Way Of Champions Podcast

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Sarah McQuade, a developer of coaches. She is the Founding Director of e.t.c coaching consultants, an international Coach Development Consultancy practice, which specializes in building coaching systems, and the professional development of sports coaches and sports coach developers. She works with various national and international sports organizations and clients include the US Olympic Committee, United Soccer Coaches, Steel Sports and TB12 among others.     During our time together, we discuss the current state of coaching education, how do you build a development pathway for volunteer coaches, and The danger of bringing baggage from your playing career into your coaching career.   Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: The current state of coaching education How does a coach learn to recognize what they don't know? Is there a way to do coaching education across other sports? Where do you start with educating volunteer coaches? What

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Caleb Porter, 2x MLS Champion Coach and head coach of the Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. We talk about what makes a great coach, developing your own coaching style, and why being honest with your players is the best way to create a great culture. Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: What makes a great coach? Learning from a great coach while developing your own style Focusing on the WHY of coaching to bring a fresh perspective What does it feel like to be coached by Caleb Porter? How Coach Porter intentionally creates culture for his team The value of being honest with your players and creating a family environment More about Caleb Porter Coach Porter was previously head coach of the Portland Timbers from 2013 until 2017, winning MLS Cup in 2015 before winning again in 2020 with the Crew. He also coached the United States U-23 team in 2011–12, and lead the University of Akron men's team from 2006 to 2012, winning the NCA

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome back author Doug Lamov. Doug is here to discus his new book, The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. Doug was on the podcast years ago in episode #046 to discuss his previous book, Teach Like a Champion 2.0: 62 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College. In his new book, and all throughout our conversation, we dive into how to give feedback, check for understanding, and how to build culture, plus much, much more! Grab a pen and something to write on--you will need it or this episode!   You can follow @DougLemov or visit his website  https://teachlikeachampion.com/ to learn more.   Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: Learning how to give feedback Teaching kids how to be decision makers Do players see because they scan, or scan because they see? How does looking at the phone on game day hurt athlete performance? Does your club have a curriculum and a plan to deliver it? "Starting an activity the phase before the one you are working

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome back Todd Beane, founder of TOVO Academy in Barcelona, Spain and a former director with the Cruyff Institute.    During our discussion, we talk about how to coach clearly, how to establish a club philosophy, why it is important to find your why, and why it is important to find define our ideal player and ideal practice.    Check out his new book Clear Coaching: Harness Clarity To Drive Development and follow him on twitter @_ToddBeane.   Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: Launching a product with NWSL The need for more female coaches Taking five weeks and forty years to write a book Searching for and understanding "why" you coach How to train athletes to be problem solvers  Bowling and playing Duck Duck Goose with your soccer players What are some of the biggest challenges in installing a new methodology? Being an Educator vs a Teacher Seeing experiences through the eyes of the kids Reflecting as a Coach   More about To

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Mike O'Malley, actor, producer, and youth sport advocate. You have seen Mike on Morning Show, The Good Place, Yes, Dear;  Parks and Recreation, Justified; My Own Worst Enemy; My Name is Earl; Welcome to the Family and The Mike O’Malley Show. Mike is also a champion for youth sports.   During our discussion, we dive into the state of youth sports, yelling during a band performance or writing assignment, and making youth sport teams fair for the benefit of all. Mike shares many great insights on the world of youth sports! Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: What is the state of youth sports? Allowing your kids to fail and succeed Why aren't more kids playing multiple sports and learning basic physical skills? Yelling during a band performance or writing assignment Making youth sport teams fair for the benefit of all Deciphering the difference between a pizza party after a win or after a loss Working with Lebron James   More Abou

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Ron Adams, Golden State Warriors Asst. Coach. Ron is in his second season as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors, his 21st season overall on the bench as an NBA assistant. In his first year with the Warriors, Ron helped the team finish first in defensive rating (98.2) en route to an NBA Championship. During our discussion, we dive into Ron's philosophy of being a great assistant coach, navigating hard conversations with players, and working on a staff where another assistant coach is trying to undermine the head coach. Highlights and great quotes from the this episode: Ron talks about his journey as a coach "A good coach is someone who has a job." "There is no formula for good coaching." How has social media changed the halftime locker room experience? Why does Steve Kerr call Ron the "truth-teller"? What makes an assistant coach effective? ...what are your "ego needs"? How do you handle disagreements with the Head Coach? Having hard co

