Coach 360: A Podcast For High School Coaches

Your athletic program won't look like the one in the next town over, the one is another district, or really any other program in existence. In fact, your program this year won't look like the program from last year. Why? Because your athletes this year don't look like your athletes from last year. The athletes are what make your program different. That's why you build relationships with your athletes, coach them based on their individual strengths, and create game and practice strategies based on athletes' needs and abilities. In this interview with Head Softball and Assistant Volleyball Coach Kristina Stephens of Bells High School, we break down why it's always the athletes who are (or should be) at the heart of the athletic program. They are the reason why we are here, so let's treat them that way! Key Takeaways: Coach each player differently. Build relationships with your athletes. Let athletes know you are there for them.   To learn more about our 2Words Character Development curriculum, please email Co

Can you describe your coaching style in five words or less? The key to consistency in your coaching is knowing how you coach. You have to have a clear picture of what you want to accomplish with your athletic program, so that you can pass that message on to your coaching staff. Once the coaching staff gets it, that vision will trickle down to your athletes. In this episode of the Coach 360 podcast, Colton talks to Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Ricklan Holmes of Tyler High School about self-knowledge and consistency in coaching. Key Takeaways: -Understand that correction is to make you better. -Be willing to understand and work with your coaching staff. -Be consistent.   To learn more about our 2Words Character Development Curriculum, visit www.2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at Colton@2words.tv

Athletes perform better when they are confident in themselves and trust in their coaches. So how do we, as coaches, help our athletes get to that point of confidence and trust, so our athletes can go on to reach their full potential in sports and life?  During this interview with Head Volleyball Coach and Girls' Athletic Director Clark Oberle of Decatur High School, Colton and Coach Oberle discuss how to build confidence in our athletes. Some of the suggestions you will hear about include: making practice fun and personal, helping athletes focus on their individual roles, and teaching athletes the dedication needed to sacrifice for their team.   Key Takeaways -If you focus on building your athletes, the wins will come. -Each player has a role, and they more they focus on that role, the more confident they will be. -Athletes will try their hardest when practice is fun and personal.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development, visit 2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2words.tv.

When your program is founded on the vision, standards, and values that you live by, you give the athletes in your care an opportunity to learn how to be great men and women. It's not just the big ideas like: Be better than you were yesterday, Don't settle for good enough, and Treat others with respect. Those ideas are communicated through sports, but it's not the big ideas that actually hit home; instead, it's the daily repetition and living of those ideas that makes the difference in your athletes' lives. During this interview with Head Football Coach Carlos Lynn of Cedar Hill High School, Coach reminds us that we only have a small window of time to impact our student-athletes, so let's pour as much good into them as we can in the time that we have. Key Takeaways -The world is full of average; be above average. -Be better today than you were yesterday. -Focus more on the game of life.   To learn more about our 2Words Character Development program, visit www.2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2word

Many coaches will not stay with one school or district for their entire career. Circumstances with the school or your family, as well as your own ambitions, can all lead you away from your current athletic program and athletes. It's a natural progression, and there may come a point where you have to make the hard decision to leave the student-athletes that you have poured so much into. When that time comes, remember that kids are kids, and they all need a good coach to pour valuable lessons into them.  In this interview with Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Brian Herman of Marble Falls High School, Colton and Coach Herman dive into ways to make connections with students and leave them with a legacy of toughness and discipline when your time with them is over. Key Takeaways -Do the best you can where you are. -Reward kids for exhibiting toughness and discipline. -Make connections with athletes, build relationships.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum visit www.2words.

Being an athlete is a major commitment. You don't get time off from it. Even if you are injured, you support your team from the bench and you uphold the team values off the pitch. Our student-athletes need to understand that whether or not they're wearing the jersey, once they join our team, they are an athlete, and there are expectations for that - Expectations that they put character first, learn from their mistakes, and demonstrate self-discipline.  During this interview with Coach Ged Kates of Birdville ISD, we are reminded that being an athlete doesn't stop when we leave the field and being a person of character doesn't stop when we're behind closed doors.  Key Takeaways: -There are no days off when it comes to being an athlete or a person of character. -We're all one decision away from the worst decision of our lives, so let character always be your guide. -Kids want something to believe in, something to demand something of them, and someone to love them.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Deve

Coaches and athletes are motivated by a scoreboard. Sometimes that scoreboard reflects the game results, but sometimes it reflects an A/B honor roll percentage. The difference is in the focus of the athletic program. Are we in it just for the on-field wins and trophies? Or, do we understand that there is something more important than sports going on here?  In this interview with Coach Ray Zepeda, District Athletic Director of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, Coach Zepeda explains why the focus should be on academic excellence and how wins in the classroom lead to wins on the field. Key Takeaways - An athletic director's most important function is to provide service and communication to coaches. - Success begets success. When you're successful in the classroom, you'll be successful on the field. - Coaches must hold their athletes accountable to supporting the school's academic mission.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum, visit www.2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2words.tv.

