Today's Play: David Harbin shares his path from playing soccer at Winthrop University to coaching high school and middle school soccer and basketball. He emphasizes the importance of creating a positive team culture, highlighting practices like ending practices with a "joke of the day" and introducing the "warrior belt" to recognize players for their contributions beyond on-field performance. David also discusses the emotional challenges of the college recruitment process and the importance of finding joy in every aspect of being part of a team.

Today's Coach: David Harbin is the Assistant Director of Activities and Athletics at Decatur High School in Decatur, GA. He is a Certified Athletic Administrator, recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and serves on the Board of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA). He has taught various classes with the GADA on Middle School Athletics and has served as the Middle School Liaison, as well as the Chair of the Technology Committee. Prior to becoming a full-time Athletic Director, David taught Middle School Social Studies and coached high school and middle school soccer and basketball, working primarily as the Boys' Varsity Soccer Coach for eight years. His team competed in multiple Final Fours and won the 2016 state championship. He was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the Small School State Coach of the Year, as well as the Small School Coach of the Year for the Southern Region of the US. In college, David played soccer for Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Our guest reflects on his experience speaking to MLS Academy 8th and 9th graders about the slim chances of making it to the professional ranks and the importance of prioritizing academics for college recruitment. The discussion delves into the role of social media in recruiting, advising players to be mindful of their online presence. They explore alternative divisions and governing bodies like NAIA, NJCAA, and community colleges, highlighting the financial advantages and competitive opportunities they offer. Ultimately, the conversation emphasizes the importance of finding a balanced college experience that fosters academic, athletic, and personal growth, rather than just chasing a Division 1 dream.

Today's Guest: Kyle Gookins is a former Division I Head Men's Soccer Coach who currently is the Director of My College Soccer, a college soccer recruiting consulting agency. He has over 23 years of coaching experience at every level of youth and amateur soccer and has also been a US Soccer Scout for the USSF Youth national teams.

To note: The "head count" and "equivalency" scholarship models discussed in this episode are currently in flux as the NCAA determines roster limits in the aftermath of the House v. NCAA settlement.

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Our guest discusses the differences between coaching young athletes and college players, emphasizing resilience, teamwork, and the mental side of softball. She also provides valuable insights into the recruiting process, including what coaches look for in players beyond athletic ability, and offers advice for parents on how to best support their children’s sports journey.

Today's Guest: CJ is the owner of CJ's perfect practice, a baseball and softball hitting instruction company. In college, CJ was the starting catcher for Western Washington's NAIA national championship team. After college, she was the assistant coach and head hitting instructor at University of Virginia for five seasons. During her time there, UVA hitters were ranked 15th in the nation among all NCAA division one schools. CJ was inducted into Western Washington's Hall of Fame in 2011.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play:
Our guest shares valuable insights from her extensive career in basketball. Together we dive into the changing landscape of college recruiting, considering things like the impact of the new scholastic period in women’s basketball. We also explore the growing influence of club coaches, the role of parents in their children’s sports journeys, and the importance of self-awareness and communication skills for young athletes.

Today's Coach:
Christy Thomaskutty is a former standout basketball player at Tulane University, former college coach, and current ESPN analyst. In college, Christy ranked fifth all-time in Division I history for career three-point field goals and was honored as the National Female Winner of the Arthur Ashe Junior Sports Scholar Award.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play:
Our guest shares insights from her diverse career, including her time as an All-American softball player at the University of Tennessee, her experience in professional softball, and her transition from nursing to coaching. The conversation delves into the challenges of coaching at the collegiate level, particularly in helping young athletes develop essential life skills like time management and responsibility. India also emphasizes the importance of parents finding the right environment for their children’s athletic growth and highlights the impact of parental behavior on a student-athlete’s development. The episode concludes with practical advice for parents on supporting their children’s aspirations to play sports at the next level.

Today's Guest:
India Childs, a former All-American and SEC Player of the Year with the University of Tennessee and USA Softball Olympic National Team Trialist in 2007. Currently, India is the head women's softball coach at Emory University and owner of Slapper Nation, a training company that specializes in teaching slap hitting in a clinic setting.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play:
In this episode, we talk about the evolving challenges in youth tennis, from ranking obsessions to the impact of parental involvement on development. We'll also learn how to maintain integrity in youth sports (hint: discipline is key) and why it is important to build character-driven teams.

Today's Coach:
Kenyon Generette-Oliver is one of the partners at Universal Tennis Academy in Atlanta, Georgia where he leads tennis pros at some of the top tennis clubs in the Atlanta metro area. Most recently, he was named the Head Tennis Coach at Agnes Scott College. He is an Elite USPTA Tennis Professional and has been teaching juniors and college players for over 25 years.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play:
Join us as our guest shares her firsthand experiences with the challenges college coaches face, especially the impact of parents’ unrealistic expectations on athletes’ development. Discover the importance of parental support for children’s growth and character development, along with the necessity for open communication between coaches and athletes. We also highlight the value of embracing failure as a chance for improvement.

Today's Coach:
Christy Thomaskutty is an analyst for ESPN covering sports across their basketball platform. Prior to that, she coached college basketball for 19 years in both Division I and III and also served as the Vice President of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). In college, she was a standout on the Tulane University women's basketball team where she ranked fifth all-time in Division I history for career three-point field goals and was honored as the national female winner of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar award.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play:
Follow along with Coach Jason Zimmerman as he shares his journey to a college coaching career and tells us what college sports "is really all about". He also shares insightful suggestions about the recruiting process and how to make a lasting impression on a coach.

Today's Coach:
Coach Jason Zimmerman. Jason is a current Division III Head Men's Basketball Coach and Director of Coach Z's Basketball Camps. He has over 28 years of college coaching experience including stints at the University of Evansville, his alma mater Davidson College, and now Emory University where he's been since 2007.

Send us your feedback!

To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Linkedin