1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: I'm coaching athletes to be the best that they can 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: be able to on and off the field. 3 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 2: That's been a passion of. 4 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:10,720 Speaker 1: Mine and so for myself, it doesn't matter if. 5 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:14,560 Speaker 2: I'm coaching men or women. My standards, my expectations, my culture. 6 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: And my values like those things don't change regardless of 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:19,880 Speaker 1: who I'm coaching or where I'm coaching. Those are things 8 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: that you know I bring to every team that I'm 9 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:22,640 Speaker 1: working with. 10 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:29,600 Speaker 3: This is the Reform Sports Project. I'll podcast about restoring 11 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 3: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 12 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 3: education and advocacy. Hi, this is Nick Bonacor from the 13 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 3: Reform Sports Podcast. Today, I'm speaking with Julianne Sich, who 14 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 3: was just recently named a head women's soccer coach for 15 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:46,440 Speaker 3: the University of Denver. Prior to joining the Denver Pioneers coach, 16 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 3: Sich was the head men's soccer coach at the University 17 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,360 Speaker 3: of Chicago, and in her first season as head coach 18 00:00:51,400 --> 00:00:53,800 Speaker 3: for the Maroons, she led the team to the NCAA 19 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 3: Division III National Championship, becoming the first woman to coach 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 3: an NCAA men's soccer team to a national title and 21 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 3: any division in addition to her prowess as a coach, 22 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,280 Speaker 3: she was also a standout professional and collegiate soccer player herself. 23 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 3: Just before taking on her new role at Denver, coach 24 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:11,600 Speaker 3: Sich joined me for a conversation on the importance of 25 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 3: empowering athletes to determine their team culture, the benefits of 26 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:17,839 Speaker 3: playing at the Division III level, and why she views 27 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:20,560 Speaker 3: success as creating an environment that people want to be 28 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 3: a part of. Man, really really excited. I got another 29 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 3: awesome guest. She's coming off an incredible season. She's one 30 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:30,399 Speaker 3: of the most decorated athletes that I've had on. Certainly 31 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 3: a name that a lot of people, particularly in the 32 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: soccer space, will know. Coach at Julian Sich. Coach Sich, 33 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 3: thank you so much for hopping on. 34 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:39,560 Speaker 2: Hey, Nick, thank you, I appreciate it. Thanks for having me. 35 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:41,679 Speaker 3: You're welcome and we kind of go back. We have 36 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 3: mutual friends that we connected with. Spoke a couple of 37 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: years ago. Shout out Manya Poopione, I know you guys 38 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 3: go way back. I had her on. She's a head 39 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 3: women's soccer coach at George Mason. What's yours? Did you 40 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 3: guys play together back in the day. 41 00:01:55,000 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: We play against each other multiple times growing up in 42 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,120 Speaker 1: like the youth and that we played together with that 43 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: you nineteens and U twenty one national team, and then 44 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: continue to play against each other professionally and stuff. But 45 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:09,360 Speaker 1: you know, very good friends and still still keep in 46 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: touch and you know, do different leadership programs and stuff together. 47 00:02:12,520 --> 00:02:15,359 Speaker 1: So she's definitely one of a kind and she's one 48 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,800 Speaker 1: incredible human. So very honored to be friends with Manya. 49 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 2: She's she's a world class. 50 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 3: I couldn't agree more with you. And speaking a world class, 51 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 3: I mean, you're coming off a monumental season, a season 52 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 3: that hadn't been done before. And from my bias as 53 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 3: a former Division III athlete, I'm super happy it took 54 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 3: place at the Division III level for the University of 55 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 3: Chicago men's soccer team. If I'm not mistaken, coach, was 56 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 3: that the first NCAA championship where you know, head coach 57 00:02:42,919 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 3: was a female on the men's side, and winning a 58 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:48,600 Speaker 3: national title at any level, I think so pretty freaking wild. 59 00:02:48,639 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 3: That is awesome. That is awesome. Is it hard coaching 60 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 3: a men's team as a female? 61 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: No, No, it's been I mean unbelievable and extremely fun. 62 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,239 Speaker 1: You know, I knew a lot about the University of 63 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 1: Chicago prime to you know, looking into the job and 64 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:04,680 Speaker 1: applying for the job, because I had been on the 65 00:03:04,720 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 1: women's side for four seasons and knew a lot about 66 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: the program, knew a lot about the culture the guys, 67 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,960 Speaker 1: and knew the previous coaches and previous staffs, and my 68 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 1: now assistant was part of, you know, some of those 69 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 1: previous staff, So I knew the culture and stuff that 70 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: they were looking to build. I knew the goals and 71 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: as versions that they had for the for the program, 72 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: and so to you know, it's kind of like a 73 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 1: no brainer to want to go to want to try 74 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,400 Speaker 1: to apply and be a part of, you know, just 75 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,160 Speaker 1: the amazing program that the people and the alum have 76 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 1: built in the past. And you know, for myself, it 77 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:38,360 Speaker 1: was I just wanted to be my authentic self, you know, 78 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: and I wanted to just kind of bring the things 79 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 1: that I've learned throughout my career, be my authentic self. 80 00:03:43,440 --> 00:03:47,400 Speaker 1: The team was very welcoming, unbelievable. I mean, they are 81 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 1: nothing but supportive, and I mean I don't even think 82 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 1: it was a question for them, you know, they've spoken 83 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 1: other interviews were you know, it wasn't a problem if 84 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,840 Speaker 1: I was male or female. And you know, they have 85 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: been great with everything. And I think too within that 86 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,960 Speaker 1: for like myself, I'm coaching athletes like I'm coaching athletes 87 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 1: to be the best that they can be, both on 88 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:08,640 Speaker 1: and off the field. That's been a passion of mine, 89 00:04:09,160 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: and so for myself, it doesn't matter if I'm coaching. 