ATHLETE 1 PODCAST

Picture this: you're offered the role of head coach for a phenomenally successful high school baseball program. Surprised? Humbled? That's exactly how Rick Weaver, the newly-appointed head coach of Defiance High School's baseball team felt when he was handed the reins. Join us as we engage in a heart-to-heart and explore not just his journey to this coveted position, but also his unshakeable commitment to molding his players into exemplary citizens, husbands, and fathers. 

As we navigate through the conversation, Rick and I delve into the compelling world of high school sports and its multifaceted impact on youth development. We drop the ball on some essential life skills that sports nurture in young minds – think resilience, teamwork, and the understanding that effort bears fruit. We also tackle the shifting attitudes of athletes and their keen parents, as well as the delicate issue of managing players' expectations in terms of game time. And yes, don't miss our frank discussion on how high school sports experience can give one a competitive advantage in the job market.

Ever wondered what it takes to train 90-mile per hour pitchers? Or what unique strategies keep players motivated day in, day out? That's where Coach Weaver takes us next. He opens up about Defiance High School's innovative training methods and motivational techniques. We also delve into his entrepreneurial journey with Krato Sports, exploring the unique capacities of their bat weights. As we draw to a close, Rick shares his respect for the legendary coaches who preceded him, his aspirations for Defiance High School Baseball, and his gratitude for this opportunity to connect with our Athlete 1 podcast listeners.

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Get ready for an eye-opening discussion with Tim Held, the acclaimed head coach of Cincinnati Moeller High School's 2023 Ohio Division 1 state championship team. You won't want to miss out on the insights and strategies behind this high-performing team's success, and the sheer talent that made up their roster. Prepare to be blown away by the dedication, the rigorous training, and the journey of overcoming challenges that led these young athletes to clinch the championship.

We dive deeper into the intricacies of high school baseball, discussing the tactics that can be game-changers. Timing the runners from the pitcher's leg lift, or the strategic decision-making about when to run based on reading the catcher and pitcher. Here, every strategy matters, and Coach Held talks about the importance of practice, the fierce competition for starting spots, and the world of competitive high school baseball. He also reveals the transformative impact of getting their own turf field in 2008 on the trajectory of their baseball program.

Wrapping up, Coach Held gets personal. He shares insights on his communication with players and parents, his approach to handling exit interviews, and some of his most cherished coaching stories. He also reflects on the family's history of state titles, his long relationship with recently retired head coach of Defiance High School, Tom Held. This episode, filled with wisdom, experience, and practical advice, offers an enriching look into the world of high school baseball. Engage in this exclusive peek behind the scenes of a state championship team's journey.

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What happens when high school coaches feel unsupported and lose their authority in the athletic community? Tune in to this eye-opening conversation on the Athlete 1 Podcast as we explore the concerning departure of these vital mentors and the importance of support from parents and athletic directors.

As your host, Ken Carpenter, I share my experiences as a veteran high school baseball coach, and together, we'll uncover the invaluable life lessons coaches provide as role models and mentors. Let's learn how we can create a culture of respect and support, ensuring the continued presence of dedicated and passionate coaches in high school sports. Don't miss this crucial discussion on the Athlete 1 Podcast.

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Join us as we journey down memory lane with Phil Callaghan, a Hall of Fame member of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association, celebrating his incredible 29-year coaching career. We explore the challenges of managing talented players and the changes high school baseball has experienced over the years. You'll also hear Phil's advice on making decisions in the best interest of your student-athletes.

Phil shares stories from his time at three different schools - St. Francis Desales, Dublin Scioto, and Olentangy Orange - as well as how he adapted his coaching style to match the varying talent levels. We delve into the influential role Don Thorpe has played in Ohio high school baseball and beyond, and Phil offers invaluable advice to high school players wanting to play college baseball. Discover the impact of effort on an athlete's success and how young athletes can prepare themselves for life after high school.

