In this article, I’m highlighting seven actions that could make a difference in your growth as a coach and, potentially, your success in the upcoming season.
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Take Care of the Little Things:
Unless you have an incredible budget, the head coach and his staff need to be on top of every detail on and off the field. On the field, make sure everyone knows the signs, first-and-third situations, bunt plays, and other defensive signs and responsibilities.
The list of details is enormous—that’s why it takes a team effort. Each coach, student manager, and player should know their personal responsibilities: everything from tarping the mound and home plate, communicating with umpires, informing the team which uniform to wear, scheduling transportation, and making sure the lineup is posted in time for the official scorekeeper.
Being on top of the “little things” may never be noticed, but if they aren’t taken care of, it can be embarrassing for the entire program. Head coaches should surround themselves with responsible, detail-oriented assistant coaches and student managers. Success consists of being great in little things.
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.”
— John Wooden
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Know Your Players:
Connecting and communicating with each individual player as often as possible is essential. Each player has their ups and downs, situations at home, emotional highs and lows with friends, academic stress, and insecurities about success on the field.
Knowing your players will not only open the door for a lifelong relationship, but it could also help in making decisions about lineups or pinch-hit situations.
One of the most important roles of a coach is identifying roles for players: where they hit in the lineup, whether they are a closer or a starter, whether you can trust them to lead a drill or be a leader on the team. Don’t be afraid to change roles if players aren’t producing. I once moved a nine-hole hitter to the leadoff spot, and it made him a completely different player—eventually being drafted.
“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are.”
— Ara Parseghian
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Character:
Leadership guru John Maxwell says, “Leaders cannot rise above the limitations of their character.” In many cases, your character as a coach influences the respect players have for you. A coach’s integrity may also make the difference in career longevity and future opportunities.
Coaches may not be able to control the outcome of every game, but they can control their personal integrity. You build your legacy one small choice at a time. Character is everything.
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Lock In:
Know your strengths and focus on those as opposed to your weaknesses. Also, know your players’ strengths and recognize those attributes. If you spend too much time on weaknesses—yours or theirs—confidence will be damaged.
Of course, everyone needs to improve, but we must maximize what we already do well.
“Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”
— John Wooden
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Manage Your Time:
As a coach, it always helped me to approach each day with a list of things to accomplish. I seldom completed everything, so I would move unfinished tasks to the top of the next day’s list. The list helped me manage and prioritize my time.
Time is more valuable than money. You may only have 150–200 minutes each day with your players. Spend it wisely. Teach, coach, demand excellence, and pour value into them every minute you are in their presence.
“You must get good at one of two things: planting in the spring or begging in the fall.”
— Jim Rohn
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You Need Coaching Too:
What happens in you is more important than what happens to you. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be at your best with your family or your team.
Coaches should carve out time for spiritual growth and inner peace. I try to start each day with at least 30 minutes of prayer, Bible reading, and quiet reflection. My days always go better when I do.
“We need quiet time to examine our lives openly and honestly—spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”
— Susan L. Taylor
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Live Philippians 2:3–4:
Reading the Bible can sometimes be like looking in the mirror—not seeing what you want to see, but seeing what is real and authentic. There is nothing that holds me more accountable or helps me see truth about myself than the Word of God.
Recently, I was reading Philippians 2:3–4 and saw how clearly it applies to coaches and athletes. If we lived these words within our teams, staffs, and families, we would be better coaches, husbands, and fathers.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others.”
— Philippians 2:3–4
If you found value in this article, you will enjoy my book, Coaching with Purpose.