Way of Champions Podcast

Dr. Stephen Norris, a renowned LTAD expert, discusses the importance of competition in youth sports and the risks of focusing solely on skill development. They explore optimizing each stage of life and the challenges of comparing individuals of the same age but different biological development. The chapter also emphasizes the need for physical activity in schools and addresses flaws in the education system.

Kelly Amonte-Hiller is one of the most decorated athletes and coaches we have had on this podcast. As an athlete she was a 2x NCAA Champion and 2x NCAA player of the year at University of Maryland, as well as an all-world selection in 2005. As a coach she has won 8 NCAA championships, been named IWLCA National Coach of the Year five times, and is an inductee into the US Lacrosse and IWLCA Hall of Fame. With over 350 wins, and the highest win total and winning percentage of any coach in the NCAA tournament, she is a lacrosse coaching legend. But she is so much more.  In our conversation today, we discuss her athletic journey, the importance of the inner game, how she recruits and builds her teams, the importance of trust, selflessness, listening, love and joy in coaching. She also talks extensively about the need to build the game and invest in women's sports. When you listen to Kelly, you want to play for Kelly! Click here to learn more THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Middlebury College, and many other champions are using this book with their athletes. Are you? Now available in both paperback and hardcover, The Champion Teammate is the perfect book for a team read or leadership development. We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books. Thanks everyone. This week’s podcast is brought to you by our friends at Sprocket Sports.  Sprocket Sports is a new software platform for youth sports clubs.  There are a lot of these systems out there, but Sprocket provides the full enchilada. They give you all the cool front-end stuff to make your club look good– like websites and marketing tools – AND all the back-end transactions and services to run your business better so you can focus on what really matters – your players and your teams.  Sprocket is built for those clubs looking to thrive, not just survive, in the competitive world of youth sports clubs.  So if you’ve been looking for a true business partner – not just another app – check them out today at https://sprocketsports.me/CTG. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Christina Murillo (@xtinamurillo10) is a former Mexican international soccer player. She earned 29 caps with Mexico and took her senior year off from the University of Michigan to play in the 2015 Women's World Cup. She later played in the UEFA Champions League and the NWSL for the Chicago Red Stars before retiring in 2019. She is currently the U11-14 Director of Coaching for both boys and girls for the Chicago Fire of MLS. In this episode we discuss the lessons learned from her playing career, her influential coaches, the obstacles to player development, player safety and welfare, and the difference between coaching boys and girls.  THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Brad Stulberg researches, writes, and coaches on health, well-being, and sustainable excellence. His brand new book is called Master of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing, Including You. He is the bestselling author of The Practice of Groundedness and co-author with past WOC Podcast guest Steve magness of Peak Performance. Stulberg regularly contributes to the New York Times, and his work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and the Atlantic, among many other publications. He is on faculty at the University of Michigan’s graduate School of Public Health. In his coaching practice, he works with executives, entrepreneurs, physicians, and athletes. In our conversation this week we cover topics ranging from parental target fixation in sport, to how to develop the best identity and mindset to flow with the change and impermanence in your life. Check out his work at  https://www.bradstulberg.com/  Purchase a copy of Master of Change Here THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION THIS WEEK! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Becky Burleigh began her college soccer coaching career at the ripe old age of 21, coaching Berry College to two NAIA National Championships before moving onto the University of Florida. In her nearly three decades at Florida, she won the 1998 NCAA Championship, a combined 26 SEC regular season and tournament championships, and over 500 games. Upon retiring, she was named interim coach of the NWSL's Orlando Pride during a time of great turmoil, and currently she partners with Brett Ledbetter on coaching education through their business What Drives Winning (www.WhatDrivesWinning.com). In our talk today we discuss the relationship game, trust, the challenges facing women coaches, and the most important question that Becky would begin every individual player meeting with that is an absolute game changer.   Connect with Becky at Becky@WhatDrivesWinning.com HE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION THIS WEEK! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

