Just Go Play

In this episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Dr. Cassidy Preston from Consistent Elite Performance on Why Mindset Coaching is changing the game for athletes. Cassidy shares his journey as a professional hockey player that led him to get a Ph.D. in Sport Psychology from York University to allow him to help athletes understand what mental skills they need to work on and how to strengthen their mental toughness.Mental toughness is the key to unlocking your potential. Most players are investing a lot in their physical and technical skills, but are underperforming because they have not invested enough in their mental toughness.Hear the discussion on:Why speaking about mental health shouldn't be taboo in sportsThe difference between self-worth and self-confidence What age kids should be exposed to mental performance trainingWhy we need to normalize the ability to think and reflect Cassidy shares how the skills he works with athletes on, support not only their on-ice game but also their training and day-to-day performance.  with a big focus on overcoming limiting belief.Check out Consistent Elite Performance at www.consistenteliteperformance.com or find them on social media:Instagram: @consistenteliteperformanceFacebook:  @ConsistentElitePerformanceTwitter: @CassidyPrestonPodcast: The Consistent Elite Performance PodcastDr. Preston grew up playing minor hockey in North Bay, Ontario, and, like many kids, his emotions got the best of him at times. He would slam his stick, doubt himself, get frustrated, and overthink. He went into slumps, took retaliation penalties, and rode the emotional roller coaster of highs and lows.He worked hard and was fortunate enough to go in the 4th round of the OHL draft and went on to play 5 years of junior hockey, have a short stint in Pro hockey, and finished his career with 5 years of University hockey.Mental toughness is incredibly important, but the problem that he experienced, and many athletes currently do, is that it's not easy to work on because it is not tangible, especially if you try to do it on your own. This is why one of the core values that he has is to find simple solutions to abstract problems. This drove him to earn his Ph.D. in Sport Psychology from York University.He is now a full-time Sport & Performance Psychology Coach and uses his education, playing career, and coaching experiences to guide hockey players daily on how to strengthen their mental toughness.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.  Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Ian Mackenzie and Kevin Shier from TOP Sports on the Return of the Multi-Sport Athlete. Ian and Kevin share their journey through sports and how it led them to develop a different multisport academy model focused on creating an environment where competition is a mindset. They are focused on helping athletes set goals and hold themselves accountable to accomplish those goals.Hear the discussion on:Why kids should play multi-sportsHow the structure benefits the schedule for the whole familyWhy the focus on kids learning physical literacy Ian and Kevin share insight on the TOP Sports 4 pillars that they focus their programming around:Quality practice over quantity of games Consistent manageable schedule with cut-offs for each sport  High-quality coaching that uses sports as a medium to teach athletes to be good people  Multi-sport play where the benefits of the training help foster a long term athleteCheck out TOP Sports at www.topsports.ca or find them on social media:Instagram: @topsports.to Facebook:  @TopsportsTorontoTwitter: @TOPsportsTOIan grew up in Toronto, playing every sport he could get involved in. In high school, he played golf, hockey, soccer, baseball, volleyball, and rugby, and credits who he is today to these experiences. While attending Wilfrid Laurier University, Ian began teaching skating lessons privately, sparking a passion for coaching and mentoring youth. Before TOP Sports, Ian was the co-owner of SDH Hockey Experience and has devoted the last 10 years of his life to youth sports, with a particular focus on age-appropriate development and character building. Ian continues to play as many sports as he can as an adult, including men's league ice hockey, golf, and ball hockey. Kevin grew up in Toronto, playing hockey, football, baseball, and rugby. Kevin is a self-proclaimed “late bloomer”, hitting his athletic potential in his teenage years which led him to an OJHL Championship where he was named MVP, and a scholarship to play Division1 hockey at Union College. After returning home, Kevin attended Ryerson University and briefly ran Shier Hockey Performance before moving over to TOP, helping to create the program. Kevin remains active as an athlete to this day, playing men's league hockey multiple times a week, ball hockey, tennis, and golf. Kevin and Ian came together over their shared belief in the benefits of multisport play, character building through sport, and evolving youth development practices. They have built TOP Sports from 26 athletes to over 500, and from only offering one sport, to offering four in just over three years. They are driven by a love for what they do and a desire to make a change and offer something different to youth athletes.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.  Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz bring back Rob Pacas to speak about How Physical Education helps attract, retain, and grow participation in youth sports.Rob shares what he has been doing for the last 10 months since we last spoke to him and how he has been inspiring and motivating people to stay active. Hear the discussion on:Why physical education is critical for the mental health and development of students Why schools need to work together to share information to improve programming across the country How leadership needs to address policy issues and support the professional development of the staffWhy specialists are required in the school system to support proper fundamental movement skill development and encourage free playRob shares how he has been working with schools to support their programming through the pandemic and opportunities there are in communities to build healthier and vibrant people. Check out Fitness in a bag at www.fitnessinabag.ca or find them on social media:Instagram:  @fitness_in_a_bagFacebook:  Fitness in a BagLinkedIn: Rob PacasRob Pacas spent over twenty years as the Director of the Birchmount Exceptional Athlete Program (B.E.A.P). Rob was responsible for training and working with over 200 student-athletes each year from over 40 different sports organizations.​Before teaching, Rob was a National Champion and World University All-Star at the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues won a National Championship in Soccer in 1988, and his team was inducted into the University of Toronto Hall of Fame.Rob spent over twenty-five years educating teachers through Additional Qualification (AQ) courses at both the University of Toronto and York University. Rob continues to conduct presentations on fitness and fitness topics for OFSSA, OPHEA, and various Boards of Education. Rob travels across Ontario to educate teachers and students.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this  Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Mark Healy to discuss The Hockey Factory: focused on the development not just winning.Hear Mark's journey as he transitioned from the corporate world to a chance re-encounter that led to being part of The Hockey Factory: a unique facility focused on skill development. Because every player needs a passion for the game and the skill to play.  The Hockey Factory is where an academy meets a gym membership focused on:Providing access to trainers and skill development on your time Focusing on skill development and not on just winning a gameBaseline testing so that you can see your improvementHear the discussion on what The Hockey Factory has pulled from other sports and the unique culture they've developed that they're ready to share with players once restrictions provide a safe environment. Check out The Hockey Factory at www.factoryvicpark.com or find them on social media:Instagram:  @factoryvicparkFacebook:  Factory Vic ParkMark grew up playing AA and AAA hockey in the GTHL and then continued on to play 3 years of Junior hockey.  More recently Mark has 12 years of experience as a volunteer coach in the GTHL.Mark is very passionate about working with young athletes to develop their skills but also their minds, values, and confidence for the gameMark is extremely well connected within the current GTHL landscape and enjoys helping players and their families find the right situations that will put them in the best place to develop.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.  Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this  Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Ari Nitikman and Danie Proby to discuss What you can learn from the culture of Ultimate.With a mission to change the culture of all sports, Ari and Danie share what makes Ultimate unique including:Focus on fundamental skill development including running, jumping, and throwingThe guiding principle of the game is: Spirit of the Game where players have to work with the other team on calls and constructive feedbackEmphasis on teamwork. No one player can be the star - the whole team needs to work together as a functioning unit.You can learn more about the programs Elevate Ultimate at www.elevateultimate.com or find them on social media:Twitter: @ELEVATEyourUltiInstagram:  @elevate.ultimateFacebook:  ELEVATE Ultimate Ari Nitikman started playing ultimate when he was in Grade 6. He went on to play semi-professionally for the Vancouver Nighthawks of the MLU and Vancouver Riptide of the AUDL. He became a rookie on Canada's top men’s team, Furious George, when he was 20, which was also when he dropped out of business school to start Elevate Ultimate full time. He has represented U24 Team Canada twice, earning a bronze in the mixed division in 2017, and a silver medal in the open division in 2019. His goal is to represent Canada at the Olympics one day, whether it be playing or coaching. Jocelyn “Danie” Proby started playing ultimate at the University of Victoria in her first year. She quickly became captain, led them to a Canadian National Championship, and their first-ever qualification to the USA College National Championships. She went on to play for Vancouver’s top women’s team, Traffic, until she, unfortunately, tore her ACL. She kicked rehab in the butt and went on to make Team Canada Mixed Masters just three years later. She became the assistant coach of the U20 Team Canada women in that same year, and the head coach of the U24 Team Canada women the next year. Danie has a Physical Education degree as well as her Advanced Coaching Diploma and was the Coaching Director for Ultimate Peace. Her goal is to represent Canada at the Olympics one day.