Way of Champions Podcast

In 2019, Kevin Kirk was voted PGA Coach of the Year. Kevin Kirk is one of the top golf coaches in the world. He is a deep thinker, culture creator, and ll-around great guy. We talk bout how to incorporate mental training to golfers, talking with parents, preparing for the national stage as an athlete…you do not want to miss this one!       Highlights from the Podcast: Kevin talks about the idea of “Kaizen” and how it effects his coaching How important is it for a coach to know the story of each of their athletes?  What role does “trust” play in a coach-athlete relationship? Keven remembers his first Way of Champions Conference  How does a coach in an individual sport create a great culture? Kevin offers some insight on how Tiger has been so successful over the years  Changing the word “fear” to “excitement” to help an athlete manage energy levels  Kevin explains why coaching is really teaching awareness  How important is playing golf in the business world? How can we intentionally create a space for elite athlete performance? How can we use storytelling in our coaching?   Announcements:   5th Annual Way of Champions Conference registration is open! We will be in Colorado Springs, CO June June 26-28. Click here for more information.        Help support the podcast and become a Podcast Champion …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. Check out https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions for more information.

How do you get buy-in from athletes? Why is it important to not try and fit players into a system? How can being a creative thinker make you a better coach? Join us as we answer these questions and much more of Gary Gait, considered by many as the greatest lacrosse player of all-time.      Gary is currently the head coach of the women's lacrosse team at Syracuse University. Gary has won championships as a collegiate and professional coach. When Gary was playing, he was a 4-time All-American at Syracuse and has been inducted into the United States Lacrosse National Hall of Fame, as well as the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame.       Highlights from the Podcast: Gary tells the story of how him and Jerry met Growing up in British Columbia and finding Lacrosse How can a coach create buy-in for learning sports psychology techniques? Gary talks about the lessons learned by losing 4-consecutive championships The idea of “never stand still” as a coach Why is it important to help players be great problem solvers? Howdy you balance being a parent and a coach? What are some important qualities for an assistant coach?  What are some differences between coaching women and men? Gary describes characteristics of great coaches     Gary Gait was a four-time All-American for the Syracuse Orange men's lacrosse team from 1987-90 (including first-team honors from 1988 to 1990), and was on three NCAA championship-winning teams. He twice won the Lt. Raymond Enners Award, given to the most outstanding college lacrosse player, in 1988 and 1990. Gait holds the Syracuse career goals record at 192 and the single-season goals record at 70, an NCAA record until 2008. In 1997, the NCAA Lacrosse Committee named Gait, along with his twin brother and Syracuse teammate, Paul, to the 25th Anniversary Lacrosse team.         Resources mentioned: "Air Gait” video of Gary jumping over the net to score Championship Productions Becoming A Champion Lacrosse Player with Gary Gait: Shooting Techniques and Drills DVD Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports for Extraordinary Performance in Athletics, Business, and Life, by Jerry Lynch Every Moment Matters, by John O’Sullivan         Connect with Gary Gait Twitter: @garygait      Announcements: 5th Annual Way of Champions Conference registration is open! We will be in Colorado Springs, CO June June 26-28. Click here for more information.        Help support the podcast and become a Podcast Champion …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. Check out https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions for more information.

We are super excited to have USMNT Legend and current SD Loyal Head Coach Landon Donovan on the podcast, joined by his assistant coach Carrie Taylor.  Many of you know Donovan, the all time leading scorer for US Soccer, 6x MLS Champion, and the namesake of the Major League Soccer MVP award. Taylor is the only woman currently coaching professional soccer in the US, and is highly experienced on all levels of the game. In this great podcast, we cover a variety of topics.  Highlights from the Podcast: How to create a positive environment for a productive tryout Why do some athletically gifted athletes succeed and others do not? How does a coach prepare themself to coach at the highest level? Landon describes what it is going to feel like to be part of this team. Carrie shares with what they look for in an athlete  Landon describes how to show up mentally prepared to perform at a high level How and why to be vulnerable and authentic with coaching staff and players How did Landon’s parents help him become a confident, independent player?  What makes Carrie the most upset about coaching? Carrie and Landon discuss when they feel pressure How Carrie and Landon will define success this season    Resources mentioned: Legacy, by James Kerr  The Inner Game of Tennis, by W. Timothy Gallwey Why Landon Donovan made Carrie Taylor his first assistant, and what it could mean for women coaching men's soccer, article link  Every Moment Matters, by John O’Sullivan     Connect with Our Guests Landon: @LandonDonovanSD Carrie: @CT_SDLoyal   Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses.   We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes! A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron. Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

