Is abusive coaching the way to win games? How do we put an end to abusive coaching?

Mitch Lyons is the Founder of End Abusive Coaching, Social Emotional Learning Alliance for MA (SEL4MA.org) and GetPsychedSports.org. As a former lawyer and basketball player, he started the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts in 2011 to advocate for SEL in MA schools. The Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States (SEL4US.org) has representation in 22 states.

Mitch's team includes providers who go to schools (the Advocacy arm) and teach soft skills - the skills that make people successful (self-awareness, emotional intelligence, building relationships). He started GetPsychedSports.org, a 501(c)(3) MA non-profit corporation, to address the physical and widespread emotional abuse occurring daily across the country on public school athletic teams.

On this episode, Mitch shares how they have introduced the “An Act to Remodel Public School Athletics Through Social-Emotional Learning” bill in both the state House and Senate. A group of people testified why this bill would help curb abusive coaching in high school athletics across the state.

Key Points and Time Stamps:

[00:02:44] - How emotions influence our interactions

[00:04:14] - An environment where everyone thrives

[00:05:18] - How to remodel Public School social emotional learning in sports

[00:05:56] - The importance of mental health in professional sports

[00:06:57] - Social emotional learning major themes to be taught in sports

[00:07:14] - How social emotional learning helps you in sales

[00:07:46] - How social emotional learning questions get asked at job interviews

[00:08:23] - Why more sports coaches are leaving the profession

[00:09:03] - Demanding performance vs intrinsic motivation

[00:10:43] - Why tough love does not have a lasting positive impact

[00:11:09] - Is it motivation or is it toxic positivity?

[00:11:58] - Creating a conducive environment for public speaking

[00:13:08] - Are soft skills misogynistic? Are they really “soft”?

[00:14:59] - How soft skills lead to your success

[00:15:49] - How to End Abusive Coaching in schools

[00:18:21] - Creating a guide to evaluate coaches

[00:19:45] - The coach / player relationship vs personal relationships

[00:20:28] - How abusive coaching impacts our self-worth

[00:21:13] - The negative impact of abusive coaching on sports performance. Legislation to end abusive coaching

[00:22:11] - Characteristics of a great coach

[00:23:14] - Should you practice ‘thought replacement’?

[00:24:04] - How parents can end abusive coaching if their children play sports

[00:26:18] - A common derogatory term for athletes that remains unchallenged

[00:26:46] - Why isn’t sports psychology taught in high schools?

Connect with Mitch:
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Additonal Resources:
Social Emotional Learning Alliance of Massachussetts
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Research on emotional intelligence

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