

Way of Champions Podcast
John O'Sullivan
The Way of Champions Podcast is hosted by Dr. Jerry Lynch and John O'Sullivan, team culture and performance specialists. Each week we connect you with the top minds in sports, coaching, leadership, and building championship programs so you can take your athletes and teams to the next level.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 20, 2018 • 1h 11min
#62 "What is your team's why?" How outcomes are both purpose and process driven with Middlebury College AD Erin Quinn
#62"What is your team's why?" How outcomes are both purpose and process driven with Middlebury College AD Erin Quinn What if your team was outcome-aware, but process and purpose-driven? What kind of results would you get if there was an undeniable and shared purpose and everyone was focused on the process of being their very best every day? To hear about great outcome-aware, purpose and process-driven teams, listen to our latest podcast. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 6:35 What makes Middlebury a great program (Jerry Lynch) 16:15 "It is good to be outcome aware but purpose and process-driven" 35:30 The next frontiers in sports are the mind and the spirit 43:15 How does Erin define quality coaching and what does he look for when hiring 48:45 Every interview, every recruiting talk, every season should begin with one question 56:45 A National Championship without a strong purpose is hollow 1:05:15 "Ask me again in 20 years"…on whether I do well as a coach About Erin Quinn Erin Quinn is now in his 12th year as Middlebury College's Director of Athletics. Under his tutelage, the school recorded 10-straight top-five finishes in the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings. During the 2011-12 academic year, Middlebury captured its first Directors' Cup title. Quinn is a 1986 graduate of Middlebury College, where he was a member of the football team, captaining the squad his senior year. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, working with the lacrosse and football programs in the year following his graduation. After a year at Middlebury, Quinn moved on to Tufts University, where he was an assistant coach in lacrosse and football while earning his master's degree in teaching. After two years at Tufts, Quinn landed his first head coaching job, heading up the men's lacrosse program at Lake Forest College in Illinois. Following a year at Lake Forest, Quinn returned to Middlebury in 1990 as an assistant coach in lacrosse and football. The following year, he was named head coach of the men's lacrosse team, while continuing his football duties. Quinn directed the men's lacrosse program at Middlebury for 15 seasons, with his final campaign taking place in the spring of 2006 where he amassed an amazing 202-38 career record. His .842 winning percentage is second among his peers in the history of Division III lacrosse. He led the team to 10 NCAA tournament appearances in an 11-year span, while capturing all six NESCAC championships. His teams won three-consecutive NCAA championships (2000, 2001, 2002). Quinn is a five-time winner of the New England Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (NEILA) Division III Coach of the Year award, earning the College Lacrosse USA Division III National Coach of the Year award in 2001. He also earned NESCAC Coach of the Year honors in 2004. Quinn was elected to the New England Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 2003 and his teams have twice won the James "Ace" Adams Sportsmanship Award from the National Intercollegiate Lacrosse Officials Association (NIOLA). He was the winner of an outstanding contribution award in 2004, given by the Vermont chapter of the U.S. Lacrosse organization. Get in Touch Twitter: @MIddAthletics Website: Middlebury College Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

May 14, 2018 • 53min
#61 Dan Coyle, NYT Bestselling Author of The Talent Code and The Culture Code, on The Four Most Powerful Words a Leader Can Say, and Other Secrets of Highly Successful Teams
"I screwed that up." Imagine asking a member of the Navy Seals what makes a great leader, and that it is the answer you receive. One of the toughest people on the planet showing vulnerability, failure, and weakness. According to Daniel Coyle, this ability to find weakness is what makes great teams strong. This is a must listen podcast for anyone who works with teams. Hear more about what it takes to build great cultures. Show Notes 2:00 How a little girl and a tennis ball sparked The Culture Code 9:30 Greg Popovich's does two things: he tells you the truth and he loves you to death 12:00 Pound the Rock 18:30 What is safety and why do great cultures need to have it? 27:00 The four most important words a leader can say 37:00 Culture is fully within our control 44:30 The myth of cultural fit? About Daniel Coyle Daniel Coyle is the New York Times bestselling author of The Talent Code, The Little Book of Talent, The Secret Race (co-authored with Tyler Hamilton), Hardball: A Season in Projects, and other books. Winner (with Hamilton) of the 2012 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Prize, he is a contributing editor for Outside Magazine, and works as a special advisor to the Cleveland Indians. Coyle lives in Cleveland, Ohio during the school year and in Homer, Alaska, during the summer with his wife Jen, and their four children. Click here for information on arranging a speaking engagement. Get in Touch Twitter: @DanielCoyle Website: http://danielcoyle.com Buy the Books The Culture Code: https://amzn.to/2JHWW6M The Talent Code: https://amzn.to/2I5cF2H Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

May 7, 2018 • 1h
#60 "We don't put kindergarteners in big chairs and huge desks, but we ask them to play on big fields with adult rules" with Dr. Stephen Norris, world renowned LTAD expert.
