The Coaching Life Podcast: Recent Episodes
Chris Stewart and Pat Martin
Real honest conversations about all kinds of topics related to youth sports: coaching, parenting, player development.
We are over a week into the High School baseball season and we reflect on our experiences and lessons learned so far this season.
Our old friend Lukas Moore joins us from his new homefront in Wrigleyville, Chicago. This is a very rich conversation about coaching, motivating people, and the value of being part of a team working together to accomplish a goal.
Today we revisit a question that comes up a lot. It's a topic that is always relevant because of the tension that is always felt by players, parents, and coaches. Should you play multiple sports or should you specialize? Should we always answer it the same way for every athlete? Is age a factor in the answer?
Pat and Chris definitely have strong opinions on the matter, but they also will provide data and real examples for why they hold the opinions they do, both as coaches and as fathers.
Today's episode discusses the difference between PRINCIPLES and METHODS, and challenges coaches to consider ways in which they might need to change when it comes to their coaching. Do you have "20 years experience," or do you have "1 year's experience of the same thing 20 times in a row?"
Nothing can stop The Coaching Life Podcast from being recorded! Pat is in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico on a Carnival cruise. Still, there are lessons learned from the experience to bring home and apply to our athletic programs.
Today the podcasters become the interviewees! Cami Seymore, a freshman Journalism student at Ohio University, interviews us for her column in The Post newspaper's Culture and Human Interest section. One of the biggest takeaways from the episode is our WHY – why do we continue recording The Coaching Life Podcast.
This week is one of our favorite times of the year. For high school baseball coaches in Ohio, it's the annual Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association clinic.
We take some time to reflect on the value of coaches learning from one another and developing relationships with one another, and talk about some of the upcoming OHSBCA clinic session topics.
The Coaching Life Podcast has gone through several changes and updates over our 9 seasons of recording, but the core of what we are about remains. We desire to be a useful resource for coaches, parents, and athletes. To have conversations about the values, challenges, and lessons we are provided by the world of youth, high school, college, and professional sports.
Season 9 begins in the newly renovated podcast studio in Schoonover Center at Scripps College of Communication on the campus of Ohio University. Whether you watch and listen or just listen, we hope you are blessed by another season of TCL.
Thanks for being part of our conversation!
Chris and Pat
It was surprising to see the behavior and response of the NFL's most elite and successful quarterbacks this past weekend. But, that event provides a big lesson for all of us.
This conversation topic was suggested to us by one of our young listeners of The Coaching Life Podcast. Thanks, Gavin for helping us with the conversation about sports and life.
Great coaches have some common qualities and attributes. Today we break out a Top 10 list of those things.
As we approach the season of gratitude and Thanksgiving, we take a moment to honor a man who selflessly gave more than 20 years of his life to make sure families, children, and even adults had a place to fulfill their dreams of playing baseball.
Upon hearing of a local Recreational League Director's passing, Dave Boyd of Middleport, Ohio, The Coaching Life Podcast has decided to honor Dave in our Thanksgiving episode. He is someone who embodied the very heart and soul of what this podcast is about.
God bless you, Dave.
As a coach, which focus do you have? A development-first focus, or a winning-first focus? How can the two approaches work together? Or is it always "development VS. winning?"
This conversation is a bit lengthy, but it is a pretty hot topic that you will undoubtedly agree with some and disagree with some. We'd love to hear your thoughts!
We chat with Morgan Rodgers, freshman on the Ohio University Bobcats Women's Golf Team.
This fall, Morgan has made an immediate impact preparing for her first regular season of golf this spring. Her success begins with understanding the mental game, and incorporating strategies to stay focused on what is most important – what is within her control.
This is a useful conversation and Morgan gives some really great golf tips to help improve Chris and Pat's golf game to score below 100!
Some experts say that pressure doesn't really exist. Rather, it is something that our minds create. If so, then why does it feel so real? And what does it mean when someone says they "perform best under pressure?"
We have another listener topic request. This conversation came from a coach who asked us about the extra time we spend maintaining our facility and playing field. Enjoy!
150 EPISODES!!!! Thanks for being part of our ongoing conversation! Whether you have listened since 2019 and all 150 episodes or you just found us, we APPRECIATE YOU. Thank you to everyone who sends comments, encouragement, and ideas for our show.
In honor of our listening audience for 150 episodes, this one is a recent conversation brought to us directly by a listener. It's an issue that is all too common in all amateur sports, regardless of age level.
As always, we hope to be useful and to help in some small way to make your athletic experience a little more meaningful.
Today we have a conversation with OHIO University grad student quarterback Parker Navarro.
Parker talks about the lessons he has learned through facing the adversity of a series of injuries, transferring, and finding himself in a backup role on a championship team. He provides invaluable advice and insight into how he has found strength and joy despite these setbacks and frustrations.
It's happening in every state; schools are having difficulty scheduling games for Varsity sports because it seems there are not enough officials to go around. What happened to them? How can we get them back?
Bad performances are a regular part of sports. If you play, coach, or have children who play, there will be bad days on the field and court. How we respond to these bad moments, bad games, and even sometimes bad seasons, can make or break future success. It's crucial that we understand the mindset strategies that we can adopt to be the best we can at responding to bad days.
We would like to present a challenge to all young people – AVOID ADOLESCENSE. Of course, we'll explain what we mean.
The relationship of mutual respect and trust between coach and player is directly related to performance and success. Our relationship with our players is driven by our communication. The culture of our program is built on our communication and the behaviors that follow. As coaches, we need to be mindful of this, take ownership of this reality, and strategize how we will improve.
Here's a topic we have never before discussed on The Coaching Life Podcast, but it's an extremely relevant conversation for just about every youth sports team. On most teams, there will be at least one family, and perhaps many, who struggle whenever there conflict between the ball schedule and their church attendance.
