Mike Trudeau

Proud father. Director of Coaching, Dubuque Soccer Club. Duktig Brand FC member

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@coachtonymee After being in the game at various levels for over 30 years, couldn’t agree more with what you said.

[Wendi A. Irlbeck MS, RDN, LD, CISSN @Wendi_Irlbeck]

If your 14 YO multi-sport athlete isn’t willing to eat breakfast daily, make his or her own snacks, put their phone down an hour before bed they really don't care about being great.

Seriously, if a 14 YO who has a tablet, spends > 4 hours/day social media, is enrolled in specialized training/multiple sports that you spend thousands of dollars on annually should absolutely be able to structure a routine!

Summer is coming to a close. It's not the time to goof off. Now is the time to dial in your nutrition, sleep, hydration, and habits.

Don’t claim you want to be great, set PRs this fall, and be a starter yet have a work ethic consistent with riding the bench.

Some extra tough love from me this morning.. there’s a lot of hard working athletes out there hungry to get better and will easily outperform those who slept in, stayed up late, skipped breakfast, and cared more about social media than they do playing time.

You reap what you sow. If you want to be a first string starter your habits should reflect that. Control your controllables.

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@KyleDezotellHC @RickCox_AT Day 3 of 4 here in the Midwest. 95 degrees on turf is never fun no matter where it is. It takes a village!

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

“Hear Me…”

Mike Tomlin GOLD 🥇

“It’s not what you are capable of; it’s what you are willing to do. Plenty of people are capable. Fewer people are willing.”

This message is the ultimate TRUTH in sports.

No Deposit - No Return

[UD Women’s Ice Hockey @udwhockey]

A huge congratulations to our players who have been named to the @AHCAHockey All-American Scholars list!

To qualify, a student-athlete must have attained a 3.75 GPA for each semester, and had to appear in 40% of the team’s games

[Randy Waldrum @CoachWaldrum]

If you want to improve your craft

Then spend more time with people who are better than you at what you want to improve.

You don’t learn by being the best.

You learn by being around the best.

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@coachcolton 😳😳😳

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@KyleDezotellHC @ManCity It was a great chess match to watch. As a United supporter, happy to see City lose because there’s very little joy in United’s season.

[Todd Beane @_ToddBeane]

Dear Parents...

Playing on a “losing” team may just be the best place for your child to build the character to lead a life of passion and commitment.

Or we can run to the bench of a “winner” and hope that status alone will build relationships and resilience.

#TOVO

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@AnitaBaffoni Any self-respecting RIer knows the answer is clear

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@Gansettbeer FYI While in Green Bay, WI tried finding a taste of home. Gansett beer finder listed Old Chicago restaurant but bartender hadn’t heard of it. Wasn’t on tap, can or bottle. The search continues to find it in northern Midwest.

[Erica Mulholland, MS CSCS 👸🏼 @fitsoccerqueen]

MAKING ⚽️ GIRLS UNSTOPPABLE IN SPORTS AND LIFE https://t.co/FHtAYZpFiu via @YouTube

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@CoachWaldrum @CoachWaldrum I’d like to be included

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Being a Head Coach is HARD Work.

I have talked to MANY coaches over my long career.

Here are 9 Things Coaches Want Parents to Understand.

1: We CARE about your Child
Even if your child doesn’t get much varsity playing time, we care about them. Nothing is ever personal. We love your child. Everyone has a Role. They are all different. But they are all important. Help us celebrate their role.

2: TIME
There are only two people who understand the time commitment of a coach. The Coach and their Spouse. We are always “on,” constantly thinking about our team. We sacrifice our Family time to be with your child. We don’t need a pat on the back. Just respect this fact.

3: We LOVE this job.
But it is a hard job. Please don’t steal our Joy. Our Passion. Our Commitment. We are losing too many coaches. Help Support us.

4: Coaches want to WIN more than you do.
We are very competitive. We put our heart and soul into this job. We are not perfect. Either are you. No one is. Strategy or X’s and O’s matter much less than you think. We are at practice every day. Trust what we see and do.

5: Everything is EARNED.
You get what you earn. Don’t blame the coach. Encourage your child to be committed. It is your child’s job to get in the weight room, shoot in the driveway, go to the gym or field, etc. Encourage them to do this. You get what you earn.