90 00:04:11,480 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 2: Men or women. 91 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: My standards, my expectations, my culture, my values, like those 92 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,279 Speaker 1: things don't change regardless of who I'm coaching or where 93 00:04:19,279 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: I'm coaching. Those are things that you know, I bring 94 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: to every team that I'm working with. 95 00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 3: So when you say your culture, your values, what does 96 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 3: that mean? 97 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think there's a lot of different pieces that 98 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:32,880 Speaker 1: can fall into that, you know, but I think one 99 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: of the biggest things that you know, I really stress 100 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,320 Speaker 1: my team and stuff as well, is one like work 101 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 1: ethic and positive attitude. It's the two biggest things that 102 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: you can control. Those are non negotiables for me. And 103 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: being able to come into an environment have a positive 104 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: attitude and what does that look like? 105 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 2: You know when we talk about that or you know. 106 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: This year we talked about having a champion mindset and 107 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,880 Speaker 1: just being able to be your best every day, be 108 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:57,000 Speaker 1: a champion of your life. 109 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 2: What does that look like? 110 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 1: You know, that's falling in line with the standards next 111 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: ex pectitions that we have being at your best. Are 112 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:04,320 Speaker 1: you preparing your body the best that you can for 113 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: trainings in the games? Are you showing up on time? 114 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:08,720 Speaker 1: Are you doing the things that are asked to do? 115 00:05:08,839 --> 00:05:11,039 Speaker 1: And beyond that, you know, are you being a good teammate? 116 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 1: And I think really again just falling into that piece 117 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: of like the positive attitude and that right mindset to 118 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: want to come and be successful and push yourself to 119 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 1: be the best both on and off the field. And 120 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,799 Speaker 1: how can we elevate everybody and how can we elevate 121 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 1: each other to persevere and go after our goals that 122 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,039 Speaker 1: we have And so, you know, I think that was 123 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: just like one of the biggest things about how can 124 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: we be the best that we can be? 125 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 2: And we talk a. 126 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,280 Speaker 1: Lot about like just different values in the culture that we. 127 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 2: Have of who do we want to be known for? 128 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:39,560 Speaker 2: Who do we want to be known for off the field? 129 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 2: On the field, you know. 130 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: What do we want teams to say about after they 131 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,679 Speaker 1: play us? And you know, giving ownership to the guys 132 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 1: as well as like what is the culture that they 133 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:48,160 Speaker 1: want to be a part of, you know, And they 134 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,039 Speaker 1: talk very highly of the brotherhood that they've created and 135 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:54,160 Speaker 1: the culture of that and being able to support each 136 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:55,800 Speaker 1: other on and off the field, but push each other 137 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:58,040 Speaker 1: and hold each other to standards and expectations that we 138 00:05:58,120 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: have hold people accountable. So I think it's a big 139 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: umbrella of a lot of different things that we talk 140 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: about and speak about within that. But again, at the 141 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,640 Speaker 1: end of the day too, it's about having that positive 142 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:12,279 Speaker 1: attitude and working hard and pushing each other to be 143 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: our best that we can be getting better every day. 144 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 3: So do you think, you know, all you got to 145 00:06:16,600 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 3: do is look at your Wikipedia and look at your pedigree, 146 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 3: I mean highly decorated, played on an elite level, you know, 147 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 3: have been a coach for years. Do you think it 148 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:27,479 Speaker 3: was easier or do you think it was a non event? 149 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 3: Because I often hear, particularly in youth sports, when you 150 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,159 Speaker 3: know parents are paying for you know, certain clubs organizations 151 00:06:35,240 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 3: like they want to know that the coach that's leading 152 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,599 Speaker 3: them has a pedigree, whether that be college athlete or 153 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 3: professional of some sort. But at the same time, like 154 00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 3: I'll argue in Many will argue you don't have to 155 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:48,680 Speaker 3: have been any elite level athlete to be an elite 156 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 3: level coach. But do you think that your pedigree might 157 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 3: have helped the buy in earlier or what are your 158 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,720 Speaker 3: thoughts on pedigree and correlating that to being a great 159 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 3: coach and lead men and women. 160 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, So I think for myself, like, I learned so 161 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: much throughout my career and the things that I learned 162 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 1: to be able to take into coaching, and I truly 163 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,480 Speaker 1: believe that every coach has unbelievable things to offer because 164 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:15,560 Speaker 1: everyone has gone through different experiences. 165 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:18,000 Speaker 2: As a player or as a coach. Right, Like I'm 166 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 2: very new in coaching. 