The hit Apple TV series Ted Lasso is a masterclass in going Beyond the X’s and O’s. We invited Dan Arel to join us and breakdown our biggest lessons and takeaways from the show. Dan Arel has been coaching youth hockey for nearly a decade and is the Director of Coach & Player Development for the San Diego Oilers. In 2020, he was named The San Diego Gulls Foundation Coach of the Year. Arel is also a regular contributing writer to The Coaches Site, focusing on player development through small area games and good habits. Dan was a great guest for this episode given our mutual affinity for Ted Lasso as well as his passion to develop players, teams, and leaders. From our conversation with Dan, it was evident he embodies many Ted Lasso's leadership qualities - such as humility and vulnerability. Additional topics we dive into included: Mental health in sport and coaching Creating and leaning on a support team Working with the mindset of parents in youth sport Finding your authentic coaching/leadership style as a key to success Make sure you check out Ted Lasso on Apple TV and enjoy the episode as we continue to go Beyond the X’ and O’s.

This assertion may be a little over the top - but Chris De Piero and I (Dr. Cassidy Preston) strongly feel it is warranted to say that the leaders of sport are failing. This episode of BXO’s is a follow-up to the ‘Is Hockey Broken?’ episode we recently did - which doesn’t just apply to hockey.Although the episode received a lot of support, it was also criticized by many - which drove us to double down and create this episode.People can and will disagree with us - we welcome those that oppose to share their take, but from our perspective it is clear that much of sport is not in a good place: As a former elite athlete - I experienced emotional and physical abuse. As a researcher - I examined the problems in sport through the critical lens of academia. As a mental performance coach - I see the problems firsthand day-in and day-out. The purpose of the last episode was to call on leaders to make more bold decisions and take action to improve hockey and all sports.We are not saying that all leaders are failing, but we are saying that too many leaders are not doing enough to help make the sports we love a better experience for all - and especially for our youth.I’m sure this won’t be too popular of an opinion with those in leadership positions.Heck, I’m sure there will be some ‘powerful’ leaders and people at Hockey Canada that won’t like what we have to say.But I’m not doing this to make friends or please people. I’m doing this because I think it is what needs to be done. It’s Time to Shake Things Up Chris can attest to this - I was a bit of a "shit disturber" as a player - I liked to play hard, play on the edge, and get under the skin of the opponents - I loved to compete.But as a Mental Performance Coach I’ve kept to myself - focused on helping my clients, building our coaching firm, and generally I have avoided going out of my way to step on anyone's toes. I won’t keep quiet anymore. It’s time to shake things up - it’s time to be a "shit disturber" again.This time it’s not fighting to win a game, but for the game as a whole, for our youth, and for the generations to come.This is a fight I’m passionate about and I’m not afraid to mix things up, challenge the status quo, and step on some toes.People might not like the headlines we are using, but I am not trying to be a ‘downer’ and perpetuate negativity - I am taking this stand because I know we can do better and the athletes and our youth deserve better.Some people might not like my approach, but I’m playing to win - which means a better system and structure for the athletes.Here are the 3 main reasons why the [...]

  Performance anxiety is one of the leading reasons athletes struggle to perform when it matters most. In this podcast, we want to show you how to break through the limiting beliefs and cultural norms that perpetuate performance anxiety. This is a follow up to the How to Perform Under Pressure video recently posted. Here are the main concepts we unpacked to help athletes overcome performance anxiety:   Building Up the Context Athletes, coaches, parents, and fans alike often attach too much meaning to the event or game. Athletes then build up the context in their mind and get too hyped up for a particular opponent, ‘pressure’ situation’, or a ‘must win’ game. As a result, the context becomes overwhelming and the athlete mentally falls apart, they panic or hesitate on the field of play, and choke under the pressure. In last year’s Stanley Cup final, Tampa Bay Lightning all-world defenceman Victor Hedman was asked about how he and his teammates are able to maintain a high level of play in their third straight Cup finals. His response was “Easy, we never let the moment be bigger than any one particular play”. This was a brilliant response. The ability to detach from the context and be dialed into the task at hand is the key to being totally present. This mindset allows them to have trust and faith, not only in their own abilities, but those of their teammates as well. It’s no surprise they have been the Gold Standard for culture and excellence for the better part of a decade. Do or Die As alluded to above, the language we use with ourselves and others will influence our mindset. One of the most common lines in sports is that it is a “do or die game.” This is partially true - on one side yes if you lose the game the season is over. But is your career over? Is your life over? I exaggerate the point because many athletes build up the context to feel that way. Instead, you want to frame the event as an opportunity, not a threat - turning pressure into privilege. Similarly the common verbiage of ‘Need to, Have to, or Should’ can provoke a state of fear.   Comfort vs Courage The antidote is to move from a fear mindset to an attack mindset.Is your goal to be comfortable and survive or be courageous and thrive?Playing sports is a choice, it is not a ‘Need to, Have to, or Should.’ So be mindful of the language we use, and the questions we ask ourselves and others.How we frame the game shapes our perspective. When we keep a healthy perspective, it becomes easier to choose courage and overcome performance anxiety. This choice is not about just being positive and framing everything with rose coloured glasses - that is fluffy BS that doesn’t work. Rather it is about staying centered or neutral - credit to the late Trevor Moawad. Regardless [...]

