Way of Champions Podcast
Episodes
#82 The Barcelona Way: Unlocking the DNA of a Winning Culture with author Damian Hughes
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Great 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 epi...
#81 Lessons from Kris Van Der Haegen, Mark Upton, and Mark Bennett that have made me a Better Coach
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sports 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 th...
#80 Eating Disorders, and How Coaches Can Help Athletes have a Healthy Relationship with Food, Exercise and Their Bodies with National Champion Cyclist and Sports Psychologist Dr. Kate Bennett
23 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What are we saying and doing that can be the inner voice driving athletes to make dangerous decisions regarding nutrition and their bodies? What can w...
#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
17 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#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 W...
#78 Pause before you post - why athletes must be intentional on social media, with 2x All-American and USA Basketball Assistant Coach Scott Fitch
10 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
One post. One bad decision. One moment of poor judgment frozen in time and saved for eternity on social media. That is all it takes to alter your futu...
#77 Mindfulness, Peak Performance, and "Playing in the Space Between" with Dr. Amy Saltzman
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What would it look like if all your athletes were able to acknowledge, resolve, and let go of emotions and feelings during games? If they could choose...
WOC #76 Mark Bennett Returns! The Founder of PDS Coaching on Using the Rule of 3 for Coaching Excellence and Ways to Make Your Athletes More Accountable
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This is a first for WOC! Coaching Expert Mark Bennett returns to expound on his Rule of 3 and teach us how to develop independent, self-aware, and acc...
#75 How to Incorporate Long Term Athlete Development into your practices with internationally known experts Joe Eisenmann, Tony Moreno and Rick Howard
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
People talk about "old school" when it comes to coaching and athlete performance. The problem is most of us have the wrong perspective. "Old school" i...
#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 Stage
12 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have 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 Sou...
#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 too
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Some coaches may win a few games or even a championship using bullying tactics without creating any kind of connection or caring environment with the ...
#72 Mark Wilson, former Manchester United, Middlesborough, and FC Dallas Player, on great coaches, superstar teammates, and how falling back in love with the game saved his career
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What was Sir Alex Ferguson like as a person when the cameras weren't on him? What was it like to be a part of one of the world's most famous youth aca...
#71 Kirk Anderson, Former US Tennis Association Coaching Director, on how to put the needs of Players First in Youth Sports
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There is a sport out there that has grown 17% every year for the last 6 years. In addition, 54% of participants say it helps them connect with their f...
#70 How to Minimize Injury and Maximize Performance of Young Athletes with author Dr. Tommy John
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"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--th...
#69 Why more Physical Education and recess are the keys to better students in schools, with Paul Zientarski, TED Speaker and 40-year veteran Physical Education teacher.
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What if there was a simple solution to getting better academic performance, reducing discipline problems, and greater engagement of our children at sc...
#68 How to take US Soccer to the next level with Coaching Director for US Youth Soccer, Sam Snow.
01 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
#67 Coaching Child Soldiers, Empowering Young Girls, and Changing the World Through Sport with Nick Gates, Founder of Coaches Across Continents
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What if youth sport had a much greater purpose than winning, fitness, socialization, or development? What if sports could break down barriers, change ...
How to Grow and Improve Your Sport with US Lacrosse Technical Director for Athlete Development TJ Buchanan
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The vast majority of youth sports are suffering from catastrophic attrition rates and governing bodies, clubs, and teams are scrambling to keep kids i...
The Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance with Alex Hutchinson, former elite runner and author of the bestselling book Endure
10 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
How 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 frontie...
#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
03 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#64 "I'm just a kid playing a game": Overcoming adversity, managing disappointment, and building an athlete warrior ethos with USA Volleyball Player C...
#63 How Chasing Your Dream Can Change Your Life with Paul Kapsalis, author and former Indiana University Men's Soccer Player
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We 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 e...
#62 "What is your team's why?" How outcomes are both purpose and process driven with Middlebury College AD Erin Quinn
20 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#62"What is your team's why?" How outcomes are both purpose and process driven with Middlebury College AD Erin Quinn What if your team was outcome...
#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
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"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 p...
#60 "We don't put kindergarteners in big chairs and huge desks, but we ask them to play on big fields with adult rules" with Dr. Stephen Norris, world renowned LTAD expert.