167 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,239 Speaker 1: I'm going to be a different coach in five years 168 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: than I am today because I'm going to learn, I'm 169 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 1: going to grow, I'm going to go through different adversity, 170 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 1: you know, I'm going to hit the highs and lows, 171 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:29,760 Speaker 1: and I'm going to be a different coach. And so really, 172 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:32,360 Speaker 1: I think it's about our you know, as much as 173 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: we ask our players to be coachable, I think coaches 174 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: need to be coachable. Are we willing to learn and 175 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:39,680 Speaker 1: adapt and grow? And so I think every coach has 176 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: something to offer because they've come from something, they've had 177 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:45,480 Speaker 1: all these different experiences throughout their career, and I really 178 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 1: think it's about how we're evolving as coaches and continuing 179 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 1: to be coachable to be better every single day. 180 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 2: You know. 181 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,320 Speaker 1: If we're asking our players to continue to. 182 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 2: Develop and grow and get better every. 183 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: Day, I think we should hold ourselves to that same 184 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: you know, accountability and hold ourselves to that standard. 185 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: So I think that. 186 00:08:02,880 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: It's really about what we learn and grow as people 187 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: and how we continue to evolve and take that as 188 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,240 Speaker 1: a coach and be able to give back to our communities. 189 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:10,840 Speaker 2: You know. 190 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: And I think for myself, I learned a lot as 191 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: a player and the things in the adversity that I 192 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,120 Speaker 1: had to go through that, yeah, I probably didn't love 193 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: at the time, but I'm really glad I went through 194 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 1: it because now as a coach, I could relate to 195 00:08:21,680 --> 00:08:23,880 Speaker 1: my players in different ways. So, you know, I've really 196 00:08:23,920 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: been able to take the experiences that I've had and 197 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,400 Speaker 1: be able to use them in my coaching. So again, 198 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: I think it's about being coachable and continuing to learn 199 00:08:31,480 --> 00:08:31,800 Speaker 1: and grow. 200 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,160 Speaker 3: That's a great point. In fact, Mike Fox, who was 201 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,560 Speaker 3: my former coach, who's you know? Retired head coach at 202 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 3: the University of North Carolina baseball team told me that 203 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:44,240 Speaker 3: his longtime assistant, Scott Forbes, who is now the head 204 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 3: baseball coach at Carolina. He said he used to tell 205 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 3: coach Forbes like, hey, if you notice something. But they 206 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 3: knew each other for so long, had such rapport that 207 00:08:53,280 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 3: coach Forbes wasn't afraid to go even though Mike Fox 208 00:08:56,400 --> 00:08:59,040 Speaker 3: was the head coach. It was like if something was off, 209 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 3: if he was off, he wanted to be held accountable, 210 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 3: like he needed someone there even though he was a 211 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 3: head coach to let him know. So is that part 212 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 3: of your kind of strategy to empower your assistance to hey, 213 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,120 Speaker 3: let me know if I'm off today or you know, 214 00:09:12,160 --> 00:09:14,160 Speaker 3: do you want to keep that open dialogue? Is that 215 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 3: a way to make sure that, like you mentioned, you 216 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 3: are being held accountable as a coach. 217 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,760 Speaker 1: Yeah, of course, I mean I want to know, like 218 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, like if I'm slacking or 219 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 1: doing something that's not within our standards or expectations and 220 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: stuff with the team, like I would hope and expect 221 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,080 Speaker 1: that people would hold me accountable to that. 222 00:09:31,600 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 3: So at the end of the day, when it comes 223 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 3: to like, you know, I know that you've worked with 224 00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 3: kids in the past, younger kids. When you look at 225 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 3: the youth sports culture that we're in right now, and 226 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 3: to kind of circle back, you know, do you think 227 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 3: you need to have been an elite level athlete to 228 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:48,000 Speaker 3: impact kids and teach them the sport of soccer or 229 00:09:48,000 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 3: any sport for that matter, or do you think, hey, 230 00:09:50,400 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 3: is it more about having the passion to want to 231 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:56,880 Speaker 3: develop human beings and through that passion of you know, 232 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 3: loving the sport that it doesn't matter what you're playing experience, Well, 233 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,280 Speaker 3: if you could still have a major impact and in 234 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,880 Speaker 3: essence not only create or help foster the kids love 235 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: for the sport and develop them in the great athletes, 236 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,880 Speaker 3: but you know, be a top level performing coach and 237 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:13,560 Speaker 3: create that and foster that culture even though you might 238 00:10:13,600 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 3: have had that elite level playing experience. 239 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I think you know, like that passion and stuff 240 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: like that's undeniable. 241 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 2: You know, like you can't touch to that. 242 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: And when you're working with people that have a passion 243 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: for what they're doing and a love for what they're doing, 244 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: I mean I think that, I mean that inspires me, 245 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 1: you know, So I think you don't have to be 246 00:10:32,679 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: this elite level athlete right now to inspire and to 247 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: give back to the community, you know, in those ways. 248 00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, you're passionate people that want 249 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: to help coach and develop and do that. Like I 250 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: think there's one hundred percent, you know, a big need 251 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:48,880 Speaker 1: for that, and so I think that just having that 252 00:10:48,920 --> 00:10:52,359 Speaker 1: passion alone is something that's very that's very special. 