What I Learned from Coaching Sports...

Last week, we talked about the things we gain from playing a sport. This week, I want to focus on what we gain from coaching a sport! Adapt it to the sport you play or coach. The truth transfers seamlessly!

First and foremost, as it has been said, EVERYTHING rises and falls on leadership. This is true in every situation from family to jobs to church to sports. I’ve seen it in each of these categories, but since this is a sports article, let’s concentrate on those things that we gained from coaching children’s sports.

What not to do:

1. Assume the players know how to play or will pick it up without your help.

All personalities are different, and every coach’s approach will be different. First time coaches may have more of a hurdle to cross than experienced coaches, but that does not mean experienced coaches don’t make this mistake.

The first game is always a telling scenario for those watching. This is where you will see what the coach has prepared the players for and what they have not. This is where you will not only see skills in action but understanding of the game.

My first-year coaching in a community league this was the slap in the face I needed to adjust and re-group practice content. Although we had gone over the skills of the game and how to do them correctly, and practiced them until we were confident, and could perform them in game situations; we weren’t ready for the game. After this, we added in mock games to every practice session that would bring up scenarios we could prepare for.

2. Ignore the players without skill

Skill can be taught. It may take more effort on you to explain it in multiple ways and give avenues to practice it multiple ways. There has not been a time that I’ve coached that the players did not get better at the skills. There were times that despite the skill, character flaws would not allow me to let them play as much as they could have.

3. Ignore poor character choices

Do not let players treat each other poorly, make fun of mistakes or disrespect the team by not showing up or doing their best. There has been many a time that my line-up changed on game day because players missed practice or wouldn’t apply themselves in practice.

What to do:

*Focus on what you want them to learn most from the skills they are developing. When I heard a coach explaining to her team why receiving the ball was the most important skill she taught and why, it changed my perspective on coaching forever!

She demonstrated how to stand and hold your arms to prepare for a pass and explained that the ball can come at you controlled or wild. It can be hard or soft. You can’t control how the ball comes to you, but you can make sure you are in the position to calm it and return it. This was HUGE for me.

Life sends us things that are wildly out of control, and we can’t make them stop. What we can do it calm the situation and redirect it where God would have for it to go. If you can learn to do that. You can excel at much!!