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Is Hockey Broken? It is a hard yes - hockey is broken. This has a lot more to do with the structure than the people. Most people in hockey have good intentions, but it is the structure of the game that does not foster an optimal environment. As a result, destructive behaviours and practices are normalized and repeated at all levels. Here are some of the top signs that the structure of hockey is broken: Neglect At the junior levels, a significant number of players are being consistently scratched and getting limited playing time - these are 16 and 17 year old kids that are being sidelined during the peak years of their development - this is NOT development. This trickles down into minor hockey as well. What is worse is when most players get decreased playing time or get scratched, they don’t even get a word from the coach. This is neglect, and it is recognized as one of the worst forms of emotional abuse - it leaves players feeling like the coaches don’t care about them. They feel lost in the dark - not knowing what they can do about their situation. This is wrong but it’s far too common at all levels within the game of hockey. We touched on this in numerous episodes during season 2 of the podcast: A Declaration of War Against the ‘Old-School’ Coaching Mentality. Prejudice Hockey has been under the microscope for a lot of issues, which include: homophobia, racism, and misogyny. Fortunately, Brock McGillis has been a beacon of light within the hockey community, but as Brock highlights, we need to continuously challenge the status quo when it comes to the cultural norms within the hockey community. The insular nature of hockey promotes conformity - which can make it difficult to change problematic language and behaviours that are embedded in the culture. In order for hockey to truly be inclusive and make real change, the gatekeepers and leaders need to continuously evolve, humanize the issues, and be at the forefront of shifting the culture - not just in hockey but also in society. $$$ The privatization of ice, development, teams, organizations, and leagues have skyrocketed the price to play the game. There are a slew of issues that come from this. Not only does this make a significant barrier for entry and development - it also rewards people in leadership positions to make decisions that are not in the best interest of development. Instead, those in leadership positions are focused on the short-term results of winning, keeping their job, and maximizing financial gains. Can it be fixed? It is less about ‘fixing it’ per-say but rather about getting better. In order to improve something there needs to be clear measures of what to improve upon. We don’t pretend to have all the answers, but our opinions on measures that should be prioritized, tracked, and regularly shared by [...]

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Rane Carnegie is a Motivational Speaker, minor hockey coach and the youngest grandchild of the late Hockey Hall of Famer Dr. Herb Carnegie. Rane was a former 1st round draft pick in the 2001 OHL draft. He went on to play semi pro in the AHL, ECHL, CHL and finished his career overseas in Sweden, Finland and France respectively. He has helped keep his grandfather’s legacy alive through the Carnegie Initiative and continuing the Futures Aces Hockey School. Dr. Herb Carnegie broke barriers and made hockey history by being part of the only “All Black Line” in the semi-pro leagues in the 1940s. Following his hockey career, he established the first registered hockey school in Canada in 1955. His greatest contribution to society began by including a character development component along with hockey skills training. Rane is an avid sports fan, passionate storyteller, and a family man. Specifically in this episode we dove into: The experience of getting Dr. Herb Carnegie inducted into the Hall of Fame Minor hockey in the GTHL – Toronto, Ontario Coaches, parents, and players losing sight of their why His perspective on the changes in the game The cultural problems and unfair treatment — but also the beacons of hope & support The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Mike Snee is the Executive Director of College Hockey, Inc.’s. In this role he guides College Hockey Inc.’s marketing efforts to promote Division I men’s college hockey and its work to help grow the number of institutions offering the sport. Snee is also a member of the Board of Directors of both USA Hockey and U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Prior to joining College Hockey Inc. Snee was the Executive Director for Minnesota Hockey. Before joining Minnesota Hockey, Snee spent nine years with Minnesota Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Minnesota Wild. Snee, a 1991 graduate of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, started his sports business career as an intern with the Minnesota North Stars, and also worked for the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and the Minnesota Moose of the now-defunct International Hockey League. Mike helped us take a critical lens to the culture of hockey and questioned many of the long-standing and accepted norms in hockey. Specifically we covered: Concerns with the structure and system versus the people The importance of government control with rinks The Minnesota High School Model vs the Academies & current minor hockey models in Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Boston etc. Why do we send so many kids away from home at 14 – 17? It was an insightful discussion that really went Beyond the X’s and O’s. The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance.

