Every year since its inception, the High Performance Summit finds a way to both ground me as well as push me forward—and that’s not an easy balance to strike.
On the surface, it’s exactly what it sounds like: a chance to learn from elite, national team-level staff. But what makes it special goes far beyond the label.
One of the biggest highlights for me is getting to hear directly from the staff of our national team. There’s something incredibly valuable about listening to how they think, how they communicate, and how they approach the game at the international level. It’s not just theory—it’s real, lived experience.
Even better, those insights come to life when we, the registrants, get the opportunity to observe training sessions – complete with narration from the staff themselves (it’s pretty cool to receive background and context). Watching sessions unfold in real time, while hearing the “why” behind decisions, is something you just can’t replicate in a clinic or online course. It connects the dots in a way that makes things stick. And it’s also cool because you can record video, take photos, and draw out what you see.
But these observations are not just about the coaches.
Hearing the responses and reactions of the athletes—especially the women on the team—adds another layer entirely. I’ve even heard the women complaining about a session – and I was immediately reminded that that type of moment is a shared experience. All players do it no matter how great you think your session is. It gives perspective. It reminds you that everything we do as coaches lands somewhere, and understanding that impact matters.
I also love that the summit isn’t passive. You’re not just sitting and listening—you’re on the field, actively learning, refining, and growing your own technical skills. That hands-on element makes a huge difference. It’s really grounding to see coaches from all over the country being humbled by a drill as they attempt to execute it (and I don’t mean that in a snarky way – I mean most coaches don’t have the fitness to execute at top levels anymore. So the game itself is humbling in that moment – and we again realize that we are all just people).
And then there’s the community.
The opportunity to network with other coaches is one of the most underrated parts of the experience. You get to have real conversations—about challenges, ideas, adjustments, and philosophies. You can ask, “What would you do here?” or “How does this look in your program?” and get honest, thoughtful answers. Sideline conversations with other coaches mean you can hear from 3-4 coaches at once – one coaches club, another high school, and the third is in the big ten.
As a head coach, that’s invaluable. Where else are you learning in this way, as the head of a program?
It helps me see how others organize, how they execute, and how they adapt. It gives me new ideas, but it also helps me refine what I’m already doing. Sometimes it confirms you’re on the right track. Other times, it nudges you in a better direction. Confirming or expanding, it’s a great space to let down your guard, be vulnerable, and open yourself up to new ideas. I love it so much.
And while it’s labeled as a “high performance” summit, I genuinely believe it’s beneficial for coaches at every level. The concepts scale. The conversations matter. The learning is universal.
One of my favorite parts? The freedom to ask questions.
And I ask a lot of them.
There’s something empowering about being in an environment where curiosity is welcomed. No one makes you feel like your question is too simple or too detailed. If anything, it opens up even better discussion. So many coaches are interested in and willing to share with you.
Maybe the most important takeaway, though, is this:
Learning from elite staff doesn’t have to be intimidating.
In fact, it’s the opposite.
Experiences like this remind me that we’re all just people—doing our best, figuring things out, and sharing what we’ve learned along the way. That realization is both humbling and motivating.
The High Performance Summit isn’t just about becoming a better coach.
It’s about becoming a more connected, curious, and confident one.
And that’s why I keep coming back. And I hope you will too.
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