Category Archives: Blog

Athlete Transitions | Martin Bingisser

In an episode of SCI TV, Martin Bingisser discusses how he transitioned from a competitive collegiate athlete to balancing a successful professional career with being on the Swiss national team. He shares his insights on how the NCAA helped his career – as an athlete, financial adviser, entrepreneur, and coach.

Early Athlete Transitions

Bingisser grew up in the Seattle area and went to school at the University of Washington, competing in the hammer throw and becoming a two-time All American. But before he had success at the collegiate level he had to improve his academics and become more self reliant.

Going from high school to college is an athlete transition that can be challenging, especially to maintain one’s success. Bingisser credits the relative niche of the hammer throw for making him a student of the sport and therefore more independent and better at transitioning to the college level.

“With each step you go there’s a big change in the amount of independence you have,” Bingisser said of making the transition to the next level. “You have a lot more freedom, which can be good in some ways and bad in some ways.”

Self Sufficiency

While at Washington Bingisser had four different coaches in four years, forcing him to take responsibility for his training and growth as an athlete.

“At the time I didn’t see it as an advantage, but looking back that really helped my development,” he says. “On the inside you want that structure, but on the outside without that structure you grow into a better athlete and student.”

Prioritization and Time Management

Bingisser became comfortable making tradeoffs between studying and training, and deciding the benefit of an extra hour of each. This was especially important when he was in law school, where being smart isn’t enough to make the grade.

He would ask himself, “How can I better use that time, and more importantly how can I better use that energy?”

Going Professional: full time or balancing a career?

After law school Bingisser took two years to focus solely on being a professional athlete, the idea being that with no other distractions he could reach a new competitive level. Instead he dealt with injury, flat results, and boredom.

“When you’re bored as an athlete, and you’re used to having something to do, then you start overanalyzing what you’re doing. It can spiral down pretty quick. For some athletes it works really well, but for (others) that focus actually destroys them,” he said.

Would you do things differently?

“Looking back on it my path wasn’t perfect but that helped me become a better athlete and student.”

Bingisser’s advice to developing athletes: “Don’t have a lot of regrets, instead look back and see what you can learn from your mistakes, that will make you stronger.”

Follow Martin Bingisser at www.hmmrmedia.com, where he and other coaches write about training, the art of coaching, and how to become a better athlete.

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Innovations in Athlete Development | Jordan Denning

The conventional wisdom is that with the right physical training, recovery, and coaching, athletes and teams can reach peak performance. On SCI TV Jordan Denning of CogSports discusses the importance of character for athletes, highlighting the latest developments in assessing and developing character as part of performance on and off the field.

What is athlete development?

Athlete development is often thought of in terms of physical competencies and motor skills, but Denning and CogSports focus on “above the shoulders” traits and capabilities. These are character attributes like mental toughness, emotional control, integrity, and leadership.

The goal of CogSports is to “identify the intangibles,” helping individual athletes and teams perform at the highest level. As the co-founder of CogSports, Denning helps shape the evolving context of athlete development and fine tune the company’s character evaluation tool.

“We are able to now put metrics next to what was formally that ‘it’ factor,” Denning said, referring to the old approach of a coach’s gut feeling about a player.

Addressing Weaknesses and Strengths

Denning stresses that measuring the intangibles doesn’t have to focus on the negative and can be used to highlight and build on existing strengths. Working with an athlete to develop mental skills can help them realize their full physical potential and perform at their best.

“It’s a new way to evaluate talent,” Denning said of CogSports’ test. “Until recently that didn’t go much beyond your forty time, how much can you bench, how high can you jump. Now it’s almost imperative that you tie in things like character, like emotional control, like coolness under pressure.”

Drafting for Character

Better understanding these intangibles can also help coaches and managers decide how to pick athletes for a team roster. For example, an athlete who might get looked over for their physical skills could be a valuable team asset as a leader and decision maker.

And while major draft decisions attempt to take character into consideration, Denning thinks the future of character assessment will become much more precise and integral to the sports industry.

“Character and leadership, much like other industries, is going to be much more emphasized and critical, not just as a preventative measure, but to be successful,” Denning said.

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Exploring Title IX in College Sports | Paul Greene

Sexual harassment and sexual assault are major problems on college campuses, and while Title IX is best known for creating opportunities in women’s athletics, it is now being used to hold universities accountable for sexual assault response and prevention. In an episode of SCI TV, attorney Paul Greene of Global Sports Advocates explains what Title IX means for university administrators dealing with sexual assault and how schools can get in front of this issue to protect students.

