Coaching & ParentsWritten Faceoff

LeadTheGame

Look harder at the coach than the logo.

Sam Powell

Founder

LeadTheGame promo card — What if the biggest opportunity to improve player performance isn't another lesson? The answer might be sitting in the stands. Sam Powell, Founder, LeadTheGame.

Founder: Sam Powell; nearly 20 years developing leaders in high-pressure environments
Based in: Outside Pittsburgh
Podcast: Locker Talk, for the parents in the stands
Built for: Parents, coaches and organizations
Website: leadthegame.org

What it is

Sam Powell is the founder of LeadtheGame and believes the real ROI of youth sports isn't measured by scoreboards or scholarships; it's measured by who athletes become. After nearly 20 years helping people develop leadership in high-pressure environments, she now helps parents, coaches and organizations recognize what athlete behavior is really communicating so they can intentionally develop the performance behaviors that improve performance today and build stronger leaders for tomorrow. Locker Talk is her podcast for the parents in the stands; in September she put our founder, Paul Variano, in the guest chair, and that conversation became a Faceoff.

Why it earns the pick

Most programs measure development in minutes played and tournaments won. Sam gives parents and coaches a way to read what an athlete's behavior is actually saying and to build the habits that show up on the field now and as leadership later. The parent-and-coach track opens with a free 20-minute Next Move Assessment.