In this week's coaching masterclass, John and Jerry sit down with the coaching staff from the University of Notre Dame's 2023 NCAA Champion Mens lacrosse team. Head Coach Kevin Corrigan just completed his 35th season at the helm of the Fighting Irish, and has amassed over 300 wins, 25 NCAA Tournament Appearances, reached 5 Final Fours, and won a combined 22 regular season and conference tournament championships. He is joined on the podcast by assistant coaches Chris Wojcik (former Harvard men's Head Coach, 3 years at UND), Ryan Wellnar (long time US Naval Academy Asst. Coach) and Volunteer Assistant Ryder Garnsey, a former UND player under Corrigan. The conversation is not at all about Xs and Os, but a deep dive into the intentional relationship and culture building, values, and higher purpose than winning that the Fighting Irish epitomize year after year. You will see that the program is a truly special place, and get a deep dive into what transformational coaching looks like in a championship program.  THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION THIS WEEK! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school and collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books and if you leave us a review so we can send you the Live Q and A link. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.  

Jenny Levy has led UNC Women's lacrosse to 3 NCAA Championships, 13 NCAA Final Fours and over 400 wins. She has been named NCAA Coach of the year on three occasions, and ACC Coach of the year seven times.  She was also the Head Coach for the US Women's National Team from 2017-2022. You do not sustain such success unless you can consistently recruit and develop leaders in your program, while at the same time modeling your core values and what great leadership looks like. In this interview, previously only available during our 2021 Way of Champions Conference, Jenny tells us about her "Carolina Way." Get ready to take some notes on this one, it is one of our best ever interviews. THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION THIS WEEK! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school adn collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books and if you leave us a review so we can send you the Live Q and A link. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Sandy Barbour is one of the most influental womens in sports. Upon her retirement in 2022 as Athletic Director and VP of Intercollegiate Athletics from Penn State University, she had been named one of five finalists for the Sports Business Journal's prestigious Athletic Director of the Year for the third time in her career and second time at Penn State (2009 and 2018). She served as AD at Penn St for 8 years, and prior to that for 10 years at University of California-Berkeley. In 2017, she was selected for the prestigious National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Under Armour AD of the Year Award for directing Penn State to nine conference championships and one NCAA title at the time. In 2020, she was among the honorees of Sports Illustrated's list of the most powerful, influential and outstanding women in sports. In addition, Forbes named Barbour one of the top 25 most powerful people in college sports in 2015 and one of the most influential women in sports in 2018 — the highest ranked athletic director on the list. Barbour graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in physical education from Wake Forest University, where she served as captain of the field hockey team and played two varsity seasons of women's basketball. She also holds a master's degree in sports management from the University of Massachusetts and an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. We originally recorded this conversation as part of the 2022 Virtual Way of Champions Conference, and asked Sandy to speak about Servent Leadership. The discussion was extraordinary, an din honor of our 2023 event kicking off this week, we decided to share this incredible wisdom from Sandy.  THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology. WE ALSO JUST RELEASED THE PAPERBACK VERSION THIS WEEK! We have been fulfilling numerous bulk orders for some of the top high school adn collegiate sports programs in the country, will your team be next?  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books and if you leave us a review so we can send you the Live Q and A link. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Dr. Alan Goldberg received his doctorate from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and is a former #1 singles player for the UMass Minuteman tennis team and twice Conference Champion. His background also includes 22 years of professional tennis coaching experience and a first-degree black belt in Shurin Ryu karate. he has early four decades of experience working with individuals and teams seeking peak performance. He has created over 35 mental toughness training programs and books for athletes, coaches, and parents on peak performance and mental toughness. He trains athletes’ minds, teaching practical skills that can be immediately used in their sports. He also writes on the subject of peak performance and overcoming blocks for a number of national publications. Dr. G is known internationally for his ground breaking, one on one work and is recognized as one of the few people in the field of mental toughness who consistently works successfully with those athletes who struggle with performance anxiety, slumps, fears, blocks and low self-confidence. Many of the clients referred to him have been previously unable to overcome their performance difficulties utilizing other approaches. Dr. Goldberg is a regular and popular presenter at coaches’ clinics, colleges, and high schools across the country, as well as internationally. He is known for his ability to take the subjects of mental toughness and peak performance and present them in a humorous, practical, and easy-to-understand manner. Dr. Goldberg has been a speaker at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and has presented at national coaches’ clinics across the country. Dr. G was also the Sports Performance Consultant for the University of Connecticut Huskies, winning multiple NCAA championships. Learn more at https://www.competitivedge.com/ REGISTRATION FOR LIVE 2023 WOC CLOSED; LIVESTREAM STILL AVAILABLE! The 2023 Way of Champions Conference will be held August 4-6, 2023 at Colorado Academy in Denver, CO. PHIL JACKSON, 11X NBA CHAMPION COACH, AND STEVE KERR, 9X NBA CHAMPION COACH AND PLAYER WILL BE JOINING US AS A VIRTUAL GUEST PRESENTERS FOR THE EVENT. CINDY TIMCHAL, 8X NCAA CHAMPION LACROSSE COACH WILL BE JOINING US IN PERSON AS WELL! Click here to learn more and register.  . Its going to be amazing to be back in person in 2023!  THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology.  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books and if you leave us a review so we can send you the Live Q and A link. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.