What does Title IX do?

In the last 15 years Title IX protections have expanded to include sexual harassment and sexual assault on college campuses. At the end of 2014 there were 94 colleges and universities undergoing Title IX sexual violence investigations ranging from Division I powerhouses to Division III ivies. These incidents involve teachers, coaches and student to student situations.

Under Title IX a university can be held liable for a sexual assault if someone in a leadership role was deliberately indifferent to a sexual predator on campus. Essentially that means universities can’t turn a blind eye to assaults and expect to avoid legal repercussions.

“If the warning signs were there…that indifference is enough to have the school on the hook for liability,” Greene said. “It’s not simply enough to hold up your hands and say we had no idea. That doesn’t work.”

Raising a Red Flag

A culture of sexual harassment within a team or department can also factor into a university’s liability and make it difficult for students to raise concerns or file charges. Greene stresses the importance of making space for students to come forward without fear of reprisal from coaches or the university.

“A student athlete is not going to want to tell their coach something that might affect their ability to stay in the school,” said Greene. “They’ll just keep it to themselves if they’re afraid that telling somebody will end up having negative consequences. These are high stakes things for students.”

Having the Right Policy in Place

To be effective, The Sports Lawyers Association recommends policies addressing sexual assault meet the following criteria: strong confidentiality, timeliness in reporting incidents, multiple ways to report an incident, ability to talk to police and neutral officials, no contact between victim and the accused, protection of evidence, and a campus hearing parallel to a formal investigation.

“You don’t want anyone to say the school botched the investigation after it ended,” Greene said.

When a situation arises, a sexual assault policy is only as effective as how well university staff are trained to respond.

“Maybe it’s on a piece of paper, but they don’t have a game plan in place or they don’t practice what would happen,” Greene said. “It’s not that easy when you have a high stakes emotional situation to make sure that everything is done properly.”

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White Paper on Cost of Conflict in Sports

When a university receives a call about a bullying, hazing, or sexual assault incident on the part of one of their coaches or athletes, the wheels of a crisis are set in motion. A scan of the sports headlines shows situations like these are far too common and the cycle of events that follow is predictable if unfortunate. A new white paper by the Sports Conflict Institute addresses the cost of conflict for incidents both on and off the field. The paper uses a framework for analyzing the likely costs of an incident and compares the costs of proactive versus reactive responses to behavior issues.

Read the full white paper here

Incidents in Sports are Wide Spread

Incidents of bullying, hazing, and sexual violence in sports are not isolated, nor are they reserved for the most visible athletic programs. At the end of 2014 there were 94 colleges and universities undergoing Title IX sexual violence investigations alone, ranging from Division I powerhouses to Division III ivies. These incidents and investigations have many associated costs, though not all are obvious.

“We wanted to shed light on the range of costs these incidents create, particularly in the university setting,” said Joshua Gordon, SCI Founder. “What becomes clear is that costs go beyond dollars and really start to affect reputation and performance.”

Types of Costs

The paper groups the fallout from an incident into three categories: direct costs, such as staff time, legal fees, and settlements; reputation costs, such as lost ticket sales, sponsorship withdrawal, donor erosion, and compromised recruiting ability; and performance costs, such as fewer wins and less team cohesion.

Adding together all three categories paints a picture of the total cost of an incident to an organization. In an example of a head coach hazing incident, the paper suggests that a reactionary response could be upwards of one hundred times more expensive than a proactive approach that avoids the incident.

Intangible But Important

The paper’s authors acknowledge that while it is difficult to put dollar figures on reputation, brand, and performance, it is worth thinking hard over these impacts. A negative impact in these areas can stymie potential and put a team or athletic department in rebuilding mode for several years.

“Getting in front of these issues is really the goal,” Gordon said. “It’s not easy to maintain alignment between all the stakeholders in a university department, but being proactive is the best way to limit these costs and achieve potential.”

Katharine Nohr Discusses Risk Management in Sports

More than most public figures, elite athletes capture the limelight for better or worse. With constant media attention personal issues become public affairs and can damage or ruin careers. In a recent episode of SCI TV, industry expert Katharine Nohr discusses how to approach risk management in sports, covering high profile athletes Justin Gatlin and Michael Phelps. With a background in insurance defense litigation, Nohr’s love of triathlon led her to start her own company, Nohr Sports Risk Management. She is the author of the industry leading book “Managing Risk in Sport and Recreation” and speaks around the world on these topics.

