Last week I had the opportunity to spend two days with my
friend, mentor and professional colleague Dr Joe Vigil at our USATF Coaching Education meeting at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista. Joe is 83 years old and
just as passionate & enthusiastic as he was when I first met him over
thirty years ago. He gets up at 4:00 Am every morning and does two hours of
professional development reading. He is one of the most accomplished coaches in the world and is still hungry to learn! When I spend
time with Joe I come away inspired and full of ideas. We both share a passion
for coaching and teaching and a concern for some of the things we see happening
in coaching today. The following is some advice gleaned from my conversations
with Joe and from my experience. Hopefully it will be food thought as each of
you moves forward in your careers.
Enjoy the journey – Take some time
along the way to stop and smell the roses.
Have a life – Find a balance
between your coaching and the rest of your life.
Be yourself and always be true to
yourself.
Take risks, make mistakes &
learn from them.
Listen more than you talk.
No shades of gray regarding drugs,
either black or white.
Find the smartest person in the
room & hang out with them.
Know your stuff, but more
important is to show your stuff on the field, court, track or pool. Ultimately
is not how much you know it is how you coach, how you put it all into practice.
Ask smart questions & be sure
to listen to the answers.
Never lose sight of the fact it is
always about people and relationships.
It’s not about you it is all about
the athlete.
Be prepared to pay your dues, you
don’t enlist the army as a general.
Find someone to help you and
mentor you
Stay humble
Coaching is profession, treat it
as such and be professional in all areas.
If you are in it for the money or
the fame, forget coaching and go to Las Vegas or Silicon Valley.
Don't follow people & personalities, follow
principals and progressions.