When it comes to setting up classrooms for children, we get it. Everything in the school, including the restrooms, are kid sized, because we understand they are not adult-sized. Why do we continue to insist on full-size fields, big equipment, and adult rules when it comes to youth sports? If you agree with Dr. Norris in the video clip, listen in to the entire episode for more great insights. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 5:55 Stephen found many athletes vying for the Olympics were not actually prepared for the elite level 16:40 Coaches have total control over the environment they create and MUST pay attention to the psychosocial aspects of sport 28:40 Growth and development doesn't care about competition 39:25 Three critical words for youth sport: people, programs, and places in order of importance 47:10 Kids love to compete, adults love to compare 52:25 What is the one thing you would change in youth sports? 56:25 How to connect with Stephen About Stephen Norris Originally from England, Norris was the Director of Sport Physiology & Strategic Planning at the Canadian Sport Centre Calgary for the past three Winter Olympic cycles (2002, 2006 and 2010), focusing on Canada's winter sport teams. He acted as the central performance consultant for the Own The Podium initiative leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. He has worked with Hockey Canada for the past 15 years, most notably with the National Women's Team program for 12 of those years. In addition, Norris is a member of the Sport Physiology Group/Altitude Research Group, headed by David Smith, within the Human Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary. He is a recognized authority on long-term athlete development and talent nurturing systems. Most recently, Norris was appointed adjunct professor (applied physiology) at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alta., after being an adjunct assistant professor (applied physiology) at the University of Calgary for the past decade. Norris is primarily involved with "sliding and gliding" sports (those on ice, snow and water) such as hockey, all disciplines of skiing, snowboarding, luge, skeleton and bobsleigh. He's also interested in sailing and swimming. He has been on the Board of Directors for Swimming/Natation Canada, Cross Country Canada/Ski du Fond Canada and Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, and is also a strong advocate for sport and recreation both locally and nationally. On a personal note, Norris has extensive experience in harsh environmental situations and extreme human performances. He is an avid board sailor, snowboarder, mountain biker and paraglider, and also enjoys squash, tennis and golf. Source: Sleave Consulting and Canadian Sports Centre Calgary Get in Touch Website: stephenrnorris.com Twitter: @1_StephenNorris Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Apr 30, 2018 • 1h 6min
#59 "I Like Recruiting Farm Kids!" How 3x NCAA Champion UConn Field Hockey Coach Nancy Stevens Builds Championship Teams
Nancy Stevens wrote one short sentence on the locker room mirror prior to the start of the 2017 season. She then repeated that season before her UConn Field Hockey team won the National Championship. One short sentence that empowered them, loosened them up, gave them confidence. What did she write? Show Notes 6:20 How Nancy got started down the coaching path 11:50 Your team WILL have a culture, be proactive in shaping it 17:20 How do you recruit those inherent character traits? 27:35 Have we created athletes who care more about getting than giving? 32:55 The harder you try to win, the harder it is to get there 50:20 Once you achieve success, how do you sustain it? 58:35 You have to work with both sides of the brain About Nancy Stevens Three-time national champion University of Connecticut field hockey coach Nancy Stevens and the word success are synonymous. Having completed her 28th season at Connecticut and her 39th overall as a head coach, Stevens has firmly secured the tradition of UConn field hockey among the nation's best. Recognized as one of the top collegiate field hockey coaches in the nation, she has compiled an impressive 662-181-24 record for a .777 winning percentage over her previous 39 seasons. Most recently, Stevens led the Huskies to their fifth national championship and third in five years, while guiding the program to its first undefeated season (23-0) and captured the sixth perfect season in the history of the NCAA sport. Just a few weeks prior, she led UConn to its sixth-straight BIG EAST Tournament title, 17th overall, including its 17th-ever BIG EAST Regular Season Championship. This years trip to the Final Four marked the program's 15th overall showing in the NCAA semifinals and fifth-straight appearance. In 2013, Stevens became the all-time winningest coach in NCAA Division I Field Hockey history, surpassing Old Dominion coach Beth Anders as the sport's all-time winner. Get in Touch Website: UConn Huskies Field Hockey Email: Nancy.stevens@uconn.edu Twitter:@UConnFHockey Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Apr 23, 2018 • 59min
#58 What Are the Most Important Leadership Traits to Teach Young Athletes and Other FAQs with Coach Reed Maltbie and John O'Sullivan
