Above: Photo by Ellen Williams
So I see a podcast a friend sent me titled “Coaching Millennials and Gen Z”. My well intentioned friend felt it would benefit me because I could then adapt my coaching to the newer generations of athletes. Before I listened to it I had to tell my well-meaning friend.
“This is a huge issue for me. He looked at me sort of funny and I explained. This implies I have to change how I communicate to reach the new generation of players. I look at it this way. What about the book for the millennials and Gen Z?
“How to be coached by a Baby Boomer?” Where is that book?”
Oh, there is no book? Okay so here are my few paragraphs to the younger generation.
First-I should say I find the younger kids tough as a group if the bar (of excellence) is raised. I say “if” because often the bar is not raised for many different reasons.
When someone is told they are a great player all the time, that makes them feel warm and fuzzy. When they go to social media and everyone is telling them how great they are they often believe the posts!
Then here comes me; I tell them they have to improve. I also try to tell my athletes what they are good at but everyone seems to hear the “improvement” issues louder than the positive things about their games.
I put my players under stress in practice. Why? Simple-I want them to improve and to improve they must thrive in an environment of stress in competition. To simulate that I “stress” them at times.
Now, something else anyone who takes a lesson from me should know. If you are told you have to improve at something the reason is not to punish you, it is to get your game to a higher level. To get to a higher level you must leave your comfort zone.
Remember, I do read video for the greatest player to ever play the game and find things for him to work on! Everybody can improve!
So to the athletes I coach. I am not the enemy. Instead of peppering social media with posts of what you had for breakfast, use that time to practice your craft!
Let’s call this, “Zoomers and Millinneals-How to be Coached by a Baby Boomer!”