In this episode, we welcome Dr. Amy Peters, a clinical psychologist AND a tremendous basketball coach. She was Aseem's assistant coach at Worcester Academy, and is now the Associate Head Coach at BB&N in Cambridge, MA. We dive deep into the realm of psychology, identity, and how we as adults can help our players see past the perfection myth. All that and more on this episode of ECC!

Resources referenced:

NCAA survey: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/research/wellness/Dec2023RES_HW-MentalHealthRelease.pdfWomen in sport survey: https://womeninsport.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Executive-Summary-Tackling-Teenage-Disengagement-March-2022.pdfAssociation for Applied Sport Psychology Mental Wellness Resource Center: https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/mental-wellness-resource-center/

As always, leave us a comment, hit us on social media, or email us your thoughts at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

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Luka gets traded to the Lakers for...*checks notes*...Anthony Davis? Citing concerns of durability and wanting to win now? Weren't the Mavs just in the finals?

Video of Jason Kidd's reaction: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/aD658LkJe2I

ESPN article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43678217/luka-doncic-father-calls-mavericks-lakers-trade

Good lord. All that and more on this episode of ECC!

As always, leave us a comment, hit us on social media, or email us your thoughts at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

You may have a Jimmy Butler problem on your team. It's very possible you don't have A Jimmy Butler, but his situation in Miami may be indicative of a larger societal issue that is plaguing youth, high school, and college sport. Listen to the guys dive in and dissect.

Video Referenced: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDYEa0PbJF0&ab_channel=HouseofHighlights

Article Referenced: https://espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43535792/erik-spoelstra-heat-jimmy-butler-suspension-get-it

As always, leave us a comment, hit us on social media, or email us your thoughts at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

What the heck does "coach em up" mean? Why do we get into this time of year and either become complacent or feel like we have to change everything we are doing? What are the conspiracy theories and stories that coaches tell themselves to justify either their lack of preparation or why their team isn't performing the way they think they should.

We all do it, we all did it, and we are all guilty of it. Let's move past it and really think about how we can manage our performance better.

As always, leave us a comment, hit us on social media, or email us your thoughts at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

What's the role of sport during crisis? How do we reconcile the need for "distraction," and the very real trauma that athletes, coaches, and HUMANS face when there is a crisis? We attempt to answer some of these questions in this episode, centered mostly around the reaction to the New Orleans terror attack and the wildfires in LA.

If you'd like to help with the situation facing our neighbors in California, please consider donating to the Red Cross or any of the other organizations doing incredible work to help the recovery and containment efforts.

Please help people affected by the 2025 California Wildfires by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or texting the word CAWILDFIRES to 90999 to make a donation. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.

As always, leave us a comment, hit us on social media, or email us your thoughts at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

A recent ESPN article highlighting Kevin O'Connell's approach as Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings was a breath of fresh air. Listen as we discuss how coaching CAN be done this way, and Kevin O'Connell's unique (which shouldn't be, but it is) approach to connecting with players and building their confidence. Complete with quotes from the article, including by his colleagues and his players, we get a picture of a modern day coach who understands that connection, trust, engagement, and motivation are the bedrocks to long-term success.

Link to article: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43322013/nfl-vikings-coach-kevin-oconnell-sam-darnold-rams-playoffs

As always, let us know your thoughts via comments, social media, or email at [email protected].

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

We are back in 2025 with a new format and the same depth and conversation you expect from us!

In this episode, we discuss a fairly viral clip that left us scratching our heads. Mick Cronin, head coach of the UCLA Men's Basketball team, took his frustrations with his team to the media in a post game press conference. Here's the clip (it's in the episode as well): https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEkeu4cRZ2Q/

Is he okay? Why, in 2025, do we think this is acceptable at all? The comments on the post are certainly interesting, as well, and relatively indicative of where we are and why we do what we do.

Let us know your thoughts on this in the comments, and feel free to reach out on social media or via email, as well!

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

Let's take a look back at the year for EC as well as get into the entire Doug Gottlieb saga going on at UW Green Bay. What a disaster! Hate to say we told you so, though.

Link to article mentioned: https://www.bracketsbubblesandbidstealers.com/post/rise-and-shine-it-s-time-to-talk-about-green-bay

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/essential-coaching/support

This week, we welcomed Wyatt Olson, the Associate AD for Internal Operations at Louisiana Tech University. The conversation centers around helping young people with transitioning out of athletics, into career, and more. Wyatt is an expert on leadership within organizations, and his story has so many relatable twists and turns for all of us who have built lives and careers through struggle and strife. Use some of the nuggets in this episode to help the young people you serve to transition more smoothly out of your care into the world!

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/essential-coaching/support

We are back! Trying something new this go around, seeing how it works. Let us know your thoughts on the episode!

Check out more content, questions, and resources here:

Podcast: tinyurl.com/eccpod

YouTube: youtube.com/@essentialcoaching

Medium: https://medium.com/@essentialcoaching

TikTok: tiktok.com/@essentialcoaching