Coaches aren't successful unless their athletes are successful. That's why we push our athletes so hard in practice and off-season. That's why we yell and assign burpies. We want to see them grow and succeed. But, as Coach Rod Blount of Navarro ISD reminds us during this interview, there's more to helping our athletes become their best selves than just yelling. We've also got to love them. If we love our athletes well, they will run through a brick wall for us. Love is how we make the greatest impact in our role as coaches. Key Takeaways -A coach isn't successful unless his or her athletes are successful. -Always look for the best in your situation instead of what's next. -Push your athletes to be the best version of themselves they can be.   Learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum by visiting www.2words.tv/gameplan or emailing Colton at colton@2words.tv

If we expect our athletes to keep returning day after day, game after game, and year after year, they need to want to be here. Coach Gerald Brence of Plano ISD asks coaches to remember that our athletes want encouragement, fairness, and organization. If we can give them that, we can make athletics the highlight of their day.  During this interview, Coach Brence also discusses the four traits that he believes the best coaches possess.  Key Takeaways: - Athletes need to want to play. - Athletes desire organization, encouragement, and positive coaching. - New coaches can learn a lot from veterans if they check their ego at the door.   Learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum at www.2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2words.tv    

Trust has to be built before you can make any major changes after you transition to a new-to-you athletics program. See, the program is new to you, but it’s already been established by others. If you try to bring in a wrecking ball on day one, it’s going to ruffle feathers. Sometimes feather-ruffling is necessary, but you won’t know until you observe the status quo. In this interview with Coach Zack Hudson, head football coach of Mabank High School, Coach discusses how to get a feel for a new athletic program after making a transition. Key Takeaways: -Check in with the community before making changes to a new-to-you program. -Set clear and concise expectations for athletes. -Athletes can and should hold each other accountable.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum, email Colton at colton@2words.tv or visit www.2words.tv/gameplan

How you weekend has a direct impact on how you perform during the week. It’s not separate from the rest of the week or from your personal identity. When you weekend poorly (i.e. wasting time, doing things you shouldn’t), it’s a symptom of a deeper issue with the balance in your life. Leaders rise above the TGIF mentality. They recognize that although the things you do might be different on the weekend, how you do things shouldn’t be any different from the weekly hustle. In this episode, Mackey breaks down five steps to help you weekend well. Key Takeaways: -If it’s not right, don’t do it. -The weekend doesn’t give you permission to avoid taking care of responsibility. -Reflect on the prior week so you can do better in the week ahead.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum email Colton at colton@2words.tv or visit www.2words.tv/gameplan

According to Coach Eric de los Santos of Irving High, athletes want discipline because it equals freedom. The team at 2 Words definitely agrees. Coaches expect things from their athletes that the kids might not expect of themselves, and discipline is the only way to make it a reality. Discipline gives us the space to learn and grow within boundaries that keep us safe and focused. It gives us the freedom to succeed. In this episode, Coach Eric also gives advice on working with athletic program and community traditions, learning from mistakes, and creating leaders through athletic programs. Key Takeaways: -There are always lessons to be learned from mistakes. -If you want leaders, you have to help create them. -Understand that you are learning every single day.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum email Colton at colton@2words.tv or visit www.2words.tv/gameplan

Lao Tzu, Oprah Winfrey, and Charles Darwin all have something in common: They get the importance of time management. Time is a precious, finite resource. Each minute that passes can’t be retrieved, and how we spend our time is a direct reflection of what our priorities are. In this episode, Mackey dissects three quotes that give us insight into how we can make the best use of our limited time. Key Takeaways: -How you spend your time is your choice. -The day will come when you run out of time. -When you say no to something, you say yes to something else, and vice versa.   Bring Mackey to YOUR school! Email Colton at colton@2words.tv or visit www.mackeyspeaks.com/contact 

