COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — For more than two decades, Keith Waldman, founder of OPA Winning Teams, has worked alongside coaches and athletes across the country to help teams strengthen leadership, communication, and culture. Many NFHCA members know him from workshops at the NFHCA Annual Convention, from his longstanding sponsorship of the NFHCA, or from the impact his work has had within their own programs.
His connection to the field hockey community has been built over years of collaboration with coaches who share a common goal: developing athletes who thrive both on and off the field.
“Keith has been a valued partner and supporter of the NFHCA for many years,” said Cate Clark, Executive Director of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). “He has built strong relationships with coaches across our community and has worked with many field hockey teams over the past few decades. His work around leadership, communication, and culture aligns closely with what coaches strive to build within their programs, which is why so many continue to engage with him and bring him into their teams.”
But Waldman’s path into sport psychology, and ultimately into the field hockey community, began with a personal challenge that reshaped his life.
Turning Adversity into Purpose
Athletics were a defining part of Waldman’s identity growing up. But in his mid-20s and early 30s, that identity was suddenly threatened.
After suffering multiple serious knee injuries and undergoing several surgeries, Waldman was told by doctors that he would likely never play sports again—and might not even walk normally.
The physical recovery was difficult. The mental and emotional toll was even harder.
“I made the decision to prove those predictions wrong,” Waldman recalled. “After three years of persistence and setbacks, I was able to return to my sport.”
That experience opened the door to an entirely new path. Waldman began studying sport psychology, exploring how mindset, belief, and resilience shape an athlete’s ability to navigate adversity.
“I experienced firsthand how powerful mindset and support systems can be,” he said. “It also showed me how isolating challenges can feel when you don’t have the right culture around you.”
That realization eventually led to the founding of OPA Winning Teams.
From Mental Strength to Team Culture
Waldman initially focused on mental resilience and the psychology of injury. But as he began working with teams, he noticed a pattern.
Many teams with tremendous talent struggled not because of physical limitations, but because of communication breakdowns, unclear leadership structures, or fragile team cultures.
That insight shaped the evolution of OPA Winning Teams.
“What started as a focus on the psychology of injury grew into something broader,” Waldman explained. “The real work became helping coaches and athletes intentionally build strong, accountable, and connected team cultures.”
Today, Waldman works with programs across multiple sports to help teams strengthen trust, develop leadership at every level, and create environments where athletes can thrive.
When a Group Becomes a Team
For Waldman, the most rewarding part of his work is witnessing transformation.
“What I find most meaningful is watching a group of individuals evolve into a team with a culture of greatness,” he said.
That transformation often appears in small but powerful ways:
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Athletes stepping into leadership roles
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Teammates holding each other accountable
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Players taking risks without fear of judgment
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Trust deepening across the locker room
And the impact rarely stops at the field.
“That transformation from a collection of individuals into a unified team is what makes this work so meaningful to me. Equally rewarding is knowing that the impact extends beyond sport. Knowing that these lessons and experiences can influence their success on and off the field is deeply fulfilling,” shared Waldman.
A Growing Passion for Field Hockey
Although Waldman never played playing field hockey, the sport has become a personal passion through his work with coaches and programs over the past 25 years.
“What I value most is how the game is built on connection, the way teammates communicate, trust, and support one another. Part of my goal is to help grow the sport of field hockey in my own way, by supporting coaches and athletes in building strong teams and thriving programs.”
Some of Waldman’s most memorable moments have come while working with teams during pivotal moments of a season—preparing for playoff runs, championship games, or other high-pressure environments.
But the experiences that resonate most deeply often happen years later.
“I’ve had former student-athletes reconnect with me 15 or 20 years later and tell me how a conversation about resilience or confidence helped them navigate a difficult moment in their life,” he said. “That’s when you realize the work was never just about a season or a scoreboard.”
A Longstanding Connection to the NFHCA
Waldman’s connection to the NFHCA dates back to his early career. “As a graduate student, I had the opportunity to conduct workshops at NFHCA Conventions,” Waldman said. “Working directly with coaches gave me invaluable experience and helped me refine my approach.”
Since then, his partnership with the NFHCA has grown through workshops, sponsorships, and ongoing engagement with coaches at every level of the sport.
“The NFHCA community is incredibly passionate and collaborative,” he said. “Coaches genuinely care about developing their athletes on and off the field.”
For Waldman, one of the most meaningful aspects of that relationship has been trust.
“Many coaches I’ve worked with have referred me to colleagues or other programs,” he said. “Knowing they believe in the work enough to make those recommendations means a great deal.”
What Defines a Winning Team Culture?
Across his work with teams, Waldman has identified several core characteristics that consistently define strong team cultures:
Connection and trust.
Athletes feel supported by teammates and coaches.
Accountability.
Players hold themselves—and each other—responsible for standards.
Shared purpose.
Everyone understands how their role contributes to team success.
Open communication.
Honest and judgement free dialogue is encouraged and respected.
Resilience.
Teams respond to adversity with focus rather than blame.
“Leadership shouldn’t be limited to captains and coaches,” Waldman noted. “The most successful teams distribute leadership across the entire roster.”
When those elements come together, the result is powerful.
“A group of individuals becomes something greater than the sum of its parts.”
And in classic Waldman fashion, he often leaves teams with one final reminder:
“No double parking.”
For those who have worked with him, the phrase has become a memorable shorthand for accountability and commitment within a team culture.
Learn More
For coaches interested in exploring more about Waldman’s work and the culture-building strategies used by programs across the country, additional resources and information about OPA Winning Teams are available online. Check out what coaches are saying who have engaged with his programming.
His work continues to support teams across sports who are committed to developing athletes not just as competitors, but as leaders.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership within the sport of field hockey. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.
