Joy Macci

Club directors and technical leaders across ECNL, Girls Academy, MLS NEXT, National League and Elite Academy face the same challenge: How do we elevate coach education and team performance — without adding more to already overloaded staffs? At 247, we address this through structured, on-demand video analysis that supports coaches working with high-level teams (ages 13–19) across the full performance environment. Our platform is designed to educate coaches in context — using real match and training footage — so learning translates directly to the field, not the classroom. What we help clubs improve: 1) Team Tactical Clarity • Phase-of-play understanding (build, progress, defend, transition) • Team shape, spacing, and decision-making frameworks • Opponent analysis simplified for staff use 2) Position-Specific Development • Role clarity across all positions • Position-specific decision models • Integration of technical, tactical, and perceptual cues 3) Training Design & Efficiency • Turning match insights into focused training objectives • Session alignment with game model • Reducing trial-and-error planning 4) Match Review Systems • Consistent post-match workflows • Staff alignment on “what matters” • Faster player feedback loops 5) Coach Education — Without Added Workload • Short, applied video learning • No extra meetings, certifications, or classroom time required The goal isn’t to give coaches more to do. It’s to make what they already do sharper, faster, and more aligned — while building a shared language across the entire club. When coach education lives inside the game itself, development accelerates for both staff and players.

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**The Corporate Paradox in Sports Governance: Why the Grassroots Are Starving** Look closely at the major governing bodies in American sports, and you’ll see a recurring, troubling script playing out across different disciplines. Whether it is the PGA of America or the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the structural friction between the corporate executive suites and the rank-and-file working professional is reaching a boiling point. Both organizations began with a clear, noble mission: steward the game and support the facilitators who grow it from the ground up. But over the decades, a massive institutional shift occurred. They evolved into multi-million-dollar entertainment enterprises and real estate conglomerates. When an association pivots toward prioritizing massive media rights and flagship capital projects—like multi-million-dollar headquarters moves or near-billion-dollar stadium modernizations—a severe disconnect forms. We see the exact same parallels across both golf and tennis: * **The Capital Drain:** Billions of dollars pass through top-tier corporate showcases, yet local municipal facilities decay, public infrastructure shrinks, and middle-class access to the sport dries up. * **The Executive Pay Paradox:** National executive compensation continues to scale to elite corporate heights under the guise of "market-rate talent," while the real-world wages of the independent instructors and local section workers remain entirely stagnant. * **Systemic Overreach:** Centralized, bureaucratic "player development" programs routinely swallow massive budgets, often deprioritizing and alienating the decentralized, organic efforts of the independent pros working the daily grind. When corporate brand preservation and debt-heavy real estate projects dictate the agenda, the working professional—the one standing on the practice tee or managing the local municipal hardcourts—is systematically deprioritized. If we want to ensure the long-term health and growth of these sports, leadership models must change. True advocacy belongs to the working professionals on the ground, not the top-heavy corporate systems that have lost sight of the front lines.

