Advice to Young Coaches

Here is
some advice for young coaches from my experiences. 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 note book 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 43^rd 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 work until you 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.

When it is
all said and done be sure that you have had as many experiences as possible not
one experience many times. Enjoy the journey, we are fortunate to be coaches.