Dr. Colleen Hacker explains that mental toughness is a skill, and it can be developed. It is about how an individual responds to adversity, difficult situations, setbacks, and failure. Mental toughness is not required when […]
Never a Champion; But Always a Winner [NIAAA]
By: Jim Bloch - Retired Athletic Administrator How Do We Define Success? My dear friend, Doug Collins – former NBA player, coach, broadcaster, and current senior advisor to Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls – and I […]
Coach Evaluation Checklist with Jeremy Schlitz, CAA – Madison Metropolitan School District (WI)
Jeremy Schlitz discusses coach evaluations and having tough conversations. He explains the checklist he uses for the tough conversations with a coach that can involve improving practices, the program in general, or letting a coach […]
I’m Stressed and I Have the Capability of Calming Down with Dr. Colleen Hacker – Team USA / Pacific Lutheran Univ.
Watch as Dr. Colleen Hacker explains that when you are angry, frustrated, stressed, or have lost focus, your next word or thought should be “and”. Whatever the negative situation is that you need to announce, […]
Building Support for Student-Athletes with Disabilities with Joe Roberts, CMAA – Princeton County Schools (OH)
Joe Roberts discusses students with disabilities and involving them in extracurricular activities. He emphasizes the importance of building a team that includes the child’s parents, intervention specialist administrators, and the school’s psychologist. Creating a team […]
Ethics in Interscholastic Athletic Administration with Marc Haught, CMAA – KIAAA
Marc Haught, CMAA, Executive Director of the Kansas Athletic Directors Association (KIAAA), discusses the ethical implementation of policies and programs within interscholastic programs. Marc explains that polls indicate moral values are in decline nationwide, and […]
How to Effectively Delegate Your Social Media Coverage with Chris Muskopf – St. Louis University High School (MO)
Chris Muskopf discusses managing your social media coverage of all the athletic events that happen on campus as well as off campus. The goal is to let the public and students know about the great […]
Booster Club Benefits and Drawbacks with Leon Hammond, CAA – McIntosh High School (GA)
Leon Hammond explains the benefits and drawbacks of booster clubs. Booster clubs offer dedicated fundraising support and are helpful in reaching out to more stakeholders in your community. They also provide legwork and preparation for […]
Preserving Mental Fortitude: The Vital Role of Self-Care for Athletic Administrators [NIAAA]
By: Thomas Shanahan, CMAA – Athletic Administrator at Bishop Kelly High School, Idaho In the high-stakes world of athletic administration, the demands are ceaseless, the expectations high, and the pressure relentless. As stewards of athletic […]
What Types of Adversity Do Coaches Face? with Lisa Gingras, CMAA – Nashua School District (NH)
Lisa Gingras, CMAA, explores the various challenges coaches encounter, providing an in-depth discussion on key issues such as student-athletes making poor decisions, parents being either too involved or not involved enough, communities placing pressure on […]
Hazing Prevention: Know Your Staff with Dr. Ryan Miller – Scotch Plains-Fanwood HS (NJ)
Dr. Ryan Miller discusses hazing and the key to prevention is knowing your staff. As the AD, you will be supervising older coaches as well as newer coaches. The size of the staff, as well […]
Creating Culture Conviction with Cory Aadland, CMAA – Mitchell School District (SD)
Cory Aadland, CMAA, explains that to be an effective leader, you need values, principles, and a vision statement. He describes how they have taken those concepts and turned them into a conviction with the creation […]
Safety and Security at Evening Events [NIAAA]
By: Brian Silipena, CMAA, Athletic Director – Pequannock Township High School (NJ) From the point of view of an athletic administrator, their number one priority at an education-based sporting event is for spectators to arrive […]
Athletic Leadership: Developing Life Skills Through Sports with Michael Duffy, CMAA – Carroll County Public Schools (MD)
Michael Duffy explains that there are specific books available that deal with business, military, and educational leadership. However, athletic leadership’s focus is to develop life skills through sports and with the growth of students. A […]
Decisions Made Today Determine Results Seen Tomorrow with Felix Bobo – Unlimited University
Felix Bobo explains the importance of embracing purpose. Establishing a culture and setting goals require a commitment to a purpose. The athletic staff, coaches, and players must all embrace failure, difficulties, and challenges to truly […]
Integrating Technology for Fans: Create an Athletic App with Colin Fegeley, CMAA – Green Level High School (NC)
