Coaches Coaching Coaches
1. (to the athletes) Find an experienced coach, believe in them, learn, mentor under them, and improve at what you do,
2. (to the coaches) Get to know your athletes-no, I mean really know them. What makes them compete, what is their moral compass, how much do they want to win? What lengths are they willing to go to win?
3. Learn for yourself. I have a theory. I see many coaches who as players never really put it all out there. They never sacrificed it all. They took shortcuts based on their playing abilities but did not go all in. This comes back to bite you. I will never forget telling my coach back in the day how unfair it was that I had to work so hard just to compete while my nemesis just played. My coach told me what I was doing would carry me a long way and in ways I did not comprehend. Now I get it! I know what it is like to pay the price. So, if you are competing, go for it!
4. Be humble. It is an honor to play this game at any level. Do not judge people by levels of play. Judge people for what kind of people they are rather than their level of play!
5. Do all of the above and opportunity will come your way and oh, by the way, I am always looking for good young coaches to mentor and help.
6. Oh, one last thing-if you are doing it for money you are a business person, not a coach. If you are coaching because of your love of teaching and inspiring others, you are a coach!