253 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:52,880 Speaker 2: You know, to use that. 254 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:54,960 Speaker 1: And I again the same way that I say that 255 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: every coach has an opportunity to give back from the 256 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: experiences that they've you know, gone through, like they have 257 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: something to offer a team. 258 00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 2: I believe that. 259 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:06,440 Speaker 1: With every athlete, you know, and every athlete's path is 260 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:07,120 Speaker 1: not the same. 261 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:09,520 Speaker 2: We all know that, you know, and so there's a 262 00:11:09,600 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 2: lot of different ways. There's a lot of. 263 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 1: Different paths, and so I think that every athlete has 264 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:17,000 Speaker 1: a story to tell and be impactful to others and 265 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: is inspiring to those people around them, you know. 266 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: Shed some light on Division three, you know, oftentimes now 267 00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 3: you guys are coming off at a national championship. So 268 00:11:26,640 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 3: I mean, you're the best Division three team in the 269 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 3: country certainly last year, and I would imagine our perennial 270 00:11:31,800 --> 00:11:35,040 Speaker 3: powerhouse are going to be going in that direction. You know, 271 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:39,199 Speaker 3: I would argue that the top level Division three is 272 00:11:39,760 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 3: at any sport. Maybe football might be the one thing 273 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,720 Speaker 3: where there's a difference because the size and speed is 274 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,679 Speaker 3: just you know, it's really challenging to overcome. But you know, 275 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 3: I would imagine that there are some Division ones that 276 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 3: you guys can be, there are Division twos you can be, 277 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,920 Speaker 3: like talk about Division three the level of competition because 278 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:00,640 Speaker 3: people often say, oh, it's borderline clubs. You know, it's 279 00:12:00,679 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 3: not the same dedication. Can you just talk about that? 280 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean our team is extremely dedicated, extremely. 281 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 2: Dedicated, and I mean give you an example. 282 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: We just won the national championship and sit in. 283 00:12:12,840 --> 00:12:15,160 Speaker 2: My office and looking outside, a senior. 284 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:17,360 Speaker 1: Who's going to graduate and will never play again is 285 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: on the field doing finishing, not even a week after 286 00:12:19,960 --> 00:12:22,680 Speaker 1: getting back from the final four other players on the field, 287 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:24,640 Speaker 1: running fitness, going after technical work. 288 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 2: I'm talking a week. 289 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,960 Speaker 1: Within winning, and that is unbelievable. You know, D one, 290 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 1: D two, D three, Like, there are a lot of 291 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: athletes out there that are extremely. 292 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 2: Dedicated to their sport and want to be the best. 293 00:12:37,320 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: And I think That's again one of the greatest things 294 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: that I really love about U Chicago is these student 295 00:12:42,280 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: athletes are unbelievable high achieving and want to be successful, 296 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,360 Speaker 1: and they work extremely hard in the classroom and they 297 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,079 Speaker 1: turn around and they work extremely. 298 00:12:51,320 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 2: Hard on the field. 299 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,800 Speaker 1: And you know, I again I Division or one, two 300 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: or three. 301 00:12:56,440 --> 00:12:57,280 Speaker 2: I think there's a. 302 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: Lot of very dedicated athletes out there that you know, 303 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: want to be at their best and just want to 304 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:04,959 Speaker 1: continue to learn and grow. And I think it's about 305 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:07,280 Speaker 1: finding the right environment and the right fit that works 306 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: for them, you know, and what again might work for 307 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 1: one of their club teammates, doesn't you know, doesn't work 308 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: for the other club teamate. And I really think it's 309 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,160 Speaker 1: about finding the right fit where they feel that they 310 00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:19,920 Speaker 1: can continue to grow and go after their dreams and 311 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: their goals and be successful. 312 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 2: And I think that at the end of the day 313 00:13:23,400 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 2: is the most important right. 314 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:26,520 Speaker 1: We want them to be happy, We want them to 315 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: continue to grow and develop, and where that happens, you know, 316 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:33,199 Speaker 1: I think is truly up to them and their decision 317 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: of what's going to make them happy. 318 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 3: So how do you navigate the recruiting aspect of it, 319 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 3: Because I mean at the end of the day, you know, 320 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,960 Speaker 3: most people will know there's no athletics scholarships that are 321 00:13:43,000 --> 00:13:45,560 Speaker 3: offered at Division III. And of course, you know, in 322 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 3: today's era in particular, and I don't want to just 323 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 3: say today's but I mean in social media and such, 324 00:13:49,720 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 3: everyone wants to post, you know, make that post, you know, 325 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 3: I'm committed D one and they always highlight it like 326 00:13:54,520 --> 00:13:56,840 Speaker 3: D one, which is fine, you know whatever. Kids are 327 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,439 Speaker 3: excited and they work hard and deserve that and want 328 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 3: to do that, but it's not always the right thing. 329 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 3: How do you, you know, navigate that on the recruiting trail, 330 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 3: Like let's say you see a fringe player who you know, 331 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 3: maybe could be a mid major D one, you know, 332 00:14:11,360 --> 00:14:14,800 Speaker 3: make a roster type person, or could potentially come to 333 00:14:14,880 --> 00:14:17,720 Speaker 3: your program and maybe you know, be an impact player 334 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 3: or you know, how do you I don't want to 335 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,080 Speaker 3: say sell it, but how do you navigate that to 336 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:26,240 Speaker 3: make sure that they see the true value of what 337 00:14:26,280 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 3: your program can be from a separation standpoint versus a 338 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,160 Speaker 3: D one that may offer them a little bit of 339 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 3: a financial or athletic scholarship. 