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  • Athlete Mental Health - Beyond Awareness

    Athlete Mental Health - Beyond Awareness
    2026/08/03
    Send us Fan MailAthlete mental health cannot be addressed with motivational slogans, one-time awareness campaigns, or instructions to simply “toughen up.” In this special roundtable episode of Talkin’ with the AD, Morgan Sullivan is joined by five professionals with backgrounds in mental health counseling, athletic training, coaching, education, mental performance, and athlete development.The panel discusses the challenges today’s athletes face, including anxiety, depression, perfectionism, emotional regulation, burnout, injuries, recruiting pressure, early specialization, parent expectations, and the loss of identity that can occur when an athlete’s playing career ends. The conversation also explores coaching behaviors that may be well-intentioned but psychologically damaging, including public criticism, indirect communication, unexplained lineup changes, and giving corrective feedback while an athlete is still highly emotional. The panel emphasizes the importance of building relationships, communicating directly, allowing athletes time to process mistakes, and making sure young people know that their value is not determined by their statistics, starting position, or performance.The central message of this episode is simple: The person must always come before the athlete. When adults create environments where athletes feel seen, heard, supported, and valued beyond the scoreboard, they do not weaken competitive sports—they build healthier teams, stronger athletes, and better human beings.Meet the PanelLiza Simrell, LPCC-SLiza is a licensed professional clinical counselor with supervision designation and a certified mental game coach based in Toledo, Ohio. She works with adolescents, adults, athletes, teams, and organizations and brings experience as a collegiate basketball player, varsity coach, college recruiter, basketball official, and competitive golfer.Learn more: Liza Simrell CounselingBill HoopesBill is a Navy veteran, former educator, coach, youth-development professional, and founder of Lead Your Journey. His work focuses on athlete mindset, leadership, recruiting, and strengthening the relationship between athletes and their parents. He also leads Florida Premier Girls Fastpitch and has helped hundreds of softball players pursue collegiate opportunities.Learn more: Lead Your JourneyDanielle Vallas, LMHC, M.Ed.Danielle is a licensed mental health counselor, former school wellness director, coach, educator, graduate-school professor, author, and founder of D&G Wellness Consulting. Her work helps athletes, parents, coaches, schools, and organizations address mental health and wellness through counseling, coaching, workshops, and education.Danielle is also the creator of The Inner Game: A Mental Health Journal for Peak Performance in Sports and the founder of Buffalo Believes.Learn more:D&G Wellness ConsultingDanielle VallasBuffalo BelievesThe Inner Game JournalMeghan Johnson, MA, LAPC, LAT, ATC, NCCMeghan is a licensed associate professional counselor, certified athletic trainer, and mental performance coach with Next Level Mental Performance. A former collegiate softball player, she combines her background in sports medicine, counseling, and performance psychology to support athletes both on and off the field.Learn more: Meghan Johnson at Next Level Mental PerformanceKim Griffin, MHC-PKim is a mental health counselor and former NCAA Division I softball coach. She spent nearly two decades coaching at Canisius University, including 11 seasons as head coach, before transitioning into mental health counseling. Kim works with athletes, families, couples, and individuals on emotional regulation, performance, anxiety, communication, leadership, burnout, and life transitions.Learn more: Kim Griffin at Core Mental Health CounselingMemorable Moments“Put the person first—not the athlete.” — Liza Simrell“You’re not building a softball player. You’re building a strong, powerful woman who can use the game as a vessel.” — Bill Hoopes“It doesn’t take a special certification or a fancy degree to be an active listener.” — Meghan Johnson“Our brains are prediction machines.” — Kim Griffin“I’m noticing…” may be one of the most powerful ways for a coach to begin a conversation.Athletes often do not need coaches to fix the situation; they need coaches to remain present.The qualities that can make someone an elite athlete may also make that athlete more vulnerable to mental health concerns.The person who arrives with 100% can help carry the teammate who arrives with 20%.The growth is not in the immediate emotional reaction; the growth is in the reflection.Coaches should strive to be the thermostat that helps regulate the environment—not the thermometer that simply reflects its temperature.Supporting coach mental health matters because coaches are people, not simply because replacing them is inconvenient.Action Steps for Athletic DirectorsCreate a written mental ...
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    1 時間 30 分
  • But My Kid Should Be Starting

    But My Kid Should Be Starting
    2026/07/14

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    When your athlete is not starting—or is playing fewer minutes than expected—what should you do next?

    In this episode of Talkin’ with the AD, Coach Sullivan tackles one of the most emotional and difficult conversations in youth and school sports: playing time. You’ll learn why the athlete should usually speak with the coach first, how parents can advocate without creating confrontation, who should attend a meeting, and when it is appropriate to involve the athletic director.

    This episode also offers practical questions athletes and parents can ask, phrases that can make the situation worse, and important reminders for coaches about honesty, consistency, communication, and treating every athlete with dignity. The goal is not to guarantee a starting position—it is to help young athletes develop ownership, resilience, and the ability to respond when things do not go their way.

