CWB: Coaching While Black

In the season finale of Coaching While Black, Alecia and Armond take stock of where the healing-centered sport movement stands - and where it's headed. Sports-based youth development had its moment in the sun. Now, healing-centered sport and coaching are earning their place in the conversation, and the momentum is only building.

In this episode, two expert coaches reflect on what it means to show up not just as a practitioner, but as a movement builder - someone who sees the work as bigger than any one program or player. They explore what coalition leadership looks like in practice, and spotlight the real, on-the-ground progress coalitions across the country are making to create youth sports environments that are safer, more affirming, and more humane.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

As healing-centered sport experts, Alecia and Armond discuss the practicality of implementing healing-centered coaching as middle and high school coaches. The two battle in the hot takes, arguing over whether a coach should make kids do what they say vs meeting the athletes where they're at. "How are they going to learn to persevere if I don't put them through it?!" vs "Fear sparks compliance - not learning."

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

CHJS spends a lot of time telling coaches that sport heals kids — but in Episode 3, they let a kid say it himself. Leo, 13, joins Armond and Alecia not as a guest celebrity but as an athlete with real opinions about what makes sport feel safe or unsafe, connecting or isolating, healing or harmful. The conversation is refreshingly unscripted: the hosts ask, Leo answers, and when his experience complicates the framework, they follow him there instead of steering him back. It's a useful gut-check for any coach who thinks they know what their kids need. Plus, can't forget the hot takes with our devil's advocate Armond and with Leo playing a special guest.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

Hollywood has spent decades showing us what coaching looks like. But how much of it is actually great? Armond and Alecia break down movie coaches - Mr. Miyagi, Coach Carter, Ted Lasso, Herman Boone - using the healing-centered sport framework to separate what works from what causes harm. They debate whether tough love builds character or breaks kids, why redemption arcs work on screen but fail real athletes, and why Hollywood still can't write a pitch around a female, healing-centered coach. Come on now. Plus: Hot Takes on inspiring speeches, coaching from unhealed trauma, and whether vulnerability precedes trust.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits

Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards

Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts

Editor: Grace Stetler Director:

Team CHJS

Sport has always been more than a game. But too often, coaches are told to "stick to sports" or kids are asked to "leave it at the field door." Armond Richards and Alecia Ivery push back on both: true healing-centered sport only works when kids feel seen, safe, and welcome to bring their full selves. In this episode, they get into what that actually looks like when times are hard, from ICE raids affecting youth sports participation to practical tools coaches can use Monday at practice.

Plus, the debut of Hot Takes: Armond plays devil's advocate as he and Alecia work through which coaching behaviors are healing and which ones cause harm.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Because Nothing Heals like Sport.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards

Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts

Editor: Grace Stetler

Director: Team CHJS

Coaching While Black is back for Season 4, and Armond Richards and Alecia Ivery are coming to you live from Super Bowl Radio Row (again!). This season they're getting into it: ICE raids and it's impact on youth sports, what Hollywood gets wrong about coaching, and whether sport actually heals kids' mental health (yes, we go straight to the source with a 13-year-old guest).

Subscribe and save the show now so you don' t miss a single episode.

Because Nothing Heals like Sport.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits

Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards

Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts

Editor: Grace Stetler

Director: Team CHJS

We've reached the season 3 finale of CWB! In this episode, Armond Richards and Anthony Andino dig into how coaches can support young athletes beyond the game. They break down what it means to create a team culture where kids feel safe, supported, and prepared for life both in and outside the sport. Just as importantly, they discuss why coaches need to care for their own mental health and serve as important role models in showing vulnerability.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Because Nothing Heals like Sport.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery, Anthony Andino, and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Dan Epand Director: Team CHJS

Why do so many girls stop playing sports, and what can we do to change that? In this special Women's History Month episode of Coaching While Black, Armond Richards and Alecia Ivery explore how to keep girls engaged in sports and build truly inclusive spaces in athletics. Alecia shares her perspective as a girls' basketball coach, while Armond reflects on his role as a girl dad and what it means for the future of coaching.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Because Nothing Heals like Sport.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery, Anthony Andino, and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Dan Epand Director: Team CHJS

Coaching Gen Z is a whole new game, and in this episode of Coaching While Black, we're tackling it head-on. Hosts Armond Richards and Alecia Ivery dive into the challenges and strategies of coaching Gen Z athletes in today's social media-driven world. With over a decade of experience coaching middle schoolers, Alecia shares insights on how social media, technology, and changing communication styles shape this generation's athletic experience. From TikTok drills to the complexities of group chats, they discuss strategies for building connections, creating safe spaces, and embracing the digital landscape to better support young athletes.

Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Because Nothing Heals like Sport.

Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at [email protected] to join the movement.

Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery, Anthony Andino, and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Dan Epand Director: Team CHJS

In this special episode of Coaching While Black, we're taking a moment to thank our friends at Players Coalition. Because of our partnership, we're here on Radio Row hosting Season Three! Their commitment to justice, equity, and access in sport is changing the game for athletes at every level.

Players Coalition is using its platform to drive real systemic change, focusing on four key areas: police and community relations, criminal justice reform, education, and economic advancement in low-income communities.

Follow Players Coalition on socials @playerscoalition to stay updated on their impact, and stay tuned for more conversations that move the game forward.