Episodes
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Are you ready to journey behind the scenes of youth sports with us? Brace yourselves, as we turn the spotlight on our guest, John Boruk, a former Philadelphia sportscaster and dedicated hockey parent. As we traverse through the fast-paced world of athletics, John shares valuable insights from his unique vantage point that combines both the perspectives of a seasoned sportscaster and a devoted parent navigating the world of youth sports.
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In this riveting dialogue, we delve into the significance of your role as a parent in igniting a passion for sports in your child. We discuss how the pouring in of money has reshaped the sports landscape, making it more challenging for parents to foster a love for the game in their young ones. Our conversation takes a fascinating turn as we explore the value of unstructured play, leadership, and the critical commitment needed for children's development in sports.
But that's not all! We also bring to light how access to facilities like ice can significantly influence a young athlete's progress. From the importance of nutrition and leadership to handling the pressures of money in sports, we leave no stone unturned. So, join us for an enlightening conversation about youth sports, parental involvement, and the journey of raising a champion — a story of tenacity, passion, and perseverance.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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As we welcomed Kate Allgood, mental performance coach and CEO, onto our latest podcast, we couldn't help but be astounded by her fascinating journey from ice hockey player to a specialized mental trainer for athletes. Her insights into the inner workings of an athlete's mind proved to be thought-provoking and enlightening - a must-listen for any parent, coach, or aspiring athlete. She taught us that the heart of an athlete's performance indeed lies in their mindset – focus, internal confidence and psychological wellness are the game-changers.
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This episode took a deep dive into the all-important topic of goal-setting in youth sports. Who should carry the mantle? The athlete or the parent? Kate shared that the answer isn’t black or white and how the responsibility shifts as the athlete grows older. We learned that goals should always be within the athlete's control and regular check-ins are crucial to ensure they remain committed. We also confronted the mental hurdles young athletes face and shared strategies to help them navigate, manage their mental state during competitions, and foster a healthier approach to performance evaluation.
In the final stretch of our conversation, we explored a critical issue – an athlete's identity. Far too often, athletes lose themselves to the sport, forgetting their identity outside the field. The role of parents proves pivotal here, setting healthy examples and supporting their children to develop a sense of self. We confronted the concept of ownership in athletics, underscoring the impact of taking charge of even the minute details on overall performance. The power of visualization and mental preparation was also at the center stage. This episode is packed with invaluable insights into the psychological aspect of sports performance. Join us in this enlightening conversation with Kate Allgood!https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Missing episodes?
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What if you could change the culture of youth sports for the better? Join us as we talk to Don Bozzuffi, a man who has done just that by taking on the issue of parental behavior at Little League Baseball Games. With nearly 50 years of experience in youth sports and serving as the president of Deptford Little League since 2010, Don shares his journey of tackling this pervasive issue and how his efforts are creating a positive environment for young athletes.
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In our conversation, we dive into the reasons behind the drastic shift in parental behavior over the years, from entitlement to misunderstanding the importance of being a positive influence.
Don also sheds light on the impact of inappropriate language and actions on children, emphasizing the necessity of teaching situational plays and the skillset of baseball. Furthermore, we explore the implementation and benefits of a code of conduct policy to protect volunteers and ensure a more structured and disciplined atmosphere at games.
Our insightful and thought-provoking discussion with Don Bozzuffi offers hope for a better future in youth sports. By addressing the issue of sportsmanship head-on and implementing a code of conduct policy, Don's efforts have garnered national attention and inspired others to follow suit. Listen in to learn how we can all work together to create a more positive culture in youth sports and raise the next generation of champions.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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In this episode, Jim and Andrea MacMenamin discuss the process to raise and develop two collegiate hockey players.
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Eldest son, Colton, attended and played hockey for Division-III Stevenson University in Maryland, while their youngest son, Connor, just completed four years at Penn State University and has committed to play for Minnesota-Duluth for the 2023-24 season.
Both parents have a history of military service in their family and much of the discipline and regimen has been utilized in their parenting styles.