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Betsy Butterick. As "The Coaches' Coach" Betsy helps coaches do what they’ve yet to do, so they can be who they’ve yet to be. As a communication specialist, Betsy assists individuals in all facets of communication while developing the connective skills to build relationship and sustain success.   Connect with Betsy on Twitter and be sure to check out Betsy's website https://www.betsybutterick.com/ and use the offer code "WOCPOD" to save $200 off on her online course, Winning with Words: Championship Communication for Coaches.   In our discussion, we dive into Betsy's journey from a student athlete to a coach, how to level up your communication skills, and redefining what the whistle means. Highlights from the Podcast: Betsy shares her journey about how she came to coaching coaches How can we intentionally improve our level of communication? When listening, ask yourself, "What can I learn?" Kids these days...who have changed, adults or kids? "Conn

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Vern Gambetta. Vern is currently is the Director of Gambetta Sports Training Systems. He has been the a conditioning coach for several teams in Major League Soccer as well as the conditioning consultant to the US Men’s World Cup Soccer team. Vern is the former Director of Conditioning for the Chicago White Sox and Director of Athletic Development for the New York Mets. In our discussion, we dive into the importance of being a systems coach, why athletes need to be given tools instead of drills, and why you won't see any of Vern's programming online. Vern is recognized internationally as an expert in training and conditioning for sport having worked with world class athletes and teams in a wide variety of sports. He is a popular speaker and writer on conditioning topics having lectured and conducted clinics in Canada, Japan, Australia and Europe. Vern’s coaching experience spans 50 years at all levels of competition. He received his BA from Fresno State

This 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 our Podcast Champions, visit https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions and join the community today! Questions from the Podcast: Mark Hesse: How can we support coaches who are managing pandemic restrictions? (11:20) Thomas Cooke: As a sports parent, I struggle to find her resources to grow into her potential. What are some resources I can share with her in a way that she will receive it? (18:15) Jeremy Hobbs: What are some ideas on having a group of adults join an "advisory" type group to help guide de

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Dr. Greg Dale. Dr. Dale is the Director of Sport Psychology and Leadership Program for Duke Athletics and author of The Seven Secrets of Successful Coaches. In his sport psychology role, Dale provides consultations for individual athletes, coaches and staff members. In addition, Dale provides team building services for athletic teams and other units within the athletic department.   We dive into the need to stop catastrophizing failure, how to build culture, how do approach change, and how do we recruit people to fit into our culture. Check out his website http://www.excellenceinperformance.com/. Highlights from the Podcast: Teaching "sports athletics" at the university level Are sports fundamentally good? Coaches responding to sports during a pandemic Servant Leadership What is the essence of coaching? Learning to coach by spending time with coaches from other sports How do "one-and-done" athletes effect the culture of a university-level team

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Stephen Rollnick, Honorary Distinguished Professor in the School of Medicine in Cardiff University, Wales, UK with a research record focused on good practice in efforts to promote change and behaviour change among patients, clients and the practitioners who serve them. We dive into the difference between a guide and an instructor, how we can be deficit detectives, and some practical ways of receiving feedback as coaches. Check out his book, Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports (Applications of Motivational Interviewing) https://amzn.to/3gCzolA. Also, you can visit his website at https://www.stephenrollnick.com/ More about Stephen Rollnick: Stephen Rollnick provides consultancy, mentorship and training on the subjects of motivation, change, teamwork and Motivational Interviewing. Stephen is also a clinical psychologist with many years of experience in service provision and in the training of practitioners. This work, much o

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we are sharing a replay of EPL and US National Team Player Jay DeMerit. Jay has one of the most unique stories to success the sport of soccer has ever seen. An MLS reject that backpacked to Europe and climbed the English soccer pyramid from the 12th tier to become the captain of Watford FC in the English Premier League. He also represented the US Mens National Team for five years, playing every minute of his teams games in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. In 2011 he became the first ever signing & captain for the Vancouver Whitecaps in MLS. He finished his career in 2014, after captaining the Vancouver Whitecaps for four seasons. Visit his website at https://jaydemeritstory.com/.   Using his vast experience in professional soccer, Jay will share the highs and the lows he’s endured along his journey through his 10-year professional career. Highlights are the season of 2006-07, where Jay and his underdog Watford FC team were promoted to the English Premier League

Listen on the web, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Dr. Mark Williams. Dr. Williams is an academic and one of the world's leading authorities on expertise and its acquisition in sport. We dive into many great topics from his book The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made, including The difference between performance and learning, how to teach decision making for athletes, and early speacialization versus early engagement. Dr. Williams has published 18 books and written over 500 scientific articles on how people become skilled and achieve success in sport and across other professional domains. He has worked across the globe as a consultant with numerous Olympic and professional sports and has vast experience as a scientist, author and educator, and as an applied sports scientist. Highlights from the Podcast: The driving force to writing The Best: How Elite Athletes Are Made The difference between performance and learning How do we incorporate getting feedb