Did you ever just want to quit doing what you are doing? How do you handle someone who sabotages your work? How do you help athletes learn without lecturing all the time? What are your thoughts on coaching licenses? Coach Reed and John tackle these Frequently Asked Questions and more in our most recent podcast. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 1:30 What are some of the best leadership traits? 4:50 Have you ever just wanted to quit and how did you get through it? 9:35 How do you handle someone who openly opposes your style and sabotages you (intentionally or unintentionally) 17:35 How do you help athletes learn without lecturing all the time? 21:05 Who are some of the mentors in your life that have helped you? 25:45 How do you make practices less scripted and involve more decision-making from players? 30:50 How do you approach a sport or coach steeped in traditional methods? 33:35 What do you think of coaching courses and club curriculums? 42:15 How do we make the vision happen? How do we make change? 46:45 Why should I go to the Way of Champions Conference About Coach Reed With master's degrees in both sports psychology and early childhood education, Coach Reed works with youth coaches, helping them teach athletes how to excel beyond the game. Since the release of his 2015 TEDx talk 'Echoes Beyond the Game', he's become a trusted educator, advisor and speaker to sports organizations all over the world. Coach Reed is a firm believer that youth sport's ultimate role is to develop excellent people with valuable life skills and strong values. He's had the honor of working with sports organizations ranging from grassroots to elite level, helping them become more effective at performance-based communication by building champion cultures, and creating warrior mindsets to succeed in and beyond the game. Get in Touch Website to sign up for his forthcoming book - http://coachreed.com/ Facebook Page for his Forthcoming Book: https://www.facebook.com/TheCoachReed/ Twitter:@coach_reed Email: reed@changingthegameproject.com His Podcast: @thecoachingcode / http://coachreed.com/coaching-code/ Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Apr 16, 2018 • 1h 4min
#57 How to Become a Transformational Coach with Dr. Jean Cote, World-Renowned Expert in Youth Sports and Coach Development
Enjoy the show! If we coached robots, we could simply drill skills until the robots performed them to perfection, but we coach human beings. Way more goes into coaching people than simple drills and skills. Jean Cote shares what it means to be a Transformational Coach in our latest episode. Show Notes 1:30 What got Jean into the Deliberate Play research realm 9:30 If we were coaching robots, we could teach just the skills 21:15 What kind of coaching is needed to enhance the 4Cs 28:15 Great coaching is person-centered, not athlete-centered 37:00 Stop coaching 10-year-olds like they are 18 45:15 How to become a more transformational leader today About Jean Cote Dr. Jean Côté is professor and Director in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University at Kingston (Canada). His research interests are in the areas of children in sport, coaching, positive youth development, and sport expertise. Dr. Côté has published more than 130 refereed papers on a variety of sport psychology and coaching topics and 50 book chapters. He has delivered 50 keynote addresses at major national and international conferences, over 100 invited presentations, and 260 refereed conference presentations. Dr. Côté, in collaboration with Dr. Ronnie Lidor, has completed the first comprehensive book on talent development in children's sport which was published in 2013 by Fitness Information Technology. Between 1999 and 2017, Dr. Côté has received as a Principal Investigator 6 consecutive grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) to fund his research work. His most recent work involves the use of observation techniques to examine the influence of different types of coach-athletes relationships on athletes' outcomes and the development of a Transformational Coaching workshop that focuses on positive youth development. Get in Touch Email: Jc46@queensu.ca Twitter: @JeanCote46 Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Apr 8, 2018 • 1h
#56 "Some parents are crazy, but most are just stressed!" Why parent engagement is key to fixing youth sports with Skye Eddy Bruce, Founder of SoccerParenting.com
Are you one of THOSE sports parents? All too often, we lump sports parents into one large category based on the behaviors of a few. Skye Eddy Bruce joins us to explain that not all parents are that way and the key to creating a better sports experience may be found with engaging parents more effectively. Enjoy the show! Show Notes 6:20 Soccer Parenting is the PTA of Youth Soccer 9:00 When a coach should "open the door" and when a coach should "close the door" 14:30 How do coaches establish trust with parents? 26:30 Lessons from The Soccer Parenting Summit 31:45 The four cornerstones of culture 41:30 The fears parents have About Skye Eddy Bruce Skye Eddy Bruce, a former Collegiate and Youth All-American, Professional Player, Collegiate and Youth Coach and Camp Director, the Soccer Parenting Association aims to educate, engage, support and advocate for youth soccer parents. Skye understands there is a lot of room for growth and improvement in the youth game and believes that parents are the missing link when it comes seeing this growth and improvement become a reality. Skye has put together an amazing group of youth soccer and performance experts who regularly participate with MySoccerParenting.com, the Parent Education Platform brought to you by the Soccer Parenting Association (SoccerParenting.com) Get in Touch Twitter: @SoccerParenting Facebook: SoccerParenting Websites: SoccerParenting.com or MySoccerParenting.com Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Apr 2, 2018 • 58min