The McMenamins talk about sending Connor away to Shattuck-St. Mary's - a Minnesota boarding school - at the age of 14 before moving on to the USHL and college hockey.
They also explain the maturity of hockey players and why playing collegiately as a teenager is so difficult. Andrea details how the PeeWee Quebec Invitational was the start of grabbing the eye of regional and international scouts.
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Sue Humphrey is a three-time Olympic coach who also served as the head coach for the U.S. Olympics Women’s Track and Field team at the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece. She has trained some of the world’s best athletes from high jumper Charles Austin to gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee.
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Humphrey’s career has also heavily involved in advocating for women’s rights in college sports through the Title IX amendment.
Currently a high school track coach in Texas, Humphrey is the author of “I Want to Run: The Olympic Developmental Training and Nutritional Guide for Young and Teen Track Runners Ages 10 to 18.”
In this episode, we discuss the impact international athletes have on the changing landscape of collegiate athletes, why running shouldn’t be used as punishment in other sports and the biggest challenge to Title IX - Transgender athletics and how the NCAA should categorize the transgender athlete.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Mitch Lyons has made it his mission to reform and remodel athletics within the public school system.
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His belief through historical context and research-based learning implored him to advocate for students, parents and administrators through two non-profit organizations: GetPsychedSports.org and EndAbusiveCoaching.org. As a result, he has conducted workshops on educational athletics and Social Emotional Learning.
Mitch has also coached basketball for over 25 years at just almost every level (community, travel, AAU, high school and college). Now retired, Mitch also practiced law and used that skill set to help implement change and legislation in the state of Massachusetts.
In this episode, Mitch discusses the work of his non-profit organizations, the emotional and physical abuse that comes with youth sports, how to create a positive environment and giving children a voice to feel comfortable speaking openly with their coaches.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Born in Mt. Clemens, MI, Dave McNabb moved to the Delaware Valley in2010 when he was named the head golf pro at Applebrook Country Club in Malvern, PA.
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Impressively, Dave didn't take up the sport of golf until his mid-20s, and has started playing some of his best golf later in life when many athletes are on the downslope of their careers.
Dave qualified for his first major PGA tournament at the age of 47. He first teed off with the pros at the 2013 PGA Championship at famed Oak Hill, and then subsequently qualified in 2014 at Valhalla and 2017 at Quail Hollow.
Dave is regarded as one of the top players in the Philadelphia area and is the proud owner of two Delaware State Open Championships and numerous Philadelphia PGA titles. Above all else, Dave’s passion lies with his family and his service to the membership at Applebrook Country Club.
In this episode, McNabb discusses starting the game of gold at a later age and how he's improved with age, and the state of golf within the younger generation including ways to make the game more enjoyable.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Dr. Jay Cavanaugh is the owner and host of The Behind The Best brand. He is a highly sought-after Mental Performance Coach for Pro Athletes, most notably in motocross and the supercross circuit. His work also includes golf and tennis professionals.
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Cavanaugh is also the founder of The VIBE Mindset. As a medical professional, a high-performance mindset coach for professional athletes, and an emotional intelligence coach for leaders, he focuses on robust techniques for self-mastery.
Cavanaugh also publishes a weekly newsletter to help athletes end performance anxiety and stop choking while improving focus with the ability to bounce back from failure.
In this episode, Dr. Cavanaugh discusses the key strategies in overcoming fear that can paralyze an athlete's mindset and how to overcome these mind-numbing obstacles.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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The Philadelphia native has spent five decades involved in the game of hockey as a player, coach, director and most recently as a scout.
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Mongelluzzo served as Director of Player Personnel for USA's National Junior team from 2002-06. He's the architect of the Liberty Bell Games, the premier hockey showcase in the Mid-Atlantic region for 14-17 year-olds.
He currently serves as a senior scout for the New Jersey Devils organization.
In this episode, Mongelluzzo discusses the challenges of youth hockey and why an exceptional 12-year-old hockey player doesn't translate into an excellent 18-year-old or even an NHL prospect.
