29 min listen
WYC 124 – College track athletes – Dr. Charles Infurna talks the Mundanity of Excellence
FromThe Winning Youth Coaching Podcast: Youth Sports | Coaching | Parenting | Family Resources
WYC 124 – College track athletes – Dr. Charles Infurna talks the Mundanity of Excellence
FromThe Winning Youth Coaching Podcast: Youth Sports | Coaching | Parenting | Family Resources
ratings:
Length:
51 minutes
Released:
Jul 26, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Description
Dr. Charles Infurna has 10 years of coaching experience at the Division III level, he has had the great pleasure and privilege to have coached and mentored two Division III National Champion Weight Throwers, 10 All-Americans, multiple ECAC champions, and numerous SUNYAC and Empire 8 Conference Champions in the Hammer, Weight Throw, Discus, and Shot-Put. He writes a blog at forzathletics.com Before completing his dissertation he wrote a lot about programming, workouts, overviews of meets, and even included some vlogs. Since finishing his doctorate, he has focused more on how environment and support systems play roles in athlete successes.
Website and blog: forzathletics.com
Podcast: soundcloud.com/charles-infurna
Twitter: @CharlesInfurna; @forzathletics
Facebook: /forzathletics/
Thank you to our sponsors! - Lead 'Em Up - Save 10% using discount code 'wyccoaches' at leademup.com
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Listen Now:
Listen on iTunes: iTunes link
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Quote
'You never know who is going to walk through the door'
First role model
Charles' first coaching opportunity was when he was 22 years old. He didn't really know what to do - so he reached out to a head coach at a local university (who happened to be a 4x Olympian) and asked if he could come watch a practice and hang out with his coaching staff for a day, which the coach willingly did
Cringe Moment
The players Charles was coaching talked to him and addressed concerns that he didn't seem like he was as engaged - a very healthy sign that the players were comfortable enough to be honest with him
Teaching skills
Start with the basics like body awareness.
Don't try to fix everything at once. Focus on one thing at a time. It's like a puzzle - put together one piece at a time.
Long Term Athlete Development
Some of Charles' best college athletes did not play that sport in high school
Peak performance
Kids often respond best to a coach that is calm and confident.
It's usually best to not give coaching advice right before a competition - just pick up on the kid's body language whether they need you to just be quiet, or tell a joke to lighten the mood.
Building Culture
You are always representing the program
Team building and trust activities are always great
Magnet awards - they recognize each other's accomplishments on the bus ride home
Connecting with kids
Luis Rivera - Was given some bad information and was ineligible for the upcoming season. He could have easily quit and given up, but instead he worked hard and came back and went on to be one of the best track and field athletes in their college's history. He had grit.
The one that got away
It wasn't a tough loss - it was a team where Kate had let the culture get away from her
Best stolen/borrowed idea
'You never know who is going to walk through the door' - One of Charles' mentors would take in any athlete that was willing, and if they would put in the work, you never know which one could turn out to be a national champion.
Favorite Resources
PDF - The mundanity of excellence - Developing Olympic Swimmers by Dan Chambliss
Parting Advice
Be in the moment. Put your cell phone away. Enjoy it.
--
Reviews are the lifeblood of the podcast!- If you like the podcast- please take 2 minutes to write a review! Click here
-
Ready to be an Awesome Youth Coach? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter:
Website and blog: forzathletics.com
Podcast: soundcloud.com/charles-infurna
Twitter: @CharlesInfurna; @forzathletics
Facebook: /forzathletics/
Thank you to our sponsors! - Lead 'Em Up - Save 10% using discount code 'wyccoaches' at leademup.com
-
Listen Now:
Listen on iTunes: iTunes link
Listen on Stitcher: Stitcher link
Listen on Google Play Music: Google Play link
-
Quote
'You never know who is going to walk through the door'
First role model
Charles' first coaching opportunity was when he was 22 years old. He didn't really know what to do - so he reached out to a head coach at a local university (who happened to be a 4x Olympian) and asked if he could come watch a practice and hang out with his coaching staff for a day, which the coach willingly did
Cringe Moment
The players Charles was coaching talked to him and addressed concerns that he didn't seem like he was as engaged - a very healthy sign that the players were comfortable enough to be honest with him
Teaching skills
Start with the basics like body awareness.
Don't try to fix everything at once. Focus on one thing at a time. It's like a puzzle - put together one piece at a time.
Long Term Athlete Development
Some of Charles' best college athletes did not play that sport in high school
Peak performance
Kids often respond best to a coach that is calm and confident.
It's usually best to not give coaching advice right before a competition - just pick up on the kid's body language whether they need you to just be quiet, or tell a joke to lighten the mood.
Building Culture
You are always representing the program
Team building and trust activities are always great
Magnet awards - they recognize each other's accomplishments on the bus ride home
Connecting with kids
Luis Rivera - Was given some bad information and was ineligible for the upcoming season. He could have easily quit and given up, but instead he worked hard and came back and went on to be one of the best track and field athletes in their college's history. He had grit.
The one that got away
It wasn't a tough loss - it was a team where Kate had let the culture get away from her
Best stolen/borrowed idea
'You never know who is going to walk through the door' - One of Charles' mentors would take in any athlete that was willing, and if they would put in the work, you never know which one could turn out to be a national champion.
Favorite Resources
PDF - The mundanity of excellence - Developing Olympic Swimmers by Dan Chambliss
Parting Advice
Be in the moment. Put your cell phone away. Enjoy it.
--
Reviews are the lifeblood of the podcast!- If you like the podcast- please take 2 minutes to write a review! Click here
-
Ready to be an Awesome Youth Coach? Sign up for our free weekly newsletter:
Released:
Jul 26, 2017
Format:
Podcast episode
Titles in the series (100)
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