Rounding out our conversation, we discuss some fascinating baseball topics, including the skill and approach of two legendary pitcher duos - Greg Maddux and Pedro Martinez versus Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson. Phil reveals his choice for the greatest MLB player of all time and which pitcher and position player he would want in his lineup for a must-win game. Don't miss this captivating episode packed with incredible stories, valuable lessons, and a deep appreciation for the game of baseball.

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Imagine experiencing a gut-wrenching extra innings loss as a high school baseball coach, and then having the courage to reflect on the game without regret. That's exactly what our guest, Olentangy Berlin High School's Head Baseball Coach Mike Weaver, does in this engaging episode. Join us as Mike shares his unique perspective on the sport, the pivotal moments of the recent match against Gehanna Lincoln, and the tough decision to bring in a reliever. 

We also dive into the world of high school baseball coaching, where Mike juggles his roles as coach, teacher, and parent in the competitive atmosphere of Southern Delaware County in Ohio. Discover the work being done to ensure the success of high school programs and the importance of mentoring younger coaches in building a strong community. 

Lastly, we get a glimpse of Mike's coaching style, his predictions for the central district division one regionals, and his most successful season this year. Taking risks and trusting his instincts have led Mike and his team to great heights. Don't miss out on these valuable insights and experiences from a dedicated high school baseball coach.

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Episode 71

Why do some teams always produce successful teams?  I sat down with 5 great high school baseball coaches from around the country to discuss what it takes to win a state championship in baseball.  Between these coaches, they have won over 3,300 games and over 20 state championships in high school. baseball.

It starts with culture and having athletes.  Pitching, defense and timely hitting.  Trust in your players and focusing on developing a strong bond with your players are critical.  This is why they are ultra successful.

• Todd Fitz-Ferald: Stoneman Douglas HS (FL)
• Butch Chaffin: Cookeville HS (TN)
• John Lowery: Jefferson HS (WV)
• Tom Held: Defiance HS (OH)
• Chris Kaczmar: Walsh Jesuit HS (OH)

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Episode 70

In 27 years as a college baseball head coach, Head Coach Bob Todd (Ohio State University Baseball - Retired) never had a losing season.  He won 40 games eleven times, 50 games twice and is the only 5 time winner of the Big 10 Coach of the Year.

• Missing the dugout
• Keys to consistent success
• Trusting the process
• What he looked for in a recruit
• Motivating and holding players accountable
• 72 players signed MLB contracts
• 19 All-Americans
• All 4 of his children played D1 sports
• The importance of being a good teammate
• One change he would make for college baseball

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Episode 69

On this episode of the Athlete 1 Podcast
 
Head Baseball Coach Delvin Jordan is in his first season coaching coaching 2022 state runner-up Redan HS Raiders (GA).  Despite losing the majority of the starters to graduation, his team is making another run and picking up where they left off.

• Changing the style of play
• Base stealing and small ball
• Road warriors (no home field)
• Spring football vs baseball in Georgia
• Benefits of being a multi-sport athlete
• 2 Way Sports
• The impact a coach has on athletes
• No excuses

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Episode 68

Ryne Romick (Denison University Baseball Associate Head Coach) was a All-Ohio multi-sport athlete at River High School (OH).   He pitched for the University of Akron Zips and jumped right into coaching after graduation.

Ryne Romick is the pitching coach and he goes into detail the challenges of trying to play college baseball and be successful. 

• Climbing to the top
• Coaching staff cohesion
• Benefits of being from a small town and being a multi-sport athlete
• Wake up call for incoming freshmen
• What coaches look for when recruiting
• D1 or bust
• Strength training - the difference maker
• Work life balance

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Parents are struggling to find what's best for their son or daughter when it comes to playing youth sports.  Should you specialize or let them play multiple youth sports?  The pressure of what other parents are doing, hoping for an athletic scholarship and the rising costs of playing travel, AAU or club sports. 

Should you specialize or play multiple youth sports?  Today's guest, Andrew Petcash is the host of the Petcash Pod, creator of the Profluence Sports Newsletter and former Boston University basketball player breaks down...

