Coaches Toolbox

The following is a listing of all posts in the category of Professional Development for our site.

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Ideas About Winning Coaches

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I have had this article in my files for quite a while. I am not sure where it came from, but I really like it.

  1. THE DOUBLE WIN: Winning Coaches employ the DOUBLE WIN PHILOSOPHY which states that: Winning on the bottom line (wins and losses, profits, etc.) comes only as a direct result of winning on the top line (Investing in the academic, personal, and athletic development of the total athlete).

  2. CONTRIBUTION: Winning Coaches develop systems that support a basic human need: the need to make a positive contribution. The greatest, but most difficult contribution, is allowing others to contribute to us. Winning Coaches remain open toward allowing others to contribute to them.

  3. THE POSITIVE LEARNING CYCLE: Winning Coaches use a method of teaching in which there is no such thing as failure. The only source of competition for the athlete is with themselves in striving to reach their own greatest potential. Winning Coaches create an environment where setbacks and breakdowns are regarded as opportunities for learning, rather than failures.

  4. THE STEPPING STONE METHOD: Winning Coaches employ the STEPPING STONE METHOD of steady improvement. This method involves building one small success after another, reaching towards the final or highest goal. The strategy of the coach is to progressively teach only those skills that are needed to empower the athlete to climb to the next level.

  5. RESPONSIBLE FREEDOM: Winning Coaches develop an environment of responsible freedom where mutual trust, relatedness, and open communication are encouraged and acknowledged. Within the limits and guidelines of responsible behavior, an environment of safety is developed that encourages openness and honesty between the coach and players.

  6. A BALANCE OF EXTREMES: Winning Coaches have learned to be both highly directive and highly supportive in their relationships with their players. They develop a supportive environment for constructive risk-taking and growth, and yet instill a demand for perfection that is unyielding.

  7. INTEGRITY: Winning Coaches act as models and not critics. They foster a mutual commitment to Integrity through (1) actions and behaviors that are in alignment with personal values, (2), upholding all promises and agreements, and (3) through demonstrating their loyalty and commitment to their players. Through their personal integrity and commitment to their players, Winning Coaches earn the highest sense of integrity, commitment and loyalty in return.

  8. OPENNESS: Winning Coaches fight to remain open. They resist the most common human tendency; THE NEED TO BE RIGHT, which inadvertently makes others wrong. Winning coaches take the path not taken; which is to remain open to innovation and new learning, as well as permitting themselves to be supported and directed by others.

  9. SYNERGISTIC SYSTEMS: Winning Coaches develop and perpetuate an environment in which the system is greater than the sum of all the parts. The system creates a continuous s self-renewing chain of success.

  10. STRUCTURE FOR FULFILLMENT: Winning Coaches create a structure for fulfillment that is based upon abundance as opposed to scarcity. This structure becomes a roadmap through which players are empowered to progress toward both their own personal goals, and to actualize the larger vision that is communicated by their coach.

What is a Coach of Excellence?

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This article is included in Alan Stein’s, Coaching Nuggets.

I like many of the points made in this article. I am sure that there will be some disagreement with some of the statements, but I think that this is a very good article to inspire some reflection.

By: Brian Vecchio.

“You can’t plays today’s game by yesterday’s rules.”

 

What is a Coach of Excellence?

  • Same person in sport, home, and work
  • Keeps perspective and makes it fun
  • Prioritizes developing servant leaders
  • Mentally tough-comfortable with being uncomfortable
  • 3:1 ratio of praise to criticism

21st Century Coach of Excellence

  • “Easy to please, hard to satisfy”
  • Consistency breeds excellence, excellence breeds trust, trust breeds loyalty
  • “Great leaders can’t give away what they don’t possess themselves”
  • Must have a failure philosophy! (Admit it. Fix it. Don’t repeat it!)
  • Great coaches find ways to get players “all in”
  • Establish your OWN identity
  • Two non-negotiables: Humility and non-stop learner
  • You are too close if you can’t hold players accountable!
  • Manipulates situations daily that athletes will encounter
  • Can teach all types of learners at once (audio, visual, intrapersonal)
  • Can get players “on fire” about something!
  • Coach to player-player will retain 70% of what you said
  • Player 1-Player 2-will retain 85% of what is said
  • Player 2-another player after having learned skill-95% retention rate
  • Principles and values don’t change, the “how evolves”
  • Sterile communication on a team=sterile results
  • Each coach is at a different place in the journey! Get better every day!
  • Coach attitude and effort before X’s and O’s

3 Dimensional Coaching (3 questions to ask yourself)

1. Why do you coach? (Inside-Out Coaching)
2. What is your philosophy?
3. How do you measure success?

Level I

  • Competency (strategy, techniques, biomechanics
  • Lots of info out there for coaches to improve
  • 80-85% of coaches

Level II

  • Mind of the Athlete
  • Psychology
  • 10% of coaches

Level III

  • Relationship EXPERT
  • Critique without resentment
  • “Do you know “what time it is?”
  • 5% of all coaches

Coaching Thoughts

  • There is a double standard about teaching and coaching. Must be both!
  • Create a climate and culture that values people over productivity
  • Want to know if you are a good coach…ask your worst player
  • Only job w/ higher divorce rate is law enforcement
  • Do you have a bat phone? (Direct line of communication w/ team)
  • Are you just “coaching” or do you “care”?
  • Do you have self-control routines for yourself?
  • Assistant coaches are in charge of HC in heated moments
  • Give feedback
  • No feedback-coach that rolls out balls and lets “athletes be”
  • Over feedback- “paralysis by analysis”
  • Best know just the right time and right thing to say!
  • “You’re either coaching it, or allowing it to happen”
  • Coach Obvious/Knowledge of Result- “Catch the ball”
  • Knowledge of Process-checklist, specific feedback, drill that isolates problem
  • Speak Greatness into others
  • Cursing and sarcasm not effective with 21st century kid. Tune you out!
  • Replace “but” with “now” when talking to players. “I like your release, now try to get your elbow over your knee”
  • Be Uncommon. Sprint back after a made basket.
  • “See what people can be, not what they are.”

21st Century Players

  • Top 2 ways they communicate – USE THEM; DON’T FIGHT THEM
    1) Facebook-Every team should have a page!
    2) Texting
  • Right and wrong is determined by age 13
  • What happened to the “gym rat”? Players have evolved and changed
  • 50 million sports participants ages 6-14, by age 15 only 7 million
  • #1 predictor of success is self-talk
  • Now dealing with 2nd crop of “trophy generation”

10 Expectations 21st Century Athletes Have

1. They want to contribute immediately
2. They want to feel important and do important things
3. They want to receive feedback immediately
4. They want to be treated as an individual
5. They want to have access to the head the coach
6. They want to experience meaningful relationships
7. They want a plan of measurable growth steps
8. They want to learn from their peers
9. They want to see results quickly
10. They want coaches to be innovative and have high expectations

Additional Thoughts

• 90% of plane crashes in US are caused by pilot error. Have a checklist!
• Can’t have a “scoreboard hangover mentality”. The past can’t affect the future!
• “I want to honor your time”.as a way of reengaging listeners when you speak
• Old coaches must learn from new coaches and vice versa (community of learners)
• “I won’t know if I’m a good parent until I see my grandchild act up in front of my son.”