As always, Chris and Pat take on the conversation head-on, discussing many of the variables associated with this and the people it impacts. We hope to provide insight and understanding to help us all navigate this issue with grace.
We continue our conversation for sports parents on some "do's and don'ts" that we recommend to help you and your kids have the best experience possible.
Chris and Pat discuss the recent news of the closing of Alderson Broaddus University. What can we learn from this event?
We're beginning a new series of podcast episodes in which we talk about some things we SHOULD do with ourselves, with our children, with coaches, and with the other parents... as well as some things we should NOT do with each of those persons. If you are the parent of an athlete, you know how tempting it can be to lose our perspective when it comes to our child's participation in sports. Chris and Pat have decided to tackle some of those things in the next two or three episodes, and frame them as "Do's and Don'ts" for sports parents.
Part of the goal of this podcast is to say the quiet parts out loud. We all have things that we think about but don't talk about, and there are conversations we would like to have (or NOT like to have but need to have) but there isn't an occasion for which to have them. That's what The Coaching Life Podcast intends to be: a useful conversation.
(11:20) is where that conversation begins, in case you would like to skip the introductory words and go directly to the topic of ol conversation! Please let us know how we can be useful to you. Thanks for listening!
Chris and Pat are back together for a new episode, playing catch-up from taking some time off to coach their baseball teams this spring. They have lots of stories from the diamond to share.
Chris and Pat are back in the studio together and have a lot of catching up to do. Lots of good conversations to come!
Our guest in this episode is Ohio University quarterback, Kurtis Rourke. At the end of a monumental season for the Bobcats –– winning the MAC East Championship, being the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Vern Smith Leadership Award Winner as the MAC's Most Valuable Player –– Kurtis suffered a season-ending knee injury, and was unable to play the last regular season game, the MAC Championship game, or the upcoming Barstool Sports Bowl Game. Kurtis talks with us about all of the emotions this kind of roller coaster put him through and has a wealth of advice for young athletes and their families.
We hear a lot about needing to get "buy-in" from players and teams, but let's go a little bit deeper and talk about "believe-in." What is it? How can you get it?
Justin walked on at Ohio University and played 5 years (from 2000-2004). He was a prolific high school running back whose name is listed in many OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) record books. At OU, Justin played 12 games his sophomore season and earned his way into the starting position his junior year but suffered a serious knee injury in his first game and was limited to only 6 games his senior season, averaging over 5 yards a carry.
He is now a preacher, a substitute school teacher, and assistant varsity boys soccer Coach. He has coached youth soccer and basketball for the last few years for teams that his sons, daughter and nephews play on. Justin brings a ton of wisdom in this episode. Grab a notebook and enjoy!
Before he was the Bengals quarterback, a Heisman winner, National Champion, and 2-time Ohio High School Gatorade Player of the Year... Joe Burrow was a youth player learning about the game and how he might contribute to it. He has thanked many people along the way, and one of the most common expressions of gratitude you will hear from Joe is his appreciation for his "pee-wee" football coach, Sam Smathers.
From start to finish in this episode, Sam is pure gold... sharing stories not only about Joe Burrow, but about all of the kids who have been blessed to cross his path, and about his coaching philosophies and practices that helped to pave a pathway of many years of success for Athens High School football.
- Sam has co-authored a book that is in the final editing stages at the time of this recording, and we will be sure to provide an update and link once it becomes published.
How much do you think about all of the common things you say and words you use when you are coaching?
It's always a hard conversation, but a necessary one. In this episode, we try to speak to all parties involved: coaches, players, and parents.
There has been a lot of discussion around the sports world about athletes playing through injuries, and some that could potentially have serious consequences. How do we know when we should "play through it" or when it's time to "sit this one out?"
What value do youth programs have for high school Varsity programs? Likewise, what value do Varsity programs have for youth programs?
What would you have to sacrifice to have what you REALLY WANT?
What WILL you sacrifice to have what you really want?
Do those two lists match up?
As coaches of multiple-sport athletes, we need to be intentional about cooperating, coordinating, and corroborating with the other coaches in our school athletic programs in order to truly provide the best experience for our student-athletes without burning them out.
A Little League Baseball pitcher had one get away from him and the pitch struck the batter in the head. A scary moment. The pitcher was visibly upset. The batter was not hurt. He ran to first base. No big deal. Play ball. But then.......
In this episode, Chris and Pat make reference to a book that was discussed in a previous episode. The author is Jonathan Haidt and the title of the book is "The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure"
We are back for a new season of Coaching Life conversations. As long as we can be useful to someone and serve a purpose with this podcast, we will keep recording episodes. Thanks to all of our listeners. Let us know who you are! Email Chris at cstewart1993@gmail.com and Pat at patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
Voice-over introduction provided by www.yourvodude.com
We're in the heart of the high school baseball season and haven't had as much opportunity to connect for conversation, but in anticipation of a couple of big games for both of our teams, we decided to get together and talk about it this week.
It's been raining... and raining... and snowing... and raining... and sleeting... and raining.
But we're choosing to prepare for the sunshine.
We talk about a variety of topics on today's episode. This is the week that Pat and Chris's high school baseball teams meet up with each other on the diamond, and this episode was recorded the day before GAME DAY.
It is a nationwide problem, and our student athletes are going to pay the consequences of it. It's no longer something that is "coming soon," it is here. It's a problem that has solutions, and we can all chip in and help.
Should you define your team's core values? If so, how should you go about it and how should they be viewed in the grand scheme of things?
Chris and Pat reflect after the first day of high school practice, and talk about the importance of expectations for everyone.
Each one of us has a particular realm of ownership and influence in the culture and strategy of our team or organization. What will we do with it?
How do you handle the awkward moments when a well-intentioned coach teaches something to a player that is different than the way you would like things to be done in your program? We discuss the importance of building good relationships of trust and always working with open minds and teachable spirits as coaches.
