CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe
CoachCraft with Alf Gracombe
Podcast Description
CoachCraft explores the art and impact of coaching youth sports through in-depth conversations with renowned coaches from grassroots to professional levels, revealing how exceptional mentors use athletics to shape character, build confidence, and positively impact young lives.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a range of themes related to youth sports coaching, including player development, effective communication, and inclusivity in sports programs. Episodes highlight topics such as the emotional dynamics of coaching, training methodologies, and community engagement, with examples like the transition to small-sided games by Rick Fenoglio and the importance of patience shared by Mike Smith.
CoachCraft explores the art and impact of coaching youth sports through in-depth conversations with renowned coaches from grassroots to professional levels, revealing how exceptional mentors use athletics to shape character, build confidence, and positively impact young lives.
Tommy Geis, Technical Director at Massachusetts Youth Soccer, joins us to explore why coach education transforms not just how we coach, but how we understand youth development itself. With over 40 years in the game, Tommy shares his journey from thinking he knew everything about soccer to discovering ”how much he didn't know” through formal coach education. We discuss the critical difference between telling kids what to do versus helping them discover their own solutions, why coaches need to see the game through children's eyes rather than adult perspectives, and how to meet players where they are developmentally. Tommy walks us through the coaching education pathway in Massachusetts, from grassroots certification to advanced licenses, and explains why even parent volunteers coaching for just one season can benefit from training. Whether you're new to coaching or have years on the sidelines, this conversation offers practical insights on becoming more effective at developing young players while keeping the joy in the game.
For more information about CoachCraft, visit https://coachcraft.info.
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