

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

Nov 26, 2017 • 57min
#37 Wrestle Like a Girl with Sally Roberts, 3x U.S. National Champ
How powerful is sport for creating an excellent life beyond the game? For Sally Roberts wrestling transported her from the detention cell of juvenile hall to the floor of the United Nations. Now she is on a mission to give the same opportunities to young girls the world over. Join us as we hear Sally's amazing life story and learn about her foundation that is changing the sport of wrestling and the world with it. Donate to Wrestle Like a Girl on Tuesday November 28th and the Gates Foundation will match it: http://www.wrestlelikeagirl.org/donate/ Bio Sally Roberts, a 2x World Bronze Medalist and 3x U.S. National Champion founded Wrestle Like A Girl in 2016. She aspires to empower girls through the sport of wrestling and to provide opportunities to maximize their potential. Sally earned her B.A. in psychology from University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, an M.A. in Sport and Performance Psychology from University of the Rockies, and Certification in Nutrition from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Memberships include the United States Youth Sport Development Working Group and the Association of Applied Sport Psychology ("AASP"). She has addressed the United Nations, U.S. Department of State, and the International Olympic Committee on the topics of Sports Diplomacy and Gender Equality. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 6:15 Sally didn't find her sport, it found her…and changed her life 12:15 A great coach will help you fall in love with the sport and with yourself 18:00 Sally's journey with the Army and the best/worst gift she ever gave herself 25:00 If you act like you belong, people believe it 31:15 What is Campaign 44? 40:00 What do I do if your daughter wants to wrestle? 50:00 Sally's advice to coaches about growing the sport for women 51:45 Best way to get in touch with Sally Get in Touch Website: http://www.wrestlelikeagirl.org/ Facebook: Wrestle Like A Girl Instagram: WrestleLikeAGirl Twitter: @WrstleLikeAGirl Email: info@wrestlelikeagirl.org 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!

Nov 19, 2017 • 58min
#36 Former Professional Golfer, John Haime, on How Sports Skills Transfer from the Locker Room to the Board Room
A mere 1 percent of all youth athletes end up playing pro. What is the goal of youth sports for those other 99 percent? In this episode, John Haime discusses the real skills that kids can learn in the locker room and transfer to the board room. Bio John is a world-class Coach in the area of performance and one of the world's leading authorities in Emotional Intelligence as it relates to performance in sport. He personally coaches leading professional and elite amateur athletes, corporate athletes and artists in a variety of performance areas. He is a sought after speaker by sports and corporate groups around the globe. John has competed at the highest levels in sports performance. From 1985 to 1991, John successfully competed on international golf tours in Canada, Australia, Asia, South Africa and the United States. Along with several professional victories, career highlights include a career low 62 in a professional event in Melbourne, Australia. Before turning professional he was one of Canada's top amateur and junior golfers. John has been published in leading business, leadership and sport publications. His highly anticipated first book, You Are a Contender! Build Emotional Muscle to Perform Better and Achieve More … in Business, Sports and Life was released in December 2009 by Morgan James (New York). You are a Contender! became a bestseller in the United States in mid-2010. The 2nd edition of the book was released in February 2016. Through New Edge Performance, John Haime works with some of the world's leading professional and elite amateur athletes on mental/emotional high performance. He regularly works with World Top 50 athletes in a variety of sports. The "New Edge" athlete process (5 stages) (http://johnhaime.com/athletes/) helps athletes build a sustainable, dynamic platform for performance offering growth and independence for the athlete in sport and beyond the game. The robust program has the very best elements from performance psychology, sport psychology, executive coaching, business planning, emotional intelligence and neuroscience. It is the most complete, dynamic program a young athlete can experience. New Edge Performance and John Haime are consulting with athletes and global sport organizations (professional and amateur) in golf, tennis, hockey, basketball, swimming, soccer, track and field, baseball, football, volleyball, squash and equestrian. John has been chosen by a number of leading organizations as the program developer for their mindset modules. The most recent is for the Asian Institute of Sport – Asia's leading elite athlete development organization. John lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife and son. He is a graduate of Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 9:15 The most important quality of high-performance teams 14:30 John shares an easy athlete self-assessment process 21:15 Performance starts in the mind. This is where coaches should start 26:30 How can someone develop great psychosocial skills in sports? 32:15 Finding balance in the youth sports machine and social media mania 39:00 Why don't athletes build the key skills to succeed in and beyond the game 46:15 Start with why 50:15 Best way to find John Haime 54:00 Closing thoughts Get in Touch 12 Week Athlete Program: 12 Week Athlete Course John's Book: You Are a Contender Download 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!