From the football field, to the stage, to becoming a best-selling, author Bo Eason joins us on the Way of Champions Podcast to discuss peaking in youth sports, competing against difficult opponents, and the mentality it takes to be the best in the world.     Highlights from the Podcast: Bo shares a defining moment in his life when he was told he was too small to play football Why most people are lousy at selecting future talent in young athletes Why don’t most high school stars go on to be professionals? What happens when NBA players reach their peak at 15-years-old and why is this happening? How important is it for young athletes to compete against difficult opponents? At what point should an athlete peak? What do you say to a child who’s friends are “playing small” and look at wanting to be a success as being conceited? What did Bo learn the most from being in the NFL? What was it like competing against one of the fastest men in the world? How important is it to be a “5-Star” athlete? What was the most important lesson Bo learned by playing with Jerry Rice? How did Bo end up in acting and getting mentored by Al Pacino? What is the BEST advice Bo wants EVERYONE to know and do?   Bo Eason started his career in the NFL as a top pick for the Houston Oilers. Continuing on with the San Francisco 49ers, during his 5-year career Bo competed beside and against some of the greatest players of his generation.   After his football career ended, he branched out into acting and wrote a one-man play called Runt of the Litter that had an extended off-Broadway and 50- city national run.   Now in his third act, as a speaker and leadership coach, he trains some of the most successful people in the world— athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, C-suite execs—on how to communicate for maximum impact and success. He has consulted for clients like Advisors Excel, Morgan Stanley, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Mass Mutual, Guardian, Merrill Lynch and Bank of America.     Resources mentioned: There's No Plan B for Your A-Game: Be the Best in the World at What You Do, by Bo Eason Every Moment Matters, by John O’Sullivan Super Bowl 49: Not one starter was a 5-star recruit out of high school, by Igor Mello The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle Book Extras: https://boeasonbook.com     Connect with Bo Eason Twitter: https://twitter.com/boeason Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boeason21 Website: https://boeason.com   Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses.   We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes! A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron. Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

If the shoe fits, performance improves! That is the message our guest this week is so passionate about sharing. Dr. Bob Weil is a sports Podiatrist & host of “The Sports Doctor”, bbsradio.com/thesportsdoctor, a live weekly hour show featuring guests from all aspects of sports medicine, fitness & Wellness. We discuss      Highlights from the Podcast: How does the way a shoe fits improve performance? What three things does Dr. Bob recommend when it comes to shoes? Chose the shoe that is designed for the sport. Be fitted properly. If there are constant concerns, consult a podiatrist. What role does genetics play in foot problems? If kids need over-the-counter drugs to participate in sports, maybe we should re-evaluate the situation. What are the two best exercises to strengthen feet? How do you know when a child rally wants to play only one sport? Dr. Bob shares a checklist of things to look for with problems stemming from foot problems      Dr. Bob has treated & worked with some of the world’s great athletes in all sports at all ages. He was recently inducted into the prestigious National Fitness Hall of Fame & has Co-authored “#HeySportsParents - A Guide for any Parent with a Child in Sports”.     Resources mentioned: Every Moment Matters, book by John O’Sullivan Link #heysportsparents, book by Dr. Bob Well Link

