loader from loading.io

Coaching Burnout and Safety: Uncovering the Hidden Crisis in Our Sports Culture

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Release Date: 02/03/2026

Unconditional Love and Guidance: A Parent’s Role in Shaping Young Athletes show art Unconditional Love and Guidance: A Parent’s Role in Shaping Young Athletes

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

The Power of Partnership: Parents, Coaches, and Swimmers Working Together for Success   The Power‑Play of Parenting: Why Unconditional Love Beats All the Swim Drills “When a swimmer knows they’re loved no matter the time on the clock, the pool turns from a battlefield into a playground, and performance follows.” In episode #100, the end of season 2 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we turn to a master, Wayne Goldsmith. His statement is the best advice ever delivered to any athletic family. He breaks down the essential partnership among athletes, coaches, and...

info_outline From Perfection to Excellence: How Coaches Inspire Daily Improvement and Belonging show art From Perfection to Excellence: How Coaches Inspire Daily Improvement and Belonging

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, episode #99   “Perfection breeds fear. Excellence is just showing up a little better than you did yesterday—because impossible isn’t a word in our world; ‘I.M. possible’ is.” Coach Pierre Lafontaine breaks down why daily wins, energy, and purposeful environments matter more than perfect facilities. Learn how to spark real progress in swimmers, no matter the pool size. You’ll discover: The power of creating daily, measurable wins for every athlete. How coach energy and presence shape a winning culture. Why “better...

info_outline Building a Culture of Trust and Clear Accountability with Krista Hawkins, former PAWW swimmer show art Building a Culture of Trust and Clear Accountability with Krista Hawkins, former PAWW swimmer

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Truth About Leadership & Why Collaboration Beats a Lone Wolf Mentality In Heavy or Not, The OG Swim Guide, episode #98, we’re blessed to pick up a few flash-back comments as well as present leadership insights from a former competitive swimmer who makes us all proud. Way to go Krista! Scott Grates sits down with performance coach, Krista Hawkins, to cover leadership truths, accountability systems, and the importance of holistic self‑care. Her athletic background and the coaching perspectives apply to everyone — from the wee swimmers to CEOs. Krista explains the important...

info_outline From Shy Student to Swimmer to Executive Coach: How Coaches Build Unshakable Mental Resilience show art From Shy Student to Swimmer to Executive Coach: How Coaches Build Unshakable Mental Resilience

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Krista and our PAWW Swim Team - flashback with AI In episode #97 of the podcast, Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, we rejoice in the discovery and shout out of another podcast. Years ago, Krista’s journey to the PAWW swim team went from a terrified 12‑year‑old student, to age-group swimmer, to Division I athletes to today’s high‑level executive advisor. Come along for the ride and enjoy the flashback with coaching tactics and a story debrief with aid from Notebook AI. Krista’s growth to and confidence happened, in part, on the team — with Head Coach, Mark Rauterkus. The...

info_outline Transform our new book into Custom Practice Plans in Seconds with the New Coaching Tool show art Transform our new book into Custom Practice Plans in Seconds with the New Coaching Tool

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Coach’s Secret Weapon: Quick, Privacy‑First Lesson Plans Tailored to Sport, Age, and Time   Break the Closed‑Loop Coaching Hierarchy with Independent Oversight and Transparent Performance Structure   In episode #96 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, you’ll get a quick introduction to the brand‑new mental‑skills resource for parents, teachers and youth coaches. The lesson generator is a free website that support the book, Mental Skills for Young Athletes. Get the quick how‑to on turning a book into ready‑made practice plans and learn why structural safeguarding...

info_outline Preview - Public Policy Playbook for Aquatics and Recreation show art Preview - Public Policy Playbook for Aquatics and Recreation

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Coming soon!  

info_outline Building a Winning Team Culture: Lessons from Elite International Coach, Harkai Hunor show art Building a Winning Team Culture: Lessons from Elite International Coach, Harkai Hunor

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Pillars of Team Success: Consistency, Trust, Adaptability, and Coach Leadership Episode #94 of Heavy or Not, we hear from elite coach Harkai Hunor’s playbook for building a winning team culture. Learn the concrete steps you can apply to any sport or organization today. What you’ll learn: The seven non‑negotiable pillars of on‑court discipline and consistency. Why off‑court community building is as crucial as X’s and O’s. Quick‑win tactics for gaining player trust and boosting performance. How to adapt coaching philosophy to players, leagues, and local culture. The...

