Someone told former pitcher Bob Lemon, "you're not throwing as hard as you used to." He replied, "I'm throwing every bit as hard; the ball isn't going as fast." Substitute hard and fast for effort and results. Better results don't always follow 'hard.' More isn't always better.
Head coaches have countless responsibilities and could benefit from additional help. What help would reflect on the scoreboard and in the win column?
Here's the College of Charleston form (below). Volunteer assistants are not allowed for football and basketball.
- Scouting
- Personnel
- Player development
- Player well-being
- Academic coordination
- Strength and conditioning
- Video coordinator
- Compliance
- Practice development (assess each activity and gauge whether contributing to score/winning)
- Player development (sport-specific performance)
- Special situation quality control
- Detailed problem analysis
- Game management opportunities
Dr. Connolly informs six "Laws of Winning" to be understood by coaches in excellent organizations. We can expand on these in the coming weeks.
- Law of Knowledge (game and relationships)
- Law of Human Superiority (it's not the technology)
- Law of Intensity and Quality (work and burnout, "hard and fast")
- Law on Individualization (routines function as a team)
- Law of Preparation (every situation accounted for)
- Law of Support (no team is an island)
An overarching theme is understanding how pieces fit together is not child's play. Some people and organizations never "get it." Connolly introduces the chapter with a quote from Lenin, "Read, read, read."
Perhaps we'll never get a performance coach. That means assuming the role ourselves.
Lagniappe. Aspire to be a true knight in a modern era.