In this episode, Edward LeBlanc breaks down the three essential ingredients every great practice needs: fun, finding something new, and embracing frustration. He challenges coaches to redefine “fun” as enjoyment of growth and hard work, while emphasizing that real improvement comes from discovery and struggling through mistakes. The discussion dives into common coaching mistakes—like overloading players, poor communication, and prioritizing outcomes over process—and offers clear ways to fix them. LeBlanc also shares how elite coaches evolve by simplifying teaching, asking better questions, and creating game-like learning environments. If you want to run more effective practices and develop smarter, more resilient players, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

Show Notes:

• 3 Essentials: Fun, Find, Frustrate 
• Enjoying the work, not just games 
• Keeping players engaged through discovery
• Find something new every practice 
• Learning can come from old skills, seen differently 
• Frustration is part of growth 
• Teach players to embrace mistakes 
• Avoid overcomplicating drills 
• Don’t prioritize results over process 
• Define the “win” in every drill 
• Replace generic coach speak with specifics 
• Ask more questions
• Connect drills to real game situations 
• Use more game-like reps 
• Balance simple vs. complex teaching 
• Adjust based on age and development 
• Create a shared team vocabulary 
• Allowing bad reps
• Evolving as a coach

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