We dive into the mindset of the best. If you want to be the best, this is how you think.
What a privilege to have Coach Jimmy Burrow, father of Joe Burrow, on to chat with us about the characteristics he sees in his own son that make him relentless, unstoppable, and determined to be the best.
We are excited to bring a brand new season of The Coaching Life Podcast. We kick this one off with a conversation about a national coaches conference that has energized and inspired!
This is the last podcast conversation of 2021, and we want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all of our listeners who are on the journey with us to work and strive toward being the best you can possibly be. We hope this conversation about greatness challenges and inspires you in the turn of the new year.
We will be back on the first week of January, 2022, with Season 6 of The Coaching Life Podcast!
How do you handle a situation where you have a very talented player who doesn't adhere to many of the values you desire for your team members to have? It can be a difficult question to answer.
This conversation is based on an article written by Coach Mike Deegan of Dennison University. Coach Deegan had planned to join us on this episode but we had some technical difficulties connecting with him. Still, his points were made through the article and we hope to get him on The Coaching Life again soon.
If you would like to listen to a previous episode where we talked with Coach Deegan about his book, Let It Rip, you can hear him on Episode 49.
By the time this episode airs it might not be "breaking" news, but it is BIG news nonetheless. Chris Stewart conducts an interview with a very special "guest."
When you are always ready, then you will have a great advantage to seize opportunities when they come to you.
Chris and Pat would like to wish all of our listeners a Happy Thanksgiving. We are grateful for you and the fact that you take time to listen to our podcast. We hope that The Coaching Life has been a blessing.
There is an underlying state of being that both Chris and Pat have. We would like to share it with you and tell you how you can find it.
Using examples from the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, we discuss leadership and team dynamics.
It can be scary to hear your youth athlete say the words, "I don't think I want to play the sport anymore." This scenario actually happens a lot, and so we discuss some ways to handle that, both as a parent and as a coach.
The topic of conversation today is "safetyism." Safetyism is defined as culture that allows the concept of "safety" to creep so far that it equates emotional discomfort with physical danger, and which therefore encourages people to systematically protect one another from the very experiences embedded in daily life that they need in order to become strong and healthy.
The book that we are basing today's conversation is titled "The Coddling of the American Mind" by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt and can be purchased on Amazon.com at this link.
We conduct our first ever interview of a high school athlete. But, when you listen to this young man you will be very surprised that he is a high school student. Coulter is a model example for other high school students who have aspirations to be the best they can be... in sports, in the classroom, and in life.
THANK YOU to all of our listeners who have been part of our 100-episode conversation. We hope to continue for 100 more!
We talk with Matthew Blanchard, JUCO freshman at Bryant and Stratton College in Cleveland, OH about how he powered through some of the setbacks his high school career threw at him to become one of the best players in the state during his senior season, and now he's moved on to college ball.
Failure is part of life. If you're not failing, you're not living.
Take note, this is not just an abstract conversation. In this episode, we'll give some practical steps on how to really respond to our individual failures as they come.
What do we do when our kids' passion doesn't seem to meet our expectations? How can we GIVE more passion to people?
NOTE TO LISTENERS: This episode ends a little abruptly due to some technical issues that was causing hiccups in the recording and making it un-listenable. We apologize, because during that last 10 minutes, Pat dropped some pure audio gold. However, we will make sure that you get that rich content in next week's episode, plus much more!
As always, THANK YOU for listening!
There are three very powerful things that we can all be more intentional at developing with our teams.
Sometimes it's good to take a little break to recharge and remind yourself of why you do what you do. After a couple months off, the guys are ready to get back to doing what they love. Coaching Life!!!!
This is a special episode dedicated to one of our podcast hosts. Pat Martin embodies what The Coaching Life is about, and there is much we can all gain by following his example of loving and serving your community.
Pat and Chris connect for an episode about bad breaks, disappointing moments, and how we handle those.
Chris and Pat connect for an important, touching conversation. You'll just have to listen.
Every moment matters. Whether we're playing a game, practicing, or throughout our lives in general, the "in-between" time is going to either make or break you.
Chris and Pat recorded this episode on the eve of the first high school baseball game of 2021. There was a lot to talk about, so we just titled this episode, "Opening Day." We hope you enjoy!
One year ago this week is when Chris and Pat recorded the last podcast in studio together. All throughout the week of March 13-19 of 2020, things were being cancelled one by one. It was a surreal experience, but how have we used it to become better people, better athletes, better coaches? We reflect a little bit on the pandemic, while looking also at some of the ways we can make sure we are mentally prepared for everything we face.
The fellas have a conversation about the many "other" responsibilities that comes with coaching and being a Head Coach in particular. There are many things that people often do not consider come with the job.
Chris and Pat invite a very special guest onto the podcast to talk about his soon to be released book, "Awakening Courage: Stories of Grit, Resilience, and Toughness." Steve Miller tells stories of how a small, rural southeastern Ohio community in the Appalachian foothills has been able to develop and sustain a culture of winning and excellence. This is one conversation our listeners are going to want to make time for and take to heart. We would encourage you to pull out a pen and notebook, and sit back and enjoy this really interesting conversation.
Pat Martin breaks some big news in this episode and conducts an interview with a special "guest."
In this episode, Chris and Pat break down one of the most important fundamentals and something we all teach our children to do when they are very young. Perhaps we should be more conscious of what and how we are teaching it/modeling it.
Pat and Chris interview special guest, Brody Rodgers, offensive lineman for the Ohio University Bobcats football team, entering his redshirt senior year in 2021. Brody has a really great story that we would encourage all high school athletes and parents of high school athletes to listen closely to. It is a story of persistence, pivoting, dedication, patience, and work ethic. We believe you are going to not only enjoy this conversation, but also gain a wealth of helpful information.
