How to Evaluate Your Program on a Yearly Basis

PROGRAM EVALUATION

Effective program evaluation is an ongoing process — daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly — not just something done at the end of a season. Coaches must set ego aside, be honest with themselves, and seek feedback from trusted sources, whether that’s their staff or an outside colleague in the profession. Making adjustments is a sign of strength, not weakness.

DEFINING YOUR PROGRAM’S IDENTITY

Before building a calendar, coaches need to clarify their mission, their pillars, and what they want their program to look like both on and off the field. Every decision should circle back to those core values. The presenter’s program runs on four pillars: accountability, discipline, competition, and passion.

OFF-FIELD SUCCESS MATTERS

A program’s calendar should reflect more than just sport-specific preparation. Academic achievement, community service, volunteer work, and student involvement in school activities all play a role in developing well-rounded athletes and building a positive program image within the community.

KNOW YOUR LIMITATIONS

Coaches must account for state regulations around contact periods, athlete-sharing between sports, school size, and student commitments like musicals, choir, or clubs. Trying to force kids into being single-sport athletes can actually do them a disservice given how few go on to play professionally.

DRAFTING THE CALENDAR

No two program calendars will look the same. They should be family-friendly, school-friendly, and demanding yet flexible. The goal is to give athletes, coaches, and families the information they need to make the right choices — because as the presenter puts it, great athletes make choices, not sacrifices.