He also dives into the careers of Chris Drury, Mike Richter and Tim Thomas and how they overcame a lack of size with tremendous work ethic.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Dr. Joel Fish is a nationally recognized expert in sport psychology who has worked in the field for the past twenty-five years. He is a licensed psychologist who has worked extensively with athletes of all ages and skills levels, from youth sport through the Olympic and professional ranks. Dr. Fish has been a sport psychology consultant for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Philadelphia Flyers, the Philadelphia Phillies Organization,the USA Women’s National Field Hockey Team, and the USA Women’s National Soccer Team.
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He is one of the only sport psychologists in the country who has worked with three professional sports teams in the same city at the same time. Dr. Fish has also served as a sport psychology consultant for Saint Joseph’s University, the University of Pennsylvania,and Temple University.
He has spoken nationwide on sport psychology at over 300 universities and is a popular presenter at a variety of athletic functions.
In this episode, Dr. Fish discusses the confidence issues young athletes battle with and how the deep dive involved in his psychoanalysis. He also discusses his book 101 Ways to become a Terrific Sports Parent.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Amy Cohen just completed her 12th season as head coach of the West Chester University field hockey team. During her tenure, Cohen has led the Rams to three national championships with eight trips to the national semifinals, including most recently in 2022.
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A 2002 graduate of Lafayette College with a bachelor’s degree in History, Cohen was a four-year starting goalkeeper for the Leopards (1998-2001).
In this episode, Cohen discusses what has led to her success which derives from her motto, "Be comfortable being uncomfortable" and how that philosophy has guided her to be one of the most successful coaches in Division-II field hockey.
Cohen openly discusses her gay lifestyle and her open door policy through relationships with players and their families, recruiting and coaching with her assistants and the support from the university.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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In Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania are Ruining Kids' Sports, coach, journalist and writer Linda Flanagan reveals how the youth sports industry capitalizes on parents’ worry about their kids’ futures, selling the idea that more competitive play is essential in the feeding frenzy over access to colleges and universities. Drawing on her experience as a coach and a parent, along with research and expert analysis, Flanagan delves into a national obsession that has:
Compelled kids to specialize year-round in one sport. Increased the risk of both physical injury and mental health problems.Encouraged egregious behavior by coaches and parents.Reduced access to sports for low-income families.In this episode, Flanagan discusses the ramifications that youth sports is becoming more of an industry pushed big corporate greed, the consequences of raising the stakes for kids and parents alike--and the changes we need now.
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In addition, we discuss the potential damaging impact of NIL (name, image and likeness) and how parents are looking to profit from the rule change.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Registered dietitian and childhood nutrition expert Jill Castle wrote the book "Eat Like a Champion" and has helped young athletes perform at the highest level with a high-octane, well-balanced diet.
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In this episode, Castle details the nutritional needs of athletic kids and should a diet be tailored differently depending on what sport that child participates in.
Castle also addresses counterproductive and unhealthy eating patterns and how to develop optimal health that leads to standout performances on the playing field.
Other subjects tackled on this episode include packing healthy snacks, how to boost caloric intake during tournament weekends without eating fast food, and where does protein bars and hydration drinks fit into the equation.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Dr. Jon Herting is a dynamic clinician who has been involved in rehabilitation and strength and conditioning for 10 years and has built a reputation among athletes as a clinician who promotes quick results and optimal outcomes.
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As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Strength and Conditioning coach Jon has worked with athletes of all levels from adolescent to Olympic level and is a part of USA Weightlifting’s Medical staff. Jon believes in a holistic approach to rehab and believes that the ultimate goal of the rehab process is patient autonomy. He believes that there is not a distinct line between rehab and the training process.
In this episode, Dr. Herting explains the connection between mind and body and it's intertwined through youth participation, exercise and everyday activity. More importantly, he stress the connection of unorganized activity and play in adolescence and how it can help protect against injury later in life.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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In April 2005, towards the end of his freshman lacrosse season at Hofstra University, Nick Colleluori was diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting the lymphatic system.