If you want your athletes to invest their time, energy, and effort in your program, you have to invest in your athletes. Continuously building relationships with your student-athletes allows you to speak to them on a deeper level than pep talks and plays. In this episode, Coach Chance Westmoreland of Argyle High School shares why building relationships is crucial to a sound athletic program. He also provides tips and techniques for how to build and strengthen those relationships. Key Takeaways: -Model and set the example for your athletes. -Challenge your athletes to make them better players. -Always build relationships with your student-athletes.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum, visit 2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2words.tv

When you start something new, the very novelty of it makes everything exciting. You’re curious and ready to see where this new activity can take you. But there will come a point when that stops. This is the point when motivation fades, and there’s a long slog to get through before habit makes this hard thing easy. To honor your integrity, you have to do what you said you would do, even when it’s hard or the novelty has worn off. In this episode from a ruck in Cedar Hill, Mackey explores why doing what you said you would do is so important to yourself and to your athletes. Key Takeaways: -Do what you say you are going to do. -Novelty and curiosity are not enough to create a habit because they will eventually fade. -Recognize that your athletes are watching your actions.   Bring Mackey to your school! Visit mackeyspeaks.com/contact or email Colton at colton@2words.tv  

Investing in your athletes is sort of like investing in a 401k for retirement. The more you put in, the more you will get out later. That investment is particularly important when you join a new program. The athletes don’t know you yet, and they probably won’t be ready for you to drop a 50 lb. hammer on them in practice. In this episode, Colton and Head Football Coach Kurt Traylor of Lee High School in Tyler ISD discuss what it means to invest in your athletes and how the PRIDE mentality helps frame the program at Lee HS. Key Takeaways: -When athletes don’t know you, you can’t come in a be hammer right away. -Be positive and find the positive. -The more you invest in your athletes, the more you can draw from them.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum email Colton at colton@2words.tv or go to www.2words.tv/gameplan

No matter what season you’re in, it will come to a finish. High school ends, college ends, eventually even the pros retire. Every season will finish, but you choose how you will finish it. Will you finish strong—blowing past the finish line? Or will you have a meh finish where you reach the line, but not at full steam? How you finish is how you set yourself up for success. You’ll have to finish; there’s no choice about that. But there is a choice in how. Remember these two words: Finish Strong. Key Takeaways: -Finish strong in the little thing, and you’ll train yourself to finish strong in the big things. -What you do today matters for tomorrow, so don’t quit! -Everyone will finish, but not everyone will finish the same. It’s a choice.   Bring Mackey to your school! Contact Colton at colton@2words.tv  or visit www.mackeyspeaks.com/contact  

Things won’t always go our way. During tough times, our primary job as coaches is to be there to support our athletes. We can help them grow through the struggle as long as we stand firm and support each other. This inspiring message and more comes from Coach Travis Reeve, Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Cuero High School. In this episode, Coach Reeve tells us about his team’s phrase “uncommon men win” and their four core values. Key Takeaways: -Ever person has a chance to make a difference and to influence the world. -If you develop the person, the development of the athlete will come, too. -You can tell what is most valuable to your team by what you are most intentional about.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum email Colton at colton@2words.tv or visit www.2words.tv/gameplan

“Because I said so” isn’t just a statement of authority. It’s also a statement of dependability: Because I said so, it will be done. Dependability is all about doing what you say you are going to do. Dependability will always beat ability because no matter how much talent you have, it’s worthless if you can’t be depended upon to do what you said you would do. In this sample from the 2Words Character Development curriculum, Mackey lays out the difference between ability and dependability, and why dependability will win every time. Key Takeaways: -Talent does not exempt you from the getting the little things right. -When you are dependable in the little things, you’ll be dependable in the big things. -The most important ability you can ever have is dependability.   To learn more about the 2Words Character Development Curriculum email Colton at colton@2words.tv or go to www.2words.tv/gameplan  

We love talking to coaches like Head Football Coach John Fish of Bonham high school about the values of their program, their ideas about the most important skills for coaches and athletes, and good, sound advice. In this episode, Coach Fish shares his program values, including discipline, relating to peers, and responding to our emotions. He tells us why being detail-oriented is a valuable skill for coaches and players. He also gives advice such as the importance of learning a team’s identity when you start with a new program. Key Takeaways: -Be driven by the process, not the results. -Both coaches and athletes should learn to be detail-oriented. -Understand the team identity before anything else.   Learn more about the 2Words Character Development Program at www.2words.tv/gameplan or email Colton at colton@2words.tv