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Paul Goodman, 3x Stanley Cup Champ Strength Coach. Paul has worked with a wide range of professional athletes, is a well known speaker on functional movement and sport performance, and is currently working on his PhD in Performance Psychology. Paul and I have been friends for many years and our conversation dives deep into not just the body and the mind, but how those two things work together. This is a great episodes full of practical information that you will be able to use right away! Visit https://goodmanelite.com/ and on Instagram at @goodmanelite. The Way of Champions Podcast is brought to you by Sports Refund. When kids sign up to play youth sports there are always fees involved. And parents pay those fees so their child can be on the team, not the injury report. That’s why I love Sports Refund, and parents will too. Sports Refund is low-cost sports fee insurance – NOT health insurance, sports fee insurance. So if your child becomes injured or sick a

This 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% were experiencing depression. Physical activity levels have dropped 50% at the same time. The mental health and well being of our athletes has never been more at risk, and coaches and parents can make a difference. We give you specific things to look for, and specific tools to have the conversations with our kids and their parents that can make a difference. If you are a coach or parent, keep checking in with your athletes and make sure the

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Travis Thomas. Travis Thomas is a best-selling author, well-known speaker, and the creator of LiveYesAnd.com. He currently works with US Soccer teaching leadership and culture to some of the best soccer player sin the world. During our time together, we dive into Travis’ journey to creating LiveYesAnd.com, using improv to help athletes perform better, and what it is like working with US Soccer. Thomas started “Live Yes, And!” to help individuals, teams, and companies discover their inner brilliance through a commitment to purpose, authenticity and collaboration. For more than two years, Thomas served as a leadership coach at IMG Academy where he worked with youth, collegiate and professional athletes from all over the world and all different sports. He used the games and exercises of improvisation, combined with personal development ideas, to teach mindset, teamwork, character and collaboration. For the last four years, Thomas has been traveling around the

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Bill Beaney, 8x NCAA Champion Hockey Coach. Coach Beaney has coached hockey teams in Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, and has been the head coach at Middlebury since 1986. He led the Middlebury hockey team to eight NCAA Division III men's ice hockey championships from 1995 to 2006 and ranks 11th all-time among college men's ice hockey coaches with 543 wins. The Way of Champions Podcast is brought to you by Sports Refund. When kids sign up to play youth sports there are always fees involved. And parents pay those fees so their child can be on the team, not the injury report. That’s why I love Sports Refund, and parents will too. Sports Refund is low-cost sports fee insurance – NOT health insurance, sports fee insurance. So if your child becomes injured or sick and can’t play, you get your fees reimbursed for that lost time, from one game to an entire season. It’s that simple. This product not only saves families wasted fees, it saves injured athletes the st

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we share with you a replay of an interview we did back in 2018 with Kris Van Der Haegen, Belgian FA Director of Coach Education. 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? What is their secret? Belgian FA Director of Coach Education, Kris Van der Haegen, shares his secrets on this replay Way of Champions Podcast. About Kris Van Der Haegen Kris van der Haegen is Director of Coach Education for the Royal Belgian Football Association. A former high school teacher who speaks countless languages, and a member of the UEFA Jira Panel, Kris has been one of the main architects of the elevation of Belgian football to unheard-of levels of quality in recent years. Kris enjoys talking about how to make football better, especially for children and young people, yet he has also extensive experience coaching at the top level. he is currently an assistant coach with the Belgian Women’s Natio

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast we welcome Katherine Starr, a two time Olympian  at the 1984 and 1988 Games. In 1986 she won two silver medals at the Commonwealth Games. Katherine experienced success at the collegiate level in swimming for the University of Texas, participating on three NCAA championship teams and named 14-time All-American. Katherine founded Safe4Athletes in 2011 as a result of living for decades with pain and suffering from the tragic effects of coach athlete sexual abuse. Safe4Athletes was brought to life to help other athletes who have experienced the same destructive abuse of power in the coach athlete relationship. Safe4Athletes’ mission is to advocate for athletes that have been abused, bullied or harassed by their more powerful coach or teammate. Katherine has acted as an advocate for athletes involved in coach-athlete sexual abuse, athlete on athlete sexual abuse, athlete cyber-bullying, athlete sexual hazing as well as many forms of athletic abuse in general. Highlights fr

We are so excited to announce the release of the audiobook version of Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams. To celebrate the release, over the next few weeks we will be sharing with you select chapters from the book and offering you the opportunity as a podcast listener to get 60% off the regular price of the book by ordering through this link: www.ChangingTheGameProject.com/audiobook. In our third series of excerpts from our brand new audiobook Every Moment Matters: How the World's Best Coaches Inspire Their Athletes and Build Championship Teams we delve into a question many coaches have never considered: what does it feel like to be coached by me? This segment of the book is all about creating the type of culture that drives behaviors that lead to success over time. In this excerpt, I tell the story of University of North Carolina Women's lacrosse coach Jenny Levy and her life changing conversation with a legendary UNC basketball coach, and