340 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: I think it really just navigated in the sense of 341 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: I don't even know like say that, like the student 342 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,560 Speaker 1: athletes that are looking at University of Chicago, you know, 343 00:14:43,640 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 1: are looking at University of Chicago for. 344 00:14:45,880 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 2: The academics and the athletic program. 345 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:52,479 Speaker 1: And you know, I learned this or heard this unbelievable 346 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,840 Speaker 1: story from a coach that was a basketball coach at 347 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:59,760 Speaker 1: a very good school and talked about the athletes that 348 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: he was recruiting and getting them on campus and then 349 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: having to have them buy into who they were, and 350 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:09,320 Speaker 1: you know, they weren't very successful, and he kind of 351 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,800 Speaker 1: turned things around the way that he wanted to recruit 352 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:16,040 Speaker 1: and talk about his program, and he started to just 353 00:15:16,320 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: be very open about this is who we are, this 354 00:15:18,800 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: is what we believe in, these are our standards, these 355 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:22,840 Speaker 1: are expectitions, this is what we're all about. 356 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:24,359 Speaker 2: And he started. 357 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: Finding players that wanted to come in because they wanted 358 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:27,200 Speaker 1: to be a. 359 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:29,200 Speaker 2: Part of that, not getting these great. 360 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: Athletes to come in and then making them try to 361 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: buy into what they were. 362 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,080 Speaker 2: And that just always sticks out to me so much, 363 00:15:36,120 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 2: about here's who we are, this is who. 364 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:40,200 Speaker 1: We are, this is what we stand for, this is 365 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: what we're about, and talk very openly about that and 366 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 1: their experience and what they're going to have here, and 367 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, we want the student 368 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: athletes that want to be a part of that, that 369 00:15:50,200 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: want to be here. We don't want to try to 370 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,920 Speaker 1: have student athletes come in and then try to make 371 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: them buy in and be a part of that. You know, 372 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,080 Speaker 1: Like we talk about who we are, and you know, 373 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 1: our athletes talk about the experiences that they have here 374 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,840 Speaker 1: on campus academically and athletically and what we can offer, 375 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 1: and then you know, it's it's really the athlete again, 376 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: It's about the right fit. 377 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 2: I want it to be the right fit for them. 378 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 2: I want them to be able to come to school 379 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 2: and be successful for four years. 380 00:16:13,560 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: So I don't know if it's like a cell. It's 381 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:17,920 Speaker 1: more like, this is who we are, and you know, 382 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: to want to be a part of that, you know, 383 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: and obviously then it has to be reciprocated that we 384 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: are recruiting that player as well and want to offer 385 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: those players. 386 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:29,000 Speaker 2: But you know, yeah, I don't know if I really 387 00:16:29,000 --> 00:16:29,880 Speaker 2: have that answer for you. 388 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,400 Speaker 3: Well, I think that's a great point. And it's interesting 389 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,200 Speaker 3: because you know, at the collegiate level, you know, for 390 00:16:35,240 --> 00:16:37,880 Speaker 3: the most part, you know, your livelihood is somewhat, I 391 00:16:37,880 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: would say, I don't want to say somewhat, but it's 392 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,760 Speaker 3: directly correlated to the performance of the team to a 393 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 3: certain degree. I mean, obviously there's a lot more that 394 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 3: goes into it. How do you make sure that you 395 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 3: know you foster the overall student athlete development while still 396 00:16:52,440 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 3: putting a major emphasis on Hey, guys, we're going out 397 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 3: here to win ball games. 398 00:16:57,560 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: That's a great question. I'm obviously uber competitive and love 399 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:05,560 Speaker 1: to win. However, I also think like success is creating 400 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: an environment that people want to be a part of 401 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,520 Speaker 1: and that they're having fun, because I believe when you're 402 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: having fun, you're playing at your best. When you're having fun, 403 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: you continue to grow and develop. So I really want 404 00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:19,359 Speaker 1: to try to create an environment that is highly competitive 405 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 1: and we compete in all that we do, but they 406 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: can have fun and be themselves and not be in 407 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:26,600 Speaker 1: an environment filled with fear or any of that. Like, 408 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:28,360 Speaker 1: I want people to be able to be who they 409 00:17:28,400 --> 00:17:30,399 Speaker 1: are and express themselves. Like I think that's one of 410 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: the greatest things about soccer is you you know, you 411 00:17:33,080 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: can have all these different ideas and different things, but like, 412 00:17:35,920 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, too, like you're playing 413 00:17:38,800 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: on instinct to some degree, and you're also playing to 414 00:17:41,040 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: what the game gives you, right, And so I think 415 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,080 Speaker 1: that's the beauty of it and having people be able 416 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: to be themselves and be creative and be dynamic in 417 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,200 Speaker 1: the ways and bring out their strengths. And I believe 418 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: in creating that environment that they can do that and 419 