The Coaches Diary: Recent Episodes
Emily Mckie
Have you ever found yourself in a sports coaching position and thought.... how the heck do I get good at this?!
The Coaches Diary is your personal reference to all elements of coaching.
Emily shares from her 11+ years of sports coaching experience ranging from community, international and the with the semi-elite.
This isn’t just your average ”here are all these great ideas, now go implement them” kind of podcast. Nor will you find her rambling on for a hour about why authentic leadership is important. No; this is your quick, short format experiential podcast that will get you self-reflecting, experiencing and eventually implementing new tools and concepts to help YOU become the best coach and leader that you can be.
To get in contact with Emily, you can do so on the following websites:
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie
www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Huzzah! We are at the end of season 1 of the Coaches Diary Podcast!
As with any end of season finale, or even at the end of training - I get my athletes to self reflect on three key questions to help propel them forward and keep on developing their elite mindset.
Now we are at the end of the Coaches Diary Podcast, I invite you to do the same.
BIG QUESTION here for you!
Are you running on autopilot? Would you believe me if I said there was nothing wrong with it?
This episode is for you to sit back, listen and reflect on where you are in your coaching journey. I detail the 4 stages of learning and explain why you are always going to be in a continuous learning loop as a coach.
Your call to action is to let me know what stagey are at! #TheCoachesDiary will be coming to an end soon, with only a few episodes left so NOW is your chance to connect and ask about ANYTHING coaching related for it to feature on the next few episodes.
Keep in touch.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
The Coaches Diary was formed at the start of a 2.5 month program with a semi-elite U16 Boys talent squad.
Episodes were released as new experiences were felt.
Now the program has finished (and soon too will be #TheCoachesDiary), this episode is a summary of 5 key things I learnt while coaching U16 boys in the talent space.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Do your athletes have a growth mindset? Or an elite mindset?
More importantly, do you have a growth mindset? Or an elite mindset?
Tune in to find out what an elite mindset is, what it looks like in your athletes, and why perfectionism does not equal elite.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on;
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
I stuffed up. I became a close contact of someone who had covid, which meant that I missed out on coaching on one of my U16 NAB league carnival games.
Tune in to hear how I responded to hearing the news that I needed to go into isolation, how I COULD have responded to hearing the news that I needed to go into isolation, and how our responses + behaviours to challenges, set backs and stuff ups affects our athletes on match day.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Have you ever been caught out trying to help your athletes out, but they just don't seem to... "get it"?
Episode 23 touches on three reasons why athletes hold themselves back from success - the fear of failure, imposter syndrome and playing small.
Emily discussed what these look like, what they sound like when you are talking to your athletes and some quick tips that can help them overcome some of what is holding them back.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
This can be one hard pill to swallow. One of the biggest traps in coaching is the identity that you form around being the coach. Coaching athletes can make you feel on top of the world, but here's a quick reminder that there's more to life than the game, and to try not let it consume you
Pre warning - do not listen to the start of this episode while you are driving
I'm a BIG fan of visualisations and using them when working with my athletes. Tune in to find out how I use visualisation + what kind of athletes I use it with
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
You're about to hear one of my biggest gripes that I see in sports coaching - coaches instructing to do something, but not actually modelling it or showing examples.
Listen to hear how I incorporate mindfulness + slowing down into my day-to-day training as a coach, so that my athletes have the tools to actually relax and actually compose themselves
As a coach, you are solely responsible for controlling your emotions.
Your emotions (and mental health state really) dictates the environment you create for your athletes.
This episode is a reminder to check in with yourself, before you burn out
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
As a coach it is crucial that you plan out your training sessions and drills so that they have a purpose and reason behind WHY your athletes are doing them.
Knowing the purpose creates consistency, consistency creates confidence and confidence creates a great team environment.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Consistency in message. Surprisingly one of the biggest RFI's (room for improvement) that I see in other coaches.
In the past, I used to get excited about all the things I would teach my athletes, and would rant on and on about things that they should know.
But I've learnt to change my tune. Keeping things SIMPLE and being CONSISTENT has made my coaching life a lot easier. Our brains only process so much information at one time, so why try to explain ALL the things at once?
Here's my taking on making your key coaching messages simple and easy.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
The lead up into one of the 3 C's of Coaching - creating consistency in gameplan.
This episode is a discussion of the difference between game plan and tactics. Having a solid foundation gameplan as the baseline to your coaching program is integral to implementing different tactics on game day.
Hey, you could even use this for a life motto ;) Just switch out gameplan for a solid mindset and you've just set yourself up for success
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
The Burnout Club.
If you have been in the coaching game for a while, you have more than likely experienced it.
