ModelStudentAthlete

Former @NFL reporter and columnist @SeanKJensen helps student-athletes redefine "success" through engaging and inspiring video training sessions via @teachable

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

My passion for helping inspire young people through sports wasn't going to be stopped by #COVID! Unable to speak at schools or nonprofits for the foreseeable future, I've developed these video training sessions to help student-athletes learn key character traits. #youthsports

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Recently, Tom Byer (@tomsan106) posted a Happy Birthday note to his son Kaito, along with a video that showcased the young man's talents. Though already an acclaimed technical coach, Byer says he had an "epiphany" when introducing the beautiful game Kaito years ago.

What do you think of Byer's reflection?

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

In the soccer world, Tom Byer (@tomsan106) was the International Man of Mystery, an American making a big impact in Japan. Decades have passed, and his technical coaching wizardry is no longer a secret: He's worked and is now working in several different countries. But in Part 1 of our conversation for my podcast, #WinningIsNotEverything, Tom discusses his childhood sports experiences and the impactful characters who influenced him.

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

There’s no disputing the success and impact of @AlabamaFTBL Coach Nick Saban. Yes, his 6 National Championships are impressive. But I've always been drawn to his insights and perspectives, like the one below.

Here's a thread of some of my other favorite quotes and clips from the legendary coach 🧵

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

What does @CoachLisle, one of the top #youthsports influencers, prioritize for his own kids’ sports experience?

Check out the clip below and let me know what you think!

Also, thanks to my Presenting Sponsor, @teamsnap, for making conversations like this possible!

In Part 2, Coach candidly shares:
* What he would tell his 16-year-old self
* What he struggled with in high school
* What compelled his transition from playing to coaching.

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Which early influencer inspired @CoachLisle to embrace social media?

Listen to the clip below to find out. Then listen to the third and final part of my convo for my #youthsports podcast, #WinningIsNotEverything with the one and only, Coach Matt Lisle.

In this part, he shares more about some big challenges before becoming a social media sensation, creating The Hitting Vault, and his advice for young athletes and sports parents!

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

🙌🏼

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Coaches, can you relate?

This blew my mind from speaking to @CoachLisle: Coaching full-time is in “direct conflict with being a good father.” 🤯

Despite all of his success as a coach and influencer, Coach Lisle says he still struggles to balance doing his job and missing his kids' recitals and soccer games.

Listen to all of Part 3 of my convo for my podcast, #WinningIsNotEverything, to hear him share about all the sacrifices to get to this point in his career... and the challenges he faces every day as a father.

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Don't like to use the word "crisis." But there's truly a crisis, when it comes to referees and youth sports. And a huge part of the problem are the GROWN-UPS: Coaches, parents, "spectators."

I've seen far too many instances of a GROWN-UP yelling at and intimidating KID referees

[Aspen Institute Sports & Society @AspenInstSports]

Project Play 2024 member @Teamsnap is hosting a free webinar with @seankjensen and @NFL linebacker @brianasamoah on mental health and youth sports, June 29 at 2 ET. Register: https://t.co/zAh3PXdMHa

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Career changes are HARD. I often love what I'm doing, but I also often — in the tough times — have regrets. That's why I'm so proud of my friend @ebenezersamuel, who was an NFL reporter like myself but is now the Fitness Director at @MensHealthMag...

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

Very important

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

So honored to host a Webinar titled “Mental Health & Youth Sports” later this month. I’ll have a conversation with @Vikings LB @brianasamoah on his experiences and insights around mental health at every level. Thankful to my #WinningIsNotEverything podcast sponsor, @teamsnap, for sponsoring this and making this possible!
Sign up below ⬇️
https://t.co/p4L03PeKXO

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

What a standup young man!

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Let's wish Ellington Andrews (@EASports0608) a Happy Birthday! Also, mixed emotions as I share the final part of my conversation with him for my podcast, #WinningIsNotEverything.

In this clip, he discusses his advice for #youthsports parents. What do you think of his insight?

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

"Dream big, think small." Brilliant perspective from @D6MERIT (Jay DeMerit) — and he showcased it fully throughout his amazing career. From 9th tier in England to Premier League AND World Cup. Thanks to my Presenting Sponsor @teamsnap for supporting conversations like this!

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

🤔💡

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

To the adults in #youthsports: Our young student-athletes NEED us to model the maturity and perspective @Giannis_An34 displayed last week. Why? Because kids simply can't. My take below
https://t.co/AZHnjM3QsB

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

🔥

[NFL @NFL]

Super Bowl Champion and 4x Pro Bowl WR @MikeEvans13_ journey to greatness wasn't easy.

He tells his story about his challenging childhood, perseverance and the lessons he learned along the way in the new children's book "The Middle School Rules of Mike Evans" by @seankjensen.

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

Amazing 🤩

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Conversation starter with your kid or kids at breakfast or on the next car ride: What do you think of @Giannis_An34 answer to a question on whether his team's season was a "failure?"

I'll share a more in-depth take later in my #youthsports @Substack newsletter, #youthsportssanctuary, after I get my own kids to school. But here are a few of my thoughts.

1) I found the reporter's question to be insensitive, especially since it appears Giannis knows him. Show some empathy, given the circumstances.

2) I found Giannis' answer to be absolutely brilliant, full of wisdom and perspective that, honestly, we just don't see enough of. Sure, state the obvious like the knee-jerk, state-the-obvious rabble-rousers who point to them being the No. 1 seed in the East and having been upset by a No. 8 seed for only the 6th time in NBA history. But Giannis missed two games due to injury, and the Bucks were dogged by injuries throughout the season.

