It’s never about what you have, it’s always about what they get.
“A coaching philosophy is essential.
However, the delivery of your coaching must be dynamic to meet the highly volatile, evolving needs of a variety of athletes who respond to coaching differently.
Coaching isn’t about forcing kids to “fit the mold”.”
It’s about serving them.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
I think the reason I love coaching so much is because it’s impossible to perfect it.
As a man hungry for continued growth in my life, being able to consistently refine one of my greatest passions (coaching) will likely be what contributes to my fire staying lit, in at least some capacity, until they put me in an old wooden box.
It’s funny, as a coach starting out you think you know everything.
You’ve had great coaches, you’ve (hopefully) studied great coaches, you’re young, you’re “cool”, you resonate with the athletes because “you get it” and “you’re a player’s coach.”
I’ve learned that this flawed misperception stemming from a lack of self-awareness is actually quite dangerous.
Many Coaches use the “likability” meter to gauge their value as a coach.
“Well, they can’t let me go because they like me.”
While there is nothing wrong with having confidence as a young coach, letting your likability fuel your ego is a recipe for disaster if your goal is to consistently improve as a coach.
Countless “cool” coaches are unsuccessful/fired every single year.
The deeper you get into the Coaching profession, you realize how much you actually don’t know. You become more self-aware of your strengths and weaknesses and your experience allows you to see and understand how much more there is to it.
While I believe this to be a good thing, it’s also very humbling.
I love the Sean McVay’s of the world, but look who he staffs around him.
Maybe there is something to learn from those “old coaches” you believe “just don’t get it these days?” Maybe there is a reason they’ve been in the field 10, 20, sometimes 50 years? Maybe?
While I don’t have all the answers to coaching and never will, what I have found to be true in my first decade+ of coaching is that it is essential to have a coaching philosophy, an identity if you will.
But within that “fixed” identity, you must be dynamic in your presentation.
Reason being is you will be dealing with a variety of athletes with varying levels of emotions, maturity, and learning styles.
Trying to my way or the highway “Billy Badass” your way through them because your philosophy calls for “grit & toughness” is an excellent way to fail.
Sticking to your guns because of your pride effectively serves no one.
Your job isn’t for them to meet you where you’re at.
Your job is to meet them where they’re at.