What is Risk Management in Sports?

Nohr advises professional and Olympic athletes on ways to prevent personal issues from affecting their brand and marketability. The issues she encounters range from performance enhancing drugs, relationship troubles, and substance abuse.

“There are so many areas where an athlete could have problems,” Nohr said. “Risk management occurs before and after incidents. You’re always working on it.”

When elite athletes minimize the personal risks in their life it can help the conversation with prospective teams and sponsors. Sometimes issues need deeper intervention such as counseling and life coaching.

“You’re looking at who they hang around with, what they’re doing in their lives to make them the most viable, attractive product essentially,” said Nohr. “The bottom line is that everyone is a brand. It’s important to understand what brand everyone is.”

Different Approaches from Sponsors

Nohr believes that no matter the sport, public perception of an athlete’s character is important. Sponsors vary on their approach to risk management in sports however. In 2009 when photos of swimmer Michael Phelps using marijuana became public Kellogg’s canceled his sponsorship because they thought the incident would damage their brand and target audience.

“The public does appreciate athletes that provide a very positive example for children,” Nohr said.

Nike has come under recent scrutiny for signing track star and convicted doper Justin Gatlin. The former Olympic Champion served a drug ban from 2006 to 2010 and has returned to the sport winning medals and setting records, but not without controversy.

“Nike has made a business decision,” Nohr said. “If most of the press is regarding his drug use, it could backfire. On the other hand if he gets gold medals and is the hero of the Olympics then it could go well.”

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Sports Documentary with James Earl Jones and In America

High profile issues in sports always capture public attention. Recent domestic abuse, sexual assault, and bullying incidents have raised important questions about our sports culture. What lessons can we learn from these destructive incidents and how can we use sports to positively impact society? A new documentary for public television will offer fresh perspective on these issues. The production company In America, hosted by industry veteran James Earl Jones, is partnering with the Sports Conflict Institute to bring together thought leaders from around the industry to discuss challenges in competitive sports and how sports can be used to make a positive impact.

James Earl Jones on Important Issues in Society

Hosted by James Earl Jones, In America specializes in producing high quality programming to public television stations nationwide on a wide range of timely, public interest topics. Episodes use key subject matter experts to illuminate the pressing issues on a variety of education, health, the environment, and business topics. Past guests include former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, President George H. W. Bush, and Barbara Moser of the FBI.

“This project will really give voice to why conflict in sports matters in society,” said Joshua Gordon, Founder of SCI. “Negative incidents usually write headlines, but we want to highlight what’s being done to resolve these issues and transform sports for the better.”

In America and James Earl Jones decided to focus on issues in competitive sports in part because of recent high profile incidents of negative off field behavior from star athletes. The documentary will cover domestic abuse, sexual assault, bullying and hazing incidents, and how these issues have and should be addressed.

 High Profile Thought Leaders

In addition to SCI experts, special guests for the episode will include thought leaders from all aspects of the sports industry, ranging from respected coaches, agents, athletes, scholars and public officials. These leaders have used their influence and humility to positively influence the organizations they’ve worked in and the wider industry.

“We are excited to welcome very respected leaders to the project and to work with James Earl Jones and the expert team at In America to deliver a first class documentary,” Gordon said.
The segment will be featured on public television and distributed across a wide variety of social media channels. Production is scheduled for the summer with an air date to be announced later.

Forgiveness In Sports

Sports are a multi-billion dollar industry comprised of athletes, coaches, trainers and business men and women. These people, athletes more often than the rest, are role models for society. They live in the spotlight whether they like it or not and receive a variety of criticisms, especially when they make mistakes in either their professional or personal life. Mistakes punctuate the sports pages – some seemingly more forgivable than others.

How can forgiveness be better utilized in the sports?

SCI Advisory Board member, James E. McGuire, Esq. recently wrote about how the act of forgiveness can be effective in mediation, but it must start with an apology from the one that made the mistake.

“Apology is an important part of the mediation process in helping parties deal with conflict and resolve disputes,” wrote McGuire.

He notes that forgiveness is not meant to forget what happened and it doesn’t always lead to reconciliation. McGuire presents the question, then why forgive anyone for anything? His own response is simple but impactful. “To be happy,” McGuire said.

