6 easy and important parts of being a coach… that are often over looked
I have coached in different schools, with completely different climates and cultures in completely different times in history… and yes coaching is different these days. More difficult even! See my program coaching a team who thrives to help make things easier! No matter where you are coaching in the world and when in history, these 6 steps set you up to start your journey as in successful coaching. If you are a coach, you already know, during this time in history we have to try harder, with less resources and less preparation time than ever before. Coaches have to find new, innovative ways to make connections happen, and be authentic, with less energy from athletes or an understanding of what the world will look like than ever before. These six steps have been my tried and true method for building a successful program in every place I have coached.
1. Be a Democratic Leader
2. Try new things
Trying new things can be scary for everyone but it is so important for athletes and programs to grow. You never know what is going to be the next best thing for you and your athletes if you never take the step. An example, in my program we started with attacking our score sheet for competition… first up difficulty! We decided a side aerial was now an expectation for our program. It was a hard hurdle to jump, a lot of one on one conversation with athletes and extra time planning practice to set athletes up for success. However, once we met this new goal, it gave every single athlete (and coaches) confidence and the feeling of the skies the limit! We can do hard things!
3. Work with your Athletic Director
Seek out your athletic director for tried and true ideas that have worked. Ask them what they have heard from other programs, that are going well, in your building and with your student population. Athletic Directors have their ear to the ground for all teams in your building and what is working with athletes… take advantage of their wealth of knowledge. So why reinvent the wheel when you can use one and make it better? My athletic director is second to none. I am truly blessed and lucky to work with him as our leader. He bleeds school pride and makes everyone around him want to be better. Better humans, better coaches, better athletes and better to ourselves. He takes every opportunity to bring people together and build community in a hard time. Take the opportunity to learn from and grow with yours! Take advantage of your athletic directors skills, ideas and experience. They are the captain of the ship and can help make your position easier and more successful!
4. Make friends with area coaches
I have gotten some of my best advice, inspiration and ideas from coaches in my area. Being able to give ideas and get ideas is so important… the phrase “why reinvent the wheel” comes to mind again. You have questions about how do they have such an amazing social media following? Ask them. How are they so successful with getting athletes to commit their time? Ask them! Any questions you have, another coach has as well, ask them and help each other grow. I am a firm believer in to by the best you have to beat the best. Help make each other the best.
5. Set boundaries
We all have lives outside of coaching, no matter how much you live, love and breathe coaching. Don’t give it up. Yes there are busier times in your seasons where you have less free time for your personal life. However, you must keep an identity aside from coach. This will help you both keep your sanity and be a better coach. You need to be able to step away from coaching to clear your head, fill your cup, recharge and be the best you can be. See my post about setting boundaries to help with this!
6. Admit when you are wrong
We all make the best decisions that we can in the moment. Sometimes we make the wrong one. That’s ok because it is a valuable life lesson and character building lessons for athletes and coaches. Admit your mistake and explain what is your next step to remedy it. In life, everyone messes up so seeing a person who you value and believe to be a leader admit fault and how to fix it helps athletes do the same.
For me, and I hope all coaches, there is more to coaching than a uniform and trophies. If you are a coach at the high school or elementary level you are not in it for the money or the glory. You care about kids, want to change lives and create life skills that athletes will use to be happy, healthy and successful for a lifetime. Thanks for your heart… the world needs it!
Now that you have the six basic building blocks to being a beginner coach work towards coaching a team who thrives!