Influence for Today's Coaches

Can you escape the demands of coaching? Can you find peace and solitude on the field long before a game? Will you play the game in your mind? What about in the locker room in the off season when all the players have gone home? Will you question words you spoke there before a game? Would you agree that a large percentage of games are won or lost in the locker room? Could it be because of what we sa...

Have you thought about how much influence you have with your players? Positive or Negative it will be carried with them long after they leave your program? If they shared the truth about that influence in a letter what would it say. Listen as we share a letter a player might write.

How did you finish last season? How would you like to finish this season? Are their steps you can take to lead your team toward a positive finish? Who's ideas, opinions and observations can you solicit? Should you? Do you have players yet to be game tested? Are there players ready to carry your team?

What pressure do you feel everyday as a coach? Where does it originate? How do you deal with it? What pressure are your players under? Are there ways for you to get away for a short time? Does your family sacrifice for the hours you devote to your team? We have a few suggestions that may help.

Why do you coach? What brings you back each day, each game, each practice? Who gave you the characteristics needed to coach? Can you still hear their voice? their advice? Are you the voice your players hear?

Are you experiencing players who aren't sure what their role is on the team? Have you met with them and explained their role? Players want to play and can become disgruntled if left uninformed. It can grow into negatively influencing a group of players. What will you do?

Are your games sold out? Would you like to see more fans? Have you wondered why more families don't attend your games? Do you feel being one of the best teams is the answer? Have you given any thought to providing more entertainment? Maybe it's time.

Do you break the season down into Mini-Seasons? Are you patient in deciding your starting lineup in preseason? Who are your first 4 players off the bench? Do you rank your players objectively or subjectively? Do you ask your players to rank their teammates?

Do you continuously shout instructions to your players during a game? Why? Is it needed? Do you trust their decisions? What would give you confidence in their decision making? Can you build that in practice? What do your players think about the constant shouting? Have you asked them?

Can you admit you were wrong to your team? What situations do you struggle with? Will you be able to recover from a decision you knew was wrong? How will your players now view you? What can you hope to gain by admitting you were wrong? Our thoughts........

What impressions do you make as a player or coach? Would someone describe you as being relentless? What dreams do you have as a coach or player? Are you aware of the positive or negative impressions you leave? How far will you go to reach your dreams?

What will you say at halftime with your team playing poorly? being outplayed? without energy and enthusiasm? Will you control your emotions? Why are they playing poorly? Could it be our fault? Are they outmatched? How will you build on this moment?

Are you buried under so many tasks, forms and responsibilities? Who else other than your assistants can help? Are you comfortable delegating part of the load to your players? Who would you select? What are the advantages? the negatives?

Has a player ever said to you, "The game isn't fun anymore." How did you reply? Could the statement mean more? Is the pressure to be a student athlete, a family member or a trusted friend and teammate to much with so much time dedicated to the game? What can you do?

Is your program consistently successful? What challenges can arise that get in the way of success? How do you deal with them? Are they always recognizable? Intentional? Controllable?

Can you use the Women's World Cup to inspire your team? What ideas have you thought of? Have your players been influenced by what they saw? Will you be able to relate and compare similarities and differences?

What would a casual fan or observer see as your team experiences success or adversity? Does that matter? What characteristics drive those responses? Is it a reflection of their values or a reflection of what you're teaching them?

What drives you to still coach? Why do you coach? What motivated you to become a coach? Do you feel the need to be in control of every situation? What would you say is the key to reaching your players with your message?

What's your position on your players celebrating? How do you deal with a blowout loss during the game? Does it upset you when the opposition celebrates close to your bench? Do you have strong team leaders who will bring their teammates down to earth recognizing the perception of your team celebrating may not be positive?

Are you able to inspire your team? Not just for games, special events or occasions. Can you inspire just by the way you conduct yourself, your words and actions in everyday settings? Do you truly believe in your players? Have you told them? Can it help take them to greater heights, not only in the game, but in life? Never underestimate your influence to shape a life.

Why would your best player decline to lead? What challenges will ineffective leadership create? Do you have clear expectations for leaders? Do you or the team interview them? Are you asking to much of player leaders? What traits make true leaders special?

How do you react to fast moving storms within your team? Do players know they can talk with you concerning issues and challenges? What happens when players complain to other teammates? What was the climate of your team last year? Were there issues that were left unresolved? What will be different this season?

Do you have a sense of when your team isn't focused? How do you deal with it? How did they arrive at this point? How can this be avoided or prevented? What will you say? Could your words make it worse? What situations bring this on?

Do you make time to train your leaders? Are you able to role play situations for practical experience? What if you set up the training with a format similar to your field practice? Do you expect them to deal with issues with no formal training?

As a coach, what sets you apart? What characteristics are special about you? Why would a parent want their child to play for you? What would your players, colleagues and athletic director say your special gift is? Why does that matter?