NSCA’s Coaching Podcast, Episode 10: Jim Davis

Jim Davis, Director of the Good Athlete Project, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about developments in high school coaching, options for how to structure and fund a high school position, coaching for kindness, and the application of cognitive neuroscience to fitness and exercise.

Jim Davis has studied at Harvard University, Northwestern University, and Knox College. He is the Founder of the Good Athlete Project, Director of the Illinois High School Powerlifting Association, and the Staff and Student Wellness Coordinator at New Trier High School. He presents internationally on human development in athletics; and his written work has appeared in The Harvard Crimson, American Football Monthly, and This is AFCA; and was recently recognized as one of the National Interscholastic Swim Coach Association’s (NISCA) Magazine’s Best of 2016.

Find the Good Athlete Project on Twitter: @Coach4Kindness | Find Scott on Twitter: @scottcaulfield

Show Notes

“Chase the work that you’re willing to do.” - 2:48

“Under 1% of the [HS] athletic population will get money to go play... What we really try to instill in [our athletes] is that it’s not about the end game. We’re not doing this because there’s a pro contract sitting out there for you. We’re doing this because there are so many other life lessons to learn from this.” – 10:51

“Promoting health and wellness in a community: that on its own is worthwhile.” – 11:23

“There’s value in consistency. There’s value in showing up every day. You’ll see progress... In all of education, there’s probably no more clear demonstration of ‘you put in this much work and you’ll see something on the back end.’” – 11:49

“You show up every day: you work, you improve. There are very few areas of life where you can see so cleanly how that works.” - 12:12

“‘Sports gone wrong,’ that’s a headline every day. ‘Sports gone right,’ that doesn’t make headlines but it’s something we’re pretty heavily involved in.” - 15:07

“We’re actually deliberately trying to coach for kindness.” – 14:21

“I think exercise-induced neuro-enhancement... is what will change education for the better, once it is fully adopted and practitioners understand how to implement it. And I think it’s going to save physical education.” – 18:28

On managing stress and competing demands: “When you are doing the thing that you are doing, do that thing.” – 28:52

On changing culture: “If [one thing] strength and conditioning does is support people and make them more safe on the field, then we need to break down the barrier between female athletes and the weight room.” – 38:00

“Open dialogue has to start from the top down. Otherwise what you do is... put the top on top and everyone else talks among themselves, and that can be a toxic environment.” – 41:23

“The Good Athlete Project aims to help people realize their potential through athletics.” – 42:50

“One of the biggest keys to leadership is listening.” – 46:30