Today's Play: David Harbin discusses the importance of character over talent in college recruiting. He shares a story of one of his athletes who became all-conference in college despite setbacks. Harbin emphasizes the value of intangibles like body language and effort. He recalls a poignant moment from the 2018 Final Four, highlighting the emotional impact of team unity. He also stresses the need for coaches and parents to work together, viewing sports as a learning experience rather than just wins and losses. He advocates for a growth mindset and the transformational role of coaches in students' lives.

Today's Coach: David Harbin is the Assistant Director of Activities and Athletics at Decatur High School in Decatur, GA. He is a Certified Athletic Administrator, recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and serves on the Board of the Georgia Athletic Directors Association (GADA). He has taught various classes with the GADA on Middle School Athletics and has served as the Middle School Liaison, as well as the Chair of the Technology Committee. Prior to becoming a full-time Athletic Director, David taught Middle School Social Studies and coached high school and middle school soccer and basketball, working primarily as the Boys' Varsity Soccer Coach for eight years. His team competed in multiple Final Fours and won the 2016 state championship. He was recognized by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America as the Small School State Coach of the Year, as well as the Small School Coach of the Year for the Southern Region of the US. In college, David played soccer for Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.



Check out the book referenced by David: InSideOut Coaching by Joe Ehrmann

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Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Jason Zimmerman, head men's basketball coach at Emory University, sits down with Amy Bryant of Bryant College Coaching to discuss the importance of receiving genuine interest from recruits. He emphasizes the value of authenticity over perfection in communication and highlights the challenges posed by COVID-19, which hindered his ability to coach and interact with his team. Jason also addresses the frustration of dealing with generational differences and the necessity of adapting to new coaching methods. He advises parents to support their children without overstepping and to focus on the process rather than the outcome in sports and recruiting.

Today's Coach: Coach Jason Zimmerman. Jason is a current Division III Head Men's Basketball Coach and Director of Coach Z's Basketball Camps. He has over 28 years of college coaching experience including stints at the University of Evansville, his alma mater Davidson College, and now Emory University where he's been since 2007.

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To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

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Today's Play: Our guest today underscores the value in youth athletes experiencing struggles and challenges to prepare them for the demands of college sports. Coaches also face challenges, especially during the preseason, including the unpredictability of player performance and the differences between recruiting and coaching. Overall, today's play underscores the importance of fostering autonomy and problem-solving skills in young athletes to support their long-term development and success.

Today's Coach: Kyle Gookins is a former Division I Head Men's Soccer Coach who currently is the Director of My College Soccer, a college soccer recruiting consulting agency. He has over 23 years of coaching experience at every level of youth and amateur soccer and has also been a US Soccer Scout for the USSF Youth national teams.

Send us your feedback!

To learn more about Bryant College Coaching, click here or go to www.bryantcollegecoaching.com

Picking Teams: A Playbook for Parents is produced by: Amy Bryant and Sasha Melamud

Facebook| Instagram | Twitter | Youtube | Linkedin