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Ultimately, players will choose the path that gives them the best opportunity for advancement. In today’s professional baseball culture, that opportunity is driven by velocity and pitch shapes—rewarded in a feedback loop where organizations sign players on size and “stuff,” and far less on past success or long-term health. I understand that loop. But I also have to communicate something clearly to our USPBL Powered By Mortgage Matchup pitchers: We’re responsible for the velocity gains we help create, and we’re responsible for the health risks that come with them. That’s why we have to operate with strict quality control measures that account for a pitcher’s: -previous health history -current function -future performance goals Our primary activation tool to do this is the DVS Score. The DVS Score isn’t just “mechanics.” It’s a way to measure and develop the energy system of the delivery—how the body aligns to physics, sequences movement, and produces transferable energy into release. It’s a pathway to higher velocity that doesn’t start with “lift more.” It starts with how you move. And the best part is the score is objective. It creates simple cause and effect—and motivates behavior. No pitcher ultimately cares how much their coach knows. That’s a luxury. They care whether it helps them improve. If you can’t help them, they’ll find someone who will. Each week, I’ve been hosting webinars for our rostered USPBL pitchers. As we prepare for the season, we’re walking through exactly how we create velocity gains at the USPBL, without losing the conversation on health. Back in 2016, we ran a small study that established the DVS Score/velocity relationship. In 2017 and 2019, we pushed further to show clearer cause and effect. Across our data, for every +1 improvement in DVS Score, a pitcher can expect roughly a +0.37 mph increase in average fastball velocity. But we’re not just tracking velocity. We also track function. In our ROM data, the longer a pitcher stays in our system, the more shoulder function trends in the right direction—TAM Diff improves toward positive, which is exactly what you want when you’re building a pitcher up over time. That’s our advantage. We can directly account for workloads, pitches, recovery, and performance in real competition, and connect it back to mechanics and shoulder function. Game data is king. And in today’s environment, if you’re going to chase velocity, you better have a system that also protects the arm that produces it.

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The Soccer Coach's Blueprint 2.0 is a practical guide designed to help coaches bring clarity, structure, and consistency to their team environment. Whether you’re coaching youth players or building a competitive program, the book provides proven strategies, organized training concepts, and leadership tools that simplify the coaching process and maximize player development. Instead of relying on random drills or chaotic sessions, coaches learn how to create purposeful practices, build confident players, and develop a winning culture both on and off the pitch. The book is on Amazon! Barry Faust Steve Barrett Nassim Ebrahimi, PhD Scott Mowberry Todd Beane Dr Tom Bates Kassie Gray Didier Chambaron U.S. Soccer Federation JB Anderson David Gough (MSc) Nick Robinson Ash Wallace Ciaran Toner Derek Broadley Clem Morfuni Valorie Kondos Field Richard Weston Bob Humphreys Nate Baker Soleen Al-Zou'bi Jeff Ginn Simon Date Gary Cole Chuck Coan Mark Godwin Mark Bickham Ian Babcock

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🔴 ⚪ 🔵 🏀 How USA Basketball Is Solving Youth Sports' Biggest Coaching Challenge via Youth Sports Business Report Most community basketball programs run on parent volunteers—many with zero coaching experience. They show up because someone's needed, not because they're prepared. USA Basketball's e-learning platform is changing that equation. The Innovation: A customizable online certification system where organizations select courses covering youth development, practice planning, and age-appropriate skill instruction. Coaches complete training on their own schedule and earn certificates. Real Results → Ogemaw Youth Basketball (MI) tracked 4 years of player development and saw measurable skill improvements as athletes advanced to middle school → D.C. Parks & Recreation certified hundreds of coaches across multiple sites, which informed rule modifications—eliminating trapping at 6U/8U levels to prioritize teaching over turnovers → Both programs report coaches now focus on fundamentals over winning Why It Matters: The platform tackles cost, accessibility, and consistency—three barriers that typically prevent quality coach education in volunteer-driven programs. When we equip volunteers with proper training, everyone wins: coaches gain confidence, kids develop better skills, and communities build stronger youth sports cultures. What coaching education resources have made the biggest impact in your youth sports programs? #YouthSports #CoachingEducation #YouthBasketball #PlayerDevelopment #CommunityPrograms https://lnkd.in/gd_X3VV5

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Coaching effectiveness isn’t always measured by wins and losses. Sometimes the best indicators are much simpler. Do players come back next time? Are they attentive and engaged? Do they want to learn and give their best effort? Do they remember coaching points from previous sessions? Do they help set up and tidy up after practice? Do they improve throughout the season? Great coaching often means adapting — sometimes coaching one-on-one, sometimes in small groups, and sometimes with the whole team. When players keep showing up, improving, and supporting each other… that’s coaching making a difference. Sport can measure more than the scoreboard. #Coaching #YouthSport #SportDevelopment #CoachEducation #CommunitySport