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: that they're having fun and that they want to be 420 00:17:57,440 --> 00:17:59,200 Speaker 1: out there and that you know, they want to show 421 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: up every single day and compete. And I think within 422 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: some of that stuff does come winning, you know, and 423 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 1: again like creating a very competitive environment where you know 424 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:12,600 Speaker 1: we are competing to win to go hand in hand. 425 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 4: When we come back, Coach Sitch and I discuss why 426 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:17,440 Speaker 4: it's crucial to listen to kids when they share the 427 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 4: goals and how they envision sports fitting into their life. 428 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 4: As we go to break, I wanted to share an 429 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:24,560 Speaker 4: update with you from our friends at Team Snap, one 430 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:27,160 Speaker 4: of the most dynamic platforms in youth sports right now. 431 00:18:27,240 --> 00:18:30,199 Speaker 4: As you may recall, we had Peter Francillis, CEO of 432 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,879 Speaker 4: Team Snap, on an earlier episode of this podcast, and 433 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:34,800 Speaker 4: one of the areas we covered was how he saw 434 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 4: technology evolving within the youth sports industry. Today, I'm excited 435 00:18:38,400 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 4: to share that Team Snap will be hosting a free 436 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 4: webinar on Wednesday, June twenty eighth at one pm Easter 437 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 4: at eleven AM Mountain ten AM Pacific to introduce a 438 00:18:46,480 --> 00:18:50,000 Speaker 4: new offering on their platform, Team Snap for Business. Already 439 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 4: recognized as one of the most complete sports management solutions 440 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 4: in youth sports, Team Snap for Business is a next 441 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,399 Speaker 4: generation platform that provides sports organizations with a full suite 442 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,120 Speaker 4: of tools and services to help support and grow your programs. 443 00:19:03,240 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 4: To learn more, head over to teamsnap dot com and 444 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,159 Speaker 4: register for the webinar. Today you'll be the first to 445 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,640 Speaker 4: see how Team Snap for Business can continue to help 446 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:14,160 Speaker 4: power your organization. Team Snap for Business offers industry leading 447 00:19:14,200 --> 00:19:18,240 Speaker 4: account management, business services and support in a streamline platform 448 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,840 Speaker 4: that is user friendly and enhances the overall member experience. 449 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 3: For players and families. 450 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,879 Speaker 4: Again teamsnap dot com and register for the Team Snap 451 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:28,480 Speaker 4: for Business webinar that will be held on Wednesday. 452 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:37,240 Speaker 3: June twenty eighth. Welcome back where we left off. 453 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:39,640 Speaker 4: Julian and I were about to talk about what athletes 454 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:42,440 Speaker 4: can do to stand out during the college recruiting process. 455 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 3: Now there will be folks that you know argue. You 456 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,280 Speaker 3: know is particularly at the youth level, like winning is fun. 457 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:52,439 Speaker 3: Kids want to win, Like eight nine, ten year old 458 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:54,960 Speaker 3: kids want to win. And I never argue that they don't, 459 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:57,880 Speaker 3: but I will argue that give a kid. Watch kids 460 00:19:57,920 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 3: come off the pitch, or watch them come off the 461 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:02,600 Speaker 3: baseball field then they lost. Give them ten minutes and 462 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 3: they're running around with their friends having a blast win 463 00:20:04,600 --> 00:20:07,160 Speaker 3: they're eight nine years old. Like, sure, some may be like, gosh, 464 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 3: I really wish we could have won, But most of 465 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:13,399 Speaker 3: the time they're like, I totally agree the competition, you know, 466 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:17,239 Speaker 3: making a creative environment. But how do you juggle fun right? 467 00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:22,320 Speaker 3: Because fun is not let's run amuck and let's horse around, right. 468 00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:25,040 Speaker 3: That could be fun sometimes in the locker room or 469 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 3: on a bus trip you're goofing around. Those are important 470 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,280 Speaker 3: memories to create at any level. But how do you 471 00:20:30,400 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 3: also create that competitive fun environment where the emphasis isn't 472 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 3: necessarily on the results, but the results come as a 473 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:40,199 Speaker 3: result of having fun while learning to compete at a 474 00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:40,800 Speaker 3: high level. 475 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I think it's just like, I mean, we 476 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:48,800 Speaker 1: do so many different competition games and like reading the team, 477 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: like during the finals, week or midterm week, like we 478 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,440 Speaker 1: play a lot, like just I think finding those moments 479 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: where you know, like before every pregame we do a 480 00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:01,640 Speaker 1: fourteen tournament like achampionship, everyone gets to play each other. 481 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 1: Then we do a semi and then we do a championship, 482 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:05,719 Speaker 1: and then we do a third fourth place game. Like 483 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 1: it's just it's that's fun. They're playing, they're competing, and 484 00:21:09,080 --> 00:21:11,720 Speaker 1: I think just trying to lay out those different dynamics 485 00:21:11,760 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: as well about competing in those environments. But that's fun 486 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:21,840 Speaker 1: playing the game and competing and winning those championships and 487 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:24,359 Speaker 1: training like that is fun, you know what I mean, 488 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: Like those are some of the greatest things I loved 489 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,359 Speaker 1: about playing was competing and stuff in training and having 490 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 1: those small sided tournaments or you know, wanting to win 491 00:21:32,760 --> 00:21:33,920 Speaker 1: every single day and training. 492 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,439 Speaker 3: Yeah, And it's like if you're running a youth practice, 493 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:39,120 Speaker 3: like make it competitive, like go out there and yeah, 494 00:21:39,119 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 3: go out there and have a competition where kids are 495 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 3: laughing and having fun and pushing each other. But it's 496 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 3: not always like super so I mean, you can create 497 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 3: little pockets, you can have stations. I'm just visualizing that 498 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,119 Speaker 3: you can run a practice where there are three or 499 00:21:52,160 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 3: four different stations where kids are moving around and everything's competitive, 500 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,880 Speaker 3: but the emphasis is about breeding the competition and that 501 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:03,400 Speaker 3: will correlate to victories or at least highly competitive matches. 