We think of toxic coaching as the 'sideline screaming', 'player punishing', name calling kind of coaching we see in movies like Varsity Blues. There is a more subtle kind of coaching that can do immeasurable damage and we can help remove it if we better train our coaches. What we say, becomes what they think. We craft the voices in their heads. Listen to this powerful letter from a young player and the damage a coach can unwittingly inflict on his or her players.

We think of toxic coaching as the 'sideline screaming', 'player punishing', name calling kind of coaching we see in movies like Varsity Blues. There is a more subtle kind of coaching that can do immeasurable damage and we can help remove it if we better train our coaches. What we say, becomes what they think. We craft the voices in their heads. Listen to this powerful letter from a young player and the damage a coach can unwittingly inflict on his or her players.

Voices in their heads

What do you really know about yourself? How we perceive ourselves can be very different than how we are perceived by others. Great coaches have a self-awareness that allows them to gain better insight into their strengths and weaknesses and ensure they are always at their best for the athletes.

What do you really know about yourself? How we perceive ourselves can be very different than how we are perceived by others. Great coaches have a self-awareness that allows them to gain better insight into their strengths and weaknesses and ensure they are always at their best for the athletes.

What do you really know?

Words have power. We know of the power they have to transform lives, but did you know they also help athletes perform better? The words employed as cues for teaching skills can be the difference between flawless execution and total frustration.

Words have power. We know of the power they have to transform lives, but did you know they also help athletes perform better? The words employed as cues for teaching skills can be the difference between flawless execution and total frustration.

Can changing a word help build skill?

Not that one...the other one. FUN. It's common knowledge, and common sense, that kids play sports to have fun. In this episode we'll dig into Amanda Visek and Heather Mannix's work on Fun Maps and discuss solutions for making sports "Fun and".

Not that one...the other one. FUN. It's common knowledge, and common sense, that kids play sports to have fun. In this episode we'll dig into Amanda Visek and Heather Mannix's work on Fun Maps and discuss solutions for making sports "Fun and".

The F-Word

"How do I deal with crazy parents?" I hear this a lot and my first response is "Stop dealing with them and engage them." My second response is "Stop calling them crazy." In this special guest episode, Gordon MacLelland and I discuss the best tactics for engaging parents as partners. We loved working together on this so much we wrote a book on the topic!

"How do I deal with crazy parents?" I hear this a lot and my first response is "Stop dealing with them and engage them." My second response is "Stop calling them crazy." In this special guest episode, Gordon MacLelland and I discuss the best tactics for engaging parents as partners. We loved working together on this so much we wrote a book on the topic!

The Parent Trap

Do you consider the perspective of your athletes when you coach? They see the game differently and they also have different frames of reference. A simple drawing by my son was the light bulb moment for me to start seeing the game from their eyes so I could coach better.

Do you consider the perspective of your athletes when you coach? They see the game differently and they also have different frames of reference. A simple drawing by my son was the light bulb moment for me to start seeing the game from their eyes so I could coach better.

Drawing Upside Down

Did you know Denmark supports activity for ALL at all levels? They help fund the resources, pay for the coaches of all levels to have the top licenses, and even scholarship the participants. They believe all kids should have access until at least age 14 and it has paid off for them on the World Stage. Should we be learning from what they are doing?

Did you know Denmark supports activity for ALL at all levels? They help fund the resources, pay for the coaches of all levels to have the top licenses, and even scholarship the participants. They believe all kids should have access until at least age 14 and it has paid off for them on the World Stage. Should we be learning from what they are doing?

What's Happening in Denmark?

Elite?? That word now grates on me like nails on the chalkboard. The $17 billion youth sports marketing machine uses that term to tickle the FOMO of every parent out there and cons us into believing we MUST put our child with the club or coach who has "elite" somewhere in the title, name, or resume. 

Elite?? That word now grates on me like nails on the chalkboard. The $17 billion youth sports marketing machine uses that term to tickle the FOMO of every parent out there and cons us into believing we MUST put our child with the club or coach who has "elite" somewhere in the title, name, or resume.