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to setting up classrooms for children, we get it. Everything in the school, including the restrooms, are kid sized, because we underst...
#59 "I Like Recruiting Farm Kids!" How 3x NCAA Champion UConn Field Hockey Coach Nancy Stevens Builds Championship Teams
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Nancy 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...
#58 What Are the Most Important Leadership Traits to Teach Young Athletes and Other FAQs with Coach Reed Maltbie and John O'Sullivan
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Did 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 lec...
#57 How to Become a Transformational Coach with Dr. Jean Cote, World-Renowned Expert in Youth Sports and Coach Development
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy the show! If we coached robots, we could simply drill skills until the robots performed them to perfection, but we coach human beings. Way mor...
#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
08 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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 Bruc...
#55 Coaching John McEnroe and Other Great Tales from 17x NCAA Champion Stanford Tennis Coach, Dick Gould
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What 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 podc...
#54 How Desirable Difficulties Help Our Children Succeed in Sports and Life with Jessica Lahey, Author of The Gift of Failure
25 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are 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 val...
#53 The 7 Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America with Michael Zigarelli, author of the Messiah Method
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When 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...
#52 How Belgium went from #66 to #1 in The World Rankings with Belgian FA Director of Coach Education, Kris van Der Haegen
11 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Has Belgium Football found the secret to International success? In 2009, Belgium was #66 on the FIFA World Rankings. They made a few changes and rocke...
#51 No One Gets There Alone with Sports Psychologist Rob Bell
04 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When that "hinge moment" that could change your life comes along, will you be ready? Join Dr. Rob Bell as he talks about hinge moments and those who h...
#50 It's Time for Coaching Educators to Start Teaching Coaching and Stop Teaching Sport Science with Olympic Coaching Educator Wayne Goldsmith
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are we educating coaches on the skills that really matter? A sport scientist says we teach way too much techincal information and not enough of the so...
#49 Cindy Timchal, 8x NCAA Champion Lacrosse Coach, on How Champions 'Win the Day', Cultivate Leadership, and Do all the Little Things others Hate to Do.
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
What if, instead of worrying about winning games, we got our athletes to focus first on 'Winning the Day'? If they focused on their very best, working...
#48 Dr. Mark Williams, Skill Acquistion Expert, On Why Early Engagement is Better than Early Specialization"
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Williams is Professor and Chair, Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Recreation at University of Utah. Dr. Williams has previously held senior ...
#47 Bob Hansen, 7x NCAA Champion Tennis Coach, on Why Team Dynamics are Crucial to Success in Individual Sports
04 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Does culture matter in individual sports? According to 7x NCAA Tennis Champion Coach, Bob Hansen, it matters most. Bio Hansen is now in his seventh ...
#46 How to Run Better Practices with Best Selling Author Doug Lemov
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#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 Champio...
#45 How a tiny Vermont town quietly became a Cradle of Olympians with Karen Crouse
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A 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 highe...
#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 Soccer
14 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Want 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 tim...
#43 Life's 2 Short 4 Just 1 Sport with Steve Boyle, Founder of 2-4-1 Sports and Chairman of the National Association of Physical Literacy
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Your child gets that all important phone call offering a spot on the good select sports team in town. You want your child to sample multiple sports, s...
#42 Best of 2017: Our Favorite Interviews on Coaching from our First Year Pt 1
01 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
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...
#41 Continuing the Legacy of Johan Cruyff with TOVO Academy and Cruyff Institute Founder, Todd Beane
27 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What would it be like to spend 14 years working alongside and learning from one of the greatest coaches of all time – Johan Cruyff? We asked T...
#40 Chamique Holdsclaw, The "Michael Jordan" of Women's Basketball, On Being the Best, Falling Down, and Finding Her Purpose Again
17 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Chamique Holdsclaw was called the Michael Jordan of Women's Basketball. She dominated the courts winning 3 National Championships and being named the ...
#39 Manchester United Youth Coach Tom Statham Discusses Two Decades of Watching Young Players' Unique Pathways to the Pros
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What do you think the path to professional sports looks like? 22 year veteran coach at Manchester United, Tom Statham, shares what he has seen and exp...