Due to the spotlight that many athletes are engulfed in when they do make a mistake media, fans and hecklers add additional pressure. Mistakes made can lead to additional stress for athletes and can take a toll on individual athletic performance as well as team performance.

The act of forgiving refers to acknowledging what happened and understanding where wrongs were committed. Then one can reflect and eventually learn from those mistakes in order self improvement. It can be beneficial for athletes because forgiveness can relieve stress and provide much needed support.

Asking for forgiveness, allowing others to forgive us and most importantly forgiving ourselves is vital in the process to achieve success. So how can forgiveness be beneficial for athletes like Josh Hamilton, Ray Rice and Richie Incognito?

Mayo Clinic On Forgiveness

According to research at the Mayo Clinic, letting go of grudges and forgiving can make way for happiness, health and peace. Forgiveness can lead to:

  • Healthier relationships
  • Greater spiritual and psychological well-being
  • Less anxiety, stress and hostility
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Fewer symptoms of depression
  • Stronger immune system
  • Improved heart health
  • Higher self-esteem

Not only can athletes benefit from forgiving others’ mistakes and their own mistakes, but fans can also reap the benefits. Fans have the power to forgive and allow athletes a second, just as many of them have been given second chances in their respective professional or personal lives.

Kerry Gillespie on Gender Determination in Sports

Gender determination has becoming an increasingly heated and debated topic in sports. What does it truly mean to have a level playing field in sports? What role should gender determination have in this overarching goal?

The Case of Dutee Chand

Some countries have started their selection process for the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in August, located in Beijing, China. One country in particular – India – faces a dilemma with teen sprint-sensation Dutee Chand, who is currently appealing a ban from the sports international governing body. The IAAF had not allowed Chand to compete as a female due to her body’s natural ability to produce unusually high levels of testosterone. What is a fair process for gender determination in sports?

On preserving athletes privacy

Gender in society used to be thought of as much more black and white – male or female. “In the 1960s, female athletes that looked male were forced to strip during gender testing,” Gillespie said. However, as society changes its views the IAAF must adapt. “Now, the IAAF is trying to have a more scientific approach for gender testing. However, these new tests are proving to be just as harmful for the athletes.”

On fairness

Not everyone gets tested. There aren’t random gender tests as there are for performance enhancing drugs. “The IAAF only tests people “when someone complains and says ‘that person is not a woman,'” Gillespie said.

Can we level the playing field?

“Everyone wants a leveled playing field, but then why are we only doing gender testing for women?” Gillespie said. “There could be men with unusually high levels of testosterone too. There could also be males with unusually low levels of testosterone, so would we then allow them to compete as women? People have genetic advantages. I don’t think we can ever 100% level the playing field.”

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Danny Mackey on Coaching Styles

What are critical considerations when working with elite athletes? How might a coach alter their coaching style to the needs of an athlete? What challenges exist to build a winning culture? Danny Mackey, Head Coach of the Brooks Beasts Track Club in Seattle shares his thoughts on coaching styles.

Danny Mackey on Team Structure

The Beasts have about 10 athletes, but this small group is making waves on the international scene. Several have qualified for international championship meets. Part of that success has been valuing each person’s positive qualities and thoroughly developing each individual, instead of recruiting many athletes with just a handful running well. Each person brings something unique to this newly-formed club. “I’m very humanistic with how I approach the athletes,” Mackey said. “I talk with each person differently, depending on what their needs are. Our approach is very team-focused; it’s very synergistic”

Dedication and Team Matter

For Mackey, getting the right athlete isn’t simply a function of picking the flat-out fastest collegians. The recruiting process is getting accomplished athletes with specific criteria.

“I first like to know how dedicated to this sport the athletes are,” Mackey said. “I want to know that they are ready to work hard and maximize their potential. Adaptability is really important to me too. There are so many variables outside of your control in the sport, so how have they dealt with those variables in the past.”

Mackey is also curious with how the athletes have excelled in a team environment. “I look at the athletes’ relationship with teammates and coaches. They need to be able to speak positively about people they work with on a daily basis. Even if there were issues, how did they manage those issues and get them resolved?”

How do you deal with conflict on your team?

“I have an open door policy,” Mackey said. “I do give a lot of credit to the older athletes on the team. They help manage some of the day-to-day issues that may come up.”

Keeping the little things in check is important to Mackey. The team has had a lot of success with cohesion, but Mackey thinks that it’s vital to always be aware of small conflicts. “You need to resolve issues quickly before they turn into major problems.”

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