Welcome to The Playbook

Welcome to The Playbook, a podcast where we talk about strategies for coaching the whole player in youth and high school sports today. I’m your host Dave Davenport and I’ve been around sports most of my life. Playing, watching, coaching, and eventually as part of my job. I’ve spent almost twenty-five years working in the outdoor recreation industry and coaching young athletes. I haven’t always been good at keeping my eyes open and mouth shut, but I have seen a few things along the way. 

The landscape of youth sports today is different from even ten years ago. The “business” of sports seems to be creeping into more schools, leagues and clubs, at younger age groups. Kids are also busier than ever, and participation in those sports and their lives are often so structured now that some of our athletes may not even know how to go to the local park and start a pick-up game —or what it means to just play.

It feels like there is a need now, more than ever, to focus on coaching the whole player, not just to get the most out of them in performance, but more importantly, to help them grow as humans. How can we help kids learn things like resiliency, teamwork and sportsmanship…or how to regulate their emotions and deal with disappointment?

I started Select Athletics Consulting and The Playbook as a place where I can pass on some of the things I’ve learned. I’m not going to pretend to have all the answers, just share some of the tools and tips that have worked for me and hopefully spark a few ideas for how you can better help your kids. 

Join us here, for a variety of episodes, from short talks focused on practical tips for your coaching, to longer conversations featuring coaches and athletic directors from around the globe about their experiences. We hope to see you soon.