502 00:22:03,600 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 3: You know, when you roll the ball out for the games, coachitch, 503 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 3: Like when parents listen to this, and you know, they're 504 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:11,680 Speaker 3: trying to navigate youth sports, are trying to navigate which 505 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,120 Speaker 3: clubs to go into, and how do they figure out 506 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:17,680 Speaker 3: Like let's say, at club says, hey, we love your kids, 507 00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 3: they're great, but in order for them to reach their 508 00:22:19,440 --> 00:22:21,560 Speaker 3: potential and they're you know, eight, nine, ten years old, 509 00:22:21,600 --> 00:22:23,560 Speaker 3: we're gonna need a full year commitment, and you know 510 00:22:23,640 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 3: the kids the parents says, hey, well my daughter or 511 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 3: son loves to play volleyball as well. Well, that's gonna 512 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,120 Speaker 3: be tough. You know, how do they juggle that, because 513 00:22:31,119 --> 00:22:32,199 Speaker 3: there's a lot of that going on. 514 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's a tough one because you know, I often 515 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: ask myself this question because when I grew up, there 516 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,400 Speaker 1: wasn't an opportunity until it was. 517 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 2: Like much older, to play soccer year round. 518 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:46,840 Speaker 1: I didn't have ECNL, I didn't have GA, I didn't 519 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:49,200 Speaker 1: have all these other you know, we played in. 520 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:49,880 Speaker 2: The Sunday League. 521 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: We played once a week and we trained maybe two 522 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:56,160 Speaker 1: maybe three times a week, And so I often ask myself, 523 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,960 Speaker 1: if soccer was available four times a week, no other sports, 524 00:23:00,119 --> 00:23:02,359 Speaker 1: what would I've done. I really don't know that answer, 525 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,400 Speaker 1: because I really enjoyed playing other sports, and it wasn't 526 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,040 Speaker 1: until high school till I made the decision that I. 527 00:23:08,040 --> 00:23:09,320 Speaker 2: Wanted to focus on soccer. 528 00:23:09,760 --> 00:23:13,320 Speaker 1: And so I think sometimes I think the biggest thing 529 00:23:13,440 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: is like. 530 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 2: Listen to the athlete. They will tell you what they want. 531 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,880 Speaker 1: I mean, if you listen to kids, they will tell 532 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:19,640 Speaker 1: you how. 533 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:21,639 Speaker 2: They want their sport to fit in their life. 534 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:24,080 Speaker 1: And what goals they have and what they want to 535 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:26,480 Speaker 1: go after. You know, I remember tem my dad at 536 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:27,680 Speaker 1: the age of six, I wanted to be a pro 537 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,680 Speaker 1: soccer player, and you know, like they would foster that environment, 538 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:34,040 Speaker 1: but they would listen to me, like I wanted to 539 00:23:34,080 --> 00:23:36,439 Speaker 1: play on five different indoor teams, you know, like my 540 00:23:36,480 --> 00:23:38,280 Speaker 1: parents didn't force me to do that. I was like, 541 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: oh my god, I want to play. Can I stay, 542 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:40,120 Speaker 1: can I play? 543 00:23:40,119 --> 00:23:41,680 Speaker 2: Can I plan? And this one can play in that one? 544 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:44,600 Speaker 1: And it's like, I think, if we listen to the athletes, 545 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,480 Speaker 1: they'll tell you what they want to do, and at 546 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,560 Speaker 1: eight or nine, I think playing other sports is unbelievable. 547 00:23:50,640 --> 00:23:51,600 Speaker 2: It developed so. 548 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: Many different muscle groups and you know, like hand eye 549 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:57,480 Speaker 1: coordination or foot foot eye coordination. 550 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:00,480 Speaker 2: Like playing these different sports just continue us to. 551 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: Make them better and well rounded athletes. 552 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:04,080 Speaker 2: And I think they learned so much. 553 00:24:04,160 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: I think they learn from different coaches, They learn from 554 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:09,520 Speaker 1: you know, different things that they're expected of them in 555 00:24:09,560 --> 00:24:12,680 Speaker 1: basketball that's different than soccer or volleyball. 556 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:12,439 Speaker 3: You know. 557 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:16,119 Speaker 1: So I think allowing them to have those opportunities and 558 00:24:16,160 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: playing the sports that they really love. 559 00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 2: And again, are they happy? 560 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:20,000 Speaker 1: Are they happy? 561 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:20,960 Speaker 2: Are they having fun? 562 00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,399 Speaker 1: And you know, I think listening to the athlete of 563 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,200 Speaker 1: what they would like to do, I know it's hard, 564 00:24:25,320 --> 00:24:27,560 Speaker 1: Like I can only imagine how hard it is too, 565 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,000 Speaker 1: you know, hard for the clubs and hard for the families. 566 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 3: You know. In closing, I would love for you to 567 00:24:32,600 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 3: take a couple of minutes. And you know, people often 568 00:24:35,680 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 3: ask like how do I navigate it? You know, how 569 00:24:37,840 --> 00:24:39,560 Speaker 3: do I get seen? Like, you know, I want to 570 00:24:39,600 --> 00:24:42,479 Speaker 3: go play in college. I'm going on all these you know, 571 00:24:43,000 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 3: showcase tournaments and I'm playing all the time. I'm trying 572 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,399 Speaker 3: to email coaches Like, I'm listening to coach Sich and 573 00:24:49,520 --> 00:24:51,240 Speaker 3: I want to go play for her. I want to 574 00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:54,680 Speaker 3: go play for Manya Poopione at George Mason, Like, what's 575 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,399 Speaker 3: the best way for parents and kids to navigate the 576 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,280 Speaker 3: recruiting process. How do they get in front of coach 577 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 3: and develop that relationship and basically take it into the 578 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:05,760 Speaker 3: roll hands and be proactive with it. 579 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know, obviously some things are different just given 580 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: the rules between you know, the different divisions and how 581 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: you know, the coaches can interact or talk with the 582 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,920 Speaker 1: with the athletes. But I would definitely say the responsibility 583 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: goes to the kids. 584 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 2: Parents can help them, but. 585 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,680 Speaker 1: Like we would like to hear from the student athlete, 586 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:26,879 Speaker 1: and I think making that first connection for the student 587 00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: athlete reaching out in an email. When you reach out 588 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: in an email, find a way to make something personal. 