In our latest #CoachingCulture episode, we’re bringing you a friend of the pod and someone who has influenced Nate and myself’s formation as coaches, John O’Sullivan from Changing the Game Project.

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Top three reasons athletes play:

- Positive Coaching

- Positive Team Dynamics

- Trying Hard (Good Practice/Game Environments)

You’re not missing the magic practice.

If you continually focus on building the relationship up with the parents and keep them in the loop and work hard to notice when a kid is making improvement or struggle, the relationship will more likely than not, be positive.

It’s easy to see parents’ involvement as a problem instead of an opportunity to help both the kid and the team culture.

Advice for Coaches when you’re trying to build trust in your athletes and their parents:

- First, understand trust and what it looks like

Ken Blanchard’s ABCDE’s on Trust

- Ability

- Being Believable

- Connection

- Dependable

What gives you the most hope for sports in the future in the United States?

- We have so many kids playing, we have more chances to do it right.

- We have more and better ways to deliver coaching training and education

Purchase John’s Book!

https://changingthegameproject.com/books/

Changingthegameproject.com

Changing the game in youth sports: John O’Sullivan at TEDxBend:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXw0XGOVQvw

We'd love to hear from you!

Twitter:

@jpnerbun

@CoachNSanderson