Does Sport Actually Heal?

The State of the Movement

In the season finale of Coaching While Black, Alecia and Armond take stock of where the healing-centered sport movement stands - and where it's headed. Sports-based youth development had its moment in the sun. Now, healing-centered sport and coaching are earning their place in the conversation, and the momentum is only building. In this episode, two expert coaches reflect on what it means to show up not just as a practitioner, but as a movement builder - someone who sees the work as bigger than any one program or player. They explore what coalition leadership looks like in practice, and spotlight the real, on-the-ground progress coalitions across the country are making to create youth sports environments that are safer, more affirming, and more humane. Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

Coach Lessons Learned

As healing-centered sport experts, Alecia and Armond discuss the practicality of implementing healing-centered coaching as middle and high school coaches. The two battle in the hot takes, arguing over whether a coach should make kids do what they say vs meeting the athletes where they're at. "How are they going to learn to persevere if I don't put them through it?!" vs "Fear sparks compliance - not learning." Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at team@chjs.org to join the movement. Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

Does Sport Actually Heal?

CHJS spends a lot of time telling coaches that sport heals kids — but in Episode 3, they let a kid say it himself. Leo, 13, joins Armond and Alecia not as a guest celebrity but as an athlete with real opinions about what makes sport feel safe or unsafe, connecting or isolating, healing or harmful. The conversation is refreshingly unscripted: the hosts ask, Leo answers, and when his experience complicates the framework, they follow him there instead of steering him back. It's a useful gut-check for any coach who thinks they know what their kids need. Plus, can't forget the hot takes with our devil's advocate Armond and with Leo playing a special guest. Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at team@chjs.org to join the movement. Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

Hollywood's Coaching Playbook

Hollywood has spent decades showing us what coaching looks like. But how much of it is actually great? Armond and Alecia break down movie coaches - Mr. Miyagi, Coach Carter, Ted Lasso, Herman Boone - using the healing-centered sport framework to separate what works from what causes harm. They debate whether tough love builds character or breaks kids, why redemption arcs work on screen but fail real athletes, and why Hollywood still can't write a pitch around a female, healing-centered coach. Come on now. Plus: Hot Takes on inspiring speeches, coaching from unhealed trauma, and whether vulnerability precedes trust. Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at team@chjs.org to join the movement. Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS

We Don't Stick to Sports

Sport has always been more than a game. But too often, coaches are told to "stick to sports" or kids are asked to "leave it at the field door." Armond Richards and Alecia Ivery push back on both: true healing-centered sport only works when kids feel seen, safe, and welcome to bring their full selves. In this episode, they get into what that actually looks like when times are hard, from ICE raids affecting youth sports participation to practical tools coaches can use Monday at practice. Plus, the debut of Hot Takes: Armond plays devil's advocate as he and Alecia work through which coaching behaviors are healing and which ones cause harm. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Because Nothing Heals like Sport. Help us build the healing-centered sport movement. Visit chjs.org to learn more or email us at team@chjs.org to join the movement. Credits Hosts: Alecia Ivery and Armond Richards Production: Players Coalition + Isis Roberts Editor: Grace Stetler Director: Team CHJS