COACHING PHILOSOPHY
______________________________________________________________________
OF NOTE: Who we are and what we ultimately believe is significantly the result of the influence of our mentors
* coaching point - we all stand on the shoulders of others. No one stands alone
GOAL IN COACHING
Train players to be great husbands, fathers, leaders, workers and friends
“BOTTOM LINE”
If we win championships and we don’t teach individuals intentionally and strategically how to have a prosperous marriage and family etc, we should get out of the coaching profession
1) Trophies/Plaques/Rings + broken lives = doing a injustice to the coaching profession
2) Championship pursuits will never compromise healthy relationships……………….EVER
RAMIFICATIONS OF COACHING PROFESSION
1) we are aware of how much influence coaches have on the lives of so many individuals, on/off the field
2) we are aware of how much influence we have on our culture as a coaching profession
3) we are aware of how many opportunities there are EVERY DAY within the coaching context to produce “life education” for our athletes and in our communities on a wide variety of “real life” issues
THE QUESTIONS ARE:
1) DO WE FUNDAMENTALLY REALIZE THE PRACTICAL AND DAILY POTENTIAL THAT LIES WITHIN THIS PROFESSION TO “CHANGE LIVES” AND INFLUENCE CULTURE BY THE WAY WE CONDUCT OURSELVES ON AND OFF THE FIELD?
2) DO WE SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS REALITY?
3) DO WE HAVE ADEQUATE “VISION” ………… A PICTURE OF THE POSSIBILITIES?
UNIVERSAL TRUTHS
PREFACE POINTS
1) Sport/Coaching is about “education”
2) Vision - coach for “50 year impact”, not for next season
AIMING POINTS
Dreams are what we can see, but can’t touch today
Goals are what we can touch today
FIVE PRINCIPLES IN COACHING (Decision Making “Filter)
1) focus upon the long term over the short term (we reap what we sow)
* coaching point – do we want a great wedding or a great marriage?
2) Focus upon the team over the individual (power is in selfLESSness)
* coaching point – Self-LESS-ness builds. Sel-FISH-ness destroys
3) focus upon the inside person over the outside person (win the heart)
* coaching point – if we win our player’s hearts, they will go wherever we take them
4) Focus on the weak over the strong (protect those who are “hurting”)
* coaching point - we really do need each other (everyone is important)
OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD OUR PLAYERS
The body is made up of many parts, yet is one body
The weaker parts are indispensable
The less honorable parts deserve special honor
When one part suffers, all suffer
When one part is honored, all are honored
5) Love is the cornerstone (love of the game/love of our teammates/love of each other)
* coaching point – love can conquer hate, but hate cannot conquer love
QUESTIONS TO PONDER
1) for whom do we ultimately coach; for ourselves or for our players?
* coaching point – long-term influence upon our players is directly correlative to whether we coach primarily for our gratification or for their edification
2) Are we known by our players to be “Servant Leaders”?
* coaching point – if we are not servant leaders, we may attain trophies and awards………. but we may not be used to change lives
3) Are we more committed to the process or to the results; committed more to people or to productivity?
* coaching point – if we emphasize productivity, people will get squashed in the process. However, if we emphasize people, people will be edified and productivity will be enhanced
Emphasizing productivity often squashes people and always limits performance.
Emphasizing people “builds them up” and consequently enhances performance
4) What is our philosophy toward “winning”?
* Coaching point if we emphasize “winning” as the primary goal, we may compromise people/relationships
BOTTOM LINE - there are many ways to “win”
1) we can win as a dictator and destroy people, or
2) we can win as a servant leader and build people
* coaching point - our enduring legacy and ultimate usefulness in changing lives longterm will be based on the depth and richness of our relationships, not on our wins and losses
“DON’T FEAR FAILURE. Fear being successful at things that don’t matter” – Tony Dungy
QUESTION – WHAT CHANGED OUR LIVES?
Trophies, Awards and Championships?
Or
Men and women who loved us and gave themselves for us?
