Influence for Today's Coaches

Which players are easiest for you to relate and communicate with? Which ones are the toughest? What traits draw you in, and what traits are easiest to deal with? How will you deal with a personality you didn't see or count on when you recruited a player? Will you be able to change them? What things are you looking for as you recruit them? Is it all about their skill or do you focus on their demean...

What challenges have you faced with Captains? What traits should a Captain have to lead your team? How do you select Captains? What training do they have? Have you experienced challenges with Captains not expected? What are the expectations of your Captains?

Have you experienced a player quitting? Have you ever quit a job or team? As a coach how did you handle it? It's easier with a player who may not ever play, but what about a starter or star player? Would you ever consider letting them come back? What would the conditions be?

Where will you lead from at key moments? at practice? after a big win? a big loss? Are you willing to take the blame? Share the spotlight? Step to the back? Every moment is an opportunity to show who we really are? What exactly do your players see?

What will it take to get your team up to Championship Standards? Do you have skill standards? What are your markers for developing your players? Does it include Culture, Leadership, Competing, Skill, Strategy, Fitness, Mental, Decision Making, Examples of Commitment? Here are some ideas that might make a difference. Thanks for listening.

How much pressure do you deal with everyday in your career? Does it origin lie in the job or does it originate with you? How do you work through pressure? Have there been times when the pressure was to great and you had to make a decision or get help? As a coach do you have resources to deal with pressure? Do you feel it's a sign of weakness to admit the pressure is just to much? If that happens w...

Are your players content with past success? Are they prepared for your level of practice and play? How will you convince them their past success means little? What will you do when a player reaches their potential? Do you rank your players? Do you share that with the player? the team?

Are your players skills where you need them to be? How do you develop your player's skill? Do you rank their skills? Have you tried a Skills Olympics? A Skills Competition under the lights? An early morning session once a week? Do you have a Skills Coach? What would you include in your skills assessment?

Where do you turn personally for inspiration and motivation? Have you ever contacted a former coach or mentor for solutions or experience? What would you say the key to reaching your players is with respect to your message?

Have you used Good, Better and Best in describing player decisions? Do your players have permission to make the Best Decision even if it comes with a risk? Are you highlighting decision making in practice? Is your demeanor and words on the sideline encouraging players to make the best decision or play it safe?

Are your coaching decisions consistent? Would you ever make an exception based on ability and the importance of a particular game? Would you do the same for a less skilled player? Have you ever had a decision come back with unintended consequences? At what point will you stand firm on a decision(s) based on the team's standards or expectations? Is your credibility on the line when you bend or rela...

Do you use a mentoring system with new coaches at your school or club? Where do your mentors come from? Is there a program for the mentors to follow? How do you qualify your mentors? What is the standard? Why would a new coach not want a mentor? Has your program been successful?

Have you experienced a losing season? How did you approach the following season? What areas of concern contributed to losing? Did you identify them? Was it more your approach with the team, or just a lack of commitment and talent with the players? What tough questions did you ask of yourself? What changes did you institute in the program? Did they prove to be a success?

What situations did you have to deal with this season? How did it impact your players? What characteristics or traits helped you in this tough situation? What will next spring look like for your team? What plans are you making? What are your priorities for the spring? Were there lessons you learned personally that will make you a better coach? What were they?

Do your players have Self-Discipline? Are they able to be in control in most every situation in a game, in the classroom and outside school? Where did they learn it? From you? What examples of self-discipline have they witnessed from you? What is your demeanor on the sideline? Have you taken time to teach them what Self-Discipline is, how it impacts their ability to play and how it can impact thei...

Will you sign or take a player with outstanding skill, but with less than favorable character? Have you encountered this situation before? What are three character traits you must have before a player joins your team? What challenges will a player with questionable character create for you and your players? Do you rate character as you observe a potential player in a game, or just their skill?

What pressures are your players working through today? Not just within the game or practice, how about outside pressure. How can some players seem so calm in tense moments? How can others fall apart? How did they get this way? Where does it originate? Can you help them? How have you dealt with this in the past? What worked? Here's our thoughts on doing all you can to help.

Have you dealt with conflicts between team leaders and teammates? Do you just deal with it one situation at a time? Do your team leaders know what you expect? Do you back them unconditionally? Have you trained your team leaders? What does that include? Here are some thoughts to consider.

What are your expectations of your assistant coaches? Are players confused by mixed messages from different coaches? Would your assistants be able to function without you? What are their responsibilities at practice and a game? What are your top three priorities when hiring an assistant coach?

What mentality do you expect from your players? Is it the same regardless of the position they play? Do they know what you expect? How can you help them develop the mindset needed? Are you able to convince them that a mistake doesn't define their intent or effort? Can they shake free from a bad game, a bad moment? Can you relate it to a career or professional job? Have you defined 3-5 mental trait...

Do you work to be relevant for your players? Is it a high priority? What would you include in the components of relevance? Is it trends, music, current events, technology and lingo? Should it include other areas? Do leadership components suffer at the expense of trying to be so relevant? Is that your focus? What would players say they expect and need from you most as a leader and coach? Could tryi...

Do you feel the need to shout instructions continuously during a game? Is it for the players or does it help you? What if you weren't at the game, what would your players do? Are you able to let them work a situation out or make an independent decision? Could hinge on your team whether they're young or a veteran club, but at some point.........................

What adjustments will you make to your coaching plans, style and implementation with a pandemic? What will you expect from your players? What if your season is cancelled? What message will you share with your players? Will you be able to convince players to follow the health and safety guidelines?

What is essential in building a team? What challenges will you face as you grind through a season? What would your definition be of a coach who can finish. Of Builder, Grinder and Finisher, which one best describes you? Why?

Have you considered moving to another school? Is it your dream to coach at the highest level? Is it the right time? Why would you leave your current school? What challenges have you faced? Will a move solve your problems? What new challenges might you face in a move? Have you considered many challenges have no boundaries based on level of play?