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.  Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this unique Just Go Play podcast episode, Taryn Lipschitz and Daryl Devonish bring back Matt Young, Michael O'Donnell, Eva Havaris, and Stan Peake to discuss How to Scale Strategy in a Sports Setting. Hear the collective experience and insight across all levels of sport - from club to COC - and the challenges and opportunities endured including:What are the critical elements to gain buy-in from all stakeholders, employees, and volunteers within an organization How to identify the gaps and opportunities in an organization What the process for change will and can look like  Matt Young brings over two decades as a franchisor in the allied health care sector coaching adults, athletes, graduates & children. Matt has been tasked to architect the Activation & Accountability Framework for the largest amateur sports federation in the world. He is the lead architect on the Physical Literacy for Communities framework that’s been rolled out across Canada. Matt is a Vancouver Top 40U40 and Canadian Top 40U40 business excellence award winner. Passionate about giving back, Matt has raised over $6M (and counting) for community charity.Michael O'Donnell was a golf professional turned Canadian Master coach. He realized his passion was helping other coaches and was hired by American Golf Corporation to manage the largest golf instruction program where coaching was at the core of the consumer experience. Mike then joined Nike Golf managing the sports marketing department. Over 7 years ago, he was recruited to the PGA of America to focus on strategic development of programs and initiatives to strengthen participation and growth in the game. Eva Havaris has over 15 years of executive leadership in the Canadian sports industry at the national level with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. She is a lifelong champion of sport having participated in the sport system as an athlete, coach, administrator, and volunteer with experience at the Club, PSO, NSO, Pro sports, USports/CCAA, COC/CPC across five sports (Taekwondo, Equestrian, Ringette, Soccer, Rugby). Eva is the creator of Leadership Mindset by Design, which provides consultation to leaders committed to reconnecting with their greatness and applying a healthy-minded leadership approach to transform the workplace and the teams they lead.Stan Peake has over 23 years of entrepreneurship and leadership experience as an executive coach and facilitator. Stan is also certified in cultural transformation tools, has a graduate education in values-based leadership from Royal Roads University, and executive education in sales leadership from Queens University. Stan is also a 6-time author, including 4 bestsellers on sales, entrepreneurship, and success. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.  Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Mark Harrison on Racism: Awareness to Action.Mark wants to change the world, for the better and is a big believer in purpose. He has over 30 years of experience-driven sponsorship and marketing expertise where he has learned how strategically thoughtful storytelling can engage, influence, and motivate audiences in immeasurable ways. Never one to rest, Mark also sits on the Board of Directors for Football Canada, an organization dedicated to promoting accessibility, safety, fair play, and growth in Canadian Sports. He is a member of the International Institute for Sports Business and Leadership at the University of Guelph and has developed MBA-level courses on entrepreneurism which have been taught at Universities in the US and Canada. He is also a member of the board of Directors for CAMH and Big Brothers Big Sisters Toronto – two organizations that are near and dear to his heart. And lastly, he was recently listed on the BizBash 250 list for excellence in the Canadian event industry.Mark shares how George Floyd's death fuelled and triggered him to speak up. He founded The Black Talent Initiative to connect talent opportunities with companies and professionals to inspire change. Here to empower black leaders of today and tomorrow. Mark shares insights into recent racism in Canada and how we all need to take action, including in a sports setting. You can learn more about the Black Talent Initiative on their website: blacktalentinitiative.networkConnect and learn more from Mark at:Website: www.markharrison3.comInstagram: @markharrison3 Twitter: @MarkHarrison3 LinkedIn: Mark HarrisonFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Andrea Carey on How to incorporate Inclusion in your organization.Andrea is the founder and Chief INclusion Officer with INclusion INcorporated that works to support clients to create cultures of belonging and inclusion for everyone to thrive and has worked extensively on inclusion and improved access for Indigenous peoples, Newcomers, persons with disabilities, and women and girls.Hear the discussion on where to start with learning about inclusion that includes:The importance of creating safe spacesBeing vulnerable in the process The commitment and accountability required from the whole organization Remember that this will take time and is not a quick fix. There is a team to walk with you through the process.Everyone has the right to participate and play so start by listening and sharing this podcast and let's work together to create cultures of belonging! Andrea (she/her/elle) is an MEd, CCIP Andrea Carey is a Canadian Certified Inclusion Professional (CCIP), holds a Masters of Education in Leadership Studies, and is a champion of inclusion. She is Brene Brown “Dare to Lead” trained and is currently enrolled at Royal Roads University in a Graduate Certificate of Executive Coaching. Andrea brings extensive experience in business operations, facility management, human resources, strategic planning, marketing, group facilitation, curriculum development, and product development. Her passionate, playful, and engaging approach to inclusion provides a platform for understanding the challenges to develop a strategy that aligns the organization’s needs with global trends and connects clients to tools to ensure successful implementation. Andrea volunteered for ten years with the Canadian Paralympic Committee as a Board Director and Chair of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee and currently sits on the Board of KidSport Victoria. You can learn more about how Andrea and her team can help create a space and place for diversity and inclusion in your organization: www.inclusionincorporated.com. You can also find them on social media at:Facebook: @INclusionINcorpInstagram: @inclusionincorporatedTwitter: @INclusion_INcFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Matt Young on Culture: without it, you've got nothing.Matt explains the importance of People, Process, Profit, and Product as the foundation of any organization and how society has shifted to mostly focus on Profit and Product. Ignoring the People and Process along the way impacts culture creating poor experiences in the sport system, and leads to athletes dropping out.Hear insight into how critical culture is to an organization and how to engage and invite people into the experience. At the end of the day, the stronger the culture, the more people we're able to positively impact. Matt has over 20 years of youth sports coaching experience and now consults sport local, national, and international sports organizations on the need to create value for all sports stakeholders. His mission is to create positive, quality sport experiences for as many as possible, as long as possible, in the best environments possible.If you are interested in learning more about the following or know someone who would be, listen and share this podcast:How to audit the culture in your organizationAlign on the vision, mission, values, and purpose of your organization Operationalize these throughout your organization Reach out to us at www.justgoplay.ca or www.qualitysporthub.com to go beyond just the technical and tactical resources available and dive into leadership, culture, financial stability, and more for your sports organization. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Eva Havaris about: How to build culture in a sports organization.Growing up, Eva was a multi-sport athlete whose passion for soccer led her to play division 1 in Detroit and Tennessee and then into coaching. While she originally wanted to work for the FBI, she found herself drawn to staying in the sports world working with sports institutions and organizations on their businesses. After completing her Masters, Eva took on her first management role with Rugby Canada as the Associate Director of High-Performance Women’s Rugby and National Rugby Development Officer. She has previously been the CEO of two different national sports operations, running Taekwondo Canada from 2010-2014 and Equestrian Canada from 2014-2018. Most recently, she has joined the York Region club as Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations/Chief of Staff.Tune in to hear Eva's answer on, 'Why is it critical to building culture? as she shares insight into being an outsider in an organization, why you can't run an organization with a rotten foundation, and how to shift the culture to make the experience better for everyone.Be inspired by Eva's mission is to find Greatness in herself and greatness in others as she shares honest insight into the business of sport. You can learn more about Eva and the work she is doing to support Mindset Coaching on her website: www.evahavaris.com and can follow her on LinkedIn and Twitter.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Brian Sanders, President & CEO of i9 Sports Corporation about: How do you build culture for kids in sport?Brian shares how i9 was developed in 2003 as a way to change the way youth sports are played. Seeing how competitive and political youth sports were becoming, they wanted to create a model that was kid-focused where they can learn how to play various sports, figure out what they are good at, and learn good sportsmanship in the process. What started in Tampa, FL has now expanded through a franchise system in over 975 communities.Hear the discussion on how they have established a strong, intentional culture throughout the organization and within each franchise driven by contracts made with all key stakeholders including coaches and parents. Their unique approach to implementing and holding people accountable to the contract drives a positive sports experience for all those involved. Brian discusses how you are going to have a culture whether you like it or not - so build an intentional culture and be clear on what you won’t accept.You can learn more about i9 on their website: www.i9sports.com and can follow them on social media @i9sports on TW and FB and @i9_sports on IN.Contact them to learn more about their franchise opportunities and help bring quality sport experiences to your community!Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish, Taryn Lipschitz, and Matt Young speak about: Youth Sport in 2020: The Hard Truth.Hear the discussion on the good, the bad, and the ugly from 2020 and what are the challenges and, more importantly, the opportunities for youth sports in 2021.Covid has taught us that we can no longer do things the way they've always been done and provided businesses the opportunity to work ON the business while they are not IN the business. Matt outlines the importance of developing an operating system with the key success factor being the leadership that will have the vision and courage to take this responsibility on. The discussion includes the biggest barriers in sport which include:Money Ego A generation of adults who equate their kids level of play with their social status in the community The Truth: most people can’t handle the truthFollowed by the biggest opportunities in sport and from covid - including that all problems are solvable. Daryl, Taryn, and Matt discuss the importance of having the right people, systems, and support in place so that everyone is able to operate at their best and work together to create quality sport experiences. Hear the resources and insight on who is doing it well, what can be excepted for 2021, and what each of us need to reflect on from 2020. Connect with the team for more insights and to continue to the discussion on what went well during 2020 and what we can work together on in 2021:Daryl: Instagram: @daryldevonishTwitter: @CoachDmanLinkedIn: Daryl DevonishWebsite: www.daryldevonish.comMatt:Twitter: @mattyoung101LinkedIn: Matt YoungWebsite: www.qualitysporthub.comTaryn: Instagram: @tarynlipschitzTwitter: @tarynlipschitzLinkedIn: Taryn LipschitzWebsite: www.tarynlipschitz.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Heath Eslinger on: A Better Way: The New Playbook for Parents to help your kids figure it out.Even though his parents were not very involved in sports themselves, it was critical for Heath and his brother to be involved in sports. Heath enjoyed a great high school and collegiate wrestling career including State Championships and Conference titles. Heath attributes his parents for laying a healthy foundation that was intentional and focused on what matters that has provided him the tools to be successful both in sports and in life. A pivotal moment in Heath's life was hearing that the longer a kid is in organized sport, the less likely they are to make a good moral decision. It was in that moment that he realized he could either be part of the problem by doing nothing or part of the solution by doing something. Through conversations with Eric Phillips, his now business partner, they realized a huge part of the solution would be: Parents. They questions they asked themselves, academics, athletes, coaches were:What is the one thing you dread the most in sports?What would it look like to engage parents and have a healthy conversation to help them navigate the sports journey?If sports is an arena for growth, what are you growing? How do we make the child be successful in life? Through asking these questions, they realized one of the biggest truths: As parents, you love your kids and want the best for them. Sometimes, there is a misapplication of love where you love them so much you do things that seem helpful but aren't. Through this, they developed A Better Way: The Parent Playbook for a Positive Sport Experience. Focused on engaging parents to maximize your child's athletic journey. This includes letting them struggle and learn how to deal with adversity at every age and stage of life.Heath outlines the three critical elements the sports system will need to evolve to create a positive sport experience:Change the scorecardIntentionally engage parentsIntentionally equip and support coaches A Better Way is here to restore the joy of sports for every child. And they can't do it alone. Let's work together to drive positive experiences.You can follow A Better Way on Instagram @ABetterWayAthletics, on Twitter at @ABW_Athletics and check out their website for information on the Parent Playbook and how they work with organizations to improve the process.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Owen McBride on: Private Coaching Co: It's not just a program. It's a movement. Owen is a 19-year-old North Vancouver native who took his experience through the elite sport system to launch Private Coaching Co (PCC) to make a difference in the approach to keeping kids active, training coaches led by industry experts, and provide employment opportunity for high school and university students. PCC provides individualized and small group training designed to challenge and develop athletes and coaches.PCC brings in coaches from all areas of sports and life and provides training and mentorship building a new generation of coaches who focus on providing fun and positive environments for athletes.Growing up in North Vancouver, Owen was dedicated to sports from an early age. After being involved in basketball, soccer and baseball, his strength in soccer emerged and he began to pursue his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. After representing team BC as the captain, Owen was selected to join the Vancouver Whitecaps Residency program where he had the opportunity to train and play with the top players from across Canada. During the process, he was exposed to the reality of the sport landscape where players were dropping out of sport or not reaching their true potential. Why? Because the love of the game and joy of the process were replaced by the pressure to win at all costs. Players were having negative experiences in games, practices, and at home. With his own passion for the game being burnt out, he turned to coaching. Through running his own training sessions, he saw just how much of an impact a coach can have on a young kid. PCC isn't about developing superstars or focusing on a single sport pathway - it's about developing confident, competent athletes and humans. Through these training sessions, kids blossom and fall in love with sport. And now, PCC is here to help millions of kids unlock their true potential through sport.Be inspired by how PCC is addressing issues that were prevalent before Covid and ones that have transpired including:Providing physical education opportunities outside of school, youth sports, and parks and rec that focus on teaching and developing fundamental movement skillsAssessing each athlete to see where they are and help them see how they personally develop through sessions Provide career development and employment opportunities for those passionate about coaching and physical activityBe inspired by the passion Owen has for creating a movement that helps athletes and coaches fall in love with sport and help them unlock their full potential.You can follow Owen and Private Coaching Co on Instagram @privatecoachingco and check out their website for information on how to sign up for sessions and how to become a coach.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish speaks with Derrell Levy on: In-Tech High Performance Training: Where Family Comes First.Derrell was considered 'late to the game' when he started playing hockey around 10 years old and was fortunate to have support and mentors in his life that paved the way for a positive experience in sport. This included being part of the first group at Skillz Hockey focused on exposing young players from diverse backgrounds to the highest level of professional instruction.Derrell's natural talent and work ethic helped him pave a career with hockey that included winning a National Hockey Championship in 2007 with Oswego State University, and playing several years of Minor Pro Hockey. While at Oswego, Derrell was working with his physiotherapist Jason Pratt who saw his ambition and drove him to creating a business plan for, what would be years later, In-Tech High Performance Training. Having achieved an academic background consisting of a Wellness Management Degree, a minor in Health Science and Coaching, as well as NSCA, CSCS, and PT Certifications, Derrell travelled extensively to mentor under top coaches and to continue his education. Derrell has over twelve years of on-ice coaching experience, as well as nearly a decade of creating strength and conditioning programs for nationally ranked basketball and hockey teams, and high profile athletes including those of the NHL, OHL, AHL, and CFL.Derrell ’s compassion and ability to mentor in both the gym and life has allowed In-Tech to grow into much more than simply a training facility. He has created a culture that gives elite athletes, youth, and adult fitness enthusiasts alike, the support, resources, and inspiration to reach their true potential.Hear the lessons learned and inspiration Derrell has behind building In-Tech to what it is today and where it will be in the future including:Teach kids the positive and negative they will experience in life and give them a safe and controlled environment where they can be challenged.Don't put expectations on kids - let them have fun and then, if they decide to pursue more competitively, feed the wolf.Baseline test so athletes know where they stand - strengths and weaknesses - and what they need to focus on to get better.As Derrell says everyday; 'I can. I will. I must.' #JustGoPlayYou can follow Derrell and In-Tech on Instagram @dlevs12 and @intechhpt and check out their website for information on programs they offer, including online to stay connectingFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish speaks with Dan Noble on: Grit Athletics: Bringing Community Sports Back.Dan is the Co-Owner, Director Sport & Performance, GRIT Athletics Toronto, Director of Performance at the Hill Academy, Director of Performance for the Halifax Thunderbirds (NLL), and a speaker, performance consultant, and contributing author.Coach Noble has been working with high-level athletes for the past 15 years. He is a performance coordinator, Athletic Development coach and specializes in skill acquisition, constraints-based learning, movement, and childhood and youth athletic development. He also works in coaching education and is a speaker and author. Recently he has contributed to best-selling books: Conscious Coaching: The Art and Science of Building Buy-In and Weight Room Wisdom. He is also a regularly featured sports performance hockey expert and has been in Sports Illustrated, The Hockey News, Hockey Night in Canada, Sportsnet and other top media outlets. He also regularly trains Olympians, athletes from the NHL, CFL and NCAA.Dan shares his story how a head injury at the age of 5 confronted him with learning challenges and pushed him to sports where, he not only excelled but, found a family. Dan was introduced to Strength & Conditioning Coaching when he was at the University of Guelph playing football. After playing in Europe, he realized his passion was to teach others and became a teacher. He was offered an opportunity to be part of Hill Academy and spent 14 years helping them grow as a teacher and coach. The path to being a great Strength & Conditioning Coach included 2 years of mentorship and training from others that he looked up too.Dan coaches with a focus on:Involving athletes and parents in the conversations to build intention from the beginningThe philosophy that no one workout will make you but one workout can break youLetting every kid know that they have a voice and have greatness in themDan and Daryl discuss how sports saved both of their lives and how it has the impact to save many more, especially during such isolating times. Be inspired by how Dan and his team work everyday to build a supportive community where everyone has value.You can follow Dan on Instagram @Coachnoble45 for inspiration and updates.