Coaching Again

This week I will be meeting with the head coach of the Camden Hills Regional High School football team. I am volunteering to assist the team as a coach. I am extremely excited about this opportunity. My expectation coming in is to learn a lot more about how a high school program is organized. While I am definitely seeking the learning experience, it is important to remember that I will be a coach, and the kids will be seeking to learn from me.

There are some goals that I established for the time that I am helping out, including the off-season.

• Better myself at home, at work, and as a coach everyday
This is something that I’ve already implemented as a daily objective. If you’re not moving up, you’re losing (oh wait, that’s poker).

• Learn the system front and back and never stray from it

From reading books on coaching I have come to two conclusions. The first is that it is possible to win with less talent if you are fundamentally sound, prepared mentally and physically, and you work hard every day. The second is that you won’t win squat with all the talent in the world if your players and coaches don’t buy-in to the system in place (or if you don’t have a system).

• Allow each player to experience success daily

This is probably the best thing that any leader can do - and probably the most neglected approach by leaders. The players need to see that their actions can be successful, that the system can work, and that they can trust the coaches to communicate their shortcomings AND successes to them.

• Seek solutions and not excuses or rationalizations

This has always been my biggest problem in life. I don’t like to deal with problems I am not comfortable with. I tend to latch onto any rationalization and drown myself with it. In situations where I have stepped around excuses I have excelled at life. Also, I don’t want my procrastination or laziness to been seen by those I am trying to influence.

• Show patience and understanding in dealing with all others

If I had a dollar for every boss that failed to show me this, I’d have a lot more debt.

• Always anticipate a win, never accept a loss – expect more

This is nearly hand-in-hand with rationalizing, but slightly different. There is also a big difference between this thought and, say, walking off the field with :01 left in your Super Bowl loss.