The Coaching Life Podcast

Have you ever considered the many ways we could be helping our kids to learn the valuable life lesson of taking ownership when they are playing a game such as baseball? That's what Chris and Pat talk about in this episode, with several practical in-game examples included in the dialogue. 

In Episode 61, Chris and Pat discuss an important role of coaching... helping our players to evaluate themselves.  It is important to consider what each player's goals are for themselves and then help them to see whether their current course is helping them to arrive at those goals. Sometimes all they need is an honest conversation and encouragement to create the map for themselves that leads...

After four weeks of silence, Chris and Pat are back to share some insight about how kids in all areas of the country, large cities AND small towns, can create their own opportunities to play college ball. 

In today's episode, Chris and Pat talk about something we may not always think about much or pause to consider as we are coaching today's youth athletes. How to instill a competitive fire in them; a wave of righteous anger, if you will, that makes them want to fight back and compete during a game. How to respond whenever it seems like you are getting "bullied" on the field. It's not an easy thing...

Chris and Pat *revisit a conversation about what really matters when it comes to evaluating our kids' sports performances. Too often, the car ride home includes words and emotions that could be avoided if we truly learned to focus on what really matters.  In this episode, we discuss Chris's book, Building Champions: Coaching, Parenting, and Playing To Win in What Really Matters . If you are i...

In today's episode, Chris and Pat talk about their own experiences with returning to play baseball after a long break caused by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. This experience has given us a renewed perspective on the game, how we coach it, and how we play it.  ______________ We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter...

The guys are excited to be able to talk about youth sports and baseball in the present tense, as teams are beginning to take the field again!  In this episode, we discuss the importance of patience as we begin practicing and preparing our young athletes to play games. What are some of the things we must consider in order to keep their bodies healthy after this long layoff?  _____________...

Chris and Pat *revisit a conversation about how teams, families, businesses, etc. can tend to create a culture of mistake avoidance. The idea for this episode came after watching an interview on WOUB Bobcat Sports Showcase. To see the full interview and a lot of other great coverage of the Ohio University Bobcats athletic teams, visit @BobcatShowcase on Twitter. Also, in this episode we discuss Ch...

This is the second half of our two-part episode with Coach Fred Gibson. At this point, the conversation goes into many different directions as the guys have a lot of fun recalling great memories and discussing the things that make baseball and all youth sports valuable and memorable.  ______________ We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode!...

It was just like going back into the dugout again with the old ball coach and mentor! Chris and Pat talk with Little League Sr. Division World Series Champion and legendary high school baseball coach, Fred Gibson. As we expected, the conversation with Gibby went on and on and on, and so this will be Part 1 of a two-part episode series. Sit back and enjoy some wonderful stories about baseball and l...

What a pleasure it was to be able to talk about coaching with one of the absolute legends of the coaching world. Coach Chaffin has devoted the majority of his coaching career to high school student-athletes. He's one of us! Just a regular guy, but one with SO much wisdom, so much love and passion for helping people. Be sure to have a notebook and pen ready as you listen to this episode!  If y...

Pat and Chris have a candid and reflective conversation about things they are missing the most in a world with no sports.   ______________ We'd love for you to reach out to us directly and tell us what you thought about this episode! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also email us at TheCoachingLifePodcast@gmail.com . Thanks for sharing this podcast with your family memb...

Kevin Wilson is regarded by many as one of the most respected hitting coaches in the game of baseball. He works behind the scenes as a private hitting consultant to some of the best hitters in Major League Baseball. We are super honored to have him as our guest on Episode 50 of The Coaching Life Podcast.  To see more of Kevin's work and stay connected with him, check out his website at kwbase...

Coach, author, speaker, mentor... Mike Deegan brings his A-Game on the podcast, discussing leadership, coaching, parenting, youth sports, his book, and so much more! Coach Deegan epitomizes what The Coaching Life Podcast is all about. You are really going to love this episode. To connect more in-depth with Mike Deegan, check out his website, coachmikedeegan.com .  You can also click on the li...

The guys chat with Scripps College of Communication Journalism student, Luke Steiner, about a variety of things... being a college student during COVID-19 and how it is changing how we do everything; the impact this time is having on the sports world; Luke's trip to Manchester, England and the differences between youth sports in the United Kingdom from youth sports in America.  This was a rea...

The guys have a really insightful conversation with personal strength trainer, Micaiah Branch, who explains in layman's terms the science behind what it takes to get strong, the difference between building muscle and building strength, and what we should be doing in the weight room to reach peak athletic performance.  Additionally, we discuss some ways to continue building strength during the...

While doing our part to practice social distancing during the COVID-19 spread throughout the state of Ohio and USA, Chris and Pat keep The Coaching Life conversation going from remote locations.  In this episode, we discuss the Ohio High School Athletic Association's deliberations about spring sports seasons and we take some time to look at a vitally important principle to embrace during a ti...

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) has shocked our world. Pat and Chris sat down and discussed in real-time how it was impacting the world of sports, locally and nationally. Even as they were speaking, new developments were happening. In fact, from the time this episode was recorded to the date it has posted, it will be interesting to hear how much has changed.  New CANCELED announcements of events, scho...

Chris is in Myrtle Beach watching his daughter's college softball team and Pat is at home in Ohio, but the guys connect remotely and have a conversation about one of the biggest issues that seems to be plaguing youth sports today..... the game no longer belongs to the kids.  ______________ Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Le...

Today Chris and Pat speak to one of the most important groups of people in the sports world... the assistant coach! There are many ways to be a great assistant coach, and there are things that can cause you to be a bad assistant coach. Whether you are involved with a college team or a 10U youth team, we hope this episode helps to strengthen your program as you seek to be a great assistant coach!&n...

Don't get too angry with us just yet! We are including ourselves in the craziness! Using a chapter from Coach Mike Deegan 's new book, Let It Rip , Chris and Pat open up about some of the ways we sports parents tend to go a little crazy. If we are willing to consider these things, we believe that this kind of conversation has the potential to create a very positive change in youth sports.  Pa...

In today's episode, Chris and Pat open a few pages from Coaching Life , a book written by Chris Stewart and discuss Three Habits That Kill Teams as well as Three Habits That Build Teams .  ______________ Please reach out to us and let us know what kinds of topics you'd like for us to discuss on the show. Let's all work together! You can find us on Twitter @TheCoachingLife and you can also ema...

Don't miss this episode! So many have the desire to be great. To be the best. To play, work, live at your highest potential. Yet, only a few actually seem to be able to figure out the secret to living at that level, playing the game at that level, working every single day at that level. Perhaps the biggest thing holding all of us back is... COMFORT.  Chris and Pat dive into a book by Tim S. G...

Pat and Chris talk with Brendan Leister, analyst for Pro Football Focus and Quarterbacks Coach at Avon High School in Avon, Ohio. Brendan has coached football at the college, high school, and youth levels. He has a Master's degree in Sports Science from The University of Akron. Brendan has a passion for discussing the philosophy and theory behind all aspects of the game of football. In this episod...

If all we were to accomplish on this podcast is talking about doing things a better way, then it would be a complete waste of time. We aren't interested in just telling people our opinions on how to make the landscape of youth athletics better for everyone involved. We want to DO something as well.  Every great and significant change must begin somewhere, and it usually begins in small ways....