Sport and the Growing Good

Albert Bandura claimed that some of our deepest learning occurs socially – from what we observe and adopt from what we interact with around us. In this conversation with Coach Jackson, we discussed learning from role models, as well as how coaches can utilize players as models on their teams. Our conversation addressed: 1.     Cows. Temple Grandin. 2.     What Coach Jackson learned from role model...

Winning is difficult – and maintaining success can be even more challenging. In this session, Coach Jackson and some special guests joined us to discuss the topic of “sustaining success.” 1.     Reading your team when things are going well. Understanding them. “Getting out of their way.” Winning gets to be habitual. 2.     Little inconveniences bringing a team together in new, deeper ways (hotel e...

Sameer Deshpande  is an assistant professor of Statistics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Much of his work is applied in sports settings, where he has emerged as a leader in the field. Sameer is a BIOS fellow and key partner as we’ve continued deepening the connections between sports and research. In this conversation, we discussed: 1.     The type of research Sameer conducts. Using probab...

We’ve studied many aspects of coaching including having a system, running practice, and forming team identity. Today’s topic will build upon these and other topics we’ve discussed to engage several specific aspects of “leading on game day.” 1.            Coach Jackson’s favorite routes in driving thought the Midwest and western US states. 2.            Organizing game day so that the players would...

Bob Batt is an associate professor in the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Bob focuses on operations and information management. He partners with hospitals and other organizations to learn about service operations. Additionally, Bob serves as a BIOS fellow and has been a valued partners to UW Athletics in recent years. 1.     His expertise in service operations.  2.     E...

Why should coaches work with compassion? How can they do it? We discussed the science of compassion and how Coach Jackson centered compassion in his leadership. 1. Coach’s perspective on coaching clinics and professional development. “It’s a collaboration of thought and ideas.” “You have to go there with intention on what you want to learn.” 2. The importance of storytelling in coaching. “We are t...

In this session, Coach Jackson discusses his background with visualization and how he used it with his teams over the years. Visualization is a powerful tool in sports, backed by extensive research on its neurological, psychological, and performance benefits. By incorporating vivid, goal-oriented, and emotionally engaging imagery into their routines, athletes can enhance their physical and mental...

Faisal Abdu’Allah is a Professor of Art at UW-Madison and a BIOS Fellow. Faisal’s art has been shown around the world and he’s also a beloved teacher. Some of his recent work unfolds in athletics settings. He’s an important partner for BIOS in our work on “the representation of sport in society.” In this episode, we discussed: 1.     Faisal’s work at UW-Madison – balancing art and administration....

All coaches and leaders face conflict in their groups. We never seek conflict or problems, but these times can be defining times for our teams. Leaders need to have skills in leading through conflict. In this session with Coach Jackson, we discussed the research on leading through conflict and gained Coach’s perspectives based on his extensive experiences. We discussed: 1.     Circling back to the...

Jason Lopez joined us for an excellent conversation on his latest research and teaching. As a BIOS fellow, Jason contributes expertise in the areas of sports media and cultural studies. We discussed: 1.     What Jason studies as a professor of sports media. Athlete activism and speech. The unscripted nature of sports. Sports games: fantasy sports, sports gambling. 2.     Jason’s journey to academi...

Every coach wants a superstar on the team! But coaching and leading a great player is not always easy as leaders attempt to foster an entire organization. Lionel Messi was the greatest player in the history of the game, and his journey illustrates some complex leadership decisions that Barca needed to make in order to sustain success during and beyond his tenure with the team. In this fourth episo...

Our coaching class discussed the importance of individual and collective identity formation. We also addressed Coach Jackson’s notion of “telling a story” as a team. We discussed: 1.        Erving Goffman’s – “presentation of self in society” – front stage selves and back stage selves. We think there are “scripts” we need to follow. 2.        4 types of Identity formation a.        incremental for...

La Masia is one of the leading youth academies in the world. It prepares elite athletes, while emphasizing holistic growth and development. As the primary educational system for the FC Barcelona club, the Academy has evolved over the years. The program is rooted in sound educational and developmental research. Professor Jordi Diaz Gibson guided us through some of the key aspects of La Masia. We di...