Nov 13, 2017 • 59min
WOC #35 Dr. Peter Vint, Former USOC High-Performance Specialist, on Coaching and Parenting Elite Athletes
Do the principles and beliefs we discuss regarding youth athletes apply to "elite" athletes? How do you approach the process of parenting elite athletes? Dr. Peter Vint, one of the world's top experts on high-performance athletes shares his views on elite athletes, quality coaching, and parenting. Bio Dr. Peter Vint is a former Football Academy Director in the UK. He is considered one of the top experts in the world on high-performance athletes. He spent 10 successful years with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). In his most recent role as Senior Director of Competitive Analysis, Research & Innovation, his work focused on defining and monitoring international competitiveness for Team USA athletes and teams and identifying performance factors contributing to podium success. He also led major, company-wide initiatives to enhance the business intelligence and data analytics capabilities of the USOC and to measure and maximize return on investment of USOC allocated resources as it pertained to medal winning success and other key organizational objectives. From 2009-2012, he served as USOC Director of High Performance, leading a team of sport science and medical professionals in support of five National Governing Bodies, including USA Swimming and USA Track and Field, that won 64 medals during the London Olympic Games. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 4:45 Peter's background in high-performance 9:30 We are taking away all the important pieces of development when we overschedule our kids 15:15 What are the qualities of a good coach? 23:15 Coaching should be more holistic and integrative 30:00 Should Coaching 101 depend on the experience and background of the individual coach? 42:45 Peter's journey as a sport parent 52:30 Peter's advice for parents of athletes Get in Touch Facebook: Peter on Facebook LinkedIn: Peter on LinkedIn 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!

Nov 6, 2017 • 1h 2min
#34 Bestselling Author, Dan Heath, on How Coaches can Create Extraordinary Moments for their Athletes
Everyone has these defining moments in their lives that they vividly recall. Some are extraordinary and some are terrible. As coaches, we do not get to choose which moments our athletes recall, but we do get to choose the moments we create in order to ensure what we leave our athletes with are exceptionally positive moments. Dan Heath discusses how these moments arise and how we can help create them. Bio Dan Heath is a Senior Fellow at Duke University's CASE center, which supports social entrepreneurs. At CASE, he founded the Change Academy, a program designed to boost the impact of social sector leaders. Dan is the co-author, along with his brother Chip, of three New York Times bestsellers: Decisive, Switch, and Made to Stick. Amazon.com's editors named Switch one of the Best Nonfiction Books of the Year, and it spent 47 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list. Made to Stick was named the Best Business Book of the Year and spent 24 months on the BusinessWeek bestseller list. Their books have been translated into over 30 languages. Previously, Dan worked as a researcher and case writer for Harvard Business School. In 1997, Dan co-founded an innovative publishing company called Thinkwell, which continues to produce a radically reinvented line of college textbooks. Dan has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from the Plan II Honors Program from the University of Texas at Austin. One proud geeky moment for Dan was his victory in the 2005 New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest, beating out 13,000 other entrants. He lives in Durham, NC. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 7:25 Dan's new book Power of Moments and how we are all defined by special moments 8:25 "Wise Criticism" when high standards and assurance are used in feedback 14:25 The tightrope of being a mentor/coach who allows players to take risks 18:25 What have you failed at this week? 21:55 The quest to find Peak Moments 24:25 The Magic Castle – An "average" motel with Overwhelming experiences 31:55 Transitions - the importance of the "first day experience" 35:55 The FOUR qualities of defining moments 40:25 The profound obligation of a coach to "get these moments right" 47:10 The Tarantula study 54:25 How do you create more moments of pride in sport? Get in Touch Website: HeathBrothers.com LinkedIn: Dan Heath 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!

Oct 29, 2017 • 1h 10min
#33 Best Selling Authors Wade Gilbert and Jerry Lynch Discuss What Quality Coaching Really Looks Like
How do you define a quality coach? Is it number of wins? Are we expert coaches because of the amount of time we have coached the game? Wade Gilbert and Jerry Lynch have a candid conversation with John about what it really means to be a quality coach and the definition is not what we have used all these years. Time spent coaching and number of wins have nothing to do with being a quality coach. Bio Wade Gilbert, PhD, is an award-winning professor in the department of kinesiology at California State University at Fresno. Dr. Gilbert holds degrees in physical education, human kinetics, and education and has taught and studied coaching at the University of Ottawa (Canada), UCLA, and Fresno State. He has more than 20 years of experience in conducting applied research with coaches around the world spanning all competitive levels, from youth leagues to the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games. He is widely published and is frequently invited to speak at national and international events. Gilbert is a coach education advisor to USA Football and a regular contributor to coaching seminars for Olympic and national team coaches in the United States and Canada. In addition, Gilbert is editor in chief of the International Sport Coaching Journal, published by Human Kinetics in conjunction with SHAPE America and the International Council for Coaching Excellence (ICCE). As Human Kinetics' coach education advisor, "The Coach Doc" writes articles and conducts webinars on a variety of coaching issues. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 5:45 The path Wade took to be the author of the new USOC Quality Coaching Framework 10:45 What is Quality Coaching? 18:30 Jerry talks about the concept of connection in coaching 24:15 Convince them they have all the answers and provide the environment for it to happen 29:15 John Wooden's reason for his success… 338:45 John's "One thing that I wish my coach knew about me that would help is…" 50:15 Wade discusses Karch Kiraly's ugly practices 63:00 What piece of advice would John, Wade and Jerry give a young coach Get in Touch Fresno State Website: Fresno State Human Kinetics Website: Human Kinetics Twitter: @WadeWGilbert Get His Book: Coaching Better Every Season 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!

