Building Success in Youth Athletics: Insights from Brendan Blakely In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, host Justin is joined by Brendan Blakely, the Athletic Director at Head Royce School. Brendan shares his journey from being a collegiate lacrosse coach to becoming an athletic director, emphasizing the fortunate path his career has taken, largely driven by serendipitous opportunities and meaningful mentorships. Brendan and Justin delve into the evolution of youth sports, discussing strategies for creating supportive and successful athletic programs that balance high expectations with empathy and understanding. They explore how to maintain effective communication, foster a positive environment for coaches, and ensure that athlete development is both challenging and supportive. Moreover, Brendan stresses the importance of not only pushing athletes to give their all during practices and games but also understanding that each athlete's 100% can vary from day to day. They conclude by highlighting the significance of the journey in youth sports, focusing on personal growth and improvement rather than just winning. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠! Spelled LMNT. What is LMNT? It’s a ⁠⁠⁠⁠delicious, sugar-free electrolyte drink-mix⁠⁠⁠⁠. I tried this recently after hearing about it on another podcast, and since then, I’ve stocked up on boxes and boxes of this and usually use it 1–2 times per day. ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a great alternative to other commercial recovery and performance drinks. As a coach or an athlete, you will not find a better product that focuses on the essential electrolyte your body needs during competition. LMNT has become a staple in my own training and something we are excited to offer to our coaches and student-athletes as well. LMNT is used by Military Special Forces teams, Team USA weightlifting, At least 5 NFL teams, and more than half the NBA. You can try it risk-free. If you don’t like it, LMNT will give you your money back no questions asked. They have extremely low return rates. ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠ came up with a very special offer for you as a listener to this podcast. For a limited time, you can claim ⁠⁠⁠⁠a free LMNT Sample Pack⁠⁠⁠⁠—you only cover the cost of shipping. For US customers, this means you can receive an 8-count sample pack for only $5. Simply go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ DrinkLMNT.com/contacts ⁠⁠⁠⁠to claim your free 8-count sample pack. Taking a bunch of pills and capsules is hard on the stomach and hard to keep up with. To help each of us be at our best, we at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Athletic Greens⁠⁠⁠⁠ developed a better approach to providing your body with everything it needs for optimal performance. 75 vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens in one convenient daily serving to bring you the nutrition you need. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athleticgreens.com/contacts/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠for more. 00:00 Welcome to the Contacts Coaching Podcast with Brendan Blakely00:18 Journey to Becoming an Athletic Director: From College to Head Royce03:25 The Impact of Alumni and Family Connections in Athletic Leadership03:51 Navigating Change Management and Parental Perspectives in Athletics07:23 The Evolution of Coaching Philosophy: Empathy, Balance, and Student Focus16:28 The Role of Alumni in Shaping School Athletics and Creating Lasting Memories24:40 Starting a Program at UC Davis: Leadership Lessons and the Transition from Club to Varsity Sport28:12 Transitioning Between Coaching Levels28:42 Managing Practice Times and Athlete Commitments29:05 Balancing Athletics and Academics32:07 The Importance of Communication and Respect35:22 Building a Positive Coaching Culture37:44 Personal Growth and Mindset Shifts48:10 Setting High Standards with Empathy --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-clymo30/support" rel="payment">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-clymo30/support</a>

Contacts Coaching Podcast

Justin Clymo

Building Success in Athletics: Insights from Brendan Blakely

APR 10, 202461 MIN
Contacts Coaching Podcast

Building Success in Athletics: Insights from Brendan Blakely

APR 10, 202461 MIN

Description

Building Success in Youth Athletics: Insights from Brendan Blakely In this episode of the Contacts Coaching Podcast, host Justin is joined by Brendan Blakely, the Athletic Director at Head Royce School. Brendan shares his journey from being a collegiate lacrosse coach to becoming an athletic director, emphasizing the fortunate path his career has taken, largely driven by serendipitous opportunities and meaningful mentorships. Brendan and Justin delve into the evolution of youth sports, discussing strategies for creating supportive and successful athletic programs that balance high expectations with empathy and understanding. They explore how to maintain effective communication, foster a positive environment for coaches, and ensure that athlete development is both challenging and supportive. Moreover, Brendan stresses the importance of not only pushing athletes to give their all during practices and games but also understanding that each athlete's 100% can vary from day to day. They conclude by highlighting the significance of the journey in youth sports, focusing on personal growth and improvement rather than just winning. This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠! Spelled LMNT. What is LMNT? It’s a ⁠⁠⁠⁠delicious, sugar-free electrolyte drink-mix⁠⁠⁠⁠. I tried this recently after hearing about it on another podcast, and since then, I’ve stocked up on boxes and boxes of this and usually use it 1–2 times per day. ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠ is a great alternative to other commercial recovery and performance drinks. As a coach or an athlete, you will not find a better product that focuses on the essential electrolyte your body needs during competition. LMNT has become a staple in my own training and something we are excited to offer to our coaches and student-athletes as well. LMNT is used by Military Special Forces teams, Team USA weightlifting, At least 5 NFL teams, and more than half the NBA. You can try it risk-free. If you don’t like it, LMNT will give you your money back no questions asked. They have extremely low return rates. ⁠⁠⁠⁠LMNT⁠⁠⁠⁠ came up with a very special offer for you as a listener to this podcast. For a limited time, you can claim ⁠⁠⁠⁠a free LMNT Sample Pack⁠⁠⁠⁠—you only cover the cost of shipping. For US customers, this means you can receive an 8-count sample pack for only $5. Simply go to⁠⁠⁠⁠ DrinkLMNT.com/contacts ⁠⁠⁠⁠to claim your free 8-count sample pack. Taking a bunch of pills and capsules is hard on the stomach and hard to keep up with. To help each of us be at our best, we at ⁠⁠⁠⁠Athletic Greens⁠⁠⁠⁠ developed a better approach to providing your body with everything it needs for optimal performance. 75 vitamins, minerals, whole-food sourced superfoods, probiotics, and adaptogens in one convenient daily serving to bring you the nutrition you need. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://athleticgreens.com/contacts/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠for more. 00:00 Welcome to the Contacts Coaching Podcast with Brendan Blakely00:18 Journey to Becoming an Athletic Director: From College to Head Royce03:25 The Impact of Alumni and Family Connections in Athletic Leadership03:51 Navigating Change Management and Parental Perspectives in Athletics07:23 The Evolution of Coaching Philosophy: Empathy, Balance, and Student Focus16:28 The Role of Alumni in Shaping School Athletics and Creating Lasting Memories24:40 Starting a Program at UC Davis: Leadership Lessons and the Transition from Club to Varsity Sport28:12 Transitioning Between Coaching Levels28:42 Managing Practice Times and Athlete Commitments29:05 Balancing Athletics and Academics32:07 The Importance of Communication and Respect35:22 Building a Positive Coaching Culture37:44 Personal Growth and Mindset Shifts48:10 Setting High Standards with Empathy --- Support this podcast: <a href="https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-clymo30/support" rel="payment">https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/justin-clymo30/support</a>