The Creativity Gene with Kathleen Monterosso
The Creativity Gene Pre-Release Interviews
Kathleen is the next interviewee on the list! As a quick reminder, I will be sharing each person’s interpretation of creativity and how it has become part of their life. When the book is released, you will be able to explore this topic yourself and understand how creativity can become your customized superpower. I am SO PUMPED to share these messages with you and look forward to working towards finding alignment with your creative potential!
The Creativity Gene with Kathleen Monterosso
The closest thing I have had to an older sister growing up is Kathleen. As a high school Government and Psychology teacher, as well as Soccer Coach, Kathleen’s creativity builds as she is surrounded by her students. Besides having to constantly create methods of learning for others, her creativity was genuinely sparked when she realized she wanted to be the type of person she needed when she was younger.
As a role model and an educator, Kathleen’s creative philosophy focuses heavily on the ability to remain passionate about inspiring others. She has always strived to be a resource to those around her, pushing those who know her to be better and do better. The same goes for her students, and her players.
Kathleen’s approach to creativity in the classroom is similar to on the field. She encourages all of her pupils to try new things and challenge themselves in new ways to find the strength and confidence within themselves to pass their talents along to others. I am SO excited to share her unique perspective with you today and to expand your mindset on an athlete’s creative abilities.
How do you think creativity can be incorporated into sports?
Kathleen: Creativity is one of the main aspects of sports, how you grow and develop. When training on your own, it’s essential for players to work and manipulate the ball, their bodies to use different surfaces to see what works and what doesn’t work in different situations, to problem solve.
Players must be able to see the field of play in front of them and adapt. If you don’t “try” you never know if it will work, I always say that to my players. If you are afraid to be creative you are a robot, I don’t train robots. Do I give my players options and a large toolbox to pick from? Absolutely. I challenge them to keep adding to their toolbox, watch other players, ask questions and try on their own. “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable” players need to test themselves and put themselves in situations they have never been in, to problem solve... THAT is creativity.
Image found on Kathleen’s Facebook
Why did you become a teacher and a coach?
Kathleen: I realized that I needed to be the type of person that I needed when I was my student's age. In soccer, we need more positive female role models for our young women.
Who inspires you in the soccer world?
Kathleen: I would have to say, Anson Dorrance. He’s the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Women’s Head Coach. He’s been the head coach since 1979 and has created one of the most successful women’s soccer programs in the country with 21 NCAA Division 1 Championships. It’s not all about his success, his program philosophy is what I try to incorporate into mine as well as how I lead and teach my players. He wants his players to lead extraordinary lives, on the field, in the classroom, and in their professional lives when they leave UNC. He creates a competitive climate, that allows for the girls to push themselves and their teammates. It also allows for their creativity and style of play to come through. He takes those individual elements of his players and molds them together to create an unstoppable force.
What inspires your creativity in these fields?
Kathleen: Aside from coaching and teaching, I also enjoy creative writing. Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. I thoroughly love the worlds he creates and the characters. They have depth and arcs that allow you to relate. His short stories are wonderful snippets into his mind and his creativity with those short stories just seems endless. Things you wouldn’t even think about writing about, he does and does so with ease. When I read his stories, it honestly feels like I’m listening to one of my friends tell a tale. I have also taken his Master Class, and it’s very informational. Getting into his headspace was wonderful.
What is one tool that helps you to become the best teacher and coach for your students?
Kathleen: Technology - podcasts, Instagram, and YouTube videos. If I didn’t have that, I don’t know how I would gain confidence without interacting with the people that inspire me.
How do you want your teaching and coaching to impact others?
Kathleen: To find more confidence in themselves, to then be able to give back and help others to do better than you. With creativity then comes confidence, you can always tell the players who have both. They literally have a presence about them and a lot of times are just fun to watch play. The cycle then continues, other players watching those creative players and wanting to be like them, so they try to copy or find their own way to do something similar.
When you allow your players to try new things, that is allowing them to own their game. Not only will that push the player to the next level, but the game itself can evolve and grow. Then inspiring the next generation of players to keep pushing the bounds of the game.
Check out Kathleen’s Instagram here!
Find out more stories like this from Kathleen and some other amazing creators over the next few weeks in preparation for the release of my new book: The Creativity Gene: 5 Universal Traits to Spark Success!