The fellas bring in the new year with discussions on a variety of topics. We even considered titling this episode: Tangents! I guess we just had so much to say and so little time in which to say it.
On a serious note, we look forward to bringing another season of useful content that will encourage and challenge coaches, parents, and players of youth sports everywhere The Coaching Life is listened to!
Please share, subscribe, and review. Thanks, friends!
If you have ambitions of being a coach, then you should probably first play the old game of "Would you rather?" Would you rather... A) Be a coach B) Have friends It's often difficult for coaches to cultivate good friendships, and in this episode, Pat and Chris will talk about that and more!
For the past 9 months, we have been told over and over again what we CAN'T do. In this episode, Chris and Pat speak candidly and passionately about things we CAN and should do to help bring HOPE to today's student-athletes and their families.
The guys continue a series on practical ways to be a great teammate. This is a pursuit that we desire to see everyone embrace. The conversation today includes three things that we would especially like to challenge all of our listeners to take ownership of. This series will be some of the most practical and applicable episodes of The Coaching Life Podcast.
Chris and Pat begin a conversation that we believe will be extremely practical and useful, as we explore 21 ways to be a great teammate.
Unexpected events, failures, injuries, devastating losses... can all have a way of putting us into a holding pattern of shock and disorientation. What do we do next? How do we respond to these unwanted events? This is a tough subject to discuss, but it's helpful to be proactive and intentional about how we respond to these situations.
Chris and Pat have a passion and desire to help others be prepared to respond in the best ways possible. We all have it within us to do so. We hope you will find encouragement from this episode and subsequent episodes that will follow.
Chris and Pat cover a lot of ground regarding the total tryout experience and offer tips and recommendations for everyone involved –– players, coaches, and parents.
We have talked quite a bit about how to handle failure, but what about success? Have you ever considered an intentional approach for preparing to handle success in an appropriate and integrity-filled way? Let's consider these things together.
Chris and Pat share an inspirational story that we hope will be a blessing to our listeners.
Finding the struggle is linked to finding success. Areas that require us to fight... to increase our effort... are the very areas through which achievement comes. Today Pat and Chris discuss how to lead people through struggle, and perhaps sometimes, how to lead them into it (for their betterment)!
This is a SPECIAL EDITION of The Coaching Life Podcast, where the guys step back from the normal conversations about coaching, parenting, or playing amateur sports. Today, we're talking about Pro sports. Specifically, two teams that will meet this Sunday on the gridiron. We also welcome our good friend Lukas Moore back to the podcast as a major contributor to this conversation.
In this episode, Chris and Pat bring up a variety of topics and discuss them separately, in multiple short-but-sweet segments. The conversation consists of things like:
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the kind of company we keep
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failure during the process of making positive changes
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whose opinion matters most
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development vs. results
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the purpose of travel ball
...and more that you will just have to hear for yourself!
What would you say is the most overlooked aspect of youth and high school athletes' development? To be honest, it's probably the same thing that gets overlooked in all of us. In this episode, Chris and Pat talk about perhaps the most important thing to consider, not just for young athletes, but for all of us. They even call up a special guest to ask him to weigh in on the topic and how he has changed his mindset.
In this episode, we discuss a very important rule to put into practice: the "not two in a row rule." Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone makes errors. Everyone screws up a plan... skips a day in the workout routine... but the best have learned to not allow two in a row.
It's not something that you can just hope will happen. It's a skill, and you have to practice it.
But how?
That's what we'll seek to learn today.
In the realm of sports as well as in other areas of life, you may experience someone look at another person and say of them, "He has the IT factor."
What does that mean? We all know that some just perform better than others, and sometimes it's hard to explain why.
If you would like to be someone who has the "it" factor, can you get it?
This is our conversation today. We hope you enjoy!
Chris and Pat have a conversation about a very important practice among those who are great at something. It doesn't matter if you are a coach, a player, a parent, a student, a teacher, or whatever... if you are a human being, this conversation is relevant for you. We hope that you are encouraged and challenged.
Chris and Pat open up a new season of The Coaching Life Podcast by taking time to talk with those who matter most when it comes to the topics this podcast is all about... the kids! In this episode, we hear from a number of different kids between the ages of 10 and 14. The interviews are raw, unscripted, and a lot of fun. We hope you will plan to join us weekly for another season of The Coaching Life Podcast. You can do so by subscribing, and please be sure to share it with others. Spread the love of the game!
The guys received an invitation from local journalist, Alex Hawley, to be interviewed for a newspaper article about the podcast, and so this episode is a little change-up from what we're used to. We're on the other side of the interview. Here's a look into what The Coaching Life Podcast is about, and why we think we will want to keep doing it for another year. Special thanks to Alex for this interview!
The guys give their thoughts about unwritten rules in sports. Why do they seem so important to some people? And should we give much credence to them? Oh, we have our own opinions... and we're not afraid to share them. Enjoy!
The word "Elite" is used to describe a lot of youth sports teams, but do we really ever pause to consider what it means to be elite? That is the topic of conversation in this episode of The Coaching Life with Chris Stewart and Pat Martin.
Have you ever considered the many ways we could be helping our kids to learn the valuable life lesson of taking ownership when they are playing a game such as baseball? That's what Chris and Pat talk about in this episode, with several practical in-game examples included in the dialogue.
In Episode 61, Chris and Pat discuss an important role of coaching... helping our players to evaluate themselves.
It is important to consider what each player's goals are for themselves and then help them to see whether their current course is helping them to arrive at those goals. Sometimes all they need is an honest conversation and encouragement to create the map for themselves that leads to their future goals and vision for the kind of athlete and person they want to be.
After four weeks of silence, Chris and Pat are back to share some insight about how kids in all areas of the country, large cities AND small towns, can create their own opportunities to play college ball.
