Positive Coaching Works at All Levels
By Ken Reed
One of the arguments some coaches have had against positive coaching techniques is that the positivity approach might work at some younger youth levels but not at highly competitive older levels. The thinking is that a positive, humanistic coaching style won’t translate into wins for big-time college and professional sports teams.
Well, both Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, two of pro sports winningest coaches the past couple years, are positive coaching disciples. And Phil Jackson, the all-time leader in NBA titles for coaches, is national spokesman for the Positive Coaching Alliance.
The bottom line is, positive coaching works better — from a performance perspective and a human relations/player development perspective — than the old autocratic Vince Lombardi-style.
In a recent article by Noah Frank, Jim Thompson, CEO of the Positive Coaching Alliance, says the success of positive coaches like Carroll and Kerr makes a strong impression on coaches at lower levels.
“When you’ve got someone like Kerr right now, showing almost relentless positivity, it’s fabulous,” says Thompson. “We want high school coaches, youth coaches to understand that positive emotions can create an upward spiral. What builds resilience is positivity.”
Check it out. Frank’s article is one that coaches at ALL levels should read. The interview with Kerr, imbedded in the article, is also well-worth viewing.
— Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans
Sports Forum Podcast
Episode #22 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Rethinking Sports Fandom with Author Craig Calcaterra – We discuss Calcaterra’s new book “Rethinking Fandom: How to Beat the Sports-Industrial Complex at Its Own Game” and explore new ways to be a fan in the year 2022.
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Episode #21 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Chatting About a Broken Game With Baseball Writer Pedro Moura – Moura is a national baseball writer for Fox Sports. We discuss how and why the game of baseball is broken, what factors caused it, and offer a few thoughts on how to “fix” a great game.
Episode #20 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Coaching Youth and High School Sports Based On What’s Best for the Athlete’s Holistic Development – We chat with long-time youth, high school and college basketball coach Jim Huber.
Episode #19 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Capturing the Spirit of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League with Anika Orrock – We discuss the hoops AAGPFL women had to jump through to play the game they loved as well as the long-term impact and legacy they have in advancing sports opportunities for girls and women.
Episode #18 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking about the 50th Anniversary of Title IX and the Lia Thomas Controversy with Nancy Hogshead-Makar – Hogshead-Makar is a triple gold medalist in swimming, a civil rights attorney and CEO of Champion Women.
Episode #17 – League of Fans’ Sports Forum podcast: Talking Sports With Legendary New York Times Sports Columnist Robert Lipsyte – We chat about Lipsyte’s amazing career and some of the athletes he covered.
Media
"How We Can Save Sports" author Ken Reed appears on Fox & Friends to explain how there's "too much adult in youth sports."
Ken Reed appears on Mornings with Gail from KFKA Radio in Colorado to discuss bad parenting in youth athletics.
“Should College Athletes Be Paid?” Ken Reed on The Morning Show from Wisconsin Public Radio
Ken Reed appears on KGNU Community Radio in Colorado (at 02:30) to discuss equality in sports and Title IX.
Ken Reed appears on the Ralph Nader Radio Hour (at 38:35) to discuss his book The Sports Reformers: Working to Make the World of Sports a Better Place, and to talk about some current sports issues.
- League of Fans Sports Policy Director Ken Reed quoted in Washington Post column titled "What happened to P.E.? It’s losing ground in our push for academic improvement," by Jay Mathews
League of Fans is a sports reform project founded by Ralph Nader to fight for the higher principles of justice, fair play, equal opportunity and civil rights in sports; and to encourage safety and civic responsibility in sports industry and culture.
Sports & Torts – Ken Reed, Sports Policy Director, League of Fans – at the American Museum of Tort Law
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