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish speaks with Kim Davis, Senior Executive Vice President, Social Impact, Growth & Legislative Affairs at the National Hockey League, the premier professional ice hockey league in the world on: Hockey is indeed for everyone - NHL's vision for youth hockey.In this capacity, Kim leads a role reporting to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to attract, develop and retain fans – with a specific focus on multi-cultural audiences – through culture, youth participation, and social impact initiatives. “Kim’s professional experience uniquely qualifies her to ensure that our League is growing the game of hockey by demonstrating the leadership principles and values in communities and with all stakeholders that can ultimately lead to new and increased fandom,” said Commissioner Bettman.Ms. Davis has been recognized by Hockey News’ “2020 Top 100 Most Influential Leaders in the sport,” Essence Magazine’s “Woke” - 2019 Change Agents, Adweek’s “30 Most Powerful Women in Sports,” Sports Business Journal’s “GameChangers,” and Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Women in Corporate America.” She has received other notable recognitions including Savoy Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America” and showcased in Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in Business.” In 2012, she was profiled with First Lady Michelle Obama in Essence magazine’s “28 Most Influential Black Women in America.”Hear Kim's journey to the NHL through, what may seem, as an unconventional pathway to become a change agent in making hockey appealing to a more diverse audience to both players and fans. Kim discussed how events this year connected to Black Lives Matter became an acceleration point for the NHL to build deeper awareness and education in the hockey community to deal with human rights issues top down and bottom up. The players and leadership team have been key in making a stance on being allies and ensuring no one is denied opportunity or treated lesser than because of the colour of their skin.To increase diversity and inclusion in hockey, the NHL dug into where they needed to focus and increase cultural availability within communities. While many may think the decline in participation is due to access to the game or the equipment required, the driving issue is that people don't feel a cultural connection to hockey.To ensure more voices are part of the decision making and change required, the NHL has set up committees to have a full 360 understanding of what the ecosystem wants from sport in the future including committees for:PlayersYouth SportFansBe inspired by the change Kim is supporting the NHL in creating for minorities and females to build a stronger ecosystem for years to come.If you are a parent or coach who wants to learn more about courses or resources to help you build a quality environment for your child and athletes, reach out to us at www.justgoplay.ca.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish speaks with Bob Grant, coach from North Toronto Hockey Association, on: Success is Judged by the Smile on the Kids Face After a Game.Bob grew up playing church hockey in Toronto and continue to enjoy the game of hockey in the original North York Hockey League, including the Marlies first team - the Butterbee's. A shoulder injury caused him to switch from a more competitive league into a recreational league and, years later, he began coaching his sons' teams. Bob shares the difference his experience was playing hockey compared to what it is today with a big focus on the involvement that parents now have in driving their kids to play.Bob shares insight that he's gained from seeing how other coaches work with their athletes, parents, and coaches to build a quality sport experience including:Coaches: Roll the lines. All kids should have the opportunity to play, to learn, and to enjoy the game. Parents: Let them play at the level where they can touch the puck. Don't push them to play at a level just because you want them to be at that level. They should be confident playing and enjoy the game not frightened to go on the ice.Athletes: Remember that people make mistakes. If nobody makes a mistake then the game would be tied at 0-0. Use each 'mistake' as a learning opportunity and decide what you would want to do differently next time..Everyone: Have fun! Playing sports is about enjoying the experience and developing lifelong skills. It's about getting more out of the game than just winning.Daryl and Bob discuss how coaches and parents can work together to make the experience better for the kids because, at the end of the day, we want them to walk out with a smile on their face.Be inspired by the lessons Bob shares with coaches and parents to ensure the kids enjoy the game and will participate for life. If you are a parent or coach who wants to learn more about courses or resources to help you build a quality environment for your child and athletes, reach out to us at www.justgoplay.ca.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Alex Knesaurek on: Why Parents need to get out of the way for kids to enjoy sports.After being born in Fredricton, New Brunswick and living there for a few years, Alex and his family moved to Melbourne, Australia where he juggled 7 sports at the same time. Alex honed in on Australian football and then specialized in soccer when he moved back to Canada. Alex shares his experience and journey through the Australian sports system and how it differentiates from the Canadian system including the family oriented environment that builds the atmosphere and love of the game.Alex shares insight including:The importance of a quality coach How parents insert themselves and end up hurting the experience for their kidsAdversity and resilience he developed from an injury that could have ended his careerAlex had 2 knee injuries in 3 years that impacted his path to a D1 scholarship and the advise his mom gave his after finding out his injury may have ended his career with soccer was, ‘you can sulk and pity yourself or you can work harder than anyone else and come back stronger and better than you were before’. Alex took this advise and coming back stronger than he was before the injury leading him to an opportunity at Dalhousie.Alex shares his advise for young athletes who want to follow their passion including:Set out clear and definitive goals that you want to achieve Don't forget to have funWork hard and remember that someone is working just as hard, if not harder. As Tim Notke says, ‘Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard’.Be inspired by the challenges Alex has overcome and his attitude (especially during Covid) around staying active and enjoying the game.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Matt Young speak with Erica Suter on: The Journey to Becoming Fit Soccer QueenAfter playing a variety of sports throughout her childhood, Erica decided at the age of 12 to pursue soccer at a more competitive level leading her to play for Johns Hopkins University. Hear the long-term process that led her journey to becoming a Coach focused on helping youth soccer players become strong, resilient, and creative through exercise, while inspiring them to love movement and sports – to not see these as obligations, but rather, enjoyable escapes from the stressors of life.Her philosophy is athletic development takes time, patience, and work ethic, but the process is meaningful and fulfilling. It’s an oscillating, imperfect journey with ups and downs, twists and turns, and defeats and victories. With the best part being the lessons learned through training to help empower kids physically and mentally, while setting them up for lifetime resiliency.Erica provides insight on:How to train kids to be well-rounded athletes and humans through incorporating education on nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, and developing their total athleticism Why coaches need to lead by example What parents role is in their kids athletic journeyHow technology needs to be monitored What the nuisances are around training boys vs. girls (if there are any....)The advise she gives parents when they want to put their daughter on the path to a D1 scholarshipErica shares her story on how her passion helped her overcome personal challenges and provide her the strength to navigate the direction she wanted her life to take.Erica is coming out soon with video courses on how to train young female athletes in a way that incorporates injury reduction and improving performance so sign up for her mailing list at ericasuter.com to be the first to know when it launches!Be inspired by the conversation with Erica on how to help kids find their passion and empower them physically and mentally, while setting them up for lifetime resiliency.