Here's my take on the three categories of burnout, what they look and feel like and some tips and tricks to help manage it.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
When was the last time you celebrated yourself? It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day motions of life, coaching and everything in between. As coaches we inherently want to celebrate our athletes when they succeed, but what about when they don't?
... And when do we ever celebrate ourselves?
Feeling worthy and celebrating myself constantly has been integral to confidently implementing my coaching style and coaching philosophy.
Tune into this episode to find out why
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
One of the most empowering approaches you can have as a coach is to set goals WITH your athletes, not FOR your athletes.
This episode outlines why you would set goals with your athletes, the process Emily uses to create team goals + the importance of not just having goals based on external success
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
I've found working in the sports industry as a coach to be high paced, full of excitement & I have always needed to be on the go at all times.
But what if this wasn't the case? What if, in order to get to your destination quicker, you actually needed to slow down first?
Here, I'll be talking about slowing down and reflecting as a coach so you can course correct when needed and also slowing your athletes down when you're running drills.
Self Reflection questions from the episode:
For reflecting on the podcast:
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What was one episode that stood out that taught me something new or was a good reminder of something that I already did know?
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Why did it stand out?
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What did it represent in terms of my values
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How can I implement that learning, into my coaching?
For reflecting on your coaching:
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What was the key focus points of your drills?
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Do your athletes actually understand the concepts?
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If yes, how do they show it
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If no, why not?
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What was one standout highlight for the month?
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What is still an RFI, which is your room for improvement?
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
You are your best asset, and as a coach you need support staff both within your sports environment, and outside your sports environment. Bonus points if you intentionally surround yourself by people who are diverse to you and have different life experiences.
Look after yourself. You are your best asset.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Projections. The beginning of unpacking your biases.
Learn about what projections are, and how you may be unconsciously projecting your own beliefs, thoughts and life experiences onto your athletes.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Your life experiences, how you grow up and your cultural background playa huge role in how you see the world.
Each life experience gives you a new "lens" to see the world through. As a coach it is important to recognise that your experiences are YOUR experiences, and that there is no "normal" way to do ANYTHING. The only thing that is "normal" is what is comfortable for you.
Now as a coach you SHOULD be growing your edge and moving out of your comfort zone to enable you to be the best coach that you can be. The first step of any change and any movement out of your comfort zone is awareness. Start with this episode first.
Reference for gender equality reports in sport:
https://michelleredfern.com/advancing-women-in-sport/
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
You don't know what you don't know, and sometimes learning what you don't know leads to a little thing called imposter syndrome.
This episode is a vulnerable share. We all have strengths + weaknesses and when you have a growth mindset and the humility to learn more and hone in on your craft, only then will you become a better coach.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
You have 30 seconds to engage your athletes before they get distracted.
Any conversations on match day or during training when delivering drills that go longer than 30 seconds will require you to ask questions and engage them so they have more ownership over their development and so they ACTUALLY learn.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
In theme with the 3 C's of Coaching, Emily delved into the art of listening and why it is so important for creating psychological safety & connection.
Explore two ways you can practice the art of listening
Number 1 - Asking for permission
Number 2 - Facilitating & creating conversation during your training sessions + on match day
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Values. Coaching philosophy. Knowing what is really truly important to you.
All of the above are critical elements to being a great sports coach.
The more clarity you have on what your values are, the easier it is to coach, create your coaching philosophy & course correct if you're not enjoying your coaching.
This episode requires you to take a moment or to to sit and reflect on what your values are. I told you this podcast would be interactive didn't I?
A values list can be downloaded from my website www.emilymckie.com
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
The 3 C's of coaching.
Consistency
Creating psychological safety
Connection.
If you get these three right, you'll have an epic season.
If you're loving this podcast, then please get in touch! Share what parts you're enjoying, what doesn't sit right, and what you want to hear more of.
You can contact Emily on
www.emilymckie.com
www.instagram.com/emilymckie_
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-mckie/
Starting with the end in mind is not always about the practical level.
Part 2 of Start With The End In mind guides you through a short visualisation of your favourite parts of sport, and what kind of environment you want to create for your athletes.
A productive, fun and empowering environment does not happen by accident. It takes intention and is purposefully created. This is the start of creating your ideal environment for your athletes to thrive both on and off the field
Have you struggled to create training drills for your team that you coach?
Then you're going to want to start with the end in mind. When you know what your long term vision is, creating the program to support that becomes easier.
Clarity + Simplicity = Key.
Here is my take on simplifying your messages to create consistency between yourself, your assistant coaches and your players.
The first episode. The intro. Numero Uno.
This is your opportunity to start getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.
The first episode details the trip you've signed up for, and explains the how, what and why of this podcast series.