• What it takes to be D1 athlete
• Profluence Sports Newsletter
• Commercialization of youth sports 
• Are athletes being left behind because if the rising cost
• What it cost to play
• Are kids specializing too soon
• The Petcash Pod
• Rapid Fire   

Profluence Sports by Andrew Petcash

A newsletter breaking down the business of athletes, sports, and NIL.

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Episode 66

Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School (FL) Head Baseball Coach Todd Fitz - Gerald takes you behind the scenes and shares what it takes to win multiple state and national championships.

The SD Eagles go into the 2023 season as defending national champions with 13 players that are college bound.  

This interview was conducted on the 5 year anniversary of the Parkland, Florida mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School.  Coach Fitz-Gerald breaks down his keys to consistently producing nationally ranked teams.  He shares what he learned from the mass shooting and how we can  put our difference aside to be a better society.

• "I am the coach that I am because of the players that have played for me"
• Steps taken to change the team culture
• The ways he handles having your sons play for you
• Building a bond with your players 
• When talented players lack work ethic
• How you get returning players to stay hungry
• The shock that  comes with a mass shooting a week before the season and how he handled it
• The changes he has made since the mass shooting

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Episode 65

Adam Moseley - Hoover (AL) Buccaneer HS Head Baseball Coach / 2X Baseball Team USA World Champion 

The highly successful Adam Moseley joins the Athlete 1 Podcast.  In this episode, we find out why positive leadership matters for today's athlete.

• Coaching expectations at powerhouse Hoover High School
• His approach to pitching
• Unique process that incoming freshmen go through when they make the team
• Why visiting other programs is important
• What practice looks like
• Explanation of why Alabama High School Athletic Association suspended him for coaching Team USA
• How you handle adversity
• The response by coaches around the country who had his back
• Having great assistant coaches

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Episode 64

Bill and Frank Gamble - Massillon Jackson HS Baseball (OH) are a winning coaching combination on the baseball field.  This father-son combination teach and coach the game the right way. 

Their roles have reversed.  Bill, the son of HOF baseball coach Frank was a long time assistant for his dad.  Now Frank returns to be an assistant Bill for one of the top teams year in and year out in the state of Ohio.  Frank is in the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and Bill has two state titles. 

In this episode...

• Battling the elements in northeast Ohio
• The benefits of having a HOF coach as an assistant
• Putting pressure on the opponents
• Handling conversations with players who are struggling
• Communication within the coach - player - parent triangle
• Administration having your back
•  What parents don't know about the coach 

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Episode 63

After 22 years, Chris Fugitt - Hilliard Darby HS (OH) Head Baseball Coach stepped away from coaching to enjoy watching his son play D1 baseball for Purdue and Bowling Green University.  Four years later he returns to the dugout.

In this episode...

• Getting to be a dad and enjoy watching your son play
• Advice if you're coaching your son
• What parents should know
• Being consistent with your philosophy
• What middle school players lack when they move up to the HS level
• Ways to make travel ball better for the players
• Great stories from coaching against a friend
• Rapid Fire

Follow :  Chris Fugitt - @coachfug_28

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An amazing 61 episodes in two years and this one is the most listened to.   Jeff Letourneau shares his extraordinary path to the NY Yankees organization.  Here's why it's the most listened to episode.

• Going from a 5'5" high school infielder to the US Army
• Florida St University: Trying Out..Making it...and they never heard of you  
• Do you realize you're throwing 90 MPH
• Unlikely path to All-American Pitcher
• Changing your age to get a professional opportunity
• Pitching in Yankee stadium

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In this episode...

Patrick Jones (Host of the Patrick Jones Baseball Podcast)

Patrick shares secrets to improving your chances of playing college baseball.  

