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| Coaching Truths |
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| by Rich Burns, Head Soccer Coach, Gordon College |
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| Coaching is gratifying, but it can also be humbling. There is always more to learn. The single most important thing I've learned as a coach is that harmony is not the norm. I think harmony or smooth sailing is over rated. What brings me satisfaction is, simply, struggling well. |
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Perfumed prose this in not. Maybe, though a few young coaches could grab a tidbit of relevance or a fresh idea as they peruse these coaching observation of a 20 year career.
- Remind your athletes before each competition to enjoy their experience.
- A crisp, 90 minute training session beats a dragged out, two and one-half hour session every time.
- On the day of competition, step back, quiet down and enjoy watching the fruitition of your labor (when the whistle blows, it's very much your player's show).
- Real power comes from serving your people well.
- Where there is a will, there is not always a way - but sometimes there is.
- Find a kind way to tell your athletes the blunt truth.
- Athletic participation is important, but it is just a temporary, wonderful phase to pass through on the way to real life.
- Don't second guess yourself - make the best decision you can and move on.
- Speak succinctly. Don't lose track of the value of being uncomplicated.
- Balance praise and criticism - too much of either can be harmful.
- Set your standards early and don't compromise them.
- Speak freshly, avoiding the gaggingly inane cliches, such as "stepping it up," "giving 110 percent," etc.
- In these sullen, win-at-all-cost times, enjoy the occasional belly laugh. Delight is the wage of living.
- It is unnecessary to raise your voice to be heard if your athletes believe you have something important to say. Your impact is greater with a whisper than a roar.
- Teach your athletes the wonderful freedom that comes from learning to lose with grace and dignity and without excuse.
- Winning is overrated, and the singular quest for it leads to unhappiness.
- Greeting each athlete personally at the beginning of training every day and saying something sincerely positive publicly about each one during the training session pays dividends.
- Letting your athletes know that you care for them, and that they can trust you, is critical.
- The journey is more important than the arrival.
- Let your actions coincide with your beliefs.
- Convey to your athletes the love of the game.
- Don't posture - a confident person need not convince anybody of anything.
- Don't allow one or two players to ruin things for the rest of the team.
- The joy of winning fades immediately and precipitously.
- Have the courage to say "no" when the answer is "no."
- Don't script your training sessions down to the minute - allow room for spontaneity.
- Convey to your athletes the intrinsic honor that comes from training and competing hard.
- It is important to have your athletes work on their strengths as well as their weaknesses.
- Show some passion on occasion. They have to know you care.
- Don't over-analyze. Sometimes, as Freud told us, "A cigar is just a cigar."
- If you don't know, say so.
- Introduce a service component to your program - it is good for everybody.
- Even in these politically correct times, don't neglect the spiritual aspects of coaching.
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| Copyright © 2000-2004, TTNL Sports Network |
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