Coaching Sports Needs to Change Thu, 05 Mar 2026 06:59:45 -0500 https://www.barefootflying.ca en-us © 2026 Coaching Sports Needs to Change yes 767b30ee-c810-5b23-a1e8-b77d45ae5b81 helenwrightrugby@gmail.com Helen Wright episodic false Helen Wright, author of the book “Barefoot Flying”, is a five-time university national championship coach and has been influential in creating and promoting rugby in Canada.  Helen believes that coaching must change to be relevant for today’s athletes and participants.  

These podcasts will appeal to coaches, players, parents, administrators, and anyone who is interested in sport delivery or coaching in any medium.  

Please join Helen and her guests as they discuss and explore how coaching has affected lives and how it can change to be a more positive and enjoyable experience for everyone.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) sports, rugby, coaching, women Helen Wright helenwrightrugby@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/9iqggl75j5n77qyq2ihc0kjtz2oh?.jpg Coaching Sports Needs to Change https://www.barefootflying.ca Episode 16 - Pay It Forward Episode 16 - Pay It Forward Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #16 is about the vulnerability of coaches as they grow older in their years and in the game and the value they have to the community of sport.  This podcast is taken from a speech that Helen delivered to a masters rugby club, where she encourages masters level players and coaches to continue to provide mentorship and leadership to their communities… ultimately “paying it forward”.

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #16 is about the vulnerability of coaches as they grow older in their years and in the game and the value they have to the community of sport.  This podcast is taken from a speech that Helen delivered to a masters rugby club, where she encourages masters level players and coaches to continue to provide mentorship and leadership to their communities… ultimately “paying it forward”.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-18145356 Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:00:00 -0700 908 1 16 full false Episode 15 - Coaching Relationships with Other Coaches Episode 15 - Coaching Relationships with Other Coaches Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #15 is about the relationship that coaches develop with other coaches.  It delves into the nuances of coaching with other coaches and how those relationships can be positive or negative.  It also takes a look at the relationships that coaches have with opposing coaches and how society has conditioned that scenario to be combative based on the great “competitive” lie. 

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #15 is about the relationship that coaches develop with other coaches.  It delves into the nuances of coaching with other coaches and how those relationships can be positive or negative.  It also takes a look at the relationships that coaches have with opposing coaches and how society has conditioned that scenario to be combative based on the great “competitive” lie. 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-15474726 Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:00:00 -0600 1394 full false Preparing for the Possibility of Not Being Picked Preparing for the Possibility of Not Being Picked Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #14 is a must for players.  It describes the vital difference between who you are and what you do. This podcast describes some of Helen’s experiences and her ideas about how to maneuver through that selection process with your own self worth intact. 

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #14 is a must for players.  It describes the vital difference between who you are and what you do. This podcast describes some of Helen’s experiences and her ideas about how to maneuver through that selection process with your own self worth intact. 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14957201 Thu, 25 Apr 2024 13:00:00 -0600 895 1 14 full false The Trauma of Rep Teams and Selection The Trauma of Rep Teams and Selection Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #13 is a must for players, coaches and parents who are involved in representative levels of sport where the selection process can be traumatic and leave negative self esteem blueprints for the player.  

This podcast describes some of Helen’s experiences and her ideas about how to maneuver through that selection process with your own self worth in tact. 

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Podcast #13 is a must for players, coaches and parents who are involved in representative levels of sport where the selection process can be traumatic and leave negative self esteem blueprints for the player.  

This podcast describes some of Helen’s experiences and her ideas about how to maneuver through that selection process with your own self worth in tact. 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14780895 Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:00:00 -0600 1407 1 13 full false Episode 12 - Interview With a 15 Year Old Hockey Player Episode 12 - Interview With a 15 Year Old Hockey Player Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #12 is an interview with Wyatt, a fifteen-year-old hockey player.  Wyatt describes his motivation for playing sports and how he got started.  There is an interesting connection to the sensory regulation that results as a natural outcome from practicing the skills of hockey and the related joy he feels in those moments.  He describes the influences of his coaches and his team mates and provides a surprisingly positive and mature view of sport’s value to the lives of young participants. 

