This week I was preparing a talk for a University athletics department on connecting and communicating with Gen-Z, and I started by re-listening to this great podcast we did in 2021 with Betsy Butterick. She is a former college basketball coach at the University of Washington, Occidental College, and UC San Diego in addition to having worked as the Logistics manager for the Seattle Storm. Today, Betsy is known as “The Coaches’ Coach” & Communication Specialist. As a former coach with experience in DI, DII, DIII and the WNBA Betsy utilizes her unique background with individuals ready to improve and teams of all kinds — from the locker room to the boardroom. Connect with Betsy on Twitter and be sure to check out Betsy’s website:  https://www.betsybutterick.com In our discussion today we cover:  Betsy shares her journey about how she came to coaching coaches How can we intentionally improve our level of communication? When listening, ask yourself, “What can I learn?” Kids these days…who have changed, adults or kids? “Connecting with Gen Z is Not Impossible, it is just unpracticed.” What does your whistle mean when you blow it? What is it like to work with Betsy? “If we want the best out of people, we have to give them our best!” Dealing with criticism and resistance to change  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. REGISTER NOW! 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.  Register soon to get access to the best hotel rooms right across the street from Colorado Academy. Its going to be amazing to be back in person in 2023!  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. 

#330 Betsy Butterick, Communication Specialist, on Connecting, Engaging and Inspiring Gen -Z Athletes

The Way of Champions Podcast is brought to you by Changing the Game Project and hosted by Changing the Game founder John O'Sullivan. 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.

Sports

For over 20 years Graham Betchart has worked as a mental performance coach with the worlds top athletes and companies and is now sharing his wisdom through keynote speaking and music. For the past two years he has worked with University of Connecticut Men's Basketball Players, winning back to back NCAA titles, and has also worked with the NBA's Sacramento Kings as well as a who's who of individual NBA stars.  His gift is simplifying mental training and making it accessible for all. His unique vibe adn authenticity comes through in our chat, as well as through his videos and music he creates ot develop more mindful, mentally tough performers. His method and teachings are included in his two books Play Present (2014) and Founder (2023), and his website is www.capitolacoaching.com. You will want a pen and paper for this one as you will have a lot of notes to take! REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more. PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  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 on any of our 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   

#375 Graham Betchart, Mental Performance Coach for UConn Mens Basketball and NBA All Stars, on Playing Present, the "Palms Down" Approach, and Being Your Authentic Self

 Angela Hucles Mangano is a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist for US Soccer, two-time World Cup Bronze Medalist, former professional soccer player and the US Soccer Foundation’s 2009 Humanitarian of the Year.  She is currently the General Manager of Los Angeles’ women’s professional soccer team, Angel City FC, overseeing the sporting vision of the club, and all soccer operations including coaching, the first team, player care, medical and performance, sports science, and all wellness programs and resources.       Her passion is in helping others achieve their goals and dreams and has over 35 years experience in the sports industry.  Angela has become a regular speaker on topics of leadership and the power of sport and its impact on personal growth and development.        Angela is a Past President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, founded by Billie Jean King, and was a soccer analyst for FOX, ESPN, and NBC during the Women’s World Cups, Olympic games, and ACC / SEC women’s and men’s college soccer.         She is also a founding owner Angel City FC,  along with Natalie Portman, Julie Foudy, Mia Hamm and other US Soccer stars.  Angela received a B.A. degree in Anthropology from the University of Virginia’s College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences in 2000.    REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of  all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer including all time winningest NCAA Basketball coach Tara VanDerveer from Stanford and 2x World Cup USA Rugby Coach Pete Steinberg! Click here to register and learn more.  PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  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 on any of our 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 

#374 Angela Hucles Mangano, 2x Olympic Gold Medalist for USWNT Soccer and General Manager of Angel City FC on Leadership and Building a Values-based Sports Environment

Pete Steinberg is a leadership and innovation expert with extensive experience consulting with top Fortune 500 professionals. He also has more than 20 years of experience as an elite rugby coach, coaching the USA Women’s Rugby Team at two World Cups and the Rio Olympics. As a former U.S., international, and Olympic sports coach and commentator for major outlets such as CBS, ESPN, and Fox Sports, Pete has a track record of bringing teams to victory. He has won 11 National Championships with the Penn State Women, MARFU Men, and Temple Women rugby teams. He has also worked with the Men’s Eagles and other age-grade programs within the U.S. National team pathway. Pete was the Head of Coach Development for USA Rugby, leading the program as it became integrated into the World Rugby programs. Pete is also the President of Innovative Thought, a business consultancy focused on leadership and organizational development. He supports clients in the areas of innovation, leadership, strategic planning, marketing, recruiting and organizational development. Pete works regularly as an executive coach for senior executives of global companies. Website: https://www.petesteinberg.com/ Consulting Website: https://www.innovative-thought.com/ Book Page: https://www.petesteinberg.com/book Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Steinberg LinkedIn: @Pete Steinberg and @Innovative Thought Facebook: @Innovative Thought REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of soon to be named all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer! Click here to register and learn more.  PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  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 on any of our 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 

