach Pete Carrol 40:15 What does teammate to teammate in...2018-09-171h 09Way of Champions Podcast#74 Anthony Latronica, US U17 Men’s National Team and US Men’s Paralympic Assistant Coach, on the Importance of Developing Players at Every Age and StageHave you ever wondered what it would be like to coach the likes of Christian Pulisic when he was a youngster, or to take a team of 16-year-olds to South America to play in adverse conditions? Have you thought about how life-changing it would be to coach War Heroes at the World Paralympic Games? Don’t miss this episode where Anthony shares the stories of his coaching legacy. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 7:00 Anthony’s journey as a coach 13:15 Anthony’s thoughts on US player development 32:45...2018-08-131h 12Way of Champions Podcast#73 Jerry Lynch and John O’Sullivan discuss how we use the R.I.V.E.R. effect to Connect with our Athletes, and you can tooSome coaches may win a few games or even a championship using bullying tactics without creating any kind of connection or caring environment with the players. If they’d followed the R.I.V.E.R. effect could they have won more? Could they have impacted lives beyond the game? John and Jerry discuss the acronym RIVER and its vital importance for developing championship teams and people who are empowered to succeed in life. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 6:45 Why the R.I.V.E.R. effect 13:15 The R.I.V.E...2018-08-0658 minWay of Champions Podcast#70 How to Minimize Injury and Maximize Performance of Young Athletes with author Dr. Tommy John"We are too busy looking for the silver bullet--the single finger to put in the dam regarding the injury epidemics happening in youth sports today--that we are missing the fact the dam is overflowing.“ Join Dr. Tommy John in this eye-opening, and frightening discussion about the youth sports injury epidemic and his mission to stop the madness. Show Notes 6:50 How a shoulder infection was the catalyst from Dr. Tommy John’s crusade to prevent injuries 10:20 Tommy John surgery is suddenly a curse rather than a blessing 16:20 Our greate...2018-07-1658 minWay of Champions Podcast#68 How to take US Soccer to the next level with Coaching Director for US Youth Soccer, Sam Snow.What will it take for US Soccer to become a World Soccer Power? How can we continue to grow the game at the youth levels while helping to improve at the highest too? This episode, we sit down with Sam Snow to talk about his role with US Youth Soccer and the plan for getting to the next level. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 6:15 The Soccer Boom of the 70s thanks to the NASL 10:15 Positive changes in soccer over the last few decades 17:15 The Art an...2018-07-021h 02Way of Champions Podcast#67 Coaching Child Soldiers, Empowering Young Girls, and Changing the World Through Sport with Nick Gates, Founder of Coaches Across ContinentsWhat if youth sport had a much greater purpose than winning, fitness, socialization, or development? What if sports could break down barriers, change societal obstructions, create opportunities for the better, and even save lives? In this dually heart-warming and heart-breaking episode Nick Gates, Founder of Coaches Across Continents, shares how his company has been serving that higher purpose for 10 years using a ball and a lot of love. Show Notes 10:40 How Coaches Across Continents Started in a Bus on a Dirt Road 18:25 We’re not a “happy clappy” soccer camp. We discuss...2018-06-2555 minWay of Champions PodcastHow to Grow and Improve Your Sport with US Lacrosse Technical Director for Athlete Development TJ BuchananThe vast majority of youth sports are suffering from catastrophic attrition rates and governing bodies, clubs, and teams are scrambling to keep kids in the game. US Lacrosse is growing by leaps and bounds in comparison. What is the secret formula to engaging and keeping kids have they discovered? Listen to the full podcast to hear the very simple solution to youth sport attrition rates. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 7:45 The “Pracademic” of youth sports 12:15 Why is Lacrosse still growing as a sport 22:45 TJ’s trick fo...2018-06-1859 minWay of Champions PodcastThe Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance with Alex Hutchinson, former elite runner and author of the bestselling book EndureHow much of our human performance limits is physical and how much is “in our heads”? According to Alex Hutchinson, the human brain is the next frontier in breaking barriers in performance. We know more about the brain in the last 50 years than we did in the last 500 years combined. Is he right about the brain being the key to breaking new physical barriers? Listen to the full podcast for more. Show Notes 9:45 We have learned more about the brain in the last 5 years than we did in the prior 500 19:00 You don’t stop because...2018-06-111h 02Way of Champions Podcast#64 “I’m just a kid playing a game”: Overcoming adversity, managing disappointment, and building an athlete warrior ethos with USA Volleyball Player Cassidy Lichtman#64 “I’m just a kid playing a game”: Overcoming adversity, managing disappointment, and building an athlete warrior ethos with USA Volleyball Player Cassidy Lichtman Imagine playing your entire career with unimaginable pain or working your hardest for four years to fall one spot short of making a lifelong dream come true. Now imagine the kind of warrior ethos required to say “my pain will not control my life and my disappointments will not define me”. This is the amazing journey of Cassidy Lichtman, who ends up as one of the best role models any coach or athlete...2018-06-041h 03Way of Champions Podcast#63 How Chasing Your Dream Can Change Your Life with Paul Kapsalis, author and former Indiana University Men's Soccer PlayerWe often discuss what it takes to be a great leader, but the flip side is a willingness to be led. Great athletes, and even great coaches are always eager to learn and be led by others. Are you the kind of athlete willing to listen to others and put in the work? Listen to the rest of our podcast with Paul Kapsalis to hear more of his story. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 10:45 On being the 35thman on a 35-man roster 14:30 Give credit for leaders but al...2018-05-2854 minWay of Champions Podcast#61 Dan Coyle, NYT Bestselling Author of The Talent Code and The Culture Code, on The Four Most Powerful Words a Leader Can Say, and Other Secrets of Highly Successful Teams“I screwed that up.” Imagine asking a member of the Navy Seals what makes a great leader, and that it is the answer you receive. One of the toughest people on the planet showing vulnerability, failure, and weakness. According to Daniel Coyle, this ability to find weakness is what makes great teams strong. This is a must listen podcast for anyone who works with teams. Hear more about what it takes to build great cultures. Show Notes 2:00 How a little girl and a tennis ball sparked The Culture Code ...2018-05-1452 minWay of Champions Podcast#59 "I Like Recruiting Farm Kids!" How 3x NCAA Champion UConn Field Hockey Coach Nancy Stevens Builds Championship TeamsNancy Stevens wrote one short sentence on the locker room mirror prior to the start of the 2017 season. She then repeated that season before her UConn Field Hockey team won the National Championship. One short sentence that empowered them, loosened them up, gave them confidence. What did she write? Show Notes 6:20 How Nancy got started down the coaching path 11:50 Your team WILL have a culture, be proactive in shaping it 17:20 How do you recruit those inherent character traits? 27:35 Have we created athletes who care more about getting t...2018-04-301h 05Way of Champions Podcast#58 What Are the Most Important Leadership Traits to Teach Young Athletes and Other FAQs with Coach Reed Maltbie and John O’SullivanDid you ever just want to quit doing what you are doing? How do you handle someone who sabotages your work? How do you help athletes learn without lecturing all the time? What are your thoughts on coaching licenses? Coach Reed and John tackle these Frequently Asked Questions and more in our most recent podcast. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 1:30 What are some of the best leadership traits? 4:50 Have you ever just wanted to quit and how did you get through it? 9...2018-04-2358 minWay of Champions Podcast#57 How to Become a Transformational Coach with Dr. Jean Cote, World-Renowned Expert in Youth Sports and Coach DevelopmentEnjoy the show! If we coached robots, we could simply drill skills until the robots performed them to perfection, but we coach human beings. Way more goes into coaching people than simple drills and skills. Jean Cote shares what it means to be a Transformational Coach in our latest episode. Show Notes 1:30 What got Jean into the Deliberate Play research realm 9:30 If we were coaching robots, we could teach just the skills 21:15 What kind of coaching is needed to enhance the 4Cs 28:15 Great coaching is person-centered, not at...2018-04-161h 04Way of Champions Podcast#56 "Some parents are crazy, but most are just stressed!" Why parent engagement is key to fixing youth sports with Skye Eddy Bruce, Founder of SoccerParenting.com Are you one of THOSE sports parents? All too often, we lump sports parents into one large category based on the behaviors of a few. Skye Eddy Bruce joins us to explain that not all parents are that way and the key to creating a better sports experience may be found with engaging parents more effectively. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 6:20 Soccer Parenting is the PTA of Youth Soccer 9:00 When a coach should “open the door” and when a coach should “close the door” 14:30 How...2018-04-081h 00Way of Champions Podcast#55 Coaching John McEnroe and Other Great Tales from 17x NCAA Champion Stanford Tennis Coach, Dick GouldWhat would it be like to coach some of the greatest tennis players of all time before they become the icons they are today? Tune in to our latest podcast to hear Dick Gould's stories about these iconic players and more from over 50 years with Stanford Tennis. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 2:15 Are fun and competitiveness mutually exclusive in sports? 10:30 Great programs have standards, not rules 16:45 We have to look at athletes and ask, “What is going to make this...2018-04-0258 minWay of Champions Podcast#54 How Desirable Difficulties Help Our Children Succeed in Sports and Life with Jessica Lahey, Author of The Gift of FailureAre we robbing our kids of valuable self-directed executive function when we solve everything for them and don’t let them make mistakes? This is a valuable life skill needed to succeed in college and beyond. Listen in as Jessica Lahey explains on the newest podcast. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 7:10 Education is not about attendance and tests, are we missing the best moments for teaching? 14:25 When we are highly directive with kids, they don’t become frustrated. Kids who can’t be frustrated cannot benefit from fo...2018-03-251h 05Way of Champions Podcast#53 The 7 Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America with Michael Zigarelli, author of the Messiah MethodWhen a program, both men’s and women’s teams, wins 16 National Championships in 18 seasons, we should take notice. When those programs are also sought after by parents because they create excellent men and women in the process, there is something we can all learn from them. Find out what Professor Zigarelli discovered about the Messiah Method. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 8:40 There is something to be learned from a program that wins 16 National Championships in 18 seasons 10:25 The one thing that sets a...2018-03-1954 minWay of Champions Podcast#52 How Belgium went from #66 to #1 in The World Rankings with Belgian FA Director of Coach Education, Kris van Der HaegenHas Belgium Football found the secret to International success? In 2009, Belgium was #66 on the FIFA World Rankings. They made a few changes and rocketed to #1 in six short years. What did they change? Belgian FA Director of Coach Education, Kris Van der Haegen, shares their secret on our latest Way of Champions Podcast. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 9:00 Crashing out of the 2000 European Championship was the wake-up call for Belgium 11:10 Creation of the Vision of Youth Development...2018-03-1159 minWay of Champions Podcast#46 How to Run Better Practices with Best Selling Author Doug Lemov#46 How to Run Better practices with Best Selling Author Doug Lemov Bio Doug Lemov is the author of the international bestseller Teach Like a Champion, and Teach Like a Champion 2..0. He is the coauthor with TLAC team colleagues of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered: A Practical Guide to Rigorous Literacy Instruction, and Teach Like a Champion Field Guide 2.0. In addition to his work studying teachers he is the front man in the nation’s foremost Kenny G cover band. His favorite words are "Huzzah" and "Yam." Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on...2018-01-291h 11Way of Champions Podcast#45 How a tiny Vermont town quietly became a Cradle of Olympians with Karen CrouseA small town in Vermont, with only 3,000 full-time inhabitants has put at least one athlete in the every Olympic games since 1984, including the highest ever finisher in the ski jump from the US. What are they doing to create such elite athletes? The answer has nothing to with facilities or coaches… Bio Karen Crouse is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned a varsity letter in swimming. She started her newspaper career at the Savannah News-Press, where she was the first woman to grace the sports department, and worked at...2018-01-221h 14Way of Champions Podcast#44 22x NCAA and World Cup Champion Coach Anson Dorrance Discusses the Difference Between Coaching Men and Women, Building the Competitive Cauldron, and the Keys To Building a Winning Culture with UNC Women’s SoccerWant to be a fly