Colin Fegeley discusses enhancing the game day experience for fans by integrating technology. He explains how Green Level High School launched an athletic app last year that provides a more collegiate and professional experience for […]
Developing and Implementing Effective Emergency Action Plans with Amy Harris, CMAA – Clayton County Public Schools (GA)
Amy Harris discusses the vital role of athletic directors and administrators in emergency preparedness. Amy will cover different types of medical emergencies and how to prepare for all emergency situations with example situations: Developing your […]
Building Core Values with Stephen Mackey – 2Words Character Development
Stephen Mackey is a keynote speaker, Wall Street Journal Best-Selling author, and character leadership & culture development coach. Better known as Coach Mackey, he has spent the last 20 years helping athletes and coaches connect […]
How Coaches and ADs Can Deal with Difficult Parents [NIAAA]
By: Joe Breinig, Jr., CMAA Provided by: NIAAA Every year, thousands of coaches and athletic directors all over the world dedicate their time to teaching other parents’ children their sport. Most parents appreciate this good-natured […]
Navigating NIL Legislation: Impacts and Implications with Don Baker, CMAA – Cobb County School District (GA)
Don Baker discusses navigating NIL legislation and its impacts and implications. There are three key factors in understanding NIL at the high school level: Understand your state Know your district Know your community Don explains […]
Developing Loyal Coaches: Strategies for Retention with Patrice Elder, CAA – Oak Hill School (TN)
Patrice Elder discusses developing loyal coaches and strategies for retention. It is important to understand that coaches’ retention and loyalty contribute to program stability and stronger relationships with players and parents. Patrice explains some steps […]
Can You Be Too Positive? with Jon Gordon – The Jon Gordon Companies
Jon Gordon responds to the question, “Can you be too positive?” He states that you can never be too positive because you need that positivity to elevate your state of mind. He cites a Duke […]
Mastering Mental Preparation for Athletes with Robert Schinke – Laurentian Univ.
Watch as Robert Schinke discusses how mental preparation is essential for athletes, involving systematic evaluations and competition plans. Coaches play a key role in managing anxiety and boosting confidence through positive feedback. Goal setting is […]
Building Trust the Right Way: Strategies for Coaches, Athletes, Parents, and Stakeholders [NIAAA]
By: Denny Ziegler, CAA – Strongsville High School (OH) In the realm of high school sports, trust serves as the foundation upon which successful and harmonious relationships are built between coaches, athletes, parents, and stakeholders. […]
New NIAAA Tragedies Course Launch with Dan Talbot, CMAA – Polk County Public Schools (FL)
Dan Talbot, course chair and author of LTC 718, discusses “Leading the Athletic Department Through Tragic Events.” All Athletic Directors will eventually need to deal with tragic events. The course focuses on the immediate response […]
Developing Championship Sportsmanship Beyond The Game with Leslie Slovak – (Retired) Richardson ISD (TX)
Leslie Slovak, Former THSADA President, discusses Developing Sportsmanship Beyond the Game. The UIL, Texas High School Coaches Association, and the AD Association have partnered together because of concerns about the negative behavior of fans, student-athletes, […]
Tips for Helping Your Athletes Unwind Using Their Comfort Zone (Phones) with Kim Karr – Digital4Good
Kim Karr discusses tips that administrators and coaches can use to help athletes unwind using their comfort zone (phones). Communication and conversations about an athlete’s phone can impact their mood and stress level. These tips […]
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Developing Influential Leadership, and Dynamic Culture – [NIAAA]
By: Scott Battas, CMAA – Mascoutah High School (IL) Athletic programs at every level focus on details that will cultivate success on the field, court, or track and maximize the potential to reach goals and […]
7 Steps to Changing a Culture with Deon Birkes, CMAA – Lincoln Consolidated School District (AR)
Deon Birkes explains the 7-step process that has helped his program get to the next level. This process has helped raise the level of expectations, the standard of the athlete’s behavior, and instilled the attitude […]
4 Key Ingredients to a Successful Coach Development Program with Jennifer Doede, CMAA – Amos Alonzo Stagg High School (IL)
Jennifer Doede explains a recipe of 4 key ingredients for developing a successful coaching development program: Focus on transformational leadership instead of transactional leadership Leave your ego at the door, as it is not about […]