032 - Freshman Athletes: 5 Step Playbook to Be a Garbage New Guy

Don’t be that guy on a new team. You know the one—shows up late, acts too cool, doesn’t listen, and loses respect before the first game even starts.In this episode of the Next Season Podcast, I break down 5 brutal mistakes that instantly make you a garbage new teammate—and how to flip them into habits that earn trust, respect and leadership on day one.Whether you’re a freshman walking into high school or college ball, a transfer adjusting to a new program, or a parent/coach trying to help athletes thrive, this is your survival guide for first impressions.We’ll hit on:🚫 Acting too cool for the team⏰ Blowing off punctuality🙅 Not being coachable😑 Killing trust with bad body language🧠 Forgetting humility and ownership 🔥 Listen now and learn how to stand out the right way and become the teammate every coach, scout, and player wants in their locker room.00:00 Intro & Episode Highlights01:33 Freshman Year Transitions & Challenges03:47 The Neuroscience of First Impressions04:39 Inversion Thinking & Episode Structure06:24 Garbage Freshman Step 1: Acting Too Cool09:32 Garbage Freshman Step 2: Being Late13:30 Garbage Freshman Step 3: Trying to be the Clown16:10 Garbage Freshman Step 4: Blaming & Making Excuses18:46 Garbage Freshman Step 5: Talking Trash About Old Team21:17 What to Do Instead: 5 Ways to be an Awesome New Guy22:11 Ideal Freshman Step 1: Keep Your Mouth Shut & Ears Open23:59 Ideal Freshman Step 2: Look for Work (No Empty Hands)26:33 Ideal Freshman Step 3: Keep Your World Small28:22 Ideal Freshman Step 4: Be Coachable & Take Notes30:05 Ideal Freshman Step 5: Take Care of Your Gear & Your Body (& Your Mind)32:35 The Ideal Team Player: Hungry, Humble & Smart33:45 Closing Thoughts & How You Can Help