info_outline Join the Lifeguard Movement: Protect Communities, Oceans, Lakes, Rivers and Swim Pools show art Join the Lifeguard Movement: Protect Communities, Oceans, Lakes, Rivers and Swim Pools

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Lifeguard Recruiting Campaign: Serve, Train, and Inspire While Safeguarding Water Activities Nationwide Check out the lifeguard recruiting film and the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps our waters safe, and a bonus fortune insight. We also share a visual preview of the ISCA Senior Cup teams. This episode, #93, is very visual. Those with an audio only feed are missing out on the graphics of the short film and the logos of the teams. What it really takes to be a lifeguard – training, skills, and purpose How to apply through your local lifeguard agency (USLA & Ben Carlson Memorial...

info_outline Water: Drowning Prevention Strategies: Community Action, Grants, and Lifesaving Swim Programs show art Water: Drowning Prevention Strategies: Community Action, Grants, and Lifesaving Swim Programs

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Education, Safety Barriers, and Collaborative Funding Initiatives From Grants to Lifeguards: Building a Safer Water Environment for All Ages Reducing Drowning Risks: Parents, Schools, and Policy Working Together for Water Safety In episode #92, we break down the stark reality of drowning worldwide and explore practical steps to keep kids and communities safe around water. We also discuss emerging grant opportunities in Florida and how local leaders can turn them into sustainable swimming programs. Listen in as Barry and Mark aim to make an impact around the water. Eye‑opening drowning...

info_outline Urgency, Authority, Call to Action w Marshall & Hall of Fame show art Urgency, Authority, Call to Action w Marshall & Hall of Fame

Heavy Or Not - The O.G. Swim Guide

Last Splash and Exit of Women Swim and Dive Team at Marshall University, episode #91 Open, Closing, Exit and Calls to Action for WPIAL Swimmers, Broadcasters and the ISCA Hall of Fame Tribute They CUT Women’s Swimming and Diving at Marshall University just as the team was departing for its conference meet. Ugh squared. Nobody is explaining the Title IX confusion. In this episode, I break down what’s really happening, how you can take action, and why this affects every program in the country. Swim Community: Your urgent steps are necessary on various fronts. If you care about swimming,...

info_outline
 
More Episodes

Survey says, 91.9% of coaches say they love what they do… so why are nearly 85% of them facing burnout and ready to quit?

The Coaching Crisis is here, now. Few are talking about it — but Barry Healey of BC Canada is.

A SafeSport report on its coaches survey began by exposing the hidden crisis in U.S. sports — where passion for coaching is crushed by politics, pressure, and lack of support.

Parents, Politics & Pressure = Burnout

The biggest burnout driver for coaches? It’s not the kids. It’s the parents, the politics, and the impossible pressure.

Coaches Are Quitting in Droves

National survey data uncovers the truth: Coaches are quitting, and it’s not because they stopped caring. Verbal harassment, retaliation fears, and racial + gender disparities — sports coaches are under fire. It’s time we talked about it.

Episode #87 of Heavy Or Not, The OG Swim Guide, examines the U.S. National Coaches Survey from SafeSport. The stark paradox of love‑filled coaching plus crushing burnout is woven in the today’s profession. We want you to consider what it means for the future of athletics.

  • 91.9% of coaches say coaching positively impacts their lives, yet ≈ 85% report burnout in the past five years.

  • Safety culture gaps: athletes are prioritized, coaches’ well‑being is largely ignored; 96% feel prepared to react to harm, but only ~50% hold proactive prevention talks.

  • Disparities by gender, race, and disability: female and disabled coaches face higher burnout and fear of retaliation; Asian and Black coaches report almost 1‑in‑4 fear retaliation.

  • Parent dynamics: verbal harassment from parents (and peers) tops the list of burnout drivers; coaches call it “worse than children.”

  • Recommendations from the field: stronger top‑down leadership and accountability, concrete support for dealing with parents, and expanded training/educational resources.

The full PDF report is within a lesson at the course, CYA as part of the Learning Management System of the International Swim Coaches Association at Read.SwimISCA.org.