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify In this episode we decided to dive into accountability – a crucial component to any team or organization. We believe the standards of what is acceptable behaviour within the sport culture are changing, but without the proper structures of accountability real change will be slow. The shortcomings of Hockey Canada and other national sport organizations are prime examples of the importance of accountability – click here for a recent article that we make mention of in this episode. Accountability often gets this ‘bad wrap’ and gets interpreted as being overly critically, hard on people, and negative. But the reality is people want structure and clear expectations. This does not need to be a point of contention, but rather an opportunity for collaboration and clarity. The fact is when a culture of accountability is created, it helps both the team and individual people thrive. Thinking of accountability as a proactive rather than reactive process is essential. It pays off to invest the time and energy upfront creating clear expectations and agreed upon commitments. Trying to create a culture of accountability when you are in the middle of a fire and trying to clean up the mess is a lot more challenging. The concepts and strategies we cover in this episode apply to leadership at all levels. Reach out with any questions or comments. Enjoy this episode as we continue to go Beyond the X’s and O’s. The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance.

The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Lee Elias is a two-time award winning author and has coached at the international, professional, collegiate, and youth levels. He is also the founder of Hockey Wraparound and Game Seven Group. In addition, Lee’s professional experience includes having helped organizations such as the NHL, NBC, Hearst Media, A&E, Madison Square Garden, and several sports organizations. Lee is an acclaimed keynote speaker in both virtual and in person events, and is the co-host of Our Kids Play Hockey, a top podcast in the hockey market. Lee is passionate about his mission to make the world believe in trust and teamwork through his coaching, speaking and consulting work. Lee is all about bringing people together. His enthusiasm is contagious and will leave you inspired to be a better leader. Furthermore, he provided numerous practical strategies any coach and leader can use to help bring people together. Specifically we covered: How his work with military veterans integration into society applies to teams and the importance of transitions and identity work The process of communication The accountability chart Trust being a foundational piece to any relationship The coaching staff is a team within the team Enjoy this episode as we go Beyond the X's and O's.

The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Andrew Cogliano has spent the past 15 seasons in the NHL amassing 1,140 games, of which he had a consecutive streak of 830 games. He recently won the Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche. He previously played for the San Jose Sharks, Dallas Stars, Anaheim Ducks, and Edmonton Oilers (the team who picked him in the 1st Round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft). Championships seem to follow Cogliano, as he has also won internationally representing Canada at the World Junior tournament, winning two gold medals, as well as being on the U-18 Canadian team that won gold, and representing Team Ontario, winning the gold medal at the U-17 World Hockey Challenge. He also led the St. Michael’s Buzzers Jr. A team to an Ontario Championship. He truly has a team-first mentality and is dedicated to helping his teams win. In this episode Cogliano shares: How he has grown as leader throughout his career Insights into the recent Stanley Cup championship culture His speech to the team between game 5 and 6 in the finals The importance of mindset at the highest level of the game The bottom line is you will get to see a unique perspective into Cogliano’s mindset and how he is clearly someone who goes Beyond the X’s and O’s. Enjoy this episode and stay tuned for more.

The Beyond the X’s & O’s Podcast is hosted by Dr. Cassidy Preston, a Mental Performance Coach & founder of CEP Mindset, & Chris De Piero, a High-Performance Coach that has spent the past 30+ years in the game of hockey within the NHL, Hockey Canada, OHL, and European pro hockey. Cassidy is one of Chris’ former players where they won OPJHL Championship together in 2006. This podcast was born from their shared passion for helping coaches and leaders to go Beyond the X’s & O’s and develop the ‘human’ skills of leadership. Outside of the podcast they work together at CEP Mindset where they coach elite athletes, coaches, teams, and high-performing executives to achieve Consistent Elite Performance. Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify Episode 2 of BXO's Season 3 features Joe Birch, the current Chief Operating Officer and Governor for the storied Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. Joe played in the OHL with the Rangers and the London Knights before finishing his playing career at Western University. He then embarked on a coaching career where he was an Assistant Coach with the St. Thomas Stars and had the chance to work with San Jose Sharks captain Logan Couture. His next stop was working at the OHL Head Office for 12 years. There, he created and developed the position of Director of Player Recruitment and Education Services, which then led to a Senior Director of Hockey Development and Special Events position, and, lastly, he was Vice President of Hockey Development with the OHL. Joe's diverse background in hockey provided us with some great insights into applying the principles of leadership to non-coaching positions. Specifically, we covered: His hockey journey and how he has been at the forefront of newly created positions within the OHL and the impact that they have had How he has drawn on his playing, coaching, and operational roles within the game to develop the "human" skills of leadership His work with the Kitchener Rangers on initiatives surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and how that has been such a rewarding experience for all who are involved How he has conceptualized his organization chart to optimize communication and keep the organization as a whole at the heart Enjoy this episode and stay tuned for more.