#373 Pete Steinberg, Former World Cup and Olympic Coach for USA Women's Rugby, on Leadership, Coach Well-being, and the Difference Between a Great Culture and a Performance Culture

Former Navy SEAL, professional athlete, and entrepreneur Chad Metcalf (@chadmetcalf) is the author of Young Athletes’ Ultimate Guide to Mental Toughness. Chad’s journey began when he was a child. A self-described ‘late bloomer,’ he had the importance of faith, self-belief and focus instilled in him at a young age, equipping him with a strong mental toughness that he would carry forward and apply to every challenge he faced.   Following a 12-year career in the SEAL Teams, he chased his PGA Tour dream. After running out of money for a third time he knew it was time to strike the balance between pursuing his passions and knowing when a new strategy was necessary, pulling himself out of negative mindsets, and using his setbacks to help him grow and move on to complete great things. He is firm in his belief that without his faith, growth mindset, and mental resilience, he could not have discovered what he was capable of.   Now, with an MBA and a new career under his belt, Chad remains committed to developing new skills and working hard to achieve his dreams. He is a firm believer that faith, determination, dedication, perseverance, and support are all that is needed to bring a dream to life, and he’s passionate about helping others to build the mental resilience required to make that happen.   CONNECT with Chad:  Young Athletes’ Ultimate Guide to Mental Toughness: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1961994011  https://www.audible.com/pd/B0CFNDGM1K/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-363118&ref;=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_363118_rh_us  Signed Books (plus bonuses not included on Amazon)  https://www.mentaltoughnessandconfidence.com/yaugtmt-ebook--6572c  Summer Challenge for Parents to Offer Their Teens  https://www.mentaltoughnessandconfidence.com/summerchallenge REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of soon to be named all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer! Click here to register and learn more.  PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  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 on any of our 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 

#372 Chad Metcalf, Former Navy SEAL and Professional Golfer, on the Key Components of Mental Toughness

 Colleen Munson concluded her 19th season at the helm of Western Michigan volleyball in 2023. During her tenure at WMU, Munson has posted 10 20-win seasons, including a program-record eight in a row from 2005-12. She has taken the Broncos to the NCAA Tournament in 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2023, including a berth in the Sweet 16 in 2008.   Taking over a program in 2005 that had finished better than third in the MAC West just three times since 1990, Munson has led Western Michigan to six MAC West championships, including outright MAC regular season titles in 2008 and 2023, MAC Tournament titles and trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 and 2023, and NCAA Tournament at-large bids in 2008 and 2011. Western Michigan had one of its best seasons in program history in 2023, as it won both the MAC Regular Season and Tournament titles on the way to a 31-3 record, its first 30-win season since 1983. The Broncos went a perfect 18-0 in the conference to become the first team to go undefeated in MAC play since 2014. Munson's squad also went unbeaten at home (14-0) and boasted its longest winning streak (21) since 1983. WMU hosted and won the Mid-American Conference Championship to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament, its fourth berth under Munson. In the first round, the Brown and Gold ousted No. 7 seed Auburn in straight sets for its third NCAA Tournament win in Munson's tenure.   In our conversation today, we discuss with Colleen her approach to coaching and recruiting, the importance of developing your own players and knowing authentically who you are as both a coach and a program. We also discuss some of her accountability  and personal development tools she used this past year to have one of the most successful seasons in program history without bringing in any new players.   Connect with Colleen at Colleen.Munson@wmich.edu REGISTRATION FOR THE 2024 WAY OF CHAMPIONS CONFERENCE IS OPEN! Save $100 if you sign up prior to June 30, and save 50% per person for groups of five or more. We are headed back to Denver, CO August 9-11 at Colorado Academy. Our hotel blocks do fill up, so join Jerry, John and a panel of soon to be named all star guest speakers for the coaching event of the summer! Click here to register and learn more.  PUT IN YOUR BULK BOOK ORDERS FOR OUR BESTSELLING BOOKS!: Programs such as UNC soccer and lacrosse, Syracuse lacrosse, Stanford Lacrosse, Middlebury College, Colby College, Rutgers University, and many other champions are using THE CHAMPION TEAMMATE book with their athletes. Schools and clubs are using EVERY MOMENT MATTERS for staff development and book clubs. Are you?  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 on any of our 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 

#371 Colleen Munson, Western Michigan Volleyball Head Coach, on Authenticity, Accountability, and Developing Your Own Players Instead of Looking Outside Your Program for Solutions

#330 Betsy Butterick, Communication Specialist, on Connecting, Engaging and Inspiring Gen -Z Athletes

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