Dr. Jay Martin, Head Men’s Soccer Coach for Ohio Wesleyan for the past 42 years is the winningest coach in college men’s soccer history. We talk with Coach Martin about the importance of making practice fun, how kids have changed in the past 43 years of coaching, and how to use player ideas to improv practice.       Highlights from the Podcast: What brings Coach Martin back coaching after 4-+ years and two national championships? How have things changed in collegiate sports over the past 40+ years? The importance of creating an enticing practice.  How does Coach Martin handle sport/academic conflicts? How have kids changed in 43 years, and if so, how? What is the difference between a coach and a trainer? Coach Martin discusses how to engage players to improve practice  How do you prepare an athlete to sit the bench for the first or second year?   Under Martin’s guidance, Ohio Wesleyan was the winningest men’s soccer team in the NCAA — regardless of division — during the 1980s, compiling a winning percentage of .815 to top such programs as Indiana, UNC-Greensboro and UCLA. The Battling Bishops bettered that during the 1990s, compiling a winning percentage of .825, and improved upon that during the 2000s, with a winning percentage of .827.     Resources mentioned: Every Moment Matters, John O’Sullivan Link       Connect with Dr.Jay Martin  Twitter: Ohio Wesleyan Soccer  Instagram:  Website: http://drjaymartin.com   Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes!  A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month  A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron. Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

What is it like to be be competing to be the best in the world at your sport? In this week’s episode, we talk with author and Olympian Annie Vernon about why sport psychology is as important to understand as building physical strength, how to build confidence and stay motivates, and what to do the you or your athlete has Raceday jitters.  Highlights from the Podcast: Annie shares how she got into rowing as a child  Does coming in second mean failure? How did Annie recover from the results at the 2008 Olympics? Annie discusses where the title of her book Mind Games came from.  Why is mental skills training looked at with a negative stigma? Annie shares ideas on specific sport psychology skills from her book What does confidence mean and how do you build it? Why do coaches have to be careful about he words they use? How to deal with Raceday jitters.  Everyone has their “one moment” in their sport…how do you feel about it now? With nearly a decade at the top of Britain’s most successful Olympic sport, Annie has a proven track record in the cauldron of seven World Championships and two Olympic Games. She became a World Champion for the first time in 2007 and this set the scene for an assault on the Beijing Olympics in 2008, where their crew of four attempted to be the first British women’s rowing team to become Olympic Champions. Read more about Annie here: http://www.annievernon.co.uk/about-annie-vernon/ Resources mentioned: Mindgames - Determination, doubt, and lucky socks: an insider’s guide to the psychology of athletes by Annie Vernon  The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown Sexism in elite sport exists but men and women are different — let’s celebrate that by Annie Vernon  Connect with Annie Vernon: Twitter: @annievernongb Instagram: @annievernongb Website: http://www.annievernon.co.uk Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: • Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes!   • A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month   • A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron.   • Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

This week on the Way of Champions Podcast, we welcome back Amanda Visek, a certified mental performance coach and associate professor at George Washington University. Dr. Visek has contributed to some of the most incredible research out there on youth sports. During our chat, we discuss why fun is looked upon so poorly in youth sport, what are the similarities between coaching boys and girls, and how kids from ages 8 and 18 define fun. Dr. Visek has been a huge inspiration for John’s new book, Every Moment Matters, out this week! Highlights from the Podcast: Dr. Visek helps us to understand her recent work with youth sports Using concept maps to help kids have fun in sports Why do coaches think some athletes want it to be fun and some want sport to be competitive? Dr. Visek explains why fun is synonymous with development What were the differences between younger and older athletes? Are team dynamics between 8-year-olds and 16-year-olds different? What are some differences between what boys and girls said was fun about playing sports? What are the key takeaways coaches can use to make the sport experience better for their athletes? What does vulnerability have to do with good coaching? What is the biggest takeaway from all the research? Amanda J. Visek, PhD, CMPC is an Associate Professor in the Department of Exercise & Nutrition Sciences in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., USA. Her translational approach to scientific research has focused on the application of pediatric sport psychology to issues of public health, namely improving child and adolescent health outcomes by establishing sport participation as a public health practice through safe, positive physical activity and human movement experiences that are fun. Her federally funded, applied research includes the FUN MAPS, the latest sport science advancement capturing attention from local grassroots communities to national and international sport organizations. The FUN MAPS are the scientific blueprints for the fun integration theory, the first-ever fully conceptual framework for optimizing youth’s positive sport experiences, both in their childhood and through their adolescence. Her work has been featured nationally in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Huffington Post, ESPNW, the N.Y Times for Kids, U.S. News & World Report, National Public Radio, CBS Radio, ABC News, NBC News, NBC Sports, FOX News and many others, while also being featured globally. She has authored over 29 peer-reviewed papers, 7 book chapters, and given more than 145 refereed and invited talks around the world. The recipient of early career achievement awards from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology and the American Psychological Association’s Division 47, she is committed to leveraging children’s physical literacy via the most fun sport experiences possible. Resources mentioned: WOC #30 What Makes Sports Fun for Athletes of All Ages with Amanda Visek, PhD. (Podcast) Click here to see a list of Dr. Visek’s publications WOC Podcast #6: USOC Coaching Education Director Chris Snyder (Podcast) Quality Coaching Frame Work (PDF) Connect with Amanda Visek Twitter: @AJVisek Email: AVisek@gwu.edu Website: Click here

