The Athletic Trinity - Winning Together

Episode 29 - Award Boards, School-Year Routines, and Better Leadership Conversations

In Episode 29 of The Athletic Trinity: Winning Together, Coach Jerry Hernandez shares practical ideas for coaches, parents, and leaders. He explains how award boards and helmet-style stickers can motivate athletes by recognizing hustle, game-changing plays, team goals, and the little things that do not always show up on the stat sheet. He also gives parents early tips for helping students transition from summer back into a school routine, including adjusting sleep schedules, setting ground rules, and discussing goals. The episode closes with leadership advice on handling criticism promptly, clearly, and only when the issue truly matters.

Episode 28 - Light Up Their Lives: Simple Ways to Lead, Parent, Coach, and Be a Better Friend

In Episode 28 of The Athletic Trinity, Coach Hernandez reflects on the small but meaningful ways parents, coaches, teachers, and leaders can bring positivity into the lives of the people who see them first each day. From greeting students at the classroom door to encouraging athletes in the locker room, this episode focuses on the power of a smile, a kind word, and being a steady source of encouragement. Coach also shares a personal story about hearing from a former player, then turns to lessons from his book Make It Easy, especially the importance of helping young people build strong friendships and become good friends themselves.

Episode 27 - Honesty, Mistakes, and Respect

Coach opens this episode with memories of the childhood game hide-and-seek, leading into a discussion about honesty and so-called "white lies." He offers parents and grandparents a healthier approach to helping children handle disappointing performances, while also giving coaches practical strategies for responding to mistakes during practice. In the final segment, Coach discusses respect, differences between people, and positive ways for families to talk about them together.

Episode 26 - Time, Failure, and the Champion Within

In Episode #26, Coach opens with a powerful discussion about time, how we use it, and how to live without regret. Reflecting on earlier conversations about determination and satisfaction, he steps away from the usual format to share insights from a motivational book by Og Mandino. Coach closes the episode with a memorable message about failure, perseverance, and how setbacks can shape champions in life.

Episode 25 - The Backpack, the Barbershop, and the Ballfield

In this episode, Coach Hernandez opens with a story about a sign he saw in a barbershop many years ago dealing with how teenagers feel about their parents. He continues with what young people need in their Life's Hike backpack. He calls it part of life's road map. His next segment gives coaches an approach he used on how he wanats his players to conduct themselves. He concludes with a tip for athletic directors about getting some important information as quickly as possible.