589 00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:34,520 Speaker 1: If you're reaching out during the fall season, look at 590 00:25:34,560 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 1: their schedule, Hay coach, you know, Hay coach mons like 591 00:25:38,200 --> 00:25:40,320 Speaker 1: great way the other day again, so and so right, 592 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,679 Speaker 1: Like just finding that little bit of extra connection with 593 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: the coaches. 594 00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 2: To make yourself memorable. 595 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,840 Speaker 1: Right, Well, we'll remember that when those athletes reach out 596 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: and relate something to something within our program. So I 597 00:25:52,600 --> 00:25:55,760 Speaker 1: definitely think that reaching out through an email, letting them 598 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,919 Speaker 1: know you're interested, why you're interested in the university, the 599 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,320 Speaker 1: showcases you're going to be at, asking if they're going 600 00:26:01,359 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 1: to be hosting any ID camps that you can attend. 601 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:05,359 Speaker 1: If you're not, you know, if you don't have an 602 00:26:05,400 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: opportunity to. 603 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 2: Be playing at these showcases, what's the next best way 604 00:26:08,800 --> 00:26:09,440 Speaker 2: for you to see me? 605 00:26:09,880 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: You know, sending your highlight tapes and I you know, 606 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,440 Speaker 1: like there's nothing wrong with another follow up email, right, 607 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:17,520 Speaker 1: or just touching base once a month, Hey, here's the 608 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:18,359 Speaker 1: things that are happening. 609 00:26:18,400 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 2: Here's my most recent academic information, you know, and just 610 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 2: continuing to. 611 00:26:23,280 --> 00:26:26,679 Speaker 1: Build those relationships and stuff with the coaches and you know, 612 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,119 Speaker 1: not being afraid to ask those questions or where is 613 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:31,320 Speaker 1: the best opportunity for them to be seen? 614 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,680 Speaker 3: I love it, Like grab the bull by the horns, 615 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:37,520 Speaker 3: Like be proactive parents kids, like coaches want to see 616 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:39,280 Speaker 3: that you want to be a part of their program 617 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:41,679 Speaker 3: like they want to see it. Don't be afraid to 618 00:26:41,720 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 3: follow up, right, I mean, you know, the squeaky wheel 619 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 3: gets the grease. So coach, where can people find you? 620 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:49,280 Speaker 3: How can they connect, you know, where can they reach out? 621 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, email is a great you know, email if you 622 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:54,640 Speaker 1: want to set up a phone called to be able 623 00:26:54,680 --> 00:26:57,240 Speaker 1: to talk about the university. You know, I'm able to 624 00:26:57,240 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 1: do that at our division and being able to talk 625 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:02,879 Speaker 1: and you know and have those conversations. So definitely email 626 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: is is a great way. I know some kids are 627 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 1: the Twitter, the Instagram now with sending information that is 628 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 1: really great. However, an email for myself is always the 629 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,399 Speaker 1: best way to go. So email, you know, asking again 630 00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:19,640 Speaker 1: about in every division, every school has a budget, right 631 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,880 Speaker 1: and so I think kind of knowing and understanding that 632 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,480 Speaker 1: schools might not be able to get to every showcase 633 00:27:25,560 --> 00:27:28,679 Speaker 1: that's out there, you know with their potential limited staffs 634 00:27:28,760 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 1: or limited budgets. 635 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:31,120 Speaker 2: Like it's different for everyone. 636 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:34,399 Speaker 1: So I really do think finding the camps that the 637 00:27:34,440 --> 00:27:37,159 Speaker 1: coaches are going to or what camps they're hosting on 638 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:39,480 Speaker 1: their campus, you know, for ourselves will be you know, 639 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: heading to ECNL and MLS events. That's a great way 640 00:27:42,720 --> 00:27:44,000 Speaker 1: you know for us to be able to watch a 641 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: lot of our athletes and then also ID camps. It's 642 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 1: huge for us, you know, it's huge. We do a 643 00:27:48,720 --> 00:27:51,400 Speaker 1: lot of recruiting off of our id camps and it's 644 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,520 Speaker 1: a great opportunity for the athletes to go to a 645 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,720 Speaker 1: school that they're very you know, interested in. It's one 646 00:27:57,720 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 1: of their top schools that they're looking at, you know. 647 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,359 Speaker 1: For us, we have our athletes working in the camps too. 648 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 1: You get to connect with our athletes. They get to 649 00:28:04,480 --> 00:28:06,919 Speaker 1: do a tour campus with our athletes, They get to 650 00:28:06,920 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: ask them a lot of questions during lunch. So it's 651 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:13,000 Speaker 1: a great way for the athlete to tour campus, see campus, 652 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,400 Speaker 1: interact with current players, and then work with our staff. 653 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:20,280 Speaker 3: Coach Sich Julianne Sich, I cannot thank you enough for 654 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:22,160 Speaker 3: coming on and Sharon, this has been awesome. 655 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:24,600 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thank you again, Bami, I appreciate it. 656 00:28:24,840 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 3: That's Julianne Sich, head women's soccer coach at the University 657 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:31,199 Speaker 3: of Denver. Thanks for listening to the Reform Sports Project 658 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,000 Speaker 3: podcast Dominic Bonacor and our goal is to restore a 659 00:28:34,000 --> 00:28:37,160 Speaker 3: healthy balance and perspective in all areas of sports through 660 00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 3: education and advocacy. For updates, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, 661 00:28:41,520 --> 00:28:44,200 Speaker 3: and Instagram, or check out our website by searching for 662 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 3: the Reform Sports Project