Expanding the Zone

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Discussing the real issues that affect high school sports and the role that coaches play in dealing with those challenges.

Shayne Combs


    • Mar 12, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 71 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Expanding the Zone

    Episode 71: Roundball Recap (Season 6 Finale)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 52:29


    Matt and Shayne wrap up season 6  with recapping a lot of what they've seen this basketball season.   Some of the discussion comes full circle with talk of rule changes, physicality, positionless basketball, etc...

    Episode 70-(Playback) Episode 49-One Shining Moment

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 66:28


    Shayne and Matt revisit episode 49 where they discussed what it takes to make a deep tournament run.  In this episode they share clips from episode 49 and then comment on each clip, going a bit deeper into some of the characteristics that teams have to have to make deep runs.

    Episode 69: All League Selection

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2024 78:55


    Matt and Shayne discuss their opinions on the process of selecting All League players.  They discuss how different leagues have different selection processes.  They also debate what should be the main focusses of coaches when participating in the process of voting for all conference players.  

    Episode 68-Listener topics....You've asked, we try to answer.

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024 73:57


    Shayne and Matt tackle a few different topics that have been suggested or asked about by listeners.  They talk about defense and offensive problems, in game adjustments, fan behavior, shot clock and more.  

    Episode 67-Confidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 54:01


    Shayne and Matt discuss what makes for a confident player.  Is confidence natural or developed?   What makes an entire team play with confident?  The guys tackle these topics and more.  

    Basketball IQ-Are today's players students of the game?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 62:50


    Shayne and Matt discuss the mental side of basketball and explore the question...Do today's players really study and understand the game?

    Episode 65-Positionless Basketball

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 65:34


    Matt and Shayne discuss positionless basketball, specifically the evolution of the point guard and post positions.  

    Episode 64: Assistant Coaches

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 50:00


    Shayne and Matt discuss the role of assistant coaches.  They talk about what goes into a head coaches process of selecting his/her assistant coaches and then the process of delegating responsiblity and assigning roles to those assistant coaches.  

    Episode 63: The "mercy" rule

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 71:40


    Shayne and Matt discuss the pros and cons of the running clock rule in high school basketball when a team is ahead by 35 or more in the second half.  They also react to another podcasts discussion regarding the Maxpreps ranking system and the news that the OHSAA is considering adding more divisions in high school basketball.  

    Episode 62: What's caught our attention most in the early season?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 69:52


    Shayne and Matt discuss the things they've noticed in the first couple weeks of the season and what they think they may see moving forward.  They recap some reaction to Episode 62 with the official shortage and then move into to what's jumped out at them in the season thus far.  Some of the topics they discuss are style of play, managing fouls and foul trouble, and time and score just to name a few.  

    Episode 61: What's really causing the official shortage?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2023 66:51


    Matt and Shayne respond to a recent press release by the OHSAA citing that the number one reason there's a shortage of officials is fan behavior.  They list several reasons outside of fan behavior that are contributing to the problem.  

    Episode 60: Rule changes for the 2024 basketball season

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 69:08


    Shayne and Matt discuss the rule changes for the 2024 basketball season including the new free throw rules with 2 shots coming after the 5th foul in each quarter and the new tournament selection process.  Also, they discuss potential rule changes on the horizon for the 25 season and beyond. 

    Episode 59-Basketball Pre Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 71:22


    Matt and Shayne kickoff their basketball series by discussing the importance of the preseason.  They discuss, from a coaches perspective, how it is to navigate all the challenges that the pre season brings.  

    Episode 58-Staying Sharp as a Leader

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2023 42:05


    In this season finale episode, Shayne and Matt discuss ways to continually improve, learn and grow as leaders. 

    Episode 57: What's on your mind?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 74:34


    Shayne and Matt tackle five spontaneous topics about leadership and coaching.  

    Episode 56: Parent Coaches

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2023 49:42


    Shayne and Matt discuss parents coaching their own kids in youth and high school sports.  

    parent coaches
    Episode 55: Can I get that in writing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2023 35:17


    Shayne and Matt discuss the unwritten rules of leadership and coaching. 

    Episode 54: Who is watching?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2023 68:25


    Matt and Shayne take on the sensitive topic of hazing and bullying in light of the recent developments within the Northwestern Football Program.  They discuss what a leader's role is in knowing what is happening within his/her organization and how to deal with issues when the arise.  