    Have a question for Coach Sullivan? Visit betteryouthcoaching.com and click “Ask the AD.” Your question could be featured in a future episode.

    #PlayingTime #SportsParents #StudentAthletes #YouthSports #Coaching #AthleticDirector #Sportsmanship #Baseball #Football #Basketball #Soccer #Volleyball #TrackAndField #HighSchool #MiddleSchool #JuniorHigh #Sports

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    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    30 分
  • Winning Beyond the Scoreboard: How Great Sports Cultures Keep Kids in the Game

    Winning Beyond the Scoreboard: How Great Sports Cultures Keep Kids in the Game
    2026/07/06

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    What really makes a winning athletic program?

    In this episode of Talkin’ with the AD, Coach Sullivan explores why culture is not the opposite of winning—it is the foundation that makes winning sustainable. From youth sports and high school athletics to travel ball and club sports, adults often chase trophies, scholarships, playing time, and early specialization. But what happens when athletes stop having fun before they ever reach their potential?

    This episode takes an honest, research-informed look at why young athletes leave sports, how playing time and coaching behavior affect retention, and why positive team culture matters for parents, coaches, athletic directors, and players.

    You’ll hear practical insight on:

    • Why “fun” and friendships remain central reasons kids continue playing sports
    • How limited playing time can affect athlete retention and confidence
    • Why coaches’ communication, relationships, and daily habits matter so much
    • The risks of early sport specialization, burnout, and overuse injuries
    • Why families cannot outspend a poor team culture with travel teams, private lessons, or elite programs
    • How strong cultures help teams keep athletes involved, connected, and competitive over time
    • One practical action parents, coaches, athletic directors, and athletes can take this week

    This is not an argument against competing, pursuing championships, or wanting to win. It is a reminder that education-based athletics should develop people while pursuing excellence. The best programs build relationships, create belonging, teach resilience, and give athletes a reason to keep showing up.

    Whether you are a sports parent wondering how to best support your child, a coach building a team, an athletic director shaping a department, or an athlete trying to find your place, this episode is for you.

    Subscribe to Talkin’ with the AD for weekly conversations designed to improve amateur sports through better communication, healthier culture, stronger leadership, and practical solutions.

    Learn more and submit a question for the mailbag at BetterYouthCoaching.com.

    #TalkinWithTheAD #YouthSports #HighSchoolSports #SportsParent #CoachingCulture #Sportsmanship #AthleticDirector #StudentAthlete #PositiveCoaching #TeamCulture #YouthSportsResearch #MultiSportAthlete #SportsSpecialization #TravelBall #AAUSports #CoachDevelopment #AthleteWellBeing #EducationBasedAthletics #BetterYouthCoaching

    Welcome to Talkin' with the AD!

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    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    23 分
  • The Role of the Athletic Director

    The Role of the Athletic Director
    2025/07/22

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    What does an Athletic Director actually do? If your first thought is “schedule games and unlock the gym,” this episode is going to open your eyes.

    In this deep-dive solo episode, Coach Sullivan pulls back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood roles in education and athletics: the high school Athletic Director. From balancing budgets to managing facilities, handling parent concerns, supporting coaches, enforcing compliance, and dealing with last-minute emergencies—this isn’t a job for the faint of heart.

    Coach Sullivan walks listeners through the real responsibilities of the AD role, weaving in personal insight, national statistics, and stories from the field. Whether you're a parent, coach, school admin, or just curious about what happens behind the scenes in school sports, this episode will give you a whole new level of respect for the person behind the whistle—and the clipboard, the walkie-talkie, the AED, the budget spreadsheet, and about 17 other things.

    🎯 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

    • Why scheduling isn’t just a calendar task—it’s a strategic balancing act
    • The reality of athletic budgets, and how ADs stretch every dollar
    • How ADs navigate parent concerns, drama, and expectations
    • Why facilities management is one of the most overlooked stressors
    • The legal and compliance duties every AD carries (and how they stay on top of it)
    • How hiring and mentoring coaches shapes the culture of an entire program
    • The truth about stress, work-life balance, and why ADs burn out
    • And what “All Duties, All Day” really looks like in practice

    💬 Featuring quotes from:
    – Doug Ute, Executive Director, OHSAA
    – Survey data from NFHS, NIAAA, Coach & A.D. Magazine
    – Insights from Coach Sullivan’s years in the trenches

    If you’re a parent wondering why the AD hasn’t returned your call at 6:30 p.m. on game night, a coach looking to understand your AD better, or an aspiring administrator trying to grasp what this job really is—this episode is for you.

    📢 Don’t forget to subscribe to Talkin’ with the AD and visit BetterYouthCoaching.com for more resources and tools to support coaches, parents, and athletes.

