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Sunday, June 1, 2025

What Are Your Top Coaching Lessons?

Brad Stevens says, "Coaches give more than we get." Coaches have the privilege to help young people grow life skills. A former player graduates from veterinary school soon. That's an incredible achievement for her. 

Each of us has ideas about coaching which may or may not be valid. A few:

1. A coach has the chance to be successful if she has players as motivated for success as she is, provided the players have adequate size, athleticism, and some skill. 

2. In the developmental setting (e.g. age 12-14), expecting consistency is irrational and will only lead to frustration. 

3. The game is for the players. Don't make it about coaching ego or one-upping others. If you need to be "the smartest guy in the room," spend more time by yourself in empty rooms. 

4. "Never be a child's last coach." Don't sacrifice children on the imaginary altar of victory. Don't be a jerk. 

5. Shout praise and whisper criticism. Help players create a narrative of success via their player experience. 

6. "First above all, to thine own self be true." I believe in transparency with full access to parents at practice, pre- and post-game meetings so that there's no "he said, she said."

7. Give and get feedback. All communications to players ran through parents of the girls. Use the sandwich technique with coaching corrections interspersed between praise. 

8. If nine of ten sets of parents think you're doing well coaching their daughters, one of ten will think you are the worst coach ever. And that doesn't mean they're wrong. "Perception is reality."

9. Create a learning culture. Teaching kids to love learning pays immeasurable benefits to them. 

There's no 'one size fits all' in coaching. 

Lagniappe. Winning the Super Bowl won't cure everything. 


Lagniappe 2. Choose some 'micro-habits' for self-improvement. 
Lagniappe 3. Seek truth. 







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