    Episode 53-Do they make them like they used to?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2023 40:24


    Shayne and Matt discuss athlete durability in today's sports. 

    Episode 52-Dont Forget About Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2023 39:25


    Matt and Shayne talk about the challenges of the "off season" in terms of self improvement and staying connected with those you lead.  

    Episode 51-Where are Your Feet?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2023 35:22


    Shayne and Matt discuss the importance of being present in what you do as a leader, while also exploring the importance of planning for the future and learning from the past. 

    Episode 50: Patience

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 27:39


    Shayne and Matt discuss how tournament runs affect the next sport and the importance of coaches cooperating when it comes to sharing athletes. 

    Episode 49: One Shining Moment (What it takes to make a tournament run)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 37:18


    Matt and Shayne discuss what they think are the tale tale signs of a team capable of making a deep tourney run.

    Episode 48-Are you getting defensive?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2022 64:44


    In show 2 of their basketball series, Shayne and Matt discuss a team finding their identity which leads into an in depth, detailed look at different defensive philosophy.  

    Episode 47: Basketball-The Challenge of the Pre Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 69:23


    Shayne and Matt explore the challenges of navigating the pre season as a basketball coach.  They look at lack of time, gym space and various other distractions that coaches have to work through and offer tips on how to do so. 

    Episode 46: Aye, Aye, Captain

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2022 63:14


    Shayne and Matt breakdown the recent ESPN series, "The Captain," featuring Derek Jeter, former New York Yankee great.  The guys take several quotes and segments from the show and relate it to leadership in high school sports. 

    Episode 45: No Contact Periods (off season limitations)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2022 52:35


    In this episode, Matt and Shayne discuss the upcoming "dead" period or no contact period as the OHSAA calls it and what that means for high school athletes and coaches.  They also discuss enforcement of those rules and consider if schools really follow them.  The discussion also transitions into how coaches can effectively prepare their players to practice on their own when the coach can't be with them.  

    Episode 44: Play vs Practice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 52:03


    Matt and Shayne talk about the amount of time we practice in youth sports vs the amount of time we play games.  The guys talk about the pros and cons and ways to balance between the two.  

    Episode 43: Time for Change

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2022 68:38


    Matt and Shayne discuss current changing landscape of sports.  They give their opinions on what changes have been good and not so good and explore possible future changes to high school athletics.  The guys also discuss how leaders need to go about navigating and affecting change. 

    Episode 42: Why Don't You Stay? (Getting and keeping great people within an organization)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2022 51:33


    In this episode Shayne and Matt discuss how important it is for leaders to add great people to their organizations and do what they can to keep those people long term.  They discuss leaders creating a great culture that attracts people and offers benefits that cause people to want to stay, rather than look elsewhere.  Although some turnover within an organization is normal and even healthy, this discussion explores ways to avoid the unnecessary and damaging type of turnover caused by lack of morale and poor culture.  

    Epidsode 41: Fair or Foul-Coaching Ethics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 42:33


    Spurred by the Jimbo Fisher-Nick Saban debate...Matt and Shayne discuss what is Ok and what is off limits for coaches as it pertains to coaching ethics.  They discuss what should be said to the media and how to handle disagreements between opposing coaches.  

    Episode 40: Getting the most out of your off season

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2022 24:41


    Shayne and Matt are back with another season of Expanding The Zone.  On this episode they discuss utilizing you "down" time, if there is such a thing, and getting the most out of your off season.  They also discuss self evaluation as one season comes to an end and setting goals for improvement for the next year.  

    Episode 39: Regular Season vs Post Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2021 48:06


    With the college football playoffs upon us, Shayne and Matt discuss regular season success vs post season success, along with other aspects of what makes post season competition fair in different sports. 

    Episode 38: Running great practices

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2021 50:00


    Shayne and Matt discuss what goes into a great practice from organization and planning to execution.  They discuss 4 major points that are critical to conducting productive practices.  

    Episode 37--What makes a great team?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2021 56:00


    Shayne and Matt look into what makes a great team.  Is it talent only?  Does team chemistry matter?  The guys look into these topics along with player development and organizational expectations.  

    Episode 36: Money, Money, Money

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2021 58:40


    Shayne and Matt discuss the name, image and likeness situation at the college level and how it may eventually affect high school athletics.  Also, they dive into the financial situations that high schools face and how they go about generating additional revenue.  

