The Sport Fuels Life Podcast

sportfuelslife

Sport Fuels Life is a new community-minded sports podcast that exists to inspire, motivate and educate our community of over 20,000 coaches and players to make the world a better place through athletics.

  1. 5d ago

    Better Practices. Smarter Training. Stronger Athletes. | Richard Woodroof

    How can coaches help athletes get stronger, faster, and better prepared when practice time is limited? Join host Bill Riddle for a conversation with Richard Woodroof, a tennis fitness and performance coach who has worked with some of the world's top professional players, including Coco Gauff, Shelby Rogers, Lauren Davis, and Kevin Anderson. Richard served as Coco Gauff's fitness coach during her run to the 2025 French Open championship. Richard shares practical strategies for making practices more effective, from dynamic warmups and agility drills to conditioning, speed development, and the importance of consistency. He also discusses why coaches should understand the purpose behind every drill and reconsider using fitness as punishment. While the conversation focuses primarily on tennis, the lessons offer valuable insights for coaches across sports looking to make the most of their practice time and better prepare their athletes.

  2. Oct 13

    Beyond Talent: What Makes a Great Athlete?

    What makes a great athlete? Is it talent, results, work ethic, or something that doesn't always show up on the scoreboard? In this conversation, Wichita State head coach Jacob Eddins shares his approach to developing athletes, creating competitive practices and building a team culture where players can grow. One of the most interesting moments comes when Jacob explains why he likes to watch a recruit play a match they lost. He wants to see more than their best shots. He wants to understand how they compete, handle frustration and respond when things aren't going their way. The conversation covers everything from college tennis recruiting to practice planning and preparing athletes for pressure. And while many of the examples come from tennis, there are plenty of lessons that coaches across all sports can take back to their teams.

  3. Sep 29

    The Coach Sets the Standard - Tim Wilkison

    In this episode, Tim shares lessons from coaching players at different levels—from high school and summer-camp athletes to aspiring professionals on Shanghai’s tennis team. His central idea: being a high-performance coach isn’t only about working with elite players. It’s about bringing your best to every practice, preparing thoughtfully, helping players build confidence, and adapting your coaching to the person in front of you. He also discusses how coaches can create a stronger support system around players, communicate well with families, and make everyday practices more purposeful.

  4. Sep 15

    Beyond the Scoreboard: Developing the Person Behind the Athlete - Matias Marin

    One of Matias's biggest lessons is that development goes far beyond wins, rankings, and results. Throughout the conversation, he shares what he's learned from working with athletes at nearly every level of the game — and why the best development isn't simply about producing better players. It's about understanding the individual athlete, creating a clear developmental plan, teaching athletes to focus on what they can control, and helping young people grow through the inevitable ups and downs of sport. As Matias put it: At the end of the day, you’re developing tennis players, but also human beings. That idea reaches well beyond tennis. Whether you're coaching tennis, basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, or another sport, the challenge is much the same: How do we help athletes improve today while also preparing them for everything that comes next?

  5. Sep 1

    Delaine Mast - Building a High School Program That Changes Lives

    Delaine Mast shares how building a successful high school program goes far beyond wins and losses. Drawing from 40+ years of coaching, she discusses the power of relationships, community partnerships, creating opportunity, and putting athletes first to build programs that truly change lives.

  6. Jul 30

    Breathe, Then Believe: Self-Talk and Breathing for Better Performance | Kris Goodman

    Mental performance coach Kris Goodman (Tampa Bay Rays) shares the simple tools that help athletes build confidence, resilience, and perform under pressure. Learn how self-talk, breathing, neutral thinking, and the "Resilient C's" framework can transform your mindset on and off the field. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or parent, this episode is packed with practical strategies to help you stay focused, overcome setbacks, and perform at your best.

  7. Jul 19

    Confidence Is Built, Not Born | Dr. Cindra Kamphoff

    Is confidence something you're born with—or something you build? In this episode of the Sport Fuels Life Podcast, nationally recognized sport and performance psychologist Dr. Cindra Kamphoff explains why confidence isn't a personality trait—it's a habit that can be developed. Drawing from decades of experience working with Olympians, professional athletes, coaches, business leaders, and championship teams, she shares practical strategies for overcoming self-doubt, responding to mistakes, managing pressure, and performing at your best when it matters most. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Kamphoff introduces simple but powerful tools—including Learn. Burn. Return. and POP the Pressure—while explaining why confidence grows through action, preparation, and the people who believe in us. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can begin applying immediately to build confidence and perform with greater consistency.

  8. Jul 8

    Focus on the Next Thing | Former Arizona Diamondbacks Head of Mental Performance Zach Brandon

    Practical Lessons from Former Arizona Diamondbacks Head of Mental Performance Zach Brandon on Confidence, Focus, and Resilience In this episode of the Sport Fuels Life Mental Performance Series, we sit down with former Arizona Diamondbacks Head of Mental Performance Zach Brandon to explore the mental skills that help athletes perform at their best when the pressure is highest. Throughout the conversation, Zach shares practical strategies for building lasting confidence, overcoming overthinking, staying present, and responding to adversity. Rather than chasing perfect thoughts or emotions, he explains why great performers focus on what they can control—their attention, actions, and response to each moment. From learning how to recover quickly after mistakes to using visualization more effectively and finding a clear target during competition, Zach provides actionable insights that athletes and coaches can begin applying immediately. Whether you're a coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers valuable reminders that mental performance is not about eliminating fear or doubt—it's about learning to perform alongside them and focusing on the next thing.

See All (86)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Sport Fuels Life is a new community-minded sports podcast that exists to inspire, motivate and educate our community of over 20,000 coaches and players to make the world a better place through athletics.

Information

  • Creator
    sportfuelslife
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    86
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Sport Fuels Life Podcast