__________________________________
TEAM CHEMISTRY
Power is manifested when individuals die to their goals/dreams for the sake of the team’s goals/dreams
John Wooden “When you choose to become part of a team, you cease to exist as an individual”
The power of “Team” is a long list of individual personalities and characters coming together to give up their individual rights and lay down their lives for a common goal that is bigger than themselves
Chemistry occurs when teams emphasize their similarities and deemphasize their differences
A team very much needs individual personalities (strength is found in diversity). However, the enemy of “Team” is individualism
The quickest way to destroy the “team feeling” and chemistry is with selfishness
THE LAW OF THE APPLE
Apples rot from the inside out, not from the outside in
It is an invisible destruction
Teams implode before they explode
Team chemistry does not just “happen” anymore than great families just happen. Creating a “family is a choice; a decision of the “Will” by all members (no one has a great family “by accident”. It takes work)
More than talent, more than great players, more than anything else, team chemistry is the glue that brings out the best in the team
Create a climate of “family” by cross-pollinating player relationships by age/race/socioeconomics etc
RELATIONSHIPS
Lou Holtz “Where there is caring and sharing, no problem is insurmountable”
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care
If we don’t cherish, nurture and protect “caring relationships”, our teams will not reach their potential
COACH TO PLAYER RELATIONSHIPS
To the degree players believe their coaches love them, to that degree players will respond to their authority;
a) with Immediacy
b) with Great effort
c) with smiles on their faces
PLAYER TO PLAYER RELATIONSHIPS
Players must do more than simply “respect” each other. They must care about each other “together” more than they care about themselves individually
COACH TO COACH RELATIONSHIPS
The staff must at all times be on the same page, even when there is disagreement (players can “sense” when their coaches aren’t on the same page, just as children can sense when their parents are in conflict)
There must be clearly defined roles and authority throughout the program in order for there to be maximum effectiveness (everyone must know who is leading and who is following)
The balance of both having “convictions” and showing humility must pervade the communication chain (opportunity given by the head coach and the assistants to speak and to listen with due respect/proper order)
THE POWER OF WORDS
We must watch our words. Words are the simplest means by which to build-up and destroy our players
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit
Everything we say is either an investment in or a withdrawal from the “bank account” of our players lives
ATTITUDE
Promote attitudes, not rules
We are looking for changed hearts, not blind obedience
We must win our players hearts. For if we do, they will follow us wherever we lead them (if we don’t win their hearts, they will fight us all the way, at every juncture)
Playing is a privilege. Talk in terms of responsibilities, not “rights” (when we become part of a team, we give up individual rights and gain corporate responsibilities)
Make all that we do as fun as possible. Happy players play better, both in practice and in games (be creative)
The “inside person” is more critical than the outside person, because the inside (attitude) can dramatically affect the outside (circumstances), but the outside cannot affect the inside…….unless you allow it to do so (the internal drives the external)
Sport, though it is played in the physical realm, is much, much more mental, emotional and social than physical. And that is why we must guard so intentionally our player’s hearts and souls (minds/emotions/will). For the heart and soul of your team shuts down long before their bodies shut down
“COACHING ON THE GRASS”
Every practice moment is an opportunity for “life education”. Take advantage of them
In the practice setting, emphasize “learning by doing” over “learning by listening”. Be on your guard against “stand around” instructional time on the field
Coaching enthusiasm is critical. Energy begets energy (the difference between “hands in the pockets” coaching vs. “coaching on the run”)
Critical Distinction: there are two ways to verbalize the same instruction; one builds, the other destroys
FINAL THOUGHTS
1) RESPECT the game
It was here long before we were born. And if the world lasts, it will be here long after we are gone
2) The power of the EYES
Instruction is greatly enhanced when the “eyes” are on the instructor. MAKE EVERY PLAYER LOOK AT YOU when you are speaking to them
3) The power of INFLUENCE
Players generally want to go farther than coaches are willing to take them (and this is true both physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually)
Players are DYING for someone to “SHOW THEM HOW TO DO IT”
__________________________________________________________________________
MAY WE AS A COACHING STAFF
BE OF THOSE WHO “SHOW THEM HOW TO LIVE”
Scotty Kessler Resource Library 