on the wall for a conversation between a 36-time NCAA Champion Sport Psychology Consultant and one of the greatest coaches of all time? This is a show you cannot miss! Dr. Jerry Lynch and Anson Dorrance join John this week to talk Dean Smith, John Wooden, Alonzo Stagg, and what it is like to build an unrivaled dynasty through love, connection, and strong character, Bio Anson Dorrance enters his 41st year of service to the University of North Carolina soccer programs in the fall of 2017. Dorrance, a 1974 Tar He...2018-01-151h 16Way of Champions Podcast#42 Best of 2017: Our Favorite Interviews on Coaching from our First Year Pt 1 We asked you all to share with us your favorite podcasts from 2017, and we had so many responses that we have decided to divide it up into multiple episodes. In this episode, we share your favorite podcasts from select coaches: UNC National Champion Lacrosse Coach Jenny Levy, USA Volleyball's John Kessel, World Cup and Olympic Champion Tony DiCicco, Unleash the Athlete's James Leath, and our interview with Dr. Wade Gilbert and Dr. Jerry Lynch. This is a bit longer than most of our podcasts, but it is full of pure gold. In future episodes, we will have adv...2018-01-011h 09Way of Champions Podcast#36 Former Professional Golfer, John Haime, on How Sports Skills Transfer from the Locker Room to the Board RoomA mere 1 percent of all youth athletes end up playing pro. What is the goal of youth sports for those other 99 percent? In this episode, John Haime discusses the real skills that kids can learn in the locker room and transfer to the board room. Bio John is a world-class Coach in the area of performance and one of the world’s leading authorities in Emotional Intelligence as it relates to performance in sport. He personally coaches leading professional and elite amateur athletes, corporate athletes and artists in a variety of performance areas. He is a s...2017-11-1958 minWay of Champions Podcast#33 Best Selling Authors Wade Gilbert and Jerry Lynch Discuss What Quality Coaching Really Looks LikeHow do you define a quality coach? Is it number of wins? Are we expert coaches because of the amount of time we have coached the game? Wade Gilbert and Jerry Lynch have a candid conversation with John about what it really means to be a quality coach and the definition is not what we have used all these years. Time spent coaching and number of wins have nothing to do with being a quality coach. Bio Wade Gilbert, PhD, is an award-winning professor in the department of kinesiology at California...2017-10-291h 09Way of Champions PodcastWOC #26 Dr. Jerry Lynch, 36x NCAA Champ, On Mindfulness, Motivation, and How to Turn Your Off-Season into Investment SeasonWould you be willing to trade 10 minutes at the start of practice in order to shorten training by an hour and increase your team’s learning and development? Many coaches struggle to keep practices short and on task and fear giving up any time to activities like mindfulness training. What Dr. Lynch has discovered, the last few decades working with some of the top collegiate and professional teams, is that mindfulness rituals actually shorten training time and increase performance. If this is being done by the very best, it can be a weapon for any team. Listen in on Dr...2017-09-1156 minWay of Champions PodcastWOC #22 John Kessel, USA Volleyball, Lines Teach You How, but the Game Teaches You WhyNeurosurgeons say if they practiced the way they did 18 months ago, they’d be sued for malpractice. Heart surgeons believe if they practiced the way they did 5 years ago, they’d be sued for malpractice. Yet, in youth sport coaching we still practice the way we did when we were kids. John Kessel believes we should all be sued for malpractice because we have not evolved the game to meet the times. Do you agree? Listen in on this thought provoking, information packed podcast as John shares an amazing amount of knowledge and has myriad quot...2017-08-141h 10
Way of Champions Podcast#1 Dr. Jerry Lynch: What It Takes to Win 36 NCAA ChampionshipsDr. Jerry Lynch has won 36 International and NCAA titles ass a consultant to some of the top teams in American Sports. DR. LYNCH HAS BEEN A SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY CONSULTANT for the past 33 years TO OVER 36 INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS at the professional and NCAA collegiate levels. In one survey,he has been recognized as one of the top five in his profession nationwide.He is the former Sports Psychologist for men's and women's Basketball, Lacrosse and Soccer teams at the universities of North Carolina,Duke, Maryland, California and Stanford and continues to work with several teams...2017-04-131h 12