    🎧 Listen now to gain a behind-the-scenes perspective of school sports you’ll never forget.
    #AthleticDirector #HighSchoolSports #BetterYouthCoaching #SportsLeadership #CoachLife #AthleticAdmin #NFHS #YouthSports #ParentEducation #TalkinWithTheAD

    Welcome to Talkin' with the AD!

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    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    21 分
  • Social Media and Recruiting: What Athletes and Parents Need to Know

    Social Media and Recruiting: What Athletes and Parents Need to Know
    2025/07/22

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    In this 15-minute solo episode, Coach Morgan Sullivan breaks down one of the most overlooked but critical factors in the college recruiting process: your athlete’s social media presence. With insights drawn from real conversations with college coaches, national surveys, and personal experience, this episode explores how Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube can either open doors—or close them.

    You'll learn:

    • Why 90% of college coaches monitor social media
    • Red flags that immediately turn recruiters away
    • What athletes should be posting to stand out
    • Platform-specific tips for building a professional online brand
    • How parents can support (without sabotaging) the recruiting journey

    Whether your athlete dreams of D1 scholarships or just wants to make a roster, this episode is packed with actionable tips to help them stand out—in all the right ways.

    👉 Visit BetterYouthCoaching.com for bonus recruiting tools and free downloads.

    #recruiting #youthsports #highschoolsports #socialmedia #collegeathletics #TalkinWithTheAD

    Welcome to Talkin' with the AD!

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    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    16 分
  • The Truth About Travel Sports: What Every Parent Needs to Know

    The Truth About Travel Sports: What Every Parent Needs to Know
    2025/06/15

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    Thinking about travel sports for your kid? Before you commit to that club soccer, AAU basketball, or travel baseball team, hit play on this episode of Talkin’ with the A.D.

    Coach Sullivan breaks down the rise of travel teams in youth sports, what they offer, what they really cost, and whether they’re worth the time, energy, and financial investment. From recruiting exposure and elite coaching to burnout, overuse injuries, and family strain, we unpack it all.

    If you're a sports parent, coach, or athletic director navigating the world of club sports, this episode offers 5 must-hear tips to help your athlete thrive without losing balance.

    🎯 Topics Covered:

    • What is a travel team vs. school or rec sports
    • Pros and cons of joining a travel program
    • Hidden costs (time, money, mental health)
    • College recruiting and athletic scholarship myths
    • How to support your athlete without overcommitting

    🔗 Visit betteryouthcoaching.com for tools and resources to help you build better athletes—and better humans.
    👍 Follow, rate, and share if this helped you make a smart move for your family or team.

    Welcome to Talkin' with the AD!

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    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    25 分
  • Love Blinders: Why Parents and Coaches See Games Differently

    Love Blinders: Why Parents and Coaches See Games Differently
    2025/06/15

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    You love your kid—that’s not the issue. But sometimes, that deep love can cloud how we see their role on the team. In this episode, we dive into a phenomenon I call “Love Blinders”—the emotional lens parents often wear when watching their child compete. We’ll talk honestly about why playing time decisions are more complex than they appear, how parents and coaches see games differently, and how to support your athlete in a way that builds confidence, not entitlement.

    We’ll break down:
    ✅ What “Love Blinders” are and why they’re normal
    ✅ The difference between the parent lens and the coach lens
    ✅ Five practical ways to support your athlete with clarity and perspective
    ✅ Why trusting the coach matters more than you think
    ✅ How adversity can be a powerful teacher

    Whether you’re a parent, coach, or both—this episode will challenge, encourage, and equip you to navigate high school sports with a healthier mindset.

    Go to betteryouthcoaching.com for more ways to help your child navigate their athletic career.

    Welcome to Talkin' with the AD!

    LET'S GO!!

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Better Youth Coaching
    Mission is to improve amateur sports through education of parents, coaches, and athletes

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    17 分
  • Welcome to Talkin’ with the A.D. – Your Backstage Pass to Amateur Sports

    Welcome to Talkin’ with the A.D. – Your Backstage Pass to Amateur Sports
    2025/06/07

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    Strap in for the very first episode of Talkin’ with the A.D., where host Coach Sullivan—20-year Army veteran, multi-sport coach, and current athletic director lays out the why, what, and how of this brand-new show. In just a few minutes you’ll learn:

    • Who’s behind the mic: From combat zones to crowded bleachers, Coach Sullivan's journey and mission to make amateur sports the best classroom in America.
    • Why this podcast exists: Pull back the curtain on athletic-director decisions, amplify coaches’ voices, and build healthier sideline cultures.
    • What’s coming next: Sneak peeks at upcoming episodes on parental “love blinders,” bad fan behavior fixes, unified strength programs, and the nationwide referee shortage.

    If you’re a parent, coach, athlete, or fellow A.D. who believes sportsmanship and player development still matter, hit subscribe and join the conversation. Your download is another teammate in the fight to keep youth and high-school sports fun, fair, and growth-focused.

    Support the show

    Visit betteryouthcoaching.com - information for parents, coaches, and athletes.

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    9 分