Phi-Lacrosse-ophy Podcast Episode 70

with Amherst College Head Coach John Thompson

2:00 - Coach Thompson’s Background

5:00 - Playing days at Brown under Pete Lasagna and Scott Nelson

- Springfield College, Brown, Colby, Amherst

15:30 Letting players into his life

19:35 Sports Psychology background

- Recognizing excellence, positive reinforcement

- Each of his players gets a scouting reports on being a leader

27:35 Describing barriers to success, Science of Confidence

28:40 Creating a Practice Plan that makes players think so when they get into a game they don’t have to think

37:38 Executing & Decision Making - Empowering players to make decisions - As long as a player’s decision supports the team’s mission, then its supported. Never talk about a players’ bad decisions

40:00 Infectious positivity, Infectious enthusiasm

44:44 Duct Tape Parenting

50:50 It pays to be a Winner - Attaching rewards & consequences to drills

52:42 Creating practices that have meaningful reps and limiting empty reps

54:20 Recruiting Philosophy

55:00 Coaching Philosophy

59:05 Recruiting Timeline for Amherst