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Matt Young speak with Eric McLoughlin from the Coaches Association of Ontario on how: Great Coaches can change your life.Eric began his coaching career at the age of 16 after an injury made him realize he wouldn't be able to reach the level of swimming he desired and found his passion for giving back to the sport that had already given him so much. Eric pursued his BA in Psychology and a background in Sport Psychology from Laurentian University that, along with resources he found available, helped him develop as a coach working with athletes from ages four to eighteen at the regional, provincial and national levels. Eric joined the CAO with a wealth of knowledge and experience in coaching, community engagement and events within the sport, non-profit and corporate sectors. He also holds a post-graduate Event Management certificate from the International Festival and Events Society’s (IFEA) Gold Pinnacle award-winning program at Niagara College and works hard to develop events, programs and projects that create lasting positive impressions. In his spare time, he loves to swim, play baseball and connect with people who share a passion for what they love. Eric believes in staying positive, eating smart and dreaming big.With the CAO, Eric supports over 150,000 coaches they support to help build a better system for coaching especially as 75% of coaches in the province are volunteers (that aren’t being paid and do so because they have a kid in it). Hear from Eric on how:You don’t need anything fancy to be a coach. To identify who the clients really are in the system and why it's important to hear what they are asking for.The barriers for entry can be mitigated so that more athletes, parents, and coaches have access to resources, programs, and support.Resources in the industry, such as Wade Gilbert, provide a base foundation of knowledge. Hear their discussion on what we can learn from the Google and Amazon's of the world and why tough decisions need to be made to not forget who we're in this for. At the end of the day, kids just want to have fun.You can learn more about the Coaches Association of Ontario and how they:Provide National Coaches Certification Programs that delivers coach education across a variety of topics. Support each coach through partnerships, mentorship programs, grants, and ongoing professional development of coaches. Coaching is something that requires ongoing maintenance and education and there are many free conferences and webinars offered to improve access to education.Be inspired by the conversation with Eric on how a great coach can change your life, whether you are an athlete, parent, or other involvement in the sport system. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish and Matt Young speak with John Miller, founder of QBQ, Inc., on: The Importance of Personal Accountability.John is the author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, The QBQ! Workbook, Flipping the Switch: Unleash the Power of Personal Accountability, Outstanding! 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional and co-author of Raising Accountable Kids. He is founder of QBQ, Inc., an organizational development firm based in Colorado dedicated to “Helping Organizations Make Personal Accountability a Core Value.” A 1980 graduate of Cornell University, John has been involved in the training and speaking industry since 1986. He lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife, Karen. They have seven children and 12 grandkidsHear the discussion on why The QBQ! book is a must read book (that takes less than an hour to read / listen too) for individuals, corporations, and organizations with the message of personal accountability.You will hear from John on:What is QBQ and how did he come up with the idea?Why is personal accountability such an imperative for organizations and individuals?Why the cornerstone of accountability is the concept that "I can only change me."He also shares why he and his wife decided to write Raising Accountable Kids? as personal accountability begins at home with responsible parenting. The book begins with 'My child is a product of my parenting.' and is a must read for those who want to raise accountable kids. If you ever hear questions like these then QBQ! is a must read: “Why do we have to go through all this change?”“When is someone going to train me?”“Why can’t we find good people?”“When will that department do its job right?”“Who dropped the ball?”“Why don’t they communicate better?”“Who’s going to solve the problem?”Be inspired by the conversation with John and how personal accountability can change the trajectory of your life.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Matt Young speaks with Andreas Wenzel about Sport Issues: Different or the same? National or Global?Andreas Wenzel is a former World Cup alpine ski racer from Liechtenstein, active from 1976 to 1988. Born in Planken, he was the overall World Cup champion in 1980, the same season in which his older sister Hanni won the women's overall title. He also won two season titles in the combined event, in 1984 and 1985.Wenzel competed in four Winter Olympics, and won two Olympic medals and four World Championship medals, including one gold (through 1980, the Olympics doubled as the World Championships). One of the top five-event racers of his era, he finished his World Cup career with 14 victories, 48 podiums, and 122 top ten finishes.After 30 years competing as an athlete, he spent the next 30 years in the sports world including being the Racing Director for atomic.Matt discusses the exposure Andreas provided to the European youth sport systems and what has been successful in their implementation. Hear the insight from Andreas on:Why it's important to focus on fundamentals, enjoy movement, and letting kids explore the limit.We need to move away from performance education to process orientation. Kids should see progress every day.Sports goes beyond the tactical and technical development and provides emotional, mental, and social life skills. The importance of the 5C's and how they help change the game for the highly explosive triangle of coaches, athletes, and parents. Hear more about the conversation with Matt and Andreas on how sports are connected to develop brain functioning and allow kids to remove expectations and dream of opportunities. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Daryl Devonish speaks with James Madge on the New 'Art of Coaching' Youth Sports. James is an actor, writer, comedian, and also a hockey and soccer coach. James did not dream of becoming an actor. Like all Canadian boys of his age, he wanted to play in the NHL. He settled on a career in journalism instead. What drove him to become a coach was wanting to be involved in his son's sports experience just as his mother had been involved in his. He currently coaches Ted Reeve AA under 15 boys and at Cherry Beach Soccer Club.The two main reasons why James got into coaching were:To spend time with his son.He thought he knew how to do things better. Becoming a volunteer assistant coach for his sons community soccer team opened his eyes to realizing that you may not know anything. After seeing the lack of experience volunteer coaches had and how it was affecting the kids, he wanted to change their experience to ensure they enjoyed sports and wanted to participate. He drew learnings and inspiration from Changing the Game - resources by John O'Sullivan.One of the biggest takeaways was defining 'What is your Want?'. For James, it's FED. Fun, Engagement, and Development. He recognized that if you focus on just winning then you won’t engage kids, develop them, and they won’t have fun. This philosophy has led James to coaching one of the top teams in the league that also has the lowest player change over rate as the team wants to stay together.Hear more about the conversation with Daryl and James on how coaches, parents, athletes, and teams can change the culture to ensure kids are having fun and not dropping out. They draw from their personal experience as youth athletes, as parents with kids playing, and as coaches. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this Just Go Play podcast episode, Matt Young speaks with Wade Gilbert on Bridging the gap between Research & Reality with Quality Sport.Dr. Wade Gilbert is an internationally renowned coaching consultant and sport scientist and an award-winning professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University – Fresno. Gilbert holds degrees in physical education, human kinetics, and education, and has taught and studied coaching and talent development at the University of Ottawa, University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), and Fresno State. He is author of the highly acclaimed book Coaching Better Every Season and Editor Emeritus of the International Sport Coaching Journal.Coaching Better Every Season that is applicable for coaches, parents, and anyone who wants to be a better leader and team member. Wade combines his academics with real-life experiences to provide realistic advise on how to make improvements in sport organizations. The biggest challenge he experienced was realizing that organizations who may seem professional may not execute best practices. The downfall of this is having people who may not have the right experience be in certain roles. Decisions in sport organizations are often made based on emotional and financial investments so hear the discussion on how coaches, parents, and all stakeholders can work together to create a better environment including:Be patient: change doesn’t happen overnight. Educate yourself: listen and ask questions to understand why things are done the way they are. Credible Resources: share materials from credible resources to understand what can help impact grassroots sport experiences.Engaged Leadership: be involved and engage everyone in the process. Create a team environment that shares the same values and skills that are being taught to athletes (shared vision, communication, collaboration, etc.) Be inspired by the conversation on how to intentionally build a stronger organization that leads to quality sport experiences for kids. Dr Wade Gilbert is recognized for his contributions to the field include the Dorothy V. Harris Memorial Award from the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, the Kristen Marie Gould Endowed Lecture on Sport for Children and Youth at Michigan State University, and the Cal Botterill Legacy Lecture at the University of Winnipeg. In addition to serving as consultant to many Fresno State and local high school coaches, Gilbert is a long-time advisor to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Coach Education Department and is the lead author of the USOPC Quality Coaching Framework. Gilbert has counseled coaches and sport organizations around the world spanning all competitive levels and in every sport imaginable including groups such as US Soccer, the Texas Rangers, Hockey Canada, USA Water Polo, US Ski & Snowboard, Softball Canada, Irish Rugby, Cricket Australia, the International Ice Hockey Federation, and World Wrestling Entertainment. Wade currently also serves as the mental performance coach for the Canadian Women's Softball team that will be competing in the Tokyo 2021 Summer Olympics.