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #12 is an interview with Wyatt, a fifteen-year-old hockey player.  Wyatt describes his motivation for playing sports and how he got started.  There is an interesting connection to the sensory regulation that results as a natural outcome from practicing the skills of hockey and the related joy he feels in those moments.  He describes the influences of his coaches and his team mates and provides a surprisingly positive and mature view of sport’s value to the lives of young participants. 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14580777 Mon, 26 Feb 2024 14:00:00 -0700 1598 full false Episode 11 - The seeds of abuse Episode 11 - The seeds of abuse Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change. 

 Episode #11 is a must hear for parents, players, and coaches.  She discusses the nuances and subtleties of the seeds of abuse.  She talks about what to be aware of in the environment of sport where the balances of power can tilt.

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change. 

 Episode #11 is a must hear for parents, players, and coaches.  She discusses the nuances and subtleties of the seeds of abuse.  She talks about what to be aware of in the environment of sport where the balances of power can tilt.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14369471 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 10:00:00 -0700 1046 1 11 full true Episode 10 - When winning is not a good thing Episode 10 - When winning is not a good thing Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been and influential creator and promoter of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast speaks to the addiction of winning and the resulting self judgement that losing can contribute to our self esteem.

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been and influential creator and promoter of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast speaks to the addiction of winning and the resulting self judgement that losing can contribute to our self esteem.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14193481 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 11:00:00 -0700 947 1 10 full false Episode 9 - Interview with Nikki Clouter Episode 9 - Interview with Nikki Clouter **This episode contains expletive language**

Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #9 is an interview with Nikki Cloutier, who has been an untiring volunteer in this community.  Nikki has played rugby to high performance levels; she has coached everything from under fives to senior teams and she has been a primary contributor and administrator in the Edmonton and Alberta rugby Unions.  

Nikki discusses her love and passion for the game and the challenges that could push her to consider leaving the game.  Nikki is not the only volunteer to feel this immense stress and unless this environment changes, we will soon lose the game that we have all grown to love.

]]> **This episode contains expletive language**

Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #9 is an interview with Nikki Cloutier, who has been an untiring volunteer in this community.  Nikki has played rugby to high performance levels; she has coached everything from under fives to senior teams and she has been a primary contributor and administrator in the Edmonton and Alberta rugby Unions.  

Nikki discusses her love and passion for the game and the challenges that could push her to consider leaving the game.  Nikki is not the only volunteer to feel this immense stress and unless this environment changes, we will soon lose the game that we have all grown to love.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-14029112 Fri, 24 Nov 2023 11:00:00 -0700 1757 1 9 full true Episode 8 - Power Over and Boundaries Episode 8 - Power Over and Boundaries Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #8 looks at the concept of “power over” and boundaries.  It discusses how players, coaches and individuals can retain their own power, while still reaching for goals and overcoming challenges.  It also talks about boundaries and how to know what they are and when to use them.

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  

Episode #8 looks at the concept of “power over” and boundaries.  It discusses how players, coaches and individuals can retain their own power, while still reaching for goals and overcoming challenges.  It also talks about boundaries and how to know what they are and when to use them.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-13844463 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0600 1158 1 8 full false Episode 7 - The Art of Strategy Episode 7 - The Art of Strategy Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  Episode #7 takes a look why coaches need to create strategies and how asking the right questions can lead you to finding your mission statement and creating strategies that are in alignment with who you are as a coach, regardless of whether you are coaching under five soccer or high performance rugby.

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  Episode #7 takes a look why coaches need to create strategies and how asking the right questions can lead you to finding your mission statement and creating strategies that are in alignment with who you are as a coach, regardless of whether you are coaching under five soccer or high performance rugby.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-13658194 Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0600 1096 1 7 full false Episode 6 - Interview with Jill Zonneveld - Short History of the Women's Game Episode 6 - Interview with Jill Zonneveld - Short History of the Women's Game Episode #6 is an interview with Jill Zonneveld, who was a significant contributor to the growth of women’s rugby from a local, regional, and national level to the international stage.  Jill is the only Canadian woman to have served on the International Rugby Board’s (now called World Rugby) Women’s Advisory Committee.  This is the untold history of how the women’s game got onto the international field.