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Consistency in competition isn’t random. It’s built. The Data Game: Measurement Systems in Sport breaks down how to: • Measure what actually matters • Eliminate subjective coaching language • Develop durable performance through reinforcement 1 BACB CEU available https://lnkd.in/g8sG62Uz

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Downloadable Performance Resources Now Live I’ve recently shared several in-depth, practical tools designed to help strength & conditioning professionals deliver more effective, athlete-centered programming. These resources are now available for download. 1. Optimizing Hamstring Training A go-to guide for selecting the right exercises and integrating hamstring work into athletic programming. ✅ Includes embedded demo videos for key exercises. 👉https://lnkd.in/egUucSd3 2. Return to Performance Template A structured, three-phase approach to guide athletes from return-to-play through full performance readiness. ✅ Supports progression, communication, and individualized planning. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQR2V86i 3. Development and Performance Pathway Roadmap (Off-Season Periodization Templates) Clarify early programming decisions with clear templates for both Development and Performance pathways. ✅ Includes off-season and in-season periodization models for each pathway—built to guide targeted, individualized training. 👉 https://lnkd.in/eQR2V86i 4. Easy-to-Prepare Meals & Snacks for Optimal Performance Simple, performance-focused recipes for athletes and active individuals with busy schedules. ✅ Tailored options for training vs. recovery days, and both surplus and deficit phases. 👉 https://lnkd.in/ei9diPwd 5. The Weekly Blueprint – Training Microcycles for Athletes Plan high-impact weekly training with ease. ✅ Plug-and-play templates + progressions for acceleration, max velocity, COD/agility, and curvilinear speed. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e4drGZJb Each resource is instantly downloadable and built for immediate application in high-performance settings. Use code ‘SAVE10’ at checkout to get 10% off. Thanks for being part of a community that’s continually pushing the standard in athlete development and performance. More resources are on the way—stay tuned. #StrengthAndConditioning #AthleteDevelopment #HamstringTraining #ReturnToPerformance #Periodization #HighPerformanceSport #SCcoach #SportPerformance #DownloadableResources #NutritionForAthletes

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Why does Statcast ignore the Stride Angle? Statcast analyses million of data points during each game. It has cameras that record every player in every play. The attached analysis shows how this omission contributes to the damages to players and the game, costing teams over $1 billion in player injuries.

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⚽ North Texas Coaches Are Raising the Standard ⚽ Coaches across North Texas are continuing to invest in their development — and that commitment is making a real difference for the players they serve. Hundreds of coaches across our state are building better training environments, developing players the right way, and leading with confidence. More coaching education courses are coming this spring. If you do not see one in your area, reach out to your local association and ask when they plan to host. Your interest can help bring a course to your community. When coaches grow, players grow. 🔗 D License: https://loom.ly/Sy9F7WA 🔗 B License: https://loom.ly/ArkVAOE #NTXSoccer #CoachingEducation #USSoccer #CoachDevelopment #PlayerDevelopment. U.S. Soccer Coaching Education US Youth Soccer US Youth Soccer Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) US Club Soccer

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⚽ North Texas Coaches Are Raising the Standard ⚽ Coaches across North Texas are continuing to invest in their development — and that commitment is making a real difference for the players they serve. Hundreds of coaches across our state are building better training environments, developing players the right way, and leading with confidence. More coaching education courses are coming this spring. If you do not see one in your area, reach out to your local association and ask when they plan to host. Your interest can help bring a course to your community. When coaches grow, players grow. 🔗 D License: https://loom.ly/Sy9F7WA 🔗 B License: https://loom.ly/ArkVAOE #NTXSoccer #CoachingEducation #USSoccer #CoachDevelopment #PlayerDevelopment. U.S. Soccer Coaching Education US Youth Soccer US Youth Soccer Texas Association of Soccer Coaches (TASCO) US Club Soccer

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