    Episode 35: Mental Health of Today's High School Athletes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 57:28


    Shayne and Matt welcome guest Julie Arthur to the show.  Julie is a clinical counselor with nearly 20 years of experience in working with teens and adolescents.  Julie lends her expertise to the show as the guys discuss the relevance of mental health in today's student- athletes.  Julie explains just how prevalent mental health issues are in todays teens and she shares with coaches the right approach to recognizing mental health issues in their athletes and what they can do to help.  

    Episode 34: Expanding the Zone......Game Management

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2021 44:45


    Shayne and Matt discuss several game management topics including security, crowd control, and player behavior.  They also compare celebration vs taunting and discuss how the history and culture of different sports sometimes determine the level of what is acceptable. 

    Episode 33: Identify Your Indentity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2021 60:19


    Shayne and Matt discuss the importance of identity within an organization.  Every team and organization needs certain constants or "staples" that they stand for and rally around.  In this episode we look at forming identity, executing identity, and growing the identity over an extended period of time.  

    Episode 32: Records Are Made To Be Broken

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2021 64:02


    Matt and Shayne discuss sports records and milestones and how they affect the way we judge and compare players of different eras and how "numbers"  affect the mindset of an athlete.  Also, the guys have some fun with "break or take".....discussing which records are bound to be broken and which will stand forever. 

    Episode 31: Who Thrived During COVID? Leadership During Adversity

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2021 49:27


    Shayne and Matt are back with season 2 of Expanding the Zone.  They look back and discuss leadership during the COVID pandemic.  Who thrived and who struggled?   What leadership qualities did those who thrived share?  Shayne outlines his 5 C's....Compliance, Composure, Consistency, Creativity, and Chemistry.

    Episode 30: State of the Game-BASKETBALL

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2020 100:13


    Shayne and Matt end season 1 with an extended episode detailing the state of high school basketball today. They explore some problems in today's game and potential solutions to help improve basketball moving forward.

    Episode 29: What Makes a Great League?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2020 72:13


    Shayne and Matt discuss what makes a great league. Some factors discussed are school size, location, leadership/organization, and competitive balance.

    Episode 28: You scared?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2020 56:36


    Shayne and Matt discuss the fears that leaders must overcome to be successful.

    Episode 27: Sports Leadership on the Big Screen

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 55:41


    Shayne and Matt have a little fun discussing some of their favorite sports movies and some of the leadership lessons that can be learned from them.

    Episode 26: Analytics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2020 62:59


    Shayne and Matt discuss the effect of analytics as it pertains to their use in coaching and leadership.

    Episode 25: Organization in Coaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2020 64:12


    In episode 25, Shayne and Matt expand on their thoughts from episode 23, "Why Coaches Quit" After much feedback, the guys get into greater detail about coaching responsibilities and approaches to organization. Matt also discusses how coaches are having to adjust and deal with added requirements due to COVID19.

    Episode 24: Common Threads (Shared characteristics of championship programs)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2020 65:17


    Shayne and Matt discuss characteristics that championship programs share. Some topics include acquiring talent, culture, handling adversity and maturity.

    Episode 23: Why Coaches Quit

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2020 64:23


    Matt and Shayne talk about why high school coaches decide to get out of coaching. They discuss topics such of burnout, taking the wrong job, moving too fast without proper experience, and more.

    Episode 22: Mop Up Time

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 58:11


    The guys use this episode to "mop up" various topics. They discuss four topics in all.....Are sports essential? Will some permanent good come out of this pandemic in terms of high school sports? The law vs community law...the importance of knowing the community in which you operate. Playing time....loyalty to older player vs giving younger player a chance. We examine the question....Do coaches play too many players in an effort to keep everyone happy?

    Episode 21: The State of the Game: FOOTBALL

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2020 72:08


    Matt and Shayne discuss the current state of high school football. They are joined by legendary Ohio HS football coach Shawn Buescher. Coach Buescher became the head coach of the Roughriders in 2002. Since then......9 League Championships (6 MSL and 3 OHC)11 Playoff AppearancesDivision V Central District Coach of the Year 2006, 2017, 2019Columbus Dispatch Metro Team Coach of the Year 2017Central District Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year 2006,07,09District 14 Sportsmanship and Integrity Award 2009Capitol West Football Officials Association for the Sportsmanship Award 2005,07,13,17Mid-State League Coach of the Year 2006-07-08-09-10-132 Regional Championship7 Regional Runner-Up

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