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The Impact of Increasing Women’s Sports Visibility
The 30th season of the WNBA tips off next Friday, May 8th and a record 216 games will be nationally televised. This increase in visibility isn’t just a win for the league or its fans. It is a win for women as a whole. This is the first season under the league’s new collective bargaining…
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When Coaches Are Unwilling to Adapt or Change
Over time, there have been many athletes that could not adapt to higher level competition for a variety of mental, physical, or emotional reasons. Sometimes athletes choose to pursue other directions in their lives or cannot compete at the higher level. There are so many reasons why athletes cannot make the transition to the higher…
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A Tale of Two Coaches: Obligation and Responsibility vs. Growth and Love
There is a quote from Hall of Fame college football coach Lou Holtz making the rounds on the internet that goes… “Today’s athletes talk about rights and privileges. And the players 50 years ago talked about obligations and responsibilities. And to me that describes society today.” It is not that new of a quote because…
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Culture and Inclusiveness in Sports
The Culture in Sports podcast recently had Sam Marchiano on as a guest. Sam Marchiano is an award-winning content creator, equality advocate, adjunct assistant professor at NYU’s Tisch Institute of Global Sport, and is recognized for the crucial role allyship played in facing gender issues as female sports reporter. She has overseen communications, marketing, and…
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The Tiger Effect: The Lasting Impact of Tiger Woods
“Making Progress” These two words along with a simple 3 second video of a man hitting a golf ball were powerful enough to send ripples across the world of Twitter. Simply because the man hitting this golf ball was Tiger Woods, and this was the first time he’s been seen hitting balls since his devastating…
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Equestrian: Passion, Love, and Respect for Animals, a Beloved Sport
In keeping the same theme with my last article about my Brother, I have something truly beautiful for everyone, an interview with Equestrian Cynthia Kowalsky, my Mother. Cindy is a University of Pittsburgh Graduate and certified Pharmacist, who gives a very unique perspective on Sports Culture. She is an incredibly unique Mother, and I know…
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Locked Out
There are a lot of problems in the world today. We are wrapping up the second year of a global pandemic with no apparent end in sight due to a new variant named after a Greek letter no one has heard of and can’t pronounce. Gas prices are out of control, and grocery shelves are…
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Collaboration, Compliance, and Cohesion
Penn State’s first Director of Ethics and Compliance, Chief Ethics Compliance Officer, former FBI Special Agent, and long-standing member of the Board of Directors for the US Center for Safe Sport, Regis Becker joins Wes and Mike this week in the latest Culture in Sports podcast to discuss ethical aspects of sporting culture. With a…
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Traditions In Sport Culture: Call it “Brotherly Love”
Sports Culture isn’t always demonstrated in the flesh; occasionally, there are traditions that exemplify how sports can bring people together otherwise … for example … a game of Madden Football every Thanksgiving Morning for 16 years in a row. (This article is about my brother and I, and to be clear, I have been the…
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Trying A New Lens
As a coach, team organizer, or administrative representative you are constantly looking for ways to improve, be more efficient, and spend less time and energy on things you don’t have to. In this mindset you are really only looking out for the bad, the inefficient. We tend to do this as humans as well, if…
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A True Life Coach: How to Light a Fire in Yourself
What is Sports Culture? Well, as my good friend, Coach of 33 years, and accomplished distance runner Bob Costello puts it, “When you really start to understand it, you understand that it’s about the team, not just you.” Bob embodies that mentality to every extent, and after what he and I have fought through together…
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Cultivating an Ethical Culture
In the latest Culture in Sports podcast Mike and Wes interview Sports Attorney, Penn State Law Professor, Athletic Integrity Officer, and President of Culture in Sports Bob Boland. Bob discusses his views of the establishment of his broader sporting relationships and the guidance of athletes. The cultural connection established and the meaningful fulfillment provided by…
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College Shouldn’t be the End: How Swimming and Running have Built a Winning Adult Community
You see it numerous times every year at every high school, college, or university around the country. Senior night. Athletes on rosters across the country are playing their last (home) game at their respective level. Usually announced before the game and celebrated with flowers, a replica jersey, and/or a handshake from their coach and athletics…
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Focus! Engaging in mental warm-ups increases intentionality
When we think about the beginning a sport season, enthusiasm is high. Athletes and coaches are so excited to get things going. Effort is off the charts and everyone is supportive. Fast forward a couple months and it’s only natural to go on autopilot during practices. Individual drills become a “check the box” activity. The…
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Liars and Cheaters
Carlos Correa is in the news a lot these days. He had an excellent year for the Astros, leading them to the American League pennant. He won the Gold Glove award as the best defensive American League shortstop and the Platinum Glove as the best overall defender in the American League. Correa is the most…
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Driving Change in Artistic Swimming Culture
The latest podcast from Culture in Sports features Californian coach, mentor, and elite athlete Ali Williams. Ali discusses her views on toxic culture within her sport of synchronized swimming, now known as artistic swimming, with Wes Livingston and Mike Scaramella. The problems within the culture began to become apparent to Ali in her formative teen…
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Risk and Camaraderie: How to Support Your Competitors
Sports Culture is often unique as you move from sport to sport. I know, this is news to everybody. (Sarcasm) But sometimes you come across certain individuals that express Sport Culture so uniquely that it makes you take a step back and rethink it yourself, for me that person is Pole Vault World Championship Silver…
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The Future Olympians on the Sidelines: Collegiate Cheerleaders
If you tune into any collegiate football or basketball game at some point the camera man will pan over to the cheerleading team on the sideline and show a cheerleader. You have seen it a million times, and are probably now mentally picturing a woman smiling with pom poms, probably saying “go team.” This is…
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Sports don’t build character – You do
When I teach about character development with coaches and teachers, the first thing we do is to dispel myths. Myths such as the 10,000 hour rule and how participating in sports helps build character. THIS IS FICTION. We know that there are far more factors than just literal hours spent in honing a craft for…
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Culture & Climate in a Learning Environment
I recently had the pleasure of listening to a podcast for Culture in Sports. Jeremy Piasecki discusses with Wes and Mike the origins of the organization and the influences that shaped his perceptions on sport and culture as a whole. The interview resonated with me and dovetailed well with my own experiences and education in…
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Falling Off the Hedonic Treadmill
November 3rd had all the makings of a terrible day for me. The skies were gloomy as a cold front approached. I was hobbling around on a painful knee I had injured the week before. And, worst of all, I woke up to awful memories of the night before. The Braves had hammered my beloved…
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Responsibility On and Off the Field
A couple days ago some shocking news was delivered to us by the NFL. Las Vegas wide receiver Henry Ruggs III had been traveling 156 mph near a residential area where he hit and killed Tina Tintor and her dog. The Raiders were quick to drop Ruggs, but Tina’s life will never be brought back.…
