Conversations Borne During a Pandemic
1 year and 52 editions later, we look back at some of our best conversations and profiles.
Putting together TPM has been very therapeutic at a time when so much therapy has been needed.
This past year has tested all of our resolve.
Because of this generational test, I have created a platform for positivity, inspiration and education from multiple perspectives of the human condition and the sporting world. It also has been tremendous therapy for the author.
Leadership and health considerations have never been more important than during this crazy and unprecedented year for those involved in the sporting world.
The Physical Movement has talked to leaders and influencers in our sport communities. We have documented some best practices for our young athletes and coaches alike as a resource for all stakeholders to benefit.
By sharing solutions to various challenges, it is our intent to keep the discussion going so opportunities grow for our youth in and around sports and healthy lifestyles.
We have connected with leaders whom have dedicated their lives to serving others in various roles in the sporting world.
We launched The Physical Movement last May with a terrific interview with Jerry Weinstein. Coach Weinstein has spent over 60 years coaching in the baseball world dating back to being a freshman coach at UCLA in 1966. Coaching on the same campus as the coaching legend John Wooden. Coach Weinstein shares some great insights on the importance of ongoing learning and a good story of learning from the Coach Wooden documented here.
Our 2nd edition posted an interview with coach, sports parent, administrator and volunteer Frank Fascia from Brampton, Ontario, Canada. If you have not caught up to this story, do yourself a favor and dive in. We covered a number of interesting topics including the age of specialization and how it is hurting our young athletes.
Catch up to our chat here with Frank Fascia.
Over the last year we tried to provide different perspectives and levels of experience. Coach Lee Taft, aka “the speed coach” was fantastic helping us understand how he has broken down movement as a coach for over 30 years and still going strong today. When you combine Coach Taft with Coach Phil Campbell, who we spent time with this past February, you have 2 of the most prominent physical performance coaches of our time.
Coach Taft’s interview is here. Coach Phil Campbell’s experience and teaching on coaching speed is documented here.
Speaking to physical performance coaches, we thoroughly enjoyed the Soccer Queen’s perspective. Coach Erica Suter works with young women to help them with total development not just the physical. Coach Suter’s personal 7 step audit and inventory for her athletes is a gem as it teaches sound fundamental principles of being in tune with ourselves. A skill that will help her young athletes for years and years.
We also added to our interview list with movement coaches connecting with Wayne Burke. This former professional lacrosse player has taken his passion for movement and preparation to becoming a go to resource for many in Southern Ontario and the lacrosse community. Read more on Coach Burke here.
As I chronicled these careers and stories, I was struck by the common denominator across all. These leaders were driven by a passion for serving others, for making a difference and a contribution.
One of the reasons that I started The Physical Movement was to create something positive.
Positive influences are all around us.
Good people who have good intentions and work extremely hard to make a difference in young people’s lives.
Too often, I have found these stories do not get the recognition they deserve.
Additional inspirational stories and perspectives were from our first year also included:
Meeting Olga Hrycak from Montreal, an outstanding coach and leader who served the basketball community for over 30 years and is now in the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame. Her story is one of passion and commitment to her student athletes, and I very much enjoyed re-connecting with her after we worked together years ago. Here is Coach Hrycak’s story.
Last Father’s Day, we shared a conversation with coach Guy Brown. Coach Brown parlayed a tremendous athletic and coaching career to helping others build the facilities of their dreams while being a tremendous family man and advocate for concussion awareness. This was one of our best red articles.
Once we go down the inspiration path, we have to acknowledge another of our most red stories, this one on Ben Fanelli. Ben’s story is one of injury, disappointment, courage, team support, resilience and contribution. If you don’t know Ben, you will enjoy this. Ben is driven by a passion for helping others. I think you will enjoy if you did not catch Ben’s story here.
For all the powerful and positive stories our youth sports system has to share, there are many struggles as well.
We documented some of those with Matt Young. Matt and his team bring a very well mapped out and experienced perspective on how to fix the broken aspect of youth sports. A must read for anyone involved. Here is the feature on Matt’s work.
TPM also had the privilege of interviewing some of what I will call “young generation” of leaders:
It has been a terrific ride over the last year, and it has been a tremendous honor to document the work and contribution of so many.
We will leave this anniversary issue with a couple of takeaways on leadership because this is a re-occurring theme across our stories.
1. How we, as coaches and parents, have the power to role model for our youth. At this time, they need it more than ever. In December, we addressed this topic with some suggestions on how we can create our own contribution.
2. We addressed how leaders are made not born.
3. Some lead by example examples
4. Leadership surrounds us: 8 ways you can support your local youth sports organization.
Hope you enjoyed this anniversary edition on the people we have met up with over the last year of The Physical Movement.
Leadership comes in many forms, of which multiple are shared here and via our weekly TPM email.
Please feel free to drop a line if there a topic or comment that you would like to have addressed.
If you know of a coach, parent, athlete, official, volunteer, administrator or fan who might benefit from our stories, please share.