Oct 23, 2017 • 46min
#32 Emmy Award Winning ESPN Reporter Tom Farrey on Creating Sports for All and Play for Life"
Did you know only 1 in 5 youth coaches are properly trained in motivational techniques and only 1 and 3 are properly trained in skills and tactics? The big reason for this fact is the myth that volunteers can't or don't want to be trained. In this episode, Tom Farrey, of The Aspen Institute's Project Play, discusses how untrained coaches lead to the decline in youth sport participation, how vital this participation is to the viability of our communities, and some simple opportunities to get more trained coaches. Listen in to hear more from Tom. Bio Tom Farrey leads the Sports & Society Program, whose mission is to convene leaders, facilitate dialogue and inspire solutions that help sport serve the public interest. With the support of the Aspen Institute, he founded the program in 2011 and in April 2013 launched Project Play, a multi-year, multi-stage effort that provides the thought leadership for sport to build healthy communities, starting with universal access to an early positive experience in sports. Farrey is also a veteran journalist whose work has been recognized as among the nation's best and most innovative. With ESPN, his television stories have won the 2014 Alfred I. duPont/Columbia University Award, 2013 Edward R. Murrow Award, two Emmy Awards. His reports have appeared on Outside the Lines, SportsCenter, E:60, ABCs World News Tonight, Good Morning America and This Week with George Stephanopolous. He was the first ESPN reporter to conceptualize and deliver cross-platform enterprise reports, and two years before that, in 1996, he joined the editorial team that built the website that later became ESPN.com. At both the Aspen Institute and ESPN, he has explored the connections between sport and the largest themes in society education, globalization, technology, race, and ethics, among others. He is seen as a thought leader on topics including youth and college sports. He is author of Game On: The All-American Race to Make Champions of Our Children (2008, ESPN Books), an investigation of modern youth sports used as a text on many college campuses. Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 5:15 How Project Play was born 9:30 Can sport be managed from the top down 13:45 50% of parents on a soccer sideline feel the emotion of anger 22:00 Is there a community that is "getting it right" in youth sports 25:45 Project Play in your community: Baltimore as a model for increasing sport participation 36:45 The missed opportunity to get more coaches in youth sport Get in Touch Website: www.projectplay.us Twitter: @AspenInstSports @TomFarrey Get the Report: Sport For All Play For Life 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!

Oct 15, 2017 • 1h 12min
#31 Mark Bennett, Founder of Performance Development Systems, How Coaches Shape Behavior, Influence Training Habits, and Build Accountable Teams
What can sport coaches learn from a former British Commando? A better way to deliver content, ensure learning has occurred, and empower players to own their learning process. In this episode, Mark explains how coaches can more effectively shape behaviors, which will lead to better learning outcomes. Bio Mark has been training, coaching & mentoring individuals and teams since the early 90s. He joined the British Army in 1983. Mark passed the world famous Commando course in 1990 and while posted with the British Commandos experienced the stresses of operations during the first Iraq Conflict. While serving with 29 Commando Regiment as the senior instructor, running the Commando Training Wing, Mark was the first person to initiate structural change to the way soldiers were trained for the commando course. His work in this field culminated in the design of the Performance Development Systems; a holistic and robust approach to maximize real world performance for organizations, coaches and athletes. Following several years of running, designing and quality controlling "train the trainer" courses for the Military, Mark turned down promotion in order to leave the forces to commit to working on PDS full time. He has spent over 25 years researching and developing effective learning and adherence systems to help coaches and trainers maximize the performance of the individuals and teams they are working with. In 2006 Mark was awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) by her Majesty the Queen for his work in developing the system. Mark believes in a "practitioner" based approach. He soon identified that many theories that may look good on paper or in controlled environments are not so effective in the "real world". PDS is all about providing a positive sustainable performance impact on the "shop floor". Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 6:15 His back story 10:45 Performance is a behavior not an outcome 20:30 Coaching isn't as easy as downloading information like the matrix 22:00 Acceptable, Unacceptable, Exceptional 31:15 A great coach develops self-reliance within the team 34:15 Athlete first, athlete last in communication during training. 44:15 How coaches can "check for learning" 49:00 What is effective communication 55:45 Mark's definition of excellence Get in Touch Website: www.pdscoach.com Twitter: @PDScoach Podcast with Stu Armstrong: A Conversation with My Mentor: The Talent Equation 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!