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish and Matt Young speak with Barbara Lyon-Stewart about The need for business experience in managing sport.Barb has over 35 years of sport experience which includes; National level Coach, National level Official, President, Technical Director and Executive Director of a Provincial Sport Organization along with working at the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport (MHPS) for almost 20 years. During her time at the government, Barb worked with 50 of the 63 organizations that are funded by the provincial government. As a sport consultant, Barb worked with all recognized Combative Sports, hockey, football, snowboard, OFSAA and the OUA to name a few. Hear this honest discussion on why it is critical to have a business background to develop a strong foundation in sport. Without that business experience, progress is stalled and every moment, season, and year is lost forever. The topics you will hear Barb's perspective on include:Why you need more than just love for a sport to be part of the organization Where misalignment is in the systemWhat Parents don't know and what they need to knowWhy kids drop out Why assessing is important to see where the gaps are in attracting, retaining, and growing sportsBe inspired by the open discussion with Barb and her insight into the gaps in the system and where we need to make significant changes to provide quality sport experiences across every sport to stay active for life.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish and Matt Young speak with Ken Martel, Technical Director, ADM, USA Hockey about What's next for USA Hockey?Ken shares the journey that USA Hockey has taken over the last 10+ years to change the game to focus on youth. After seeing over 40,000 male youth drop out in the early 2000's, USA Hockey recognized the investment and change that would be required to attract and retain youth in the game. Pulling inspiration and knowledge from Canada's LTAD model, the Olympic Committee, and many European countries that focus on quality coaches at a grassroots level, USA Hockey was able to evaluate and develop new frameworks investing in the culture and development of the game.Daryl, Matt, and Ken talk about the battle between the way people think the sport should be applied to how the science is telling us how it should be applied. Hear from Ken on what operational challenges they encountered, where the biggest resistance was, and the lessons they learned when implementing change management. Through the process, they have seen significant progress and realized where and how USA Hockey can make positive change in the system, including focusing on achieving 85% of the desired goal and working together on the last 15%.The advise they often have for parents, coaches, and youth athletes includes:Work on your craftGet good at your local rinkRemove the pressure to 'be seen' at a young age through travel as how a player is at 12 doesn't predict where they will go in the gameThe discussion continues on how an organization can make positive changes including:Why it's important to stay focused on the reason change is being madeIdentify where your strengths are and how you can scale change Why patience is critical as your work through behavior change across all levels of an organization Be inspired by the discussion with Ken and how USA Hockey is working to make hockey more accessible and enjoyable to keep kids in the game for life.With over 25 years of experience in player development and a long history as a coach with USA Hockey, Martel became technical director of USA Hockey’s American Development Model in 2009. He is charged with helping provide a framework for associations nationwide to follow for optimal athlete development. From '06-'08 at USA Hockey’s national office, Martel worked on coaching education and player development initiatives receiving the USOC "Doc" Councilman Award for Ice Hockey in 2004 for his efforts using science to advance sport. Prior to this, Martel was a part of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program staff as an assistant coach for 8 years. In addition:Martel made appearances behind the bench of nine U.S. teams that have competed in International Ice Hockey Federation World ChampionshipsHe was part of two gold medal-winning teams, including the first-ever U.S. gold medals in the IIHF Men’s World Under-18 Championship and the IIHF World Junior Championship. Martel served one season as an assistant coach for the men’s ice hockey program at the U.S. Air Force Academy and 7 seasons as an assistant men’s ice hockey coach at Michigan Tech University. He spent 1 year as a graduate assistant for the men’s ice hockey program at St. Cloud State University. A four-year letter-winner as a defenseman at Lake Superior State University, helping win the school’s first-ever NCAA national title in 1988.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Matt Young speaks with Michael O’Donnell, Senior Director, Coaching and Player Development - ‎PGA of America, about The PGA of America & The Tenets of Quality Sport Management.Growing up in British Columbia, Canada, Mike became a golf professional. He knew earlier on that he wasn’t going to be a playing professional so he began his career within golf. He worked for Jack McLaughlin and became the Canadian Master coach who, at the time, were among the first to work with sports psychologists and nutritionists to support holistic athlete development. He realized his passion was helping other coaches and was hired by American Golf Corporation to manage the largest golf instruction program where coaching was at the core of the consumer experience. Mike then joined Nike Golf managing the sports marketing department. Recruited to PGA of America 7 years ago, Mike has focused on strategic development of programs and initiatives to strengthen participation and growth in the game. Mike discusses how they are in the midst of how the business of golf operates and how they work through change management.In a very traditional environment, Mike has been able to work through change leadership exercises focused on being a customer experience business. By investing in people, process, and experience, they work to change to the environment to where people feel like they belong to they can play from 3 to 103.Hear the discussion on:Why it's important not to focus on just the elite / professional playersWhy building relationships is critical in the processWhat the Tenets of Quality Sport Programs are and why they are integral to organization growth How an organization from benefit from operation changes to see explosive growth Why transparency and accountability are critical in an organizationBe inspired by the conversation and journey Mike shares on how to execute change management in a traditional environment to focus on becoming a sport that builds meaningful relationships for life.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Matt Young speak with Gene Smith, Director of Athletics at The Ohio State University about what is at the core of a +$200M / year collegiate powerhouse: Culture.Gene shares his story from his experience as an athlete, being a coach, and in business that has led him to his 16th year as Athletic Director at Ohio State and how he facilitated transitions to build a truly excellent environment. When first joining Ohio State, Gene saw the need to focus on:Communication: focusing on conversations between employees, athletes, and parents.Organization Alignment: core values being used to guide recruitment and organization decisions. Culture: creating an environment where people feel engaged, accountable, and inspired. He shares how he approaches building culture, how to embed people into the process, and how to acknowledge if some people aren't right for that environment. His mandate around leadership: subscribe to the philosophy that there isn't just one leadership style. Focusing on culture is a key element to their approach to total student athlete development that includes a recruitment process looking at:AthleticismAccountabilityDesire to develop as a person Be inspired by the conversation and advice Gene shares on how to build a powerhouse culture that builds life skills, good habits, and a vision for the future. Gene is former college football player and coach who currently serves as Vice President and Athletic Director for the Ohio State University. He was named the university's eighth athletic director on March 5, 2005. Prior to his tenure at Ohio State, he served as athletic director for Arizona State for 5 years, Eastern Michigan for 10 years, and Iowa State.In 2003, when he was Athletic Director of Arizona State, Smith infamously told boosters and supporters of the football team to “Get over it.”, following an emotional loss to rival University of Arizona.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Elisa Maruzzo speak with Rob Knesaurek, Group VP of Youth Hockey and Industry Growth at the National Hockey League about Why the NHL is invested in quality grassroots experiences.Rob grew up with Daryl in Toronto where they bonded together as children of immigrant parents and with their love of sports. Rob credits hockey for providing him the skills both on and off the ice that led him to working in healthcare for over 18 years in Australia, Hong Kong, and the U.S. When he eventually came back to Canada, he felt lost and found himself being drawn back to the game as a guiding point for the next phase of his life. Rob started training kids for free grounded in making them have fun and learn good working habits. What started out as 3 kids soon turned into over 3,000 kids and an opportunity to work with the NHL to grow the fan base. Rob's role focuses on: Acquiring or retaining people to play and watch the game (including esports)Support the experience. The game is made of of 90% volunteers that are often forgotten.He does this through helping clubs make intentional investments in their market to connect with youth and the next generation. His mandate: make the game more inclusive, supportive, and diverse.Rob works with advisors, leaders, and role models or all backgrounds to understand how they can remove barriers and allow youth of all backgrounds to see themselves and have access to the game. The reality for all sports organizations is participation is everyone's problem to solve and we need to ensure that the purpose of playing is for enjoyment of the game. This includes the organization, coaches, volunteers, athletes, and parents. For Rob, hockey is the greatest game in the world. It teaches life skills such as discipline, resilience, respect, and how to work as a team that can be applied every day. Hear the discussion on areas that still need to be looked at including: How parents can impact their child's experience - both from a positive and negative experience potentially letting them drop out of the game.How volunteer coaches need support and recognition How the organization is making conceited efforts around diversity and inclusion in all levels of playingFor Rob, winning at the end of the year is more kids playing, staying, and having fun in hockey so that they participate for life. Hear the discussion on how the NHL and Rob are working to build quality sport experiences to keep kids participating in hockey for life.Rob is an award-winning hockey coach and highly skilled business leader with over 20 years of experience creating dynamic teams and programs designed to help a variety of individuals exceed personal potential and organizational goals. Resourceful instructor with an established track record of creating and implementing programs and long-term strategies aimed at team and individual growth.