Keynote Speaker and Experiential Facilitator, Molly Grisham (@mollygrisham) helps to build and sustain teams in a wide variety of industries. She believes that teams don’t grow apart; they die apart. She knows that elite, high-performing teams in all industries get stretched and stressed by the demand to perform. She is passionate about helping teams to rediscover their strengths and restore their relationships, so they can rebuild their teams. With nearly two decades of experience as a College Soccer Coach and Communication Professor, Molly approaches her work as an educator. She meets people where they are and helps them move to where they want to be. Molly holds degrees in Communication from Belmont University, the University of Illinois, and Missouri State University. She has completed training as a Civil & Family Mediator, she is a Certified Experiential Specialist with the International Society of Experiential Professionals, and she is a Certified Myers-Briggs facilitator. Additionally, she is now enrolled in a graduate program on Trauma and Resiliency. Learn more at www.mollygrisham.com. REGISTRATION FOR LIVE 2023 WOC CLOSED; LIVESTREAM STILL AVAILABLE! The 2023 Way of Champions Conference will be held August 4-6, 2023 at Colorado Academy in Denver, CO. PHIL JACKSON, 11X NBA CHAMPION COACH, AND STEVE KERR, 9X NBA CHAMPION COACH AND PLAYER WILL BE JOINING US AS A VIRTUAL GUEST PRESENTERS FOR THE EVENT. CINDY TIMCHAL, 8X NCAA CHAMPION LACROSSE COACH WILL BE JOINING US IN PERSON AS WELL! Click here to learn more and register.  . Its going to be amazing to be back in person in 2023!  THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE HITS #1 ON AMAZON!: Thanks for all your support, as the launch of our new book has been phenomenal, hitting #1 in numerous categories and being named the top new release in Sports Psychology.  Please click here and grab yourself a copy of The Champion Teammate today.   Please email John@ChangingTheGameProject.com if you want discounted pricing on 10 or more books and if you leave us a review so we can send you the Live Q and A link. Thanks everyone. Become a Podcast Champion! This weeks podcast is also sponsored by our Patreon Podcast Champions. Help Support the Podcast and get FREE access to our most popular online courses, a $300 value. If you love the podcast, we would love for you to become 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 our best podcasts, so you don’t have to crash your car trying to take notes! A code to get free access to our online course called “Coaching Mastery,” usually a $97 course, plus four other courses worth over $100, all yours for free for becoming a patron. Other special bonus opportunities that come up time to time 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.