• Working with players in the winter
• Differences between HS, college and professional hitters
• Non-negotiables for hitting success
• Increasing your chances to play at the next level
• Mistakes HS players make in the recruiting process
• Hosting a baseball podcast and interviews with the best coaches in the country - free masterclass to every aspect of the game of baseball

@pjonesbaseball - Twitter

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Kurt Hines - Coronado High School (CA) Head Football Coach

Episode 60 - Relationship Building

• Keys to building strong relationships with your players
• Not sacrificing a wedding ring for a championship ring
• Want to be respected - not feared
• Getting parents to buy in
• Going Viral
• Turning a coaching mistake into a teachable moment

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Consistently successful teams have one thing that separates them from average teams.  A winning culture and the head coach is responsible for setting the tone. 

Greg Berge is the Head Basketball Coach and Principal at Lincoln High School in Lake City, Minnesota.  He is a Sports Leadership Facilitator and author of "Culture WINS". 

Coach Berge puts out a weekly newsletter: Great Teams - Better Leaders - 123

In this episode:

• 4 steps to building a winning program
• Getting the right players on the bus
• Developing the edge - 2017 team
• 5 types of leaders needed for a winning team
• Administrators need to have the coaches back
• Solutions to the officiating crisis

Follow Greg Berge on Twitter - @gb1121

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Episode 58

Walter Beede knows what it takes to get youth baseball players prepared to play high school and college baseball.  

Coach Beede is known as "The Youth Baseball Guy" received a scholarship from Arizona State University and was selected in the 13th round draft pick in 1981 by the Chicago Cubs, His Coaching background is lengthy and extensive. He has been a head coach at the High School, American Legion, National Travel baseball and NCAA-College level, He has also worked as a Task force member for the prestigious Team USA program in Cary NC. The parent of two sons that competed and graduated at the college level, Walter has been through the recruiting process with both of his sons Kyle and Tyler. Kyle played for LSU Eunice and Alexandria, and Tyler played for The National Champion Vanderbilt Commodores. Tyler also holds the distinction of being the only New England player in the 53-year history of the MLB Draft to be a TWO TIME FIRST ROUND DRAFT Selection. 

Walter Beede explains:

•  how travel baseball is a multi-million dollar business
• why recruits should attend college camps
• the importance of high school coaches
• how to be a college ready recruit
• what Tim Corbin (Vanderbilt) told him about high school players
• Best trick plays

You can follow Walter Beede  - @baseballlifer11 (Twitter)

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Episode 57 features former Mercer University baseball pitcher Conrad Cornell who came up with an idea that every player, high school/college coach and parent can use in a variety of ways.  That idea is the sports social media app Press Sports.

What is the Press Sports App and how can it help you?

Showcase your talent on Press Sports, the #1 sports social media app. Download the app, create your profile and share your sports highlights!

The Press Sports believes every athlete has a story worth sharing. Join over 250,000 athletes and coaches using our platform to connect with each other and share highlights across all levels and sports.

Think TikTok for Sports, with the purpose of LinkedIn for athletes and coaches. We provide a platform where users can have agency over telling their individual sports journeys. Athletes share their footage for the Press Sports Community to engage and connect with. The purpose for many is to seek out recruitment from other teams and colleges while also having the ability to share and engage with other sports-related content within a personalized sports community!

The Press Sports Community consists of: MS/HS/College Athletes and Coaches as well as Parents, Trainers, Fans and Organizations!

Athletes benefit from:
-College Recruitment
-Building a personal brand
-Connecting and engaging with other athletes in a Positive Environment
-Possessing a personal sports profile
-Gaining support from the community

Coaches benefit from:
-Discovering talent
-Connecting with athletes
-Promoting their programs
-Building a personal brand

Parents benefit from:
-Documenting your child’s athletic career from a young age
-Gaining support for your child from other parents, friends and fans in the community
-A Positive/Safe Platform, different from other toxic Social Medias
-Free exposure to colleges for your child (MS/HS)

Trainers benefit from:
-Building your personal training brand to the 300+ users on our platform
-Connecting with athletes, coaches and other trainers
-Discovering new techniques/training drills
-Giving tips to current athletes to boost your presence

Teams/Organizations benefit from:
-Having all your players’ highlights located on one Team/Organization Page
-Getting your players exposure to College Coaches
-Promoting your program to the Press Sports Community
-Updating your fans on News/Updates

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