Learn to LEAD through Sports and Prepare Athletes for Life

Research-backed training that equips coaches, parents, and teams to develop character, reduce player burnout, and build positive sports experiences that help athletes thrive on and off the field.

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Learn About The Way of Champions

Sports can teach athletes invaluable life lessons, but only if they stick around long enough to learn. 

The reality is sobering: despite good intentions, many youth sports programs fail to create the positive experiences they intend to deliver.

Coaches often feel unsupported and underappreciated. Parents can be confused about what to say—or not say—after games. Athletes are then caught in the middle and can lose their love for the game.

Without strategic, research-backed systems in place, even the best-intentioned programs can develop a culture no one wants. Pretty soon, attitudes, relationship dynamics, burnout, and stress can drive players away from sports entirely. 

The stakes are high. Youth sports have the power to teach invaluable life lessons—but only when the right culture is intentionally built.

What if Youth Sports Could Be Your Limited-Time Opportunity to Positively Impact Athletes for Life?

A man in a black polo shirt and khaki shorts high-fives a young boy in a striped blue polo shirt and white cap on a golf course, while other children watch nearby.

It can be.

With proven strategies from sport and performance psychology, you can create an environment where:

  • Coaches feel equipped and supported

  • Parents understand their role and communicate effectively

  • Athletes stay engaged and develop skills that carry into life beyond sports

It starts with the right training—training that's grounded in research, not guesswork.

Meet Levi Nelson, EdD

A man smiling and holding a rugby ball on a sports field with red stadium seats in the background.

Levi Nelson doesn't just talk about positive youth sports—he's devoted his career to making it a reality.

With a doctorate in sport and performance psychology and over 15 years of coaching experience (now at the professional level), Levi brings research-backed strategies to coaches, parents, and athletes across the country.

He's one of the first 31 licensed trainers chosen globally for The Way of Champions and has delivered over 300 workshops for organizations, including:

  • Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA)

  • USA Hockey

  • The Way of Champions

  • The Performance Advisory Group

Levi has been a featured speaker at the Green Bay Packers Parents School (2021), Green Bay Packers Coaching School (2022), and the Wisconsin Wrestling Association Coaches Clinic (2025). His work has been featured in The New York Post, and he's been recognized with multiple coaching awards, including PCA's National Double-Goal Coach Award, the Marine Corps Semper Fi Coach Award and was named a Distinguished Teacher by The Green Bay Chamber.

Author of L-E-A-D: A Coach's Playbook on How to Positively Impact the World Through Love, Effort, Attitude, and Discipline, Levi helps teams and organizations build cultures where young athletes don't just perform—they flourish.

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Ready to Transform Your Program's Culture?

3-Step Process:

1

Reach Out

Share your event details, preferred dates, and audience type

2

Customize Your Workshop

Levi tailors content to meet your team's specific needs

3

Implement & Thrive

Levi tailors content to meet your team's specific needs

GET STARTED

What Teams Are Saying

  • "Levi captivated our staff with his energy, authenticity, and heartfelt message built around his L.E.A.D. framework. His words were not just motivational; they were deeply practical. The feedback from our staff has been overwhelmingly positive; many have said it was one of the most meaningful and energizing openings they've ever experienced."

    — Dr. Walter E. Skaggs, Superintendent, St. Clairsville Richland Schools

  • "As a principal, former head football coach, and proud recipient of the Green Bay Packers Coach of the Year Award, I've witnessed firsthand how transformative high-quality coaching can be. Levi's strategies are already making their way into locker rooms and practices across our athletic programs. Coaches left energized, reflective, and more equipped to lead in ways that go beyond the scoreboard."

    — Wayne Sackett, Principal, Holmen High School

  • "Levi's ability to inspire teams is exceptional. His teachings have assisted with the way we approach coaching, with practical strategies and actionable insights that are driving meaningful change. I would highly recommend Levi to assist you or your team."

    — David Sorbo, Business Owner, Pure Athletex

  • Coaches were locked in, engaged, and genuinely thankful for meaningful learning during Levi's workshop. The messages shared were powerful, practical, and deeply impactful. Hearing that people wanted more time with Levi is one of the best compliments a presenter can get. His session clearly resonated with our coaches.

    — Jason Lulloff, Convention Chair, Wisconsin Wrestling Association

  • Levi's message is one that every school and community should hear, and as a department, we have already started initial conversations on how we might continue the message and work that Levi has shared with us. What a tremendous tool for school communities to be able to offer to their families!

    — Ed Carlson, Athletic Director Portage High School

Trusted by Leading Organizations

The Way of Champions Positive Coaching Alliance USA Hockey Green Bay Packers Football Outreach The Performance Advisory Group The New York Post Sports Spectrum The Way of Champions Positive Coaching Alliance USA Hockey Green Bay Packers Football Outreach The Performance Advisory Group The New York Post Sports Spectrum

Build a Culture That Develops LEADers—On and Off the Field

Don't wait for issues to arise before you act. Invest in training that strengthens your culture, prevents long-term burnout, and gives every athlete the chance to thrive.

Book Levi to Speak