You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.
- Bob Nelson
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Never before in history has it been more important for young people to learn the lessons that interscholastic athletics alone can teach. The opportunities for personal development through participation in athletics are truly unique and invaluable. However, the coaching profession has never faced as many challenges as it does today. Add to that the fact that while the athletic program is certainly not the most important aspect of your school district, it may very well be the most visible. The average coaching career lasts only three to five years. Premature exits from the coaching profession are commonplace and most likely linked to one or more of the following: difficult parents; athletes who lack commitment and discipline; greater demands on one’s time both in season and out; a competitive schedule; the pressure to win, and unrealistically high expectations of the community and media just to name a few.
The athletic experience should be a positive one for athletes, parents and coaches alike. Yet, the reality is that too often, for one reason or another, it fails to achieve this goal. Problems inevitably arise and even seemingly insignificant issues often make the headlines of our local newspapers. To compound the problem, most coaches receive little or no training to prepare them adequately for the task of leading an athletic team. It is of little wonder that so many problems arise over the course of a school year. The good news, however, is that most of these things are quite avoidable with the proper training and preventative measures in place.
I am confident that I can help you and your athletic program. I encourage you to take advantage of my services which are designed to prepare coaches for the demands of coaching athletics in today’s world. I have been providing coaching education seminars and consultations for over seven years. By preparing for the complexities of leading athletic teams in ways that have a positive impact on athletes, parents and communities, it is possible to avoid the problems that seem to plague so many coaches today. It is very possible for both the student-athletes and their parents to be pleased with the experience they had through participation in athletics. This can be true regardless of the level of success they enjoyed. The coach, however, will be the greatest determining factor as to whether or not this occurs. My programs are designed to assist you in making this a reality. In addition, this training would also be hard evidence that the administration/athletic director is provided coaching education for the coaches in your school district. This could potentially reduce your liability in the event of an incident. The only defensible approach to modern day athletics is to be proactive in preventing problems and providing your athletes and coaches with a positive athletic experience.
Services that I am prepared to offer include:
-In-service your entire coaching staff
•The role of the coach and of athletics in the school setting
•Development of a team “mission statement”
•Team rules/athlete code of conduct
•Priorities for your program
•Parent meetings/parent education – content and approach
•“Positive approach” to coaching
•How to improve the coaches’ relationships with parents and athletes
•Leadership training (coaching is leadership)
-Individual coach(es) mentoring and/or counseling
-I recently began conducting a Parent Education Class entitled “How You Can Help Your Child” for all the parents