In today's episode, Chris and Pat talk about something we may not always think about much or pause to consider as we are coaching today's youth athletes. How to instill a competitive fire in them; a wave of righteous anger, if you will, that makes them want to fight back and compete during a game. How to respond whenever it seems like you are getting "bullied" on the field. It's not an easy thing to discuss or to try to come up with the proper words to describe it. But it is certainly an important aspect of competition that ultimately separates the winners from the losers.
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Chris and Pat revisit a conversation about what really matters* when it comes to evaluating our kids' sports performances. Too often, the car ride home includes words and emotions that could be avoided if we truly learned to focus on what really matters.
In this episode, we discuss Chris's book, Building Champions: Coaching, Parenting, and Playing To Win in What Really Matters. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you may order from Amazon, or you can contact Chris directly and he will send you a signed copy.
- This episode was originally published on October 27, 2019.
In today's episode, Chris and Pat talk about their own experiences with returning to play baseball after a long break caused by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This experience has given us a renewed perspective on the game, how we coach it, and how we play it.
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
The guys are excited to be able to talk about youth sports and baseball in the present tense, as teams are beginning to take the field again!
In this episode, we discuss the importance of patience as we begin practicing and preparing our young athletes to play games. What are some of the things we must consider in order to keep their bodies healthy after this long layoff?
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Chris and Pat *revisit a conversation about how teams, families, businesses, etc. can tend to create a culture of mistake avoidance. The idea for this episode came after watching an interview on WOUB Bobcat Sports Showcase. To see the full interview and a lot of other great coverage of the Ohio University Bobcats athletic teams, visit @BobcatShowcase on Twitter.
Also, in this episode we discuss Chris's book, Building Champions: Coaching, Parenting and Playing To Win in What Really Matters. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you may order from Amazon, or you can contact Chris directly and he will send you a signed copy.
- This episode was originally published on August 29, 2019.
This is the second half of our two-part episode with Coach Fred Gibson. At this point, the conversation goes into many different directions as the guys have a lot of fun recalling great memories and discussing the things that make baseball and all youth sports valuable and memorable.
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
It was just like going back into the dugout again with the old ball coach and mentor! Chris and Pat talk with Little League Sr. Division World Series Champion and legendary high school baseball coach, Fred Gibson. As we expected, the conversation with Gibby went on and on and on, and so this will be Part 1 of a two-part episode series. Sit back and enjoy some wonderful stories about baseball and life!
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
What a pleasure it was to be able to talk about coaching with one of the absolute legends of the coaching world. Coach Chaffin has devoted the majority of his coaching career to high school student-athletes. He's one of us! Just a regular guy, but one with SO much wisdom, so much love and passion for helping people. Be sure to have a notebook and pen ready as you listen to this episode!
If you're not yet, you really should be following Coach Chaffin on Twitter. You'll find him at @Gawbage29.
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Pat and Chris have a candid and reflective conversation about things they are missing the most in a world with no sports.
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Kevin Wilson is regarded by many as one of the most respected hitting coaches in the game of baseball. He works behind the scenes as a private hitting consultant to some of the best hitters in Major League Baseball. We are super honored to have him as our guest on Episode 50 of The Coaching Life Podcast.
To see more of Kevin's work and stay connected with him, check out his website at kwbaseball.com and follow him on Twitter @KWBaseball.
You can also click on the following links to purchase a copy of Kevin's books: – The Good Batting Book and Finding Clarity: A Mindful Look Into the Art of Hitting.
EPISODE TIME STAMPS
(00:49) Introduction and opening words
(03:58) A different approach to coaching hitters
(09:01) What is most important when teaching youth hitters
(17:16) The ways in which we have overcomplicated hitting – "hitting is simple, but it's not easy"
(25:21) The approach of instilling confidence
(32:51) Asking questions; being less technical in our coaching communication
(38:32) Coaching the person first, then the player second
(43:17) It only takes 5 minutes to change someone's life
(46:44) What is your view from the batter's box?
(55:24) There is wisdom in simplicity
(56:19) Favorite youth sports memory and closing thoughts
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Coach, author, speaker, mentor... Mike Deegan brings his A-Game on the podcast, discussing leadership, coaching, parenting, youth sports, his book, and so much more! Coach Deegan epitomizes what The Coaching Life Podcast is all about. You are really going to love this episode. To connect more in-depth with Mike Deegan, check out his website, coachmikedeegan.com.
You can also click on the link to purchase a copy of Coach Deegan's book, "Let It Rip: Life Lessons Learned Through Sports."
EPISODE TIME STAMPS
(01:02) Introduction of Coach Deegan and opening words
(04:07) The kind of leadership people are needing today
(09:26) What "winning the day" looks like
(10:40) How the 2020 baseball season ended for Denison Big Red
(14:38) This challenge makes us tougher for the next one
(17:04) What opportunities can we see in this obstacle?
(21:38) Coach Deegan's book
(25:53) We are what we write about
(30:45) Pick-up ball and the things unstructured free play can teach us
(38:00) Youth sports becoming a parental investment; taking away the "hobby"
(43:29) Drop your kids off and let them be
(45:40) What kind of players do you look to recruit to play at Denison University?
(53:04) Coach Deegan's favorite youth sports memory
(59:07) Closing words
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We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
The guys chat with Scripps College of Communication Journalism student, Luke Steiner, about a variety of things... being a college student during COVID-19 and how it is changing how we do everything; the impact this time is having on the sports world; Luke's trip to Manchester, England and the differences between youth sports in the United Kingdom from youth sports in America.
This was a really great conversation with a young man who is wise beyond his years when it comes to understanding the business of sports.
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Please reach out to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
The guys have a really insightful conversation with personal strength trainer, Micaiah Branch, who explains in layman's terms the science behind what it takes to get strong, the difference between building muscle and building strength, and what we should be doing in the weight room to reach peak athletic performance.
