Sport Coach Development
Articles and Videos
As any master coach will tell you, successful sports coaching is never “arrived at”, and requires constant coaching development. Here you’ll find articles and case studies dedicated to best practice sport coach development. You may find our sections for our most recent articles, resources and materials, latest newsletters, or 5 Minutes with Bo Hanson video series valuable too.
Leading the Way to Impactful Change: Recapping the 2023 Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy
We reflect on the ninth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy in Japan and CEO, Liz Masen’s continued involvement.
Protect your Peace: Reflecting on the Empowering Experience of the 2023 NCAA Women Coaches Academy
Athlete Assessments’ Client Manager, Temika Smith reflects on her first experience at the Women Coaches Academy, hosted by the NCAA and WeCOACH.
ITA CoachUp: Leading the Game in Collegiate Coach Education
In 2022, the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) launched a game-changing coach education program, titled CoachUp and we wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the strength and success of the program as preparations for the subsequent programs are underway.
Showcasing Strategic & Tactical Thinking in Women’s Rugby
Recapping the 2023 WRCRA Conference organized by USWRF with Director, Kerri Heffernan; and presenters Liz Masen, CEO of Athlete Assessments, and Becky Carlson, Head Coach of Quinnipiac Women’s Rugby.
Celebrating, Championing, and Empowering Coaches with the NFHCA
At the conclusion of the 2023 NFHCA Annual Convention we reflect on the overwhelming engagement and passion of the coaches who make the sport of field hockey what it is today in the USA.
Strong Women Support Women: The Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy Returns
Back in-person for the first time in three years, the wave of support for women in coaching grows with the eighth annual Japanese Women Leaders and Coaches Academy in Japan.
8 Common Coaching Challenges and How Best to Manage Them
As coaches, challenges are inevitable, but that doesn’t always make them easier to deal with when they do arise. So, what are the most common coaching challenges? We explore eight potentials, why they occur, and the best strategies to implement when managing them.
In-Person, Inspiring, and Investing in Women Coaches with WeCOACH
Back in person for the first time in two years, just in time for the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the 2022 NCAA Women Coaches Academy and NCAA Academy 2.0 graduates and faculty share personal reflections on the recent academies.
Self-Advocation as an Assistant Coach
A panel of expert head coach developers joined us for a recent webinar, in this article we debrief their discussions on why proactivity, self-awareness, and understanding coaching needs, are the key to progressing in your coaching career.
The Head Coach’s How-To on Assistant Coach Recruitment
In any industry, recruiting the right person to join your team is a challenging task, but when done right can be extremely rewarding. We spoke to a panel of head coaches who are experts in recruiting assistant coaches for their own programs. Think of this as the how-to for recruiting the right assistant coach, the effects it has on team culture, and why it’s part of a head coach’s role to get it right.
A conversation with Coaches who Lift Other Coaches
How do you prepare Assistant Coaches for the next step in their careers? To unpack the ideas around this important subject, we called on those who have a proven track record of elevating the careers of the coaches around them, and who we are lucky enough to call our clients. We brought them together – not because they liked the topic, not because they’re interested in the topic, but because they are genuine experts in the topic.
The Key to Unlocking your Coaching Philosophy
When we look at leaders in any endeavor, we often see their success critically defined by their leadership philosophy, and when it comes to sport coaches it is exactly the same. Having a defined coaching philosophy is key to effective coaching (and leadership), but the process of developing and understanding your own philosophy is often sidelined. When your team relies on your performance as a coach as much as they do on technical execution for achieving a winning outcome, this process is a priority.
Building the Bridge Between Coaching and Administration
The benefits of a strong and effective coach-athlete relationship has had the spotlight for some time now due to the intrinsic and positive links it has on performance. What’s interesting is coach-administrator relationships have come under increased scrutiny as research highlights poor athlete outcomes across the spectrum of collegiate and professional sports when these relationships breakdown. However, we’ve now seen that addressing this divide at the educational level is producing results in the real world. So, we spoke to Sara Lopez, Ph.D., Teaching Professor of the University of Washington’s unique Intercollegiate Athletic Leadership Master of Education about how.