Oct 8, 2017 • 55min
#30 What Makes Sports Fun for Athletes of All Ages with Amanda Visek, PhD
Amanda Visek, PhD, a leading expert on Fun Integration Theory and Associate Professor at The George Washington University, dives into the fascinating world of fun in sports. She reveals that children define fun in 81 unique ways, challenging adult perceptions. The conversation explores how prioritizing enjoyment can combat obesity and dropouts in youth sports. Visek emphasizes the role of coaches and parents in creating positive environments, advocating for a kid-centric approach to enhance engagement and overall sports experiences.

Oct 2, 2017 • 55min
#29 Retired NBA Player Bob Bigelow, Just Let the Kids Play
"When I was a child, the vast majority of my sporting activities were in playgrounds and sandlots. Now, the majority of youth sports activities are organized and administered by adults …. The biggest problem in organized youth sports is very simple to explain — too many adults who want to compete through children." — Bob Bigelow, CNN Sunday Morning Bio A standout at University of Pennsylvania under Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Daly, Bob's talent brought him to play for the NBA's Kansas City Kings, Boston Celtics and San Diego Clippers. Since that time, he has conducted hundreds of talks and hosted thousands of clinics around the country to improve how coaches coach kids, and to develop greater skills in young athletes. Bob co-authored the watershed book, Just Let the Kids Play. Bob's key approaches for a better sports experience for children: Design sports programs that meet children's needs, not adults'. Ensure that every child gets meaningful playing time, up until varsity sports. Make sure that coaches and volunteers are trained and qualified to work with young athletes. Limit the number of games to prevent overuse injuries. Encourage participation in multiple sports to prevent burn-out and enhance overall body development. Avoid identifying "elite" players at young ages at the expense of later-bloomers. Don't over-coach from the sidelines — Let the Kids Play! Subscribe to the Way of Champions Podcast on iTunes Show Notes 3:00 What was the impetus for Bob's book Just Let the Kids Play 7:00 Should we evaluate and cut kids at younger ages? 13:00 Bob's opinion on predicting future athletic ability at age 10 15:00 The "soccer creep" phenomenon of the 1980s 20:45 Do you need to overschedule your child in every sport under the sun? 25:30 What are the two pieces missing from the backgrounds of our coaches? 34:00 Bob's mission: remove adult egos from youth sport 41:30 We are not out here to produce better athletes Get in Touch Website: www.bob-bigelow.com Email: bob-bigelow@comcast.net 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!

Sep 25, 2017 • 57min
#28 Brett Fischer, PT for the Arizona Cardinals, on injuries, early specialization, and teaching movement before technical skills.
Brett Fischer used to see Tommy John's surgery in 25 to 28 year old athletes. Now he is seeing it in 13 year olds. What has happened to simple joy of the game and playing for fun when we push our athletes so hard they need surgeries at half the age they used to need them? Listen to Brett explain to John what is lacking in youth sports performance, how parents can help young athletes remain healthy and play longer, and how to make it fun and still get the work you need from even the highest-level athletes. Bio Brett is a Licensed Physical Therapist, Certified Athletic Trainer, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a Certified Dry Needling provider. He has worked with the University of Florida, New York Jets, PGA & Senior PGA TOUR and the Chicago Cubs. He has served as a consultant with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers and currently provides sports performance training and rehab to MLB, NFL,NBA,NHL and world ranked tennis players. Brett is also currently the staff Physical Therapist with the NFL's Arizona Cardinals. Brett's expertise has led to national speaking engagements, television, internet and radio appearances and he has been mentioned in periodicals such as ESPN the Magazine, Sports Illustrated, USA Today and the New York Times. Brett received the 1997 Training & Conditioning Magazine Professional Athlete's Comeback Player Award/Medical Team for the comeback of future Hall of fame pitcher Randy Johnson. Brett is also the inventor of the most effective and versatile abdominal device sold nationally and internationally, the AB DOLLY. Watch Brett's VIDEO bio. Show Notes 4:30 Are basic movement skills missing in our younger kids? 9:15 30 of 32 first round picks in 2017 NFL draft were multi-sport athletes. 90% of all draftees were. 19:45 Most commons injuries in youth sports that could have prevented 21:45 What can parents be doing with their kids that Brett is doing with his athletes? 27:00 There must be an off season for every sport 35:45 What is missing most in sports performance at all levels? 48:00 The Trick is to have fun with thought behind it Get in Touch Website: FischerInstitute.com Twitter: @Fischer_Inst Instagram: @Fischer_Institute Facebook: @FischerInstituteAZ 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!