Additionally, we discuss some ways to continue building strength during the COVID-19 quarantine and being restricted to our homes with few resources available to use in our personal workouts.
Micaiah would love to connect and help you reach your goals. Below are links for how you can reach out to him today:
- Micaiah Branch Strength and Conditioning Facebook
- Micaiah Branch Personal Facebook Page
- Micaiah Branch Instagram
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Also, please reach out to us! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
While doing our part to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 spread throughout the state of Ohio and USA, Chris and Pat keep The Coaching Life conversation going from remote locations.
In this episode, we discuss the Ohio High School Athletic Association's deliberations about spring sports seasons and we take some time to look at a vitally important principle to embrace during a time like we are currently living in... E+R=O (Event + Response = Outcome.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has shocked our world. Pat and Chris sat down and discussed in real-time how it was impacting the world of sports, locally and nationally. Even as they were speaking, new developments were happening. In fact, from the time this episode was recorded to the date it has posted, it will be interesting to hear how much has changed.
New CANCELED announcements of events, schools, sports... were all being posted as fast as we could refresh our Twitter feeds. The Coaching Life Podcast exists to try to help us navigate through difficult circumstances related to amateur sports. So we hope and pray that our conversation in this episode provides you a little bit of comfort, perspective, and hope in a desperate time.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Chris is in Myrtle Beach watching his daughter's college softball team and Pat is at home in Ohio, but the guys connect remotely and have a conversation about one of the biggest issues that seems to be plaguing youth sports today..... the game no longer belongs to the kids.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Today Chris and Pat speak to one of the most important groups of people in the sports world... the assistant coach! There are many ways to be a great assistant coach, and there are things that can cause you to be a bad assistant coach. Whether you are involved with a college team or a 10U youth team, we hope this episode helps to strengthen your program as you seek to be a great assistant coach!
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Don't get too angry with us just yet! We are including ourselves in the craziness! Using a chapter from Coach Mike Deegan's new book, Let It Rip, Chris and Pat open up about some of the ways we sports parents tend to go a little crazy. If we are willing to consider these things, we believe that this kind of conversation has the potential to create a very positive change in youth sports.
Parents, we are such a HUGE aspect of the total experience. Let us never take this for granted. Challenge yourself to listen to this episode without becoming defensive. Ask yourself, "In what areas of this conversation do I find elements of myself? Honestly."
If you're crazy about your kids, you might want to give this a listen. 🙂
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
In today's episode, Chris and Pat open a few pages from Coaching Life, a book written by Chris Stewart and discuss Three Habits That Kill Teams as well as Three Habits That Build Teams.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Don't miss this episode! So many have the desire to be great. To be the best. To play, work, live at your highest potential. Yet, only a few actually seem to be able to figure out the secret to living at that level, playing the game at that level, working every single day at that level. Perhaps the biggest thing holding all of us back is... COMFORT.
Chris and Pat dive into a book by Tim S. Grover titled, Relentless: From Good To Great To Unstoppable. Grover was a personal trainer for Kobe Bryant, and in this episode, we share some of the stories from Kobe's life that made him UNSTOPPABLE.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of ideas you come up with. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Pat and Chris talk with Brendan Leister, analyst for Pro Football Focus and Quarterbacks Coach at Avon High School in Avon, Ohio. Brendan has coached football at the college, high school, and youth levels. He has a Master's degree in Sports Science from The University of Akron. Brendan has a passion for discussing the philosophy and theory behind all aspects of the game of football. In this episode, we ask Brendan his thoughts and evaluation of Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield, and others. We also discuss high school football and what it takes for teams and athletes to perform at the highest level.
You can find Brendan at leisterfootball.com. He is also very active on Twitter @BrendanLeister.
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Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of ideas you come up with. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
If all we were to accomplish on this podcast is talking about doing things a better way, then it would be a complete waste of time. We aren't interested in just telling people our opinions on how to make the landscape of youth athletics better for everyone involved. We want to DO something as well.
Every great and significant change must begin somewhere, and it usually begins in small ways. In this episode, Pat and Chris talk about a few of the small ways they are planning to contribute to "a better way." They will also challenge you, the listener, to consider ways in which you will answer the question: WHAT CAN I DO?
Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of ideas you come up with. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
Chris and Pat bring back a previous guest to talk about the things that make Joe Burrow great. Those of us who watched him grow up have known for a long time what the rest of the world is finally saying about him. What happened? How did he rise to the level at which he finds himself today? And what does it take for others to get there if they have the same dream? Is it possible? We share our thoughts on all of these things in Episode 37.
Follow us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and by all means, please shoot us a message! You can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
In today's episode, we present a challenge to all Coaching Life listeners in the form of two words.
Follow us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and by all means, please shoot us a message! You can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Thanks for sharing our podcast with your family members, friends, and fellow coaches. Be sure to remind them to SUBSCRIBE so that no one misses a single episode!
-Chris and Pat
Chris and Pat talk NCAA DIII softball with Head Coach of the Waynesburg University Jellow Jackets, Brett Shimek.
Chris and Pat reflect on the past year, which concludes the first season of The Coaching Life Podcast. The guys look toward the new year and discuss an idea for making real improvement in the new year.
Please reach out to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us your thoughts at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com.
Also, be sure to click the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation in 2019, and thanks for sharing it with others! We look forward to bringing more great content in 2020!!!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Welcome to the 12 Days of Coaching, a series of mini-episodes that Chris and Pat are releasing Mon–Friday, twelve days before Christmas Day. We hope these short episodes will keep you encouraged and challenged and we hope they enhance your holiday season!