In this session, we continue discussing the leadership of FC Barcelona (Barca), one of the great sports organizations in the world. Barca’s emergence as a leading club was deeply influenced by Johan Cruyff. In this conversation with Professor Jordi Diaz Gibson, we discussed: 1.     Cruyff’s background as a player and coach. 2.     “Cruyff created the DNA of the team … not only the way the team pla...

In this session, we discussed the importance of having a system to give your team focus and direction. Coach Jackson also gave many other words of wisdom for aspiring coaches and leaders as we seek to impact others in sports. 1.     The importance of physical surroundings and living by water. 2.     Situational awareness.  3.     Having a system. “It allows a team to focus.” 4.     “The first 30 m...

 Practice is where teams come together and hone their ways of playing together. Coaches play a central role in creating effective practices.  1.     When looking for players, what should we be looking for? Winners. What kind of record do they have and what role have they played in it? 2.     “One of the great things about the Lakers and the Bulls teams was their acknowledgement of how important pr...

Christian Franck is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where, among numerous other projects, he serves as Director of the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury and the head of the PANTHER Project, which develops technologies for detecting and preventing traumatic brain injuries. Professor Franck’s work has significant implications in the area of athletics, wh...

We will be learning in depth about the leadership of one of the world’s top sports organizations: FC Barcelona (Barca). Our expert guide is Professor Jordi Diaz Gibson, a top level scholar and former elite, national-level athlete in Barcelona. In this first episode, Professor Diaz Gibson discusses his own background, the role of Barca in local lives, the Barca book by Simon Kuper, and some of the...

Coach Jackson delivered some foundational comments on the importance of coaching. When he first started coaching: “I realized that I had scant knowledge.” “As a coach, I learned that you had to set up a sequence early on when the people gathered together to tell them what was going to happen and how this was going to transpire.” “Until an athlete goes through the actual motion and activity, it’s n...

A key charge for coaches is bringing their teams together to form a collective identity. Team identity formation is a complex process that can shape the group’s journey in profound ways. In this session, Coach Jackson offers some insights on team identity formation. 1.        Setting the tone for a new season: Speaking with the team about pressure. 2.        Visualizing the new season ahead. What...

1. Why Coach Jackson spent a moment of reflection before each game. 2. How the Bulls embraced Scottie Pippen when he was going through a difficult family time. 3.  “Non-action.” Not getting involved from an ego perspective. Step back from the initial reaction.  4. Group intelligence. Smart teams. NASA example. 5. Letting a team fail. “Sometimes it’s good to fail…rather than inserting my impression...

All teams face the grind, the mundane, even the doldrums, throughout the course of their time together. How can coaches keep spirits up, and "even make the mundane sacred?” Coach Jackson and Professor Miller discussed: 1.        The responsibility that players have for playing. 2.        The coach can bring some fun and joy to the season. 3.        Times of the season that can become a drag....

What does it mean to “have a system?” Why is it critical to build from the ground up? 1.        Having a system is not unique to basketball. It applies to most all sports (e.g., rowing). “It transcends basketball, no doubt about it." 2.        How Tex Winter used a system successfully at Kansas State and eventually brought it into the NBA. 3.        "The system is important — but you hav...

The distribution of leadership. Getting a strong staff, getting to know each other. Trusting each other and giving everyone meaningful roles. 1 The small room at the Chicago Bulls facility where Coach Jackson developed bonds with Coaches Bach and Winter. Three desks, two doors. Monitors.  2 Scouting upcoming teams. Making videos with the video machine.  3 Doug Collins (head coach) would be working...

Coach Jackson joined us to discuss how and why coaches should build self-awareness.  Notes: 1.        “I always thought there was something more to basketball than basketball.” 2.        Standing at the center circle before the start of practice. “When people come to the center circle, everything has to be in order.” 3.        Metacognition: how do we think about thinking. How do we monitor our ow...