Are Kids OverElited?

Eye contact is crucial in a learning environment for sighted children. Making it develops a connection with the brain, engages them, builds trust, and much more. In general, the intention to make eye contact with someone makes you more fully engaged and accessible. As a coach, your goal is to be at eye level, give kids a chance to see yours, be intentional and in the moment, and reduce distractions all by seeking that eye contact.

Eye contact is crucial in a learning environment for sighted children. Making it develops a connection with the brain, engages them, builds trust, and much more. In general, the intention to make eye contact with someone makes you more fully engaged and accessible. As a coach, your goal is to be at eye level, give kids a chance to see yours, be intentional and in the moment, and reduce distractions all by seeking that eye contact.

The Eyes Have It

My kids loved knock knock jokes. Now they love funny memes and stinging sarcasm. They act like they don't, but I know they STILL LOVE my #DadJokes. Humor is one of the most effective ways to connect with others, get your point across more easily, and have what you say remembered much longer. In this episode we review how to use humor in the coaching code.

My kids loved knock knock jokes. Now they love funny memes and stinging sarcasm. They act like they don't, but I know they STILL LOVE my #DadJokes. Humor is one of the most effective ways to connect with others, get your point across more easily, and have what you say remembered much longer. In this episode we review how to use humor in the coaching code.

Wanna Hear a Knock Knock Joke?

What is "coaching"? For a word that is ubiquitous in languages across the globe, very few of us can agree on a proper definition. Without a definition, we can't decipher what it means to coach and what it takes to be a great one. In this geeky series, Coach Reed dives deep into the science, links it to professional practice and tries to unlock the "Coaching Code" so we can all be better at the role we love so much!

"Kids these days" tune us out after a few words. We think they are uncoachable. Could it be they expect us to communicate more with less, like the 140 (now 280) character limit of Twitter. Great coaches can adapt and communicate more effectively with kids of today by saying less and showing more, by letting the game help reveal answers, and by sitting down and shutting up during games. 

"Kids these days" tune us out after a few words. We think they are uncoachable. Could it be they expect us to communicate more with less, like the 140 (now 280) character limit of Twitter. Great coaches can adapt and communicate more effectively with kids of today by saying less and showing more, by letting the game help reveal answers, and by sitting down and shutting up during games.

140 Character Coaching

How good do you think you are? Albert Bandura defines Self-Efficacy as one's belief in their own capability to execute the tasks needed to attain a performance level. In other words, how good do you think you are? Our athletes come to us with their own beliefs and their own voice, but as coaches what do we do to enhance or destroy that belief? In this inaugural episode, I dive into this question and try to unlock the coaching code for it.

How good do you think you are? Albert Bandura defines Self-Efficacy as one's belief in their own capability to execute the tasks needed to attain a performance level. In other words, how good do you think you are? Our athletes come to us with their own beliefs and their own voice, but as coaches what do we do to enhance or destroy that belief? In this inaugural episode, I dive into this question and try to unlock the coaching code for it.

How Good Do You Think You Are?

The Zone of Proximal Development. A little known concept in coaching but widely used in teaching. It's that sweet spot for athletes between being challenge too much and being bored to tears. That push/pull spot where, as coaches, we should be striving to get them to avoid burnout. Dig into the code with me as we unlock the ZPD.

The Zone of Proximal Development. A little known concept in coaching but widely used in teaching. It's that sweet spot for athletes between being challenge too much and being bored to tears. That push/pull spot where, as coaches, we should be striving to get them to avoid burnout. Dig into the code with me as we unlock the ZPD.

Are you Down with ZPD?

Coach Reed nails it on every episode. Getting into the science of coaching and why it works. Keep up the great work.

Love it.

Been coaching for 20 years and this is one of the best pods I’ve heard on the subject. Regardless of sport, the chunks of useful information and small details are what can change the ordinary to special. Thanks Reed!

Great Insight!

The Coaching Code

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