6: Trust the PROCESS
Team Sports are the ultimate lab setting for life. There will be bumps in the road. It is guaranteed. It is part of the process. Accept this fact. Trust the Process. The life lessons learned will last a lifetime.

7: Winning is HARD
Other teams want to win too. Other teams put time in too. Other teams compete too. The season is a grind, and the process is more important than the prize. Learning how to win…and how to lose…is an important part of this process.

8: Your child GETS it.
Your child understands. They are at every practice. They know their strengths. They know their weaknesses. They know their role. Don’t feed their youthful insecurities by questioning the coach. This will hurt their experience and the team.

9: Finally, and Most Importantly, this is your child’s experience, not yours.
This is important. Let them enjoy the experience with your support. Don’t judge them. Don’t be critical. Just be there. Tell them you LOVE watching them play. Be a fan of the TEAM.

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Follow me @gregberge for Actionable Ideas on Coaching, Leadership, Culture, and Teams.

Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter, Great Teams - Better Leaders 123. Link is in my profile.

[Justin Su'a @Justinsua]

Coaching requires holding your most talented players accountable when their actions negatively affect the team.

In preparation for the 2008 Olympics, Kobe Bryant, the Captain of the USA Basketball Team, started to play in a manner that was hurting the group.

LeBron James and Dwayne Wade looked at their Head Coach, Coach K, and asked him what he would do about it.

Coach K said, “I’ll take care of it.”

He didn’t want to confront the legendary superstar, but he knew it was necessary.

This is how he handled it…

[Mike Trudeau @mtrudeau7]

@ImCollegeSoccer Are there %s for D2 and D3?

[Sports Psychology @SportPsychTips]

You can either be scared of competition, or you can embrace it. The best athletes embrace competition because they know it brings out the best in them.

[Dr. Erin Henderson @DrErinHenderson]

One of my daughter’s first ⚽️ coaches told parents this:

If what you are about to scream to your kid does not start with the words “Good”, “Nice”, or “Great”, do not say it.

If you’re on the sideline today (like me), try it out and see if your kid notices a difference. Dm me what they say. Would love to hear it.

[Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness @coachajkings]

In 1992, Kurt Warner was a backup quarterback at the University of Northern Iowa.

He was more talented than the starter, but he never got on the field.

Warner asked his friend to ask the coaches why he wasn’t playing. The response changed the way Warner approached the game and his life.

The coaches said, "The reason you're not starting is that you're not very good in practice."

The response shocked Warner. He knew he could throw better than the other QBs. He outshined them when the lights came on whether it was spring ball or the game.

But then he started to think about it. He realized that almost 99% of the time the coaches and teammates saw him was in practice.

This moment shifted his mindset and perspective.

Warner said, "That was one of the greatest lessons that I ever learned about life and about football. You have to bring it every day. You got to show me what to expect from you every single day."

He realized that every moment is a moment to lead by example.

How you do one thing is how you do everything.

In life, he realized that people watch what you do all of the time, not just when the lights are on or not just for one moment.

That moment changed everything for him. He started to take practice seriously and results started to appear.

In 1993, Kurt Warner was the starting quarterback for the University of Northern Iowa. He led the team to an 8-4 season with over 2,500 yards and 17 TDs.

He was invited to training camp with the Green Bay Packers and that was just the beginning for him.

Takeaway 1: Be the Example and Lead by Example
In every aspect of life, not just sports, people often observe and judge us based on our consistent behavior and actions.

To inspire and motivate others, it's essential to consistently demonstrate the qualities and behaviors we wish to see in ourselves and those around us.

Takeaway 2: Value Feedback and Embrace Growth
Growth is a habit and a choice. Feedback might not always be easy to hear or accept, but it's your choice whether to grow from it or deny it.

You have to honest with yourself on where there are opportunities to grow. Whether in sports, career, or personal development, being open to constructive criticism and actively seeking opportunities for growth can lead to greater success and achievement.

"If you're willing to put yourself and your dreams on the line, at the very least you'll discover an inner strength you may not have known existed."
- Kurt Warner
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