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, […]
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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 […]
Leaders Must Be Great Communicators with Robert Grasso – La Jolla Country Day School (CA)
Robert Grasso explains his philosophy of leadership on how athletes must be great communicators. They must be able to communicate with teammates as well as the coaches. He stresses that team leaders should know the […]
Establishing a Coaches Academy [NIAAA]
By: Dr. Kechia Rowles, CMAA – Rockdale County Public Schools (GA) As an athletic director, whether at the school-level or in the district office, each school year presents its own challenges. In the same way […]
Handling Parent Expectations in a Positive Manner with Josh Mathews, CMAA – Pope High School (GA)
Josh Mathews discusses strategies for handling parent expectations in a positive manner. He uses a PowerPoint that is distributed to all the individual booster club/parent pre-season meetings. This PowerPoint explains the athletics programs’ expectations for […]
Title IX: Be an Advocate for All Voices with Sue Enquist – UCLA Hall of Famer
Sue Enquist explains that before Title IX, about 1 in 29 girls participated in sports and today, that number is 1 in 3. She credits athletic directors for not just being compliant on Title IX, […]
Hiring Coaches: Communication Under Pressure with Gilbert Leal – Brownsville ISD (TX)
Gilbert Leal explains that in the process of hiring coaches, he wants to see the candidate’s ability to communicate under pressure. In a Zoom call, he presents the candidate with 20 questions and expects an […]
Navigating the Ascent – Katherine Williams, CAA – St. Teresa’s Academy (MO) – [NIAAA]
By: Katherine Williams, CAA - St. Teresa’s Academy (Kansas City) When I started as an assistant athletics director before becoming the head athletics director, I realized it provided me with a unique vantage point to understand the […]
ADs are a Pivotal Part of a School’s Leadership Team with Donna Hayward – Haddam-Killingworth High School (CT)
Donna Hayward, the 2023 National Principal of the Year, explains how her school’s Athletic Director is a pivotal part of her leadership team. The AD is highly visible at athletic and non-athletic events, demonstrating that […]
Fan Code of Conduct with Johnny Lee – Silas High School (WA)
Johnny Lee explains the importance of having a designated seating area for your opponents in all your athletic facilities. The purpose is to prevent any confrontations and he recommends that if there is a problem […]
Cake Auction Fundraiser with Jason Schroeder – North Scott High School (IA)
Jason Schroeder explains how his athletic department’s wintertime cake auction generates $20,000 per year. There are 3 cake divisions: professional, amateur, and student division, based on baking expertise. The top cakes are auctioned off by […]
Building a Culture for the Coaches with Arlisa Williams – District of Columbia International School (DC)
Arlisa Williams discusses the importance of developing a great culture as you coach your coaches. Culture keeps everyone on the same page and prevents different coaches in your system from doing their own thing. Effective […]
“Wringing Out the Sponge”: Providing a Helping Hand to Colleagues – [NIAAA]
By: Gary Stevens – (Retired) Athletic Administrator – Thornton Academy – Saco, Maine As a basketball coach early in my career, I was determined to be the master of my craft. I wanted my teams to […]
A Hidden Issue in High School Sports: NIAAA & AD Insider Roundtable Discussion
The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) and AD Insider have partnered up to discuss an important (and hidden) problem in high school sports all over the country. Join us in this roundtable discussion, presented […]
Hire Coaches Who Can Impact Kids with Leslie Slovak – (Retired) Richardson ISD (TX)
Leslie Slovak explains what she looks for in hiring coaches. It is very important to her that candidates have a love for kids. Her favorite question to ask head coach candidates is what their greatest […]
Creating a Monthly Coaches Professional Development Meeting with Dave Miceli, CMAA – Burr and Burton Academy (VT)
Dave Miceli explains that having a monthly coaches meeting is a very effective way of enhancing professional development. These are athletic director-led, themed meetings with food and small rewards for those regularly attending. It is […]
When to Let a Coach Go with Joe Kimling, CMAA – Washington High School (OH)
Joe Kimling discusses when it is time to let a coach go and the importance of following the established process for doing so. He will discuss in detail the method of evaluation that he uses […]
Event Management: Appreciate & Empower Your Workers with Rob Seymour, CMAA – Fishers High School (IN)
Rob Seymour explains that all events depend on workers, and you must empower them so they can control any situation they may face based on your guidelines. Pre-Event communications are important, focusing on gate assignments, […]
Controlling Fan Behavior in an Emergency Situation with Josh Mathews – Pope HS (GA)
Josh Mathews discusses the importance of controlling fan behavior in an emergency situation. Usually, fans at an athletic event are evacuated due to severe weather, but it could be because of any number of issues. […]
Sharing Your Purpose: Weekly Life Lessons to Build Champions for Life [NIAAA]
By: Dr. Troy Urdahl, CMAA – St. Anthony Village High School (Minnesota) “Most people miss opportunity because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”-Thomas Edison I believe the transformative power of high school […]
Finding Resources and Tools for ADs with Craig Perry, CMAA – U.S. Council for Athletes’ Health (USCAH)
Craig Perry, CMAA, discussing finding resources and tools for Athletic Directors. He explains that the NIAAA and its network of people, along with State AD Associations, and school districts provide valuable resources and information. No […]
Supporting Sportsmanship, Mental Health, and Well-Being [NIAAA]
By: Stephen Baldwin, CAA, Maureen F. Ruby, Ph.D., and Mel Horton, Ed.D. Class Act and the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) What is the Class Act Program? The Class Act Program in Connecticut is a […]
Chief Educational Officer (Coach of Coaches) with Dr. David Hoch, CMAA
Dr. David Hoch likes the term Chief Educational Officer, but he considered himself the “Coach of Coaches.” His job was to help his coaches get better, and this had a direct impact on the student-athletes’ […]
What Is the Mission of Your Athletic Program with Chris Fore – Eight Laces Consulting
Chris Fore explains that one of the hurdles in building a championship-caliber athletic program is defining the vision and mission of the program. It is key that the school board, superintendent, principal, AD, and coaches […]