3) I hope his "Steps to success" are forever linked to Giannis. As someone who works with young people, it pains me to see them feel that anything short of a "championship" or perfection is a failure. It's about the process, and recognizing that the L doesn't stand for "Lose" but for "Lesson."

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

Respect to the 👑, @AmyTrask

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Not sure there's a more appropriate message for #Twitter than this one from @AmyTrask. So thankful that she joined me on my #youthsports podcast, #WinningIsNotEverything. I am 💯 sure that her stories and insights will encourage young people and, honestly, all of us.

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

5 reasons @FAUMBB deserve your support:

1) They are true underdogs — FAU's last #NCAATournament appearance was 21 years ago, and they've produced 0 NBA players, and their home arena seats less than 3,000 people.

2) They aren't shrinking from the moment — No, they didn't play an overly difficult schedule. But they defeated the University of Florida in November and won 20 consecutive games, including 13 by double digits. And check out the line at the bottom of the whiteboard...

3) Their coach, @CoachDustyMay, is likable and loyal. His five predecessors never got another DI job after coach at FAU. Yet despite interest in him — including reportedly from Penn State — May doesn't sound like a man with one foot out the door. "I learned a long time ago you never mess with happy," he recently said. "And so I know what makes me happy, and right now at this point in my career I couldn't be any more pleased and happy with where we are."

4) This is an easy group of players to root for — No, they weren't highly recruited. But this team has depth: Johnell Davis leads the team in scoring (13.9 points per game), yet he's started just 15 of the 36 games he's played. "They don’t have a superstar," one opposing coach said, "but what they’re great at is they basically have two starting fives. Dusty has had multiple guys go off. When you have depth, you’re dangerous.” May says he has a roster of hard workers with a drive to be successful. "It's just a really special group, where they like each other, they compete against each... and then they're in the locker room hanging out for several hours," May says. "So it's a really unique blend of personalities and characters, but the one commonality is they're a very competitive and hardworking group."

5) They have a cool mascot — They're the Owls! Why? Because the main campus is an owl sanctuary.

#MarchMadness

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

Amazing!

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

She shined brightest in the most memorable #WFinalFour. Here are 4 keys to @CaitlinClark22' greatness and lessons all young athletes can learn from her:
1) Family — #CaitlinClark grew up in West Des Moines, Iowa, looking up to older brother Blake. “I was always that annoying little sister,” Clark told the Des Moines Register in 2022. “They didn’t really want me around much, so I had to kind of hold my own if I wanted to be with them.” She's also noted that being around a lot of cousins — most of them male — impacted her. Proximity (2 hours from home) played a part in Caitlin picking @IowaWBB, despite having countless offers elsewhere.
2) Competitiveness — In preschool, Caitlin's exemplary motor skills and coordination were pointed out to her parents, Anne and Brent. She also showed a competitive spirit early on, excelling in many sports she played, including volleyball, soccer, softball and tennis. Caitlin shined on a boy's team in elementary school that won an AAU tournament. Playing several ages up, Caitlin grew frustrated in softball and quit the sport in 5th grade. She was an All-State honoree her first two years on her high school soccer team before stepping away from the sport. Playing for All-Iowa Attack, Caitlin embraced every chance to play up. "She always initiated it all,” a coach said. “Then when she was (at the gym), she always wanted to play against somebody better than her."
3) Emotion — “I’m definitely someone who wears my emotions on my sleeve," Clark told the Register. "Some people frown upon that. But I think that’s what makes me so good.” Beloved by her teammates, Clark added that it's well-known "not to make me mad."
"A lot of people have learned that the hard way,” she said.
4) Purpose — Clearly a star (numerous records, including fastest to 2,000 career points in NCAA Division 1 history with @De11eDonne), Caitlin takes pride in representing her home state, her Hawkeyes (first #FinalFour since 1993) and doing her part to help grow women's basketball. After her brilliant game Friday night (41 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds), Clark interacted with her many fans, signing autographs and taking pictures. “I do enjoy (the attention), because one of my goals is to inspire the next generation," Clark has said. "I’ll always take time to sign kids’ autographs after games… I feel like I was just in those kids’ shoes.”

If you liked this thread, share it and consider signing up for my #youthsports newsletter, #YouthSportsSanctuary (link in bio)

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

In youth sports in the U.S., is it all about the kids?
Please answer the poll and comment below 👇🏽

That question is the focus of my latest post on my new #youthsports newsletter via @substack, the #YouthSportsSanctuary
https://t.co/aKhq3HgOA3

Also, sign up for the newsletter (free monthly, paid weekly)!

[ModelStudentAthlete @ModelStuAthlete]

What do you think?

[Sean K. Jensen @seankjensen]

Excited to launch a new monthly series with @SportsEngine, "Big Questions in Youth Sports." I've interviewed 20-plus coaches with a track record in positively developing athletes AND succeeding in sport. Several have been honored by @PositiveCoachUS!
Highlighted in the Sports Engine story are: @coachjenkins123 (Lacrosse Coach with record 832 wins) @Coachmckenzie (Basketball Coach with 6 state titles), Terri Simonetti Frost (Field Hockey Coach who was named National High School Coach of the Year by @NFHS_Org), "Speedy" Faith (@BUrlacher54's high school coach), @whereveriroam (Baseball Coach who is part-time scout for @whitesox) @SuzyWillemssen (Softball Coach in club and high school) @JacobBrownDOC (Soccer Coach in club and high school)
https://t.co/YY5cNbrCG3