#38 Don't Just Tell Them to Be Leaders, Teach Them with James Leath, Former Head of Leadership Development at IMG Academy
03 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We must SHOW athletes how to be leaders, and not just tell them. Bio James founded UTA in 2017 when an unexpected family emergency took him away f...
#37 Wrestle Like a Girl with Sally Roberts, 3x U.S. National Champ
26 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
How powerful is sport for creating an excellent life beyond the game? For Sally Roberts wrestling transported her from the detention cell of juveni...
#36 Former Professional Golfer, John Haime, on How Sports Skills Transfer from the Locker Room to the Board Room
19 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A 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 di...
WOC #35 Dr. Peter Vint, Former USOC High-Performance Specialist, on Coaching and Parenting Elite Athletes
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Do the principles and beliefs we discuss regarding youth athletes apply to "elite" athletes? How do you approach the process of parenting elite athlet...
#34 Bestselling Author, Dan Heath, on How Coaches can Create Extraordinary Moments for their Athletes
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone has these defining moments in their lives that they vividly recall. Some are extraordinary and some are terrible. As coaches, we do not ge...
#33 Best Selling Authors Wade Gilbert and Jerry Lynch Discuss What Quality Coaching Really Looks Like
29 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
How 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 an...
#32 Emmy Award Winning ESPN Reporter Tom Farrey on Creating Sports for All and Play for Life"
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know only 1 in 5 youth coaches are properly trained in motivational techniques and only 1 and 3 are properly trained in skills and tactics? Th...
#31 Mark Bennett, Founder of Performance Development Systems, How Coaches Shape Behavior, Influence Training Habits, and Build Accountable Teams
15 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What can sport coaches learn from a former British Commando? A better way to deliver content, ensure learning has occurred, and empower players to own...
#30 What Makes Sports Fun for Athletes of All Ages with Amanda Visek, PhD
08 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Fun. It is the biggest reason kids play sports and it is also the reason why they quit. That is widely known. What is not widely known is the fact kid...
#29 Retired NBA Player Bob Bigelow, Just Let the Kids Play
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
"When I was a child, the vast majority of my sporting activities were in playgrounds and sandlots. Now, the majority of youth sports activities are or...
#28 Brett Fischer, PT for the Arizona Cardinals, on injuries, early specialization, and teaching movement before technical skills.
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Fischer used to see Tommy John's surgery in 25 to 28 year old athletes. Now he is seeing it in 13 year olds. What has happened to simple joy of ...
#27 Jen Fraser, Author of Teaching Bullies, The Sports Bully Episode
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Has your child experienced bullying in sport? This episode is the tough conversation none of us like to have but we must in order to protect our child...
WOC #26 Dr. Jerry Lynch, 36x NCAA Champ, On Mindfulness, Motivation, and How to Turn Your Off-Season into Investment Season
11 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Would 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 develo...
#25 Dr. Richard Bailey, Head of Research at ICSSPE, What we need to make coaching a true profession
04 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Is the way we coach based upon the latest science, research, and best practices of how children learn? Or is it based upon how we were coached growing...
WOC #24 Tom Bates, Head of Performance Psychology and Culture for Aston Villa FC, Every player you coach has four words stamped on the forehead...
28 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What would your team look like if you let them shape and drive the culture, and if you loved them first as people before you ever tried to be coach? W...
WOC #23 Jenny Levy, Two-time NCAA Lacrosse Champion and Coach of the year, on why it's not the winning it's the atmosphere that matters most
21 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
"...and it may mean you may never win." What if one of the best basketball coaches in the world told you that doing what you think is best for the cul...
WOC #22 John Kessel, USA Volleyball, Lines Teach You How, but the Game Teaches You Why
14 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Neurosurgeons 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 t...
WOC #21 Nate Sanderson, Two-Time Iowa HS State Basketball Champion Coach, on the Art of Engaging Parents in a Championship Culture
07 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If an athlete's inner dialogue is made up of the voices they hear most often and most intensely in their daily lives, what are we as parents and coach...
#20 Jim Thompson, Founder of Positive Coaching Alliance, on How Connection Precedes Commitment in Leadership
31 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What if there was a single component you could add to your coaching that would get total commitment from your players, create better relationships wit...