Without a doubt, one of the hardest things to experience for any Coach, Player, or Parent is the experience of making cuts or being cut from a team. Pat and Chris take a full hour and 20 minutes to break down all of the variables related to making cuts. We are hopeful that this episode can provide some insight and perhaps even some comfort as well as ideas for moving forward.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
While this podcast is mostly focused on speaking to coaches, players, and parents, we believe another very important perspective for us to consider is the perspective of the official. They are as much a part of our amateur sports experience as are players, coaches, and parents. So, we brought an official onto the show to chat with us. Nathan Carroll is licensed in several sanctioning bodies to officiate multiple sports. He comes from a family of officials. He loves the game, and he loves officiating. Most importantly, he is dedicated to learning and becoming the best he can be, all for the sake of the athletes who want a good and fair experience playing the game.
We had a great time with Nathan, and we believe his perspective will help a lot of us to better understand the goal and purpose of those people we call ref, umpire, or official.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of our listeners! Pat and Chris take some time to share some of the things they are thankful for. We hope this episode encourages you as we approach this very special holiday.
It was our pleasure to have Nathan Rourke on the show to discuss his journey to becoming an NCAA DI quarterback and NFL prospect. During his time at Ohio University, Nathan has carved a place for himself in the history books as one of the most iconic quarterbacks in Ohio University and Mid American Conference history. He currently holds and continues to break the record for most total touchdowns in Ohio football history.
More importantly, Nathan is a class act all the way around. A man of devoted faith in Christ. Selfless and humble. You will enjoy getting to know Nathan Rourke a little better as you listen.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
In today's episode, we talk about the not as easy to accept kind of coaching. When coaches get tough on players. Yell. Scream. When they get angry. Passionate. Is there a place and time for it? If so, how often?
PLEASE NOTE: In this episode, we play a segment of a speech that contains explicit language. We just want to be sure that our audience is forwarned.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Chris's daughter, Kaylee Stewart, joins us in today's episode. Kaylee is a freshman at Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania where she is playing softball and studying Marine Biology. In high school, Kaylee not only played but excelled in three sports – volleyball, basketball, and softball – and she was selected as Athlete of the Year for the Athens High School 2019 class of student-athletes.
Kaylee offers some great advice related to being a 3-sport athlete and explains how it can be both fulfilling and beneficial.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Coaches, what does it take to GET BETTER?
Players, what does it take to GET BETTER?
Parents, what does it take to GET BETTER?
The answer to the question is the same for everyone. It's not a secret. It's not complex. It's not difficult to comprehend. Deep down we all truly know what the answer is to getting better and being the best we can be. Chris and Pat discuss these things extensively in today's episode.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
When it comes to talking to our kids about their performance and play, do we focus on what really matters? What kinds of things drive your conversation after their games? This and more is what Pat and Chris discuss on today's episode.
Please feel free to reach out to us via email at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message to us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife.
Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
The guys really had a lot of fun with Lukas Moore in this episode. Lukas is a broadcast journalist who has a ton of passion and lives his life with energy and dedication to his craft. Lukas is a strong advocate for young athletes through the use of media, but he is also a coach and shares a lot of wisdom that he has gained from his experiences in coaching middle school baseball.
P.S. There are some bonus "outtake" moments at the end of this episode. So, be sure to keep it rolling after the final goodbyes.
Please reach out to us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife.
Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Rick Dobnak is the father of Minnesota Twins pitcher, Randy Dobnak. The Dobnak family has had a whirlwind of a summer in 2019, as Randy made the improbable journey from Class-A ball to pitching for the Minnesota Twins in the American League Division Series. What an incredible ride! Rick has some really fun stories to tell about what it has been like to live every baseball dad's dream!
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE and SHARE The Coaching Life Podcast with others! Help us spread the word through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. As always, thanks for listening, and please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
You hear them at every game, it seems. Someone yells a coaching cue from the bleachers. A coach or parent gets on an umpire about a rule violation they think the official missed. But do we all really know the truth about what we are arguing regarding the rules? Are we really sure that the coaching cues we are shouting are actually the best advice for the players?
In this episode, Pat and Chris have some fun discussing a few of the rules myths and odd coaching advice that many people who attend youth ballgames just assume are correct. If you enjoy this episode, let us know. Or, if you have anything at all that you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
Finally, be sure to SUBSCRIBE and SHARE The Coaching Life Podcast with others! Helps us spread the word through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. As always, thanks for listening!
This BONUS episode is from a keynote Chris gave for an assembly of the student body and staff at Meigs High School in Ohio during Homecoming Week. The audio is extracted from video recorded on an audience member's phone (which means the sound quality is low). We believe the principles and lessons shared in this talk are relevant to the many conversations we are having on The Coaching Life Podcast. Thanks for listening! Please SUBSCRIBE and SHARE.
In the studio for Episode 11 is Kenzie Roark, head softball coach for the Ohio University Bobcats. At the time of this recording, Coach Roark is in her second season as Head Softball Coach for the Ohio University Bobcats. In her first season, she put up a very impressive record of 34-21 (12-8 in the Mid American Conference), and entered the MAC post-season tournament as the 3 seed and went on to win their first three games, putting them in winner’s bracket for the Championship game, but Toledo was able to win two in a row and end the Cats season.
Coach Roark has been a Division-I College athlete, playing four years at Virginia Tech, where she became one of the all-time great pitchers in Virginia Tech history. She was the ace of the Hokies’ pitching staff for three of her four years at Virginia Tech and was an Atlantic Coast Conference All-Tournament and Player of the Week selection during her career.
She began her coaching career as a student-assistant at Virginia Tech, and went on to be the pitching coach at East Tennessee State, and then invested 4 great years at University of South Carolina Upstate—a powerhouse in the Atlantic Sun Conference—as the pitching coach there (which, by the way, the Spartans had three 40-win seasons during her time with the team).
In 2018, Ohio University was very fortunate to hire Coach Roark as Head Coach, and it is our great pleasure to welcome Coach Kenzie Roark to The Coaching Life Podcast. We discuss standards and expectations for college athletes, recruiting, and of course player development and how we as parents and coaches of young softball players can support them along the way to reaching their goals.