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D speaks with guest hosts Matt Young and Taryn Lipschitz about whether pro sports are wrong for going back during a pandemic.As professional sports return, including the MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL, Tennis, MLS, NWSL, WNBA, PGA Tour, and the LPGA, hear the discussion on whether this is being done for the right reasons and what will the impact be on the economy, the athletes, and other sport organizations from grassroots to high-performance.Given the lack of consistency and leadership among the organizations, some of the concerns raised include:What will be the impact college sports starting?Why is there a rush back and who is being put at risk?Will the gap between those that can afford private training and those that can't be even wider given the lack of access to lower cost programming?With each organization having it's reason and plan for starting up again, there are opportunities for athletes, coaches, organizations, and parents including:Pro Athletes and sports organizations: the opportunity to be role models in the transition back to sportsCoaches: to focus on the business and focus on building up the culture Parents: to understand what you kids actually want and ensure they are having funThe discussion touches on the economy, needs in communities, impact on mental health, and how to focus on building quality sport experiences to keep kids engaged in sports for life.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Matt Young speak with Executive Coach Stan Peake about how the business of coaching people needs to be applied to the Youth Sport industry.With his passion for physical activity and healthy lifestyle, Stan's journey through sports led him to the business of coaching people to help them understand what it means to take care of the health of yourself and your business. Hear the discussion on why the process of coaching shouldn't be a silo and what the biggest areas to focus on are including:1. Sustainability - building businesses that aren't focused on just winning.2. Alignment - on the overall vision and leveraging the strengths of all those involved to build a solid infrastructure.3. Measuring what matters and holding people accountable.Stan shares his thoughts on how parents have made kids an extension of the ego and what the window of opportunity is to let kids and parents focus on their own success in life.Daryl, Matt, and Stan share actionable steps for parents, coaches, and organizations to focus on creating positive, quality sport experiences for as many as possible, as long as possible, in the best environments possible.Stan has a Graduate Certificate in Values-Based Leadership, Royal Roads University and a Sales Leadership Degree from Queens School of Business. Along with being a Certified coach and facilitator, he is certified in over 50 tools covering leadership, team effectiveness, conflict, and performance. Entrepreneur by nature, coach by trade, catalyst by approach; Stan Peake lives to help values-based leaders discover and live up to their potential. You can read Stan's full bio including written work, business and leadership experience, and speaking engagements here: https://insiteperformancecoaching.com/about-us/meettheteam/Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Matt Young speak with Obi Atkinson about what does it take be a great Youth Sports Coach. Obi has pursued his studies in Coaching Effectiveness as a way to build impact on a larger scale. By focusing on providing education to coaches and teachers, it allows an impact factor on school experiences, youth sport programs, and communities. Combining his education with experience as a coach allows Obi to understand and apply how coaching has transformed over the years through different fields and why we need to focus on:How are coaches coaching?What types of feedback are they using?How are they designing their sessions?Hear the in-depth discussion on challenges and opportunities for coaches including:Opportunity to learn from coaches in other sports to understand what they are doing. Youth Sport Coaches are uniquely positioning to provide life skills, such as body awareness and building relationships, that are hard to replicate in other areas. The instinct to coach how you were coached isn't necessarily best for how to coach others.Facing challenges such as the tradition of silo's and not providing resources to all those who touch the youth sports system will harness the impact on providing quality sports experiences to keep kids active for life. Obi began his studies in Physical Education in South Carolina on a soccer scholarship with a desire to get into teaching. He continued his studies at West Virginia University followed by a Masters in Science at The Ohio State University. As a Graduate Assistant at The Ohio State University, Obi is working on his Doctrine in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching. The flexibility in his requirements in his program allows him to to focus on youth sports, specifically coaching effectiveness in youth sports. Obi's earlier coaching experience includes the Whitecaps London Soccer Club and Worthington United 94.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information. Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Elisa Maruzzo about how our environment is killing our opportunities to be active. Who do we hold accountable?Her love of sports goes beyond having an outlet to channel her energy as it also provided her grit and determination to push forward in life no matter the circumstance. After working in construction, Elisa was driven to find a way to continue to play sports and encourage others to play sports. She has dedicated the last 10+ years as a coach, kinesiologist, strategist, and consultant working extensively in the areas of wellness, sport, and physical literacy. With a focus on lifespan, Elisa seeks to bring movement, community development, and business together in a way that is meaningful at every stage of change.Elisa discusses what the shift in the environment has been pulling attention and appeal away from sports and what some of the challenges are to providing quality sport experiences:Value: We don't value physical activity, sport, and movement in a way that we should. It goes beyond physical benefits and includes health, mental well-being, and social connectedness.Environment: We need to diversify what movement means - it's not just sport. We need to drop it into an environment that facilitates us to play.Communication: What is pulling our attention? And how do we message what we're trying to say? The discussion includes who should be help accountable and how can we all do a better job building better environments to keep kids engaged in sports for life.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Coach D and Taryn Lipschitz speak with Rob Pacas about how he was inspired by his Phys Ed teacher and why it led his to following the same career path. Fuelled by passion, he has spent the last 25+ years building unique training programs that focus on all aspects of athletic development.His motto: I'm just a big kid. Rob shares his thoughts on what parents, schools, and Phys Ed teachers need to focus on to ensure kids have a positive and quality experience that leads them to stay in sports for life:Everyday is game day.Variety is important. Every kid needs a different style so it's about figuring out what works for them.Show up and try. Build your confidence and competence as you go.Hear from Rob on what we can do to improve the experience kid's have to ensure they stay in sports for life. Including the challenges and lessons he learned from having his own kids in sports. Rob speaks to why his experience led him to develop Fitness in a Bag so that athletes would be able to train and how that's evolved to helping people stay fit during covid. You can check it out here: https://www.fitnessinabag.ca/You can check out his training programs here: https://pro1fit.com/Rob Pacas spent over twenty years as the Director of the Birchmount Exceptional Athlete Program (B.E.A.P). Rob was responsible for training and working with over 200 student athletes each year from over 40 different sports organizations.​Before teaching, Rob was a National Champion and World University All Star at the University of Toronto. The Varsity Blues won a National Championship in Soccer in 1988, and his team was inducted into the University of Toronto Hall of Fame.Rob spent over twenty-five years educating teachers through Additional Qualification (AQ) courses at both the University of Toronto and York University. Rob continues to conduct presentations on fitness and fitness topics for OFSSA, OPHEA and various Boards of Education. Rob travels across Ontario to educate teachers and students.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, and Matt Young continue their discussions about the Community Revitalization Project speaking with Taryn Lipschitz on: The Forgotten Art of Communication for Alignment in Communities.Taryn shares her thoughts on what the biggest issues and opportunities are in the industry including:Communication is put on the plate of someone who doesn't have the proper training for it or someone who thinks they are a good marketer.It's important to have a range of skills and expertise at the table. How you can use communication to take an organization from average to great.Aligning as an organization and using it as a lens through which everything is done.The focus for the Communication Pillar is to create impactful communication delivered in the right channels to the right people.Taryn Lipschitz has spent over a decade as a strategic marketer creating meaningful engagements for brands with their consumers to ensure business growth and success. Her passion is delivering communication engagement strategies reinforcing core values and key programmatic messaging that will make a positive impact in communities.Spearheading the Communication pillar to help communities with:Program Support: Communication frameworks outlining key messaging and channel requirements for engagement.Program Integration: Support operation and platform integration to build efficiencies across organization.Strategic Guidance: Mentorship on communication alignment cross organization and channels.Bringing together experience and expertise, The Community Revitalization Project guides stakeholders to implement systems to attract, retain, and grow Quality Programs in the following areas:Parks + RecreationEducationYouth SportsCommunicationYou can learn more about The Community Revitalization Project at www.rebuildthecommunity.