#19 Sam Walker, Best Selling Author of The Captain Class - The counterintuitive leadership qualities of the men and women who led the greatest teams of all time
24 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What do the Collingwood Magpies, the New Zealand All Blacks, Barcelona Football Club and the New York Yankees have in common? They're all members of a...
#18 Ryan Holiday, Best Selling Author, The Obtsacle is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and the value of philosophy in sports
17 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ryan Holiday is a strategist, speaker, and best-selling author. He dropped out of college at nineteen to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of The...
#17 Lynn Kachmarik, First Female to Coach a Men's NCAA Division I Team Sport, On Protecting Our Children in Sport
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Lynn has over 45 years of experience in youth, high school, collegiate, and professional sports. Lynn was an All-American water polo player and swimme...
WOC #16 Stuart Armstrong, Head of Coaching for Sport England, "Learning Happens in the Ugly Zone"
03 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Stuart Armstrong is the Head of Coaching for Sport England. Prior to Sport England, he was the Player Development Manager for the Rugby Football Union...
#15 Julie Foudy, Two-Time World Cup Champion and ESPN Soccer Analyst, on Choosing to Matter
26 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Julie Foudy is a two-time FIFA Women's World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. She played for the United States women's national soccer team fro...
#14 Mark Upton, International Skill Acquisition and Coaching Education Expert, on What Makes Quality Coaching
19 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
As co-creator of social enterprise 'myfastestmile' and with a role in the UK Olympic sport system, much of Mark's work revolves around understanding l...
#13 Nicole LaVoi, Co-Director of the Tucker Center for Research on Girls and Women in Sport
12 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Author of Women in Sports Coaching, Nicole M. LaVoi, Ph.D. is a Senior Lecturer in the area of social and behavioral sciences in the School of Kinesio...
#12 Jay Fiedler, Former NFL Quarterback, on Pursuing your Passion
05 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
After a record setting career as a quarterback at Dartmouth College, Jay Fiedler went on to play for 10 years in the NFL. He was tutored by some of ...
#11 Jon Gordon, Best Selling Author and Leadership Expert, on the Power of Positivity
29 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by numerous ...
#10 Angela Hucles: 2X Olympic Gold Medalist on Why We Need Introverted Leadershiip
22 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Founder and CEO of Empowerment Through Sport, Angela Hucles is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for US Soccer, two-time World Cup Bronze Medalist, fo...
#9 Jay Demerit English Premier League and World Cup Soccer Player: It's Time to Rise and Shine
15 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
English Premier League and World Cup Soccer player Jay DeMerit has one of the most unique stories to success the sport of soccer has ever seen. An MLS...
#8 Tony DiCicco Olympic and World Champion Soccer Coach: Catch Them Being Good
10 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Tony DiCicco is the former Head Coach of the US Women's National and Olympic Soccer Teams and the Head Coach of the US U20 Women's National Team. In 2...
#7 Mauren Monte: Author of Destination Unstoppable, The Journey of No Athlete Left Behind
03 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Maureen Monte builds winning teams by harnessing the untapped talent in the locker room or the conference room and aligning it with success. Her appro...
#6 Chris Snyder: US Olympic Committee Coaching Director on the Secrets of Great Coaches
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Snyder is the Director for Coaching Education in the Sport Performance Division of the United States Olympic Committee. His responsibilities inc...
#5 Ashton Eaton: 2x Olympic Gold Medalist on the Journey Through Excellence in Sport
19 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Ashton Eaton is a retired American decathlete and two-time Olympic champion, who holds the world record in both the decathlon and indoor heptathlon ev...
#3 Lisa Cole: Sport for Social Impact
13 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Professional Soccer Coach Lisa Cole discusses her amazing coaching journey as a longtime college assistant and head coach, Head Coach of the Boston...
#1 Dr. Jerry Lynch: What It Takes to Win 36 NCAA Championships
13 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. 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 PSY...
#2 Dan Abrahams: Inside the Mind of a Champion
13 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Abrahams- English Premier League and PGA Tour Sport Psychology Expert - talks about the mind of a champion. Dan Abrahams is a global sport psychol...
#4 David Epstein: The Sports Gene and the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance
13 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
David Epstein - International best selling author - discusses his book The Sports Gene. David is a relentless researcher who is more concerned with do...