]]> Episode #6 is an interview with Jill Zonneveld, who was a significant contributor to the growth of women’s rugby from a local, regional, and national level to the international stage.  Jill is the only Canadian woman to have served on the International Rugby Board’s (now called World Rugby) Women’s Advisory Committee.  This is the untold history of how the women’s game got onto the international field.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-13465874 Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:00:00 -0600 1646 full false Episode 5 - Coaching the Underperforming Player Episode 5 - Coaching the Underperforming Player This podcast is about the challenges of coaching a player who doesn't seem to be performing to their previous performance levels or capacity. 

Looking past the obvious areas of fitness, skill and motivation, we may have to delve into an area we may not be comfortable with. We may have to look at the self beliefs that me be blocking the performance. Their spiritual wellbeing is a huge factor in their performance. 

]]> This podcast is about the challenges of coaching a player who doesn't seem to be performing to their previous performance levels or capacity. 

Looking past the obvious areas of fitness, skill and motivation, we may have to delve into an area we may not be comfortable with. We may have to look at the self beliefs that me be blocking the performance. Their spiritual wellbeing is a huge factor in their performance. 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-13303589 Thu, 27 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0600 676 1 5 full false Episode 4 - The Coach in the Car Episode 4 - The Coach in the Car This episode discusses the most influential period of time related to most young athletes; immediately before an event and immediately thereafter.  What happens in the car on the way there and on the way home has much more impact on the athlete than most people understand.

]]> This episode discusses the most influential period of time related to most young athletes; immediately before an event and immediately thereafter.  What happens in the car on the way there and on the way home has much more impact on the athlete than most people understand.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-13096193 Sat, 24 Jun 2023 08:00:00 -0600 1057 full false Episode 3 - Interview with Dr. Maxi Miciak Episode 3 - Interview with Dr. Maxi Miciak Podcast #3 revisits the changing nature of coaching sports with Dr. Maxi Miciak who was a high performance athlete and coach.  She is currently a researcher in the area of relationship impact on outcomes.  The discussion involves Maxi’s experiences as an athlete, coach and now researcher and how they relate to the changing world of coaching sports.

]]> Podcast #3 revisits the changing nature of coaching sports with Dr. Maxi Miciak who was a high performance athlete and coach.  She is currently a researcher in the area of relationship impact on outcomes.  The discussion involves Maxi’s experiences as an athlete, coach and now researcher and how they relate to the changing world of coaching sports.

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-12841918 Sat, 13 May 2023 12:00:00 -0600 2244 full false Episode 2 - Why Do We Coach? Episode 2 - Why Do We Coach? Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  Episode #2 looks at why individuals coach and why they stop coaching.

 

]]> Helen Wright is a five-time university national championship rugby coach and has been an influential creator and promotor of women’s rugby in Canada.  

This podcast is about her views and discussions on how coaching sports needs to change.  Episode #2 looks at why individuals coach and why they stop coaching.

 

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-12603539 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 13:00:00 -0600 840 1 2 full false Episode 1 - Introduction & Why Do We Play? Episode 1 - Introduction & Why Do We Play? Helen Wright,  Author of "Barefoot Flying" is a five time university sport national champion coach, who believes coaching sports needs to change to stay relevant with today's athletes, girls in particular. 

This episode is an introduction to the series and starts with the question, "Why Do We Play?"

]]> Helen Wright,  Author of "Barefoot Flying" is a five time university sport national champion coach, who believes coaching sports needs to change to stay relevant with today's athletes, girls in particular. 

This episode is an introduction to the series and starts with the question, "Why Do We Play?"

]]> Helen Wright Buzzsprout-12510988 Fri, 24 Mar 2023 16:00:00 -0600 679 full false