All Episodes

May 30, 2024 40 mins

Do you believe in your players?

Chris Watkins, long time Division I women's head coach, wants every youth sports coach in the country to really believe in the kids they coach.

Not the best player? Believe in them.

Not the fastest? Believe in them.

Not the best shooter? Believe in them.

30 years of top level coaching has taught Chris some tough lessons. Are you ready to learn?

SHOW NOTES

Special guest, Coach Chris Watkins, shares his journey transitioning from Gonzaga to Boston College and discusses his coaching philosophy centered around treating players as he would want his own son to be treated. He provides deep insights into the difficulties of making team cuts, the importance of perseverance, and building confidence in young athletes.

Chris emphasizes the significance of doing hard things and acquiring life skills through sports. Stories of influential coaches and lessons learned through personal experiences highlight the timeless impact coaches can have on their players. The episode wraps up with the essential message of believing in your players and the lasting legacy of great coaching.


00:00 Welcome to the Kid First Sports Podcast

00:20 Mixed Feelings About Alumni Games

00:55 A Special Alumni Game Experience

01:31 Introducing Coach Chris Watkins

01:52 Chris Watkins' Move to Boston College

02:46 Challenges and Opportunities at Boston College

04:04 The Importance of Treating Players Well

04:41 The Impact of Personal Experiences on Coaching

05:58 Handling the Difficult Task of Cutting Players

07:09 Building a Positive Team Culture

10:42 Reflecting on BYU Soccer Tryouts

13:03 The Role of Confidence and Effort in Player Selection

15:30 Challenges in Youth Sports Coaching

19:19 Embracing Feedback and Continuous Improvement

20:07 Character and Performance in Business

20:56 The Rarity of a Growth Mindset

21:36 Coaching Philosophy and Culture Building

22:34 Lessons from Working with Jen Rockwood

23:08 Reflections on Coaching at BYU

24:41 Overcoming Failures and Learning from Defeats

28:20 The Impact of Belief and Mentorship

33:31 Heart Lessons for Youth Coaches

39:08 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Crime Junkie

Crime Junkie

Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

24/7 News: The Latest

24/7 News: The Latest

The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

Stuff You Should Know

Stuff You Should Know

If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.