Dan Abrahams is a sport psychologist who works alongside individuals, teams, coaches and organizations globally. He is known for his passion to de-mystify sport psychology and for creating simple to use performance techniques. Dan is a returning guest to the show (see episode #003) and it was again an incredible conversation. We discuss ways an athlete can establish a mental framework for success, how much of our performance we control, and we have a debate on whether attitude, energy and effort are in the control of the athlete.    Highlights from the Discussion: Dan talks about the different strategies he uses to help athletes perform at their best What do stomping “ANTS" and focusing on “Controllables" have to do with performance? How much of our performance do we control? What does a mental framework look like for a typical athlete? Dan explains the importance of self-talk for any athlete  How to manage pain by taking control of the inner dialogue with the self Understanding the psycho-social model of learning for athletes  How do we help coaches write sessions plans that increase learning?  Why Dan believes Attitude, Energy, and Effort are not controllable How a small turn of language can help an athlete better understand how to improve their behavior What has Dan learned by having his own podcast The Sport Psych Show   A former professional golfer and PGA qualified, Dan has a First Class Honours degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Sport Psychology. He is registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), meaning he is an accredited psychologist and bound by the HCPC’s code of conduct which emphasises confidentiality, evidence of professional development, safe practice, and standards of proficiency. Dan is the author of several sport psychology booksas well as the founder of the Dan Abrahams Soccer Academy.   Resources: The Sport Psych Show, podcast by Dan Abrahams #003 Way of Champions Podcast with EPL Sport Psych Dan Abrahams  Click here for Dan Abraham Books on Amazon Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance by Alex Hutchenson   Connect with Dan Abrahams: Twitter:  @DanAbrahams77 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danabrahamssoccer/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwm6s7NBEddS_QtdnEn6-WQ Website: https://danabrahams.com     Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes! A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron.  Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions

FA National Women's Coach Developer, Amy Price shares her unique approach to player development as she shares how coaches can use the principles of video game design to engage in their development, setting challenges, designing tasks and encouraging problem-solving.    Highlights from the Discussion: How to gain trust of a new team Assessing what a team needs from a coach  How does video game design mirror great practice strategies  Can we create a ‘flow-zone” for multiple players at one time? How can we make players pleasantly unpleasant? Finding the balance between hard and fun What are the elements of video games that are applicable to sports practice? The 5 video game strategies that can be used with athletes  Connect with Amy Price: Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyprice_10 Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Amy_Price9     Support the Podcast! Become a Podcast Champion! …and get FREE access to ALL of our online courses. We are now offering you the ability to contribute as a Podcast Champion, (https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions) for as little as a cup of coffee per month (OK its a Venti Mocha), to help us up the ante and provide even better interviews, better sound, and an overall enhanced experience. Plus, as a $10 per month Podcast Super-Champion, you will have access to never before released and bonus material, including: • Downloadable transcripts of the podcasts, so you don't have to crash your car trying to take notes!   • A monthly discussion with John, James, Jerry, and other special guests talking about the previous month's episodes and answering some of the FAQs we received that month   • A code to get free access to our online course called "Coaching Mastery," usually a $97 course, but yours for free for becoming a patron.   • Access to an online community of coaches like you who are dedicated listeners of the podcast, and will be able to answer your questions and share their coaching experiences.   Thank you for all your support these past two years, and a special big thank you to all of you who become part of our inner circle, our patrons, who will enable us to take our podcast to the next level. https://www.patreon.com/wayofchampions