#55 Coaching John McEnroe and Other Great Tales from 17x NCAA Champion Stanford Tennis Coach, Dick Gould
What would it be like to coach some of the greatest tennis players of all time before they become the icons they are today? Tune in to our latest podcast to hear Dick Gould's stories about these iconic players and more from over 50 years with Stanford Tennis. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 2:15 Are fun and competitiveness mutually exclusive in sports? 10:30 Great programs have standards, not rules 16:45 We have to look at athletes and ask, "What is going to make this person a better person?" 25:15 The best teachers were the ones who made it exciting and had a passion for the topic 37:45 How do you navigate a team that is not cohesive? 47:45 Do your best to find the best in everyone you with whom you work About Dick Gould Dick Gould is America's best tennis coach. He was the Men's Tennis Coach at Stanford University for 38 years from 1966–2004. His Stanford men's tennis teams won 17 NCAA Men's Tennis Championships, and 50 of his players won All-American honors. He was named the ITA-Wilson "Coach of the Decade" both for the 1980s and the 1990s. His former players have also captured 13 grand slam championships and 10 NCAA singles champions. For 35 years, every four-year member earned at least one NCAA team championship ring. Get in Touch Email: dgould@stanford.edu Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Mar 25, 2018 • 1h 6min
#54 How Desirable Difficulties Help Our Children Succeed in Sports and Life with Jessica Lahey, Author of The Gift of Failure
Are we robbing our kids of valuable self-directed executive function when we solve everything for them and don't let them make mistakes? This is a valuable life skill needed to succeed in college and beyond. Listen in as Jessica Lahey explains on the newest podcast. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 7:10 Education is not about attendance and tests, are we missing the best moments for teaching? 14:25 When we are highly directive with kids, they don't become frustrated. Kids who can't be frustrated cannot benefit from formative assessment and desirable difficulties 20:55 We remove self-directed executive function and children need this to develop, incredibly important in high school and college 56:25 Caroline Gleich's Journey to Ski the "Shooting Gallery" About Jessica Lahey Jessica Lahey is a teacher, writer, and mom. She writes about education, parenting, and child welfare for The Atlantic, Vermont Public Radio, and the New York Times and is the author of the New York Timesbestselling book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed. She is a member of the Amazon Studios Thought Leader Board and wrote the educational curriculum for Amazon Kids' The Stinky and Dirty Show. Jessica earned a B.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Massachusetts and a J.D. with a concentration in juvenile and education law from the University of North Carolina School of Law. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband and two sons and teaches high school English and writing in Vermont. Get in Touch Website: JessicaLahey.com Twitter: @JessLahey Instagram: @TeacherLahey Youtube: Search "Gift of Failure FAQ's" Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie

Mar 19, 2018 • 54min
#53 The 7 Disciplines of the Winningest College Soccer Program in America with Michael Zigarelli, author of the Messiah Method
When a program, both men's and women's teams, wins 16 National Championships in 18 seasons, we should take notice. When those programs are also sought after by parents because they create excellent men and women in the process, there is something we can all learn from them. Find out what Professor Zigarelli discovered about the Messiah Method. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 8:40 There is something to be learned from a program that wins 16 National Championships in 18 seasons 10:25 The one thing that sets apart the Messiah program apart 18:30 The Discipline of "Play to a Standard" 26:10 A higher purpose than winning 34:15 Messiah is looking for the "both/and players" 47:55 Professor Zigarelli's parting thoughts on Transformational Leadership About Professor Zigarelli Michael Zigarelli is a Professor of Leadership and Strategy and the former Dean of the Regent University School of Business. His research in the fields of management, practical theology, law, and ethics has appeared in a number of scholarly journals and magazines, and he is the author of ten books, including Influencing Like Jesus, The Minister's MBA, Cultivating Christian Character, and Management by Proverbs. His work has been translated into several languages. Dr. Zigarelli is also the creator of Christianity9to5.org and Assess-Yourself.org. Get in Touch Buy the Messiah Method: Buy the Soccer Field, Mission Field: Email: mzigarelli@messiah.edu Become a Transformational Coach Today - Join Us at Way of Champions 2018 Take your Coaching to the Next Level with Transformational Coaching If you are enjoying our podcast, please help us out and leave a review on iTunes. How to leave an iTunes rating or review for a podcast from your iPhone or iPad Launch Apple's Podcast app. Tap the Search tab. Enter the name Way of Champions. Tap the blue Search key at the bottom right. Tap the album art for the Way of Champions podcast. Tap the Reviews tab. Tap Write a Review at the bottom. Thanks so much, every review helps us to spread this message! Hosted by John O'Sullivan. Produced by Coach Reed Maltbie