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Be sure to SUBSCRIBE and SHARE the show with others. You can do so through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. And, if you would be so kind as to leave a review in whatever podcast app you use, that would be wonderful, and it will help us to be able to get the show out to as many listeners as possible!
If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
For our 10th episode of The Coaching Life Podcast, the guys respond to some questions and comments they have received from listeners. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to hear Chris and Pat address on the show, please reach out to us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife.
Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Joining us for Episode 9 is Austin Dunfee. Austin comes on the show to speak as one who fully understands the value of "development." Austin attended Shawnee State University. As a pitcher for the Bears, he still holds the University’s records for career wins (27), strikeouts in a season (82), and complete games in a season (13). During his time playing at Shawnee, his teams brought home one conference title and one championship title. Austin also played summer ball in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League for the Southern Ohio Copperheads, and in 2011 finished that summer season with a 0.48 ERA. After playing for the Copperheads, he had the privilege to work as an assistant coach for both, his alma-mater at Shawnee State and also the Copperheads. In the summer of 2019, he was honored to be named the head coach of the Copperheads, in which the team was just one game back from a playoff berth, finishing third in the South Division with a record of 23-18.
Austin has so much valuable information to share with us about the college recruiting process, what coaches are looking for, and where to best invest your time and energy if you are looking to get recruited to play college ball. If you would like to reach out to Coach Dunfee, you can find him on Facebook and Twitter, or email him at Dunfee15@yahoo.com.
Be sure to SUBSCRIBE and SHARE the show with others. You can do so through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. And, if you would be so kind as to leave a review in whatever podcast app you use, that would be wonderful, and it will help us to be able to get the show out to as many listeners as possible!
If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
Our second BONUS episode comes from receiving several requests to go into more detail about strength and conditioning. So, Chris and Pat sat down and discussed their thoughts on strength training young male and female athletes. The guys talk about everything from training 7 and 8 year olds to outlining a sample high school softball and baseball strength program.
Please reach out to us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com. You can also comment or direct message us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife. Also, be sure to hit the SUBSCRIBE button so you don't miss any new episodes. Thanks for joining the conversation, and thanks for sharing it with others!
Our first guest on The Coaching Life Podcast is Brock Stewart, the son of co-host Chris Stewart. Brock is a college baseball player at Alderson Broaddus University, an NCAA DII school in Philippi, WV. Some of the conversation topics Pat and Chris discuss with Brock are:
- Recruiting and what are the most important things a high school athlete can do to get recruited to play college ball
- Some of the biggest differences between high school ball and college ball
- A day in the life of a college athlete
- The role travel ball plays in recruitment
- Playing with friends vs playing for exposure
- Strength training
Enjoy! And please SUBSCRIBE and SHARE the show with others. You can do so through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. And, if you would be so kind as to leave a review in whatever podcast app you use, that would be wonderful, and it will help us to be able to get the show out to as many listeners as possible!
If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
BONUS EPISODE: This is Part Two of mapping out a sample year in the life of a Player Development Program. In this episode Chris and Pat continue walking through the calendar months of November through July, discussing the various things that might be occurring organizationally in a Player Development Program.
Please SUBSCRIBE and please SHARE the show with others. You can do so through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means possible. And, if you would be so kind as to leave a review in whatever podcast app you use, that would be wonderful, and it will help us to be able to get the show out to as many listeners as possible!
If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
This is Part One of a two-part episode in which Chris and Pat map out a sample year in the life of a Player Development Program. In this episode the guys begin in the month of August and walk us through various activities that would be offered through October. Be sure to look for Part 2 (Episode 7) for discussion on what would happen in the months of November through July.
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If you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
Chris and Pat join in a remote conversation about how teams, families, businesses, etc. can tend to create a culture of mistake avoidance. This idea for a quick, raw BONUS episode came after watching an interview on WOUB Bobcat Sports Showcase. To see the full interview and a lot of other great coverage of the Ohio University Bobcats athletic teams, visit @BobcatShowcase on Twitter.
Also, in this episode we discuss Chris's book, Building Champions: Coaching, Parenting and Playing To Win in What Really Matters. If you are interested in purchasing a copy of the book, you may order from Amazon, or you can contact Chris directly and he will send you a signed copy.
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Pat shares a theory that may help explain part of the problem with today's youth ball structures. Something is missing, an important piece of the natural maturation process as kids are learning to play sports. The guys discuss some ideas for how to help bring some of those missing dynamics back into today's practices and team activities.
If you are enjoying listening to the show, please be sure to SUBSCRIBE and please be sure to SHARE it with others, through social media, word of mouth, or whatever means you can. Also, if you have anything you would like to share with us, please feel free to reach out at cstewart1993@gmail.com or patrick_martin@yahoo.com.
Chris and Pat discuss the value of coaches working together in a Player Development Program in order to train themselves to be the best they can be... for the kids' sake. Whenever we keep in the forefront of our minds that everything we do is to help the kids have the most meaningful and memorable experience playing youth sports that they can possibly have, then we are living out the mission of PDP.
Chris and Pat continue the conversation about the Player Development Program by emphasizing a major component of the motivation behind PDP: LOVING PRACTICE. Being energized by practice. Coaching practice well. But this one is not just conceptual. In this episode Chris and Pat describe a very specific way to make a common part of practice more effective and engaging.
PDP = Player Development Program. Chris and Pat begin laying the foundation for a Player Development Program model for youth baseball and softball.
Pilot episode for The Coaching Life Podcast. Chris Stewart and Pat Martin discuss a plan for helping to improve the landscape of youth sports, especially youth baseball and softball. It starts with providing support and training for coaches as well as parents, and it continues with generating an energy and love for the development of young players. This is just the beginning. Come join the conversation with us.