Advice to young coaches (and some old coaches who need to be reminded)
Here is some advice for young coaches from my experiences. I originally posted this in 2012 but it demands to be reposted. This advice reflects lessons that I learned, no need to make the same the same mistakes I made.
- Be prepared to pay your dues, you don’t enlist the army as a general.
- Practice humility – No matter what your athletic or academic accomplishments you are going to have to prove yourself as a coach. Check you ego at the door.
- Keep Learning – Keep a notebook of your ideas and observations. Write in it as often as possible. It will be an invaluable reference as you progress through your career. I have filled Moleskin notebooks in my 49th year of coaching.
- Listen and watch – You have two eyes, two ears and one mouth for a reason.
- Dress Professionally – That should not need explanation.
- Be fit, look the part.
- Learn the culture of the sport(s) you are working with ASAP. Do your homework.
- Be the first to arrive and the last to learn – Earn your stripes.
- Never let anyone outwork you. Forget what you are being paid get the job done.
- Do the grunt work, in fact volunteer for it.
- If you are working with athletes that don’t speak English learn the language, it will open doors for you.
- File the theoretical peer reviewed stuff you learned in class. You are in the real world now, on the job it is about producing results, make the athletes better.
- Maintain professional distance from your athletes you are not their friend you are their coach.
- Rome wasn’t built in a day learn patience it takes time.
- Coaching is a profession – Never lose sight of that.
- The head coach is the boss. Be loyal and respectful.
- Never forget coaching is not about sets and reps or X’s and O’s it is about people.
- If you want respect then show respect.
- When it is all said and done be sure that you have had as many experiences as possible not one experience many times.
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