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, and Taryn Lipschitz continue their discussions about the Community Revitalization Project speaking with Matt Young on: Why are Youth Sports failing in Communities?Matt shares his thoughts on what the biggest issues are in the industry including:The people leading it leave things in worse shape than when they found themNo accountability in this $12B+ industryWay too many hands in the potLost the way from the Olympic Ideals because we're forcing an Elite / High Performance system.The focus for the Youth Sports Pillar is to create quality sport experiences because we want as many as possible, as long as possible, in the best environments possible.Matt Young bring over 25 years of collective impact & 25k hours of coaching experience to help rebuild quality sport in communities. He founded the fitness fantasy, heathy community challenge, 60 minutes kids club, and physical literacy for communities all focused on health and wellness engagement with public and private organizations.Spearheading the Youth Sports pillar to help communities with:Program Support: The on-boarding athlete development framework. A turn key guide to quality sport experiences.The 5C's: Support humans development of life-long skills grounded in culture, competence, confidence, connection, and character.Operational Tactics: Experienced mentorship with the behavior change process at the administration levels of clubs.Bringing together experience and expertise, The Community Revitalization Project guides stakeholders to implement systems to attract, retain, and grow Quality Programs in the following areas:Parks + RecreationEducationYouth SportsCommunicationYou can learn more about The Community Revitalization Project at www.rebuildthecommunity.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, and Elisa Maruzzo continue their discussions about the Community Revitalization Project speaking with Nate Baldwin, on: Are Parks + Recreation still relevant today and will they be post covid?As the cornerstone of communities, Parks & Recreation organizations have an opportunity to increase the visibility and quality of available programs to help attract, serve and retain participants.Nate Baldwin has spent over 17 years engaged in developing quality sport programs for all ages, advocating for inclusion, progressive skill development, quality coaching and lifelong enjoyment of the game. His ability to develop & facilitate cohesive program culture has led to the delivery of nationally renowned, high engagement, growth oriented, recreational sports programs.Spearheading the Parks + Recreation pillar to help communities with:Program Planning: Framework to cohesively plan programming that supports the goals of the community while promoting efficient utilization of available resources.Remove Barriers: Provide guidance on how to remove barriers to participation and provide genuine, inclusive program access for those in the community.Tangible Benefits: Maximize community engagement by educating the community and key stakeholders about the physical, social/emotional and educational benefits of regular program participation. The Community Revitalization Project is helping rebuild communities through movement, physical activity, and sport. Bringing together experience and expertise, The Community Revitalization Project guides stakeholders to implement systems to attract, retain, and grow Quality Programs in the following areas:Parks + RecreationEducationYouth SportsCommunicationYou can learn more about The Community Revitalization Project at www.rebuildthecommunity.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, and Elisa Maruzzo continue their discussions about the Community Revitalization Project speaking with Michael Jennings, on: why Physical Education is critical in schools to revitalize a community.Students spend 13 of their most formative years in school, making it imperative to have programs that support their holistic development.After spending almost 10 years as a teacher and coach, Mike shifted to a role where he now helps schools with:Curriculum Support: frameworks, tool, templates, and guidance Professional Development: integrated operational and professional trainingTeaching Strategies: implementation support on lessons that cover physical, emotional, social, cognitive, and moral development The Community Revitalization Project is helping rebuild communities through movement, physical activity, and sport. Bringing together experience and expertise, The Community Revitalization Project guides stakeholders to implement systems to attract, retain, and grow Quality Programs in the following areas:Parks + RecreationEducationYouth SportsCommunicationYou can learn more about The Community Revitalization Project at www.rebuildthecommunity.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators and guests Matt Young, Elisa Maruzzo, Michael Jennings, Nate Baldwin, and Taryn Lipschitz on what the Community Revitalization Project is and how they are helping rebuild communities through movement, physical activity, and sport. Bringing together experience and expertise, The Community Revitalization Project guides stakeholders to implement systems to attract, retain, and grow Quality Programs in the following areas:- Parks + Recreation- Education- Youth Sports- CommunicationYou can learn more about The Community Revitalization Project at www.rebuildthecommunity.comFollow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: What are the 5C's of Quality Coaching and how do are they used in 'The Last Dance' Documentary?Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: Should we Physically Assess Kids?? Hear the discussion on whether we should physically assess kids in schools.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: Is P.H.E. Dead? Hear about the decline in Physical Education in schools and why it matters.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: Getting the Wrong People Off the Bus. How do we Increase Accountability in Youth Sports?Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Ohio State University Graduate Assistant Obi Atkinson & Matt Young discuss the youth sport landscape.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: Youth Sport Landscape.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: The Business of Youth Sports.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life.The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life.We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: How does sport evolve post COVID-19? Hear our thoughts on how the sport landscape will evolve.Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

Just Go Play is the resource for parents, teachers, coaches, and athletes to understand how sports will help build skills for life. The mission is to help and encourage kids, parents, and coaches to enjoy sports and participate for life.In this episode, Daryl Devonish, aka Coach D, brings honest insight from commentators Matt Young and Elisa Maruzzo on what is and what can be better in the world of sport, business & life. We are all dedicated to helping kids and athletes become the best version of themselves and will discuss the world of sports, current issues, future opportunities, and how to overcome challenges in the industry.This open conversation covers: Why we are doing this podcast and we get to meet our guests.Elisa shares her experience as a female participating in ice Hockey and how it led her to trying other sports such as rock climbing, kickboxing, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.Matt's passion is to help people believe in themselves and the importance of diversity and equality in the conversation. Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

In this episode, Matt and Daryl discuss what it means to be a role model in sports and how coaches, parents, organizations and athletes can build a culture that focuses on building quality sport experiences. Daryl and Matt answer your questions to help you understand the importance of role models in sports and provide information and resources to help you build a stronger team environment: 1. Why are we talking about role models as coaches? 2. Where should coaches focus when trying to build culture?3. How do teams manage the expectations of being a competitive team and development?4. How to manage difficult situations in a way that won't negatively affect the team?5. What resources are there for parents and coaches to learn more about being a role model or a coach?Follow Just Go Play on Instagram @qualitycoaching to receive coaching insights and information.

In this episode, Matt and Daryl interview Dr. Wade Gilbert, an internationally renowned coaching consultant and sport scientist, as well as an award-winning professor in the Department of Kinesiology at California State University, Fresno.His highly acclaimed book Coaching Better Every Season is a must read book. It demonstrates Wade's deep knowledge in the field where he takes the key principles resulting from his research to teach skills that inform and benefit coaches, athletes, students and coach educators.Wade shares the difference between an average and a great coach and why planning out your season is essential to a team’s success.Read more about Wade's impressive experience and education that includes coaching workshops around the world with Coaching Association of Canada / Canadian Olympic Association, National Hockey League / National Hockey League Players Association, United States Olympic Committee, International Council for Coaching Excellence, and Australia Football League Coaches Association to name a few.http://www.fresnostate.edu/chhs/kinesiology/faculty-staff/faculty/wgilbert.html Follow Wade on Twitter @WadeWgilbert to receive coaching insights and information.

In this episode, Daryl and Matt discuss why they decided to take their conversations around the billion dollar sports industry and share them in a podcast for parent’s coaches, and organizations. Daryl and Matt have known each other for over two decades where their paths have crossed multiple times through their shared passion for personal training, sports, and supporting development in the industry.Daryl interviews Matt on his journey in the personal training transforming the industry using this sport experience, skills, and training. Rather than focusing on weight loss, Matt looked at how people wanted to improve their health and fitness to achieve goals they didn’t think were attainable.Matt’s mantra at his clubs was: Challenge. Adversity. Victory.After success in evolving the personal training industry, Matt continued to build businesses and programs diving him deeper into the sports system. He saw an opportunity to bring stakeholders together from athletes, parents, physical education teachers, officials, coaches, sport organizations and admissions to be accountable for creating enjoyable sport experiences for youth. Check out Quality Sports Hub at www.qualitysporthub.com/ to find information from the best in the industry and resources to create quality sport experiences.