Being a Head Coach is Hard.
Most people have no idea.
Unless you have done the job, you don't know.
Here are the 8 Realities of Being a HEAD COACH:
1: It will consume you - Coaching is more than just a job - it's a way of life. You'll spend countless hours planning practices, analyzing game footage, and strategizing for the next big game. But when your team succeeds, it makes it all worth it!
2: There will be critics - No matter how well you perform or do your job, there will always be people who criticize your decisions and strategies. Know and Accept this. Remember, you know your team better than anyone.
3: You are not in it for the money - High School Coaching is not a job that pays well, but it's not about the money. It is a calling. It is a lifestyle. It's about the love of the game and the desire to help young athletes grow and develop into their full potential.
4: There is no overnight success - Building a successful team takes time, patience, and dedication. There will be ups and downs, but if you stay the course and keep pushing forward, you'll see the results. The #1 job of a coach is to Build Culture.
5: You need a supportive spouse - This should be #1 on the list for many! Coaching can strain your family. Having a spouse who understands and supports your passion is CRITICAL. Make sure to take the time to show your appreciation and give back.
6: You will not make everyone happy - As a coach, you will make tough decisions that not everyone will agree with. This happens a lot. But remember, you're in it for the team’s benefit, not just one individual. You will never make everyone happy. So make you happy.
7: You can't want it more than the kids - As a coach, you can inspire & motivate your players, but ultimately, they must want it. This can be hard for a younger coach. Encourage them to work hard & set goals. Let them take ownership of their success.
8: It is still WORTH it! - Despite the challenges, being a coach is incredibly rewarding! Watching your players grow & develop into strong, confident young adults is one of the best feelings in the world.
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One of the things that holds many of us back, as individuals and teams, is comparing ourselves to others. It's a trap. It causes us to focus on someone else's gifts, talents and purpose versus our own.
Focus on being the best YOU that only YOU can be.
What do Winning Programs do Differently?
A lot.
Here are 5 Things Found in Winning Programs.
1: High-Level Commitment
You cannot have a consistently high-performing program without a relentless consistency of commitment. Committed players WIN. Committed teams WIN. Each season, your leaders define the commitment level for your program. They need to set the standard.
2: Culture of Excellence
Winning programs have a “known“ culture. There is an expectation of excellence. Many things do not have to be said. However, team leaders, coaches, and other gatekeepers of the culture ALWAYS maintain the standard if it ever starts to slip.
3: Leadership Passed On
All winning programs have strong player leadership. This leadership is passed on from year to year. The leaders understand the impact of their legacy. They make sure future leaders know their impact. Coaches consistently develop their leaders.
4: Competitive Environment
Competition brings out the best in individuals and teams. Winning programs thrive on competition. Players know they have to “bring it” each and every day. This competitive atmosphere is a big reason they win consistently.
5: Tradition and Legacy
Finally, winning programs have a sense of tradition and legacy. We > Me. Players want to be part of something bigger than themselves. Players understand the tradition. They want to be part of the tradition. They want to leave their mark.
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Successful athletes must have & maintain high performance habits. That means eating to fuel an athlete body, getting enough rest, plenty of water & preparing your mind & body for peak performance. It’s not a day here & a day there. It’s not a “sometimes” thing. It’s a lifestyle!
Team Culture is Fragile.
It takes daily attention.
Here are 10 things that can DESTROY a Team Culture
Drip by Drip.
1: Showing up Late
Being late tells your team that ME > WE. This is a dangerous place to go. Respect your teammate's time. Respect your coach's time. Be on time.
2: Skipping Reps
Every rep creates a habit. Skipping reps is how you get worse as a player. This is how you get worse as a team. This is a culture killer.
3: Not Holding others Accountable
All teams need leaders. If leaders don’t hold others accountable. The team culture loses. The team loses.
4: Bad Body Language
Body Language screams. Want to destroy a culture. Bring negative energy with bad body language.
5: Taking Plays Off
Can I Trust you as my teammate? Not if you take plays off. If you play when you want to play. You will kill your culture.
6: Complaining about your Role
Not happy about your role? Want to hurt the team? Complain about your role. This will eat away at your culture and hurt your team.
7: Bad Mouthing Your Teammates
Easy way to hurt your team and kill your culture. Talk bad about your teammates. It will eat at your culture every time.
8: Sloppy Practices
Sloppy practices = sloppy games. They create bad habits. They eat away at culture. Mediocrity follows.
9: Not Focused on Details
Details win games. Not focusing on details loses games. Skip details and impact your culture.
10: No Eye Contact
This tells the coach you don’t care. It tells your teammates you don’t care. It tells the team it is all about you. Note: there are some cultures where this is accepted. Know your players.
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Did a PBL using info on HeLa Cells and the book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” for years! The kids were amazed and it really opened some eyes… if you’ve never heard of her or HeLa Cells I’d HIGHLY suggest looking it up!
On this day in 1951, Henrietta Lacks died at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Her cells were taken without her knowledge in 1951 (HeLa Cells) and became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, gene mapping, vitro fertilization & more
THREAD
Soduvhwbisskoefhsoalsn —> me right now knowing #WhoIamTour started today!!!
Nashville, YOU’RE NEXT!!!! Get ya tickets now!
Saturday will be here soon 😍
https://t.co/YWvzVhF3tD
Today is the day! @nickcarter officially kicks off the #WhoIAmTour in Lexington. If you still haven’t gotten tickets to this tour, there’s still time to avoid FOMO!