Ingredients for Success from Three Successful Mentoring Programs
To determine what the defining factors are of a successful mentoring program, we explore some of the top initiatives from different corners of the world. While ratios, cohorts, sports, and program structures differ within these formalized mentoring programs, what remains consistent are the considerable benefits reaped by all involved.
Why Even the Best Coaches Need Coaches
Coaches are always evaluating performance, it’s a critical part of their role in order to be successful. Whether it be through assessing the scoreboard results of their team, individual athletes’ statistics, or even through the lens of their team’s culture. However, when it comes to evaluating their own performances, who should coaches turn to when they are looking to improve their own efficacy and skills?
Coaching Experience at the Heart of Course Curriculum
What do a six-time Olympian, former NFL player, national level gymnastics coach, and an aspiring Athletic Director have in common? If you guessed they might all be sporting A-listers, you’re very close, try just some of the Ohio State University Masters of Sport Coaching current class list.
Why Understanding Your Athletes Off the Field, Drives On Field Performance
Let me ask you the most important of coaching questions, “What style of coach are you?” As coaches we occupy a special, even privileged place in our athletes’ lives. On the surface, we are just a part of their athletic journey, but really, we often spend as much, if not more time with our athletes, than their family and close friends.
Another Win for Women Coach Development
Over 80 coaches attended the two-day live and online academy developed exclusively for women high school coaches of all sports, at all levels. Hosted by WeCOACH and modeled after their longstanding premier NCAA Women Coaches Academy, the overwhelmingly successful academy was both an educational opportunity and a chance to consolidate connections amongst a growing community of women coaches at the high school level.
From Coaching on the Court to Coaching in the Classroom
“I rarely choose the easy route just because something might be hard.” It’s a simple and succinct statement of fact, but it also serves as a quick character portrait summing up Dr. Scott Douglas, a 2x NWBA Champion, 4x player for the U.S. Men’s World Cup Tennis Team, 3x Paralympian, coach, and Associate Professor at University of Northern Colorado.
When Coaching Sport Isn’t All About Coaching Sport
Kinzee Salo, Teaching Specialist in Coaching at the University of Minnesota, and Assistant Men’s Tennis Coach at Gustavus Adolphus College, speaks to the philosophy of teaching coaching as a people management skill.
An Early and Important Impact on Athlete Performance
Darren’s contribution to Western Australia’s basketball program reflects his approach to developing and supporting athletes as they ‘form’. He explains that essentially his role is “to help athletes understand themselves, their teammates, coaches, and managers, so they can be more effective with their communications and be able to better adapt to situations.”
Q&A with Kinzee Salo, Teaching Specialist & Coach
We recently interviewed Kinzee Salo for our article When Coaching Sport isn’t All About Coaching Sport and we found that she shared too many valuable insights to include in just one article. So, we’re sharing all her answers in an extended Q&A here.
Szabolcs Hollósi’s Program Recognized as Best Practice in European Union’s SPORT.YOUTH.INCLUSION Program
Athlete Assessments’ Consultant Client, Szabolcs Hollósi, has been recognized alongside some of the best sports consultants in the European Union (EU), as his program, The Art of Treating and Communicating Well with People in Sport, is included in the EU’s SPORT.YOUTH.INCLUSION best practice programs.
Linking, Learning, and Elevating Elite Level Women Coaches
When Madeleine Albright so famously said, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women” she obviously hadn’t met or been involved with a unique group of women coaches brought together by Basketball Australia. Here, it’s quite the opposite.
Mammoth Momentum Maintained For Women Coaches
The NCAA Women Coaches Academies have been running for close to two decades and have thousands of inspired alumni who sing the praises of the experience of bringing coaches together to connect, learn and network.
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Learn more about Athlete Assessments
DISC Profiling
Learn how to master the people side of sport using DISC Profiling...
What We Do
We specialize in helping our clients create and sustain winning results...
Our Clients
See who we work with and read what they say about us...
