Michael Gulino believes coaches should be transformational, focusing on the use of sports to help young athletes grow. Positive self-talk, creating a positive team environment, and praising performance and effort are just a few things […]
EP 106: 2022 National Athletic Directors Conference Recap
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we have compiled highlights from the 2022 National Athletic Directors Conference in Nashville, TN. We take you inside some of the NADC Workshops […]
Connecticut Class Act Sportsmanship Program with Trish Witkin – Glastonbury High School (CT)
Trish Witkin discusses sportsmanship and explains Connecticut’s Class Act voluntary sportsmanship program. She states that schools can do all the programing and education concerning sportsmanship, but something will always happen. The Class Act program is […]
Six Simple Rules for Coaching Boosters [NIAAA]
By: John Evers, CMAA As budgets become tighter, more athletic administrators are finding that booster clubs and the revenue they produce are no longer a luxury. In many cases, the funding and support provided by […]
The Biggest Challenge Facing Athletic Administrators Today with Rich Barton, CMAA – NIAAA
Rich Barton believes the biggest challenge affecting Athletic Administrators today is a nationwide issue of retention. He explains that constant turnover of administrators of the largest department of every high school can put that department […]
Challenging Athletes Without Destroying Their Confidence with Dr. Greg Dale – Duke Univ.
Dr. Greg Dale explains that it is key to hold athletes accountable but do so without destroying their confidence or undermining their dignity. He talks about the difference between being intense and being emotional as […]
Branding Your Athletic Program [NIAAA]
By: Jeff Berry – Assistant Principal for Athletics and Activities, Colonial Forge High School (VA) We all see iconic team logos that are easily recognizable in college and professional athletics. The interlocking NY of the […]
The Leadership Paradox with Michael Hughes – Lakewood High School (CO)
Michael Hughes discusses the leadership paradox which involves how much autonomy vs. how much direct instruction you give to your staff. Each staff member has different needs, and as the AD, you must determine how […]
Involving Parents in the Process with T.D. O’Hara – Norman Public Schools (OK)
T.D. O’Hara explains that he has an open door and phone policy with parents as they are a vital force in all the programs. It is important to listen and understand the parents regarding their […]
Mindset: Stop Blaming & Complaining with Alan Stein, Jr.
Alan Stein, Jr. discusses awareness and mindset which may be the #1 separator from good to great and from great to elite. A winner’s mindset involves having extreme accountability and ownership for everything in your […]
EP 105: Creating a “Disney-Like” Game Day Experience with Tim Sam, CMAA – North Valley High School (OR)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Tim Sam, CMAA, Athletic Director at North Valley High School in Oregon. In this episode, we covered the following […]
EP 104: Avoiding Political Potholes in Athletic Administration with Darryl Nance – Greenville County Schools (SC)
In this AD Insider LIVE | Thursday 30 episode, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Darryl Nance, Director of Athletics at Greenville County Schools in South Carolina. In this episode, we covered the […]
Lessons Learned from an Active Shooter Experience with Dr. Kaleb Stoppel, CMAA – Wichita Public Schools (KS)
Dr. Kaleb Stoppel explains how being wounded by a student in an active shooter situation has brought trauma into his and his family’s life. Moving to a new job and town has helped support his […]
Oversight of Title IX with Dr. Lisa Langston, CMAA – Fort Worth ISD (TX)
Dr. Lisa Langston explains that there is no policing or oversight of Title IX until a school or district receives a complaint. She encourages Administrators to implement a policy of self-audits and reviews so that […]
Get to Know Your Athletes as Kids with Matt Mattson – Champlin Park High School (MN)
Matt Mattson explains that he regularly has a leader’s or captain’s breakfast in his office. The table in his office doubles as a ping pong table. He encourages kids to stop by to play and […]
Surround Yourself with the Right People [NIAAA]
By: Scott Paine, MBA, CMAA, CIC One of the most important skills you can develop as a leader is selecting, developing, and empowering the right people. The potential of your department and/or organization rests on […]
The Most Important Duty of an Athletic Administrator with Dan Armstrong – (Retired) Northwestern High School (IN)
The duty to plan is paramount to all other duties as an athletic administrator! That should be passed on from you to your coaching staff. Courts will rarely find that a school and its athletics […]
Parents: Where Does Toxicity Start? with Meagan Frank
Meagan Frank explains that toxic behavior from parents starts with negative emotions. Some triggers for toxic behavior are concern for child safety, perceived fairness and personal lingering emotions.
Crisis Resolution: 4 Key Resolution Skills with Andre’ Walker – Houston ISD
Andre’ Walker discusses these four key resolution skills with an explanation of each. Be relaxed and focused, recognize and manage your emotions, improve your nonverbal communication skills, and use humor and play to deal with […]
EP 103: AD Insider Tutorial – 5 Advanced Google Sheets Tools for Athletic Departments with Michael Beleson – Convent & Stuart Hall (CA)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Michael Beleson, Assistant Athletic Director for Convent & Stuart Hall in San Francisco, CA. In this episode, we talk about […]
The Officiating Dilemma: How Athletic Administrators Can Help Address the Nation’s Shortage [NIAAA]
By: Gary Stevens, Athletic Administrator at Thornton Academy – Saco, Maine Jeff Benson is not a man who is averse to meeting and addressing challenges. A successful athletic administrator and baseball coach at four Maine […]
EP 102: Steering the Ship Through Retirements and Staffing Changes with Arnie Fritzius – Red Lion Area School District (PA)
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we sat down with Arnie Fritzius, Director of Athletics for the Red Lion Area School District in Pennsylvania. In this episode, we cover the […]
The 10 Mental Performance Skills Every Athlete Must Master for Peak Performance [NIAAA]
By: Brian Cain, CMAA As a three-sport standout athlete and captain at Mt. Greylock High School in Williamstown, Massachusetts, I thought I was prepared for success in collegiate athletics. Man was I wrong. I quickly […]
Coaching Tips: Athletes Who Have Experienced Trauma with Dr. Lee Dorpfeld – Univ. of South Florida
Dr. Lee Dorpfeld discusses some tips for coaches who are dealing with athletes that have experienced some form of trauma. These athletes are not trying to push your buttons or be difficult but due to […]
EP 101: 8 Takeaways from the NIAAA Professional Development Leadership Summit
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30, presented by HomeTown Ticketing, we will take you inside our trip to Indianapolis, Indiana for the NIAAA Professional Development Leadership Summit and share our takeaways from exclusive AD […]
What Are We Doing to Create a Championship Culture? with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Robert Grasso asks the question, “what can we do to create a championship culture?” Every team has a culture – are you working to develop the kind of culture you want? Robert states that if […]
The Reluctant Scribe [NIAAA]
By: Gary Stevens, Athletic Administrator – Thornton Academy, Saco, Maine When I joined the NIAAA Publications Committee following the 2006 National Athletic Directors Conference, little did I realize what a wonderful professional journey that I […]
EP 100: Tools to Address Athlete Anxiety with Kim Karr – #ICANHELP
In this AD Insider | Thursday 30 episode, presented by Box Out Sports, we sat down with Kim Karr, Executive Director at #ICANHELP, and student intern, Maya Tarantino. In this episode, we cover the following […]
Crisis Management: Conflict Can Have Many Leaders with Andre’ Walker – Houston ISD
Andre’ Walker explains that sometimes conflicts have a way of expanding as individuals attempt to apply pressure on an AD from outside sources.
Legal Issues: Loyalty and Liability with Jim Walsh
Jim Walsh discusses a legal issue that he describes as “loyalty and liability.” The example given is an excessive force lawsuit and the ramifications that ensued.