But true to Nick’s relentless attitude, he endured a 14-month battle with cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, along with experimental treatments.Shortly after being diagnosed, Nicholas recognized a lack of resources for cancer patients and their families. Experiencing firsthand the hardships, from his hospital bed he created the HEADstrong Foundation to raise awareness and funds for cancer by empowering athletes to support his mission.
Nick drew the organization’s logo moments before entering the operating room for a procedure, and outlined its mission and future plans.In this episode, Jeff Baxter, Vice President of Senior Community Engagement, discusses the impact of the HEADstrong Foundation and how they've carried out Nick's vision of raising millions of dollars and supporting thousands of patients nationwide.
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For the past 15+ years, Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania's Ken and Kim O'Donnell have incorporated a heavy dose for youth field hockey into their lives.
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Having raised five girls who have worked their way up the ranks from the grass roots stages of the sport all the way to the way to the highest levels of Division-I, including a pair of twins who will be attending Penn State University once they graduated from high school.
Here's a list of the O'Donnell girls, their ages, and what universities they've committed to...
Casey, 25, James Madison
Brianna, 23, Penn State/Drexel (5th year)
Erin, 21, James Madison/West Chester
Kerry, 17, Penn State
Riley, 17, Penn State
In this episode, the O'Donnells discuss the challenges, obstacles and pure excitement of raising five Division-I athletes and how parents of future collegiate athletes can follow in their footsteps.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Greg Berge has spent nearly 30 years as a coach and an administrator working with teenage athletes. Berge currently serves as the high school principal and varsity boys basketball coach in Lake City, Minnesota.
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As of this episode, Berge's Tigers team was undefeated and ranked #1 in Class AA. However, Berge's contributions to leadership extend beyond the basketball court.
He's also the author of two books: Coaching Gold and Culture Wins. He publishes a free weekly newsletter, hosts a sports leadership summit and runs a "Culture Wins" workshop. Much of his work can be found daily on his Twitter feed @gb1121
In the episode, Berge describes how parents can lay the groundwork for their children through proper and encouraging coaching while exploring the ways coaches can hurt their team without knowing it.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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Through 23 seasons as head coach at the University of Pennsylvania, Karin Corbett has established the University of Pennsylvania as one of the nation's elite women's lacrosse programs with 11 Ivy League championships in the past 16 years, 13-straight trips to the NCAA Tournament prior to the pandemic, including three trips to the national semifinals, Corbett's teams have established themselves as perennial NCAA powers.
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The pinnacle of Corbett's tenure was the 2008 season where the Quakers were NCAA Finalists and spent a number of weeks ranked No. 1 in the country after defeating Northwestern in the regular season.
As an undergraduate at William & Mary, Corbett captained both the field hockey and lacrosse teams as a senior in 1992. She earned first-team All-America honors and was named Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Player of the Year in lacrosse as a senior, and was a Regional All-American in field hockey in the fall of 1991.
In the summer of 1991, Corbett was a member of the Under-23 National Lacrosse team which faced Great Britain. Following her college career, Corbett was a member of the United States Women's Lacrosse team from 1993-96.
In the episode, Corbett talks about the difficulty of recruiting at an Ivy League institution and the lack of leadership skills and abilities among today's athletes in this generation.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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By now, NFL fans should know Vince Papale. Or at least his remarkable story.
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Papale's life and career with the Philadelphia Eagles was the inspiration behind the Disney movie "Invincible" starring Mark Wahlberg.
Working as a part-time teacher and bartender, Papale did the impossible by earning a roster spot on the Philadelphia Eagles in an open tryout. At the age of 30, he became the oldest rookie in NFL history, eventually playing three seasons and serving as captain of the Eagles special team's unit.
In this episode, Papale discusses what drove him as a person to overcome such staggering odds to earn a spot on an NFL roster, and what advice he gives children and youth about pursuing their dreams and aspirations while dealing with adversity through life's harsh lessons.https://www.facebook.com/RACPodcast1/
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