The Coaching Chronicles: Game 1
The words that every coach hears. That one athlete that wants to get in the game. As a coach, I have observed this in many environments and game scenarios, at all levels, and in a multitude of sports. This is definitely not a “new” thing we are experiencing. Most of the time, coaches will have the athlete sit back down, wait their turn, or maybe dismiss the request of the athlete all together because it’s not a part of the “game plan”. In a honest perspective, if that player isn’t in the game already and they have to ask the coach to play, many in our industry would consider it to be begging.
Why? Why is that? What has ever trained us to have these thoughts that so-and-so shouldn’t play or that a coach should ignore them if they have enough courage to ask to play? Why do we act this way as coaches? Isn’t these the empowerment skills that we are asking our players to have? Aren’t we wanting them to step up and take initiative? Aren’t we wanting someone to show confidence in something? In the virtues that stretch beyond the game itself, these are the lessons we are truly trying to teach and empower our athletes with. Why is it when they actually take a risk and stand up for something, are we shutting them down cold?
From a social emotional level, when we dismiss their request, we are actually harming their long term growth in aspects of trust and empowerment. We are hindering and stagnating their ability to grow appropriately to match their potential. When we say “sit down” or “not right now” or seamlessly relegate them to the bench, we are creating a barrier to the goals we are helping them strive to achieve. Does the victory in the game mean that much more than player and personal development? At what point does the temporary outcome outweigh the long term result in value? What is more valuable – the game or the person playing the game? I know every circumstance is different for coaches depending on level and situation, but in our current climate, it is more beneficial to focus on player development than immediacy of victory.
In this Post-Pandemic Coaching World, high schools and middle schools are struggling to find coaches to fill open vacancies. Programs have been gutted or forgotten about because of the craziness that has ensued over the last few years. Many previous successful coaches are walking away from the game because they were not able to keep the consistency that was present before things were stripped away and now are forced to rebuild. Many new coaches that had to wait for their chance to step up in to positions are finding new opportunities, but only to figure out the enormous amount of work it entails to build a quality program. Some have limited or no funds to support. Other programs have faltered completely. With this said, there a mountain of obstacles all levels are having to face to rebuild sports programs. If that is the case, then what better time to change our mentalities and philosophy to support player growth? The old mantra of “sit down” does not apply. The new breed of student athletes that actually stand up say “Put Me In Coach”, should in fact, be put in. At our current position, we have nothing to lose by letting these players take chances and risks. The result and product of this is empowerment of our next generation of athlete leaders. As a coach, you should not worry too much because there isn’t a line behind you ready to snag your job away. It’s not the same as it was before this madness, and many are taking unique opportunities to allow themselves to grow into our new demands and expectations that is placed on by our society. This new breed of coaching should examine all the mistakes and shortcomings of the previous generation in leadership, and use this to create dynamic and reflexive teams that support all play levels and abilities. In a sense, you are “Putting Yourself In” and if you do it for yourself and take that risk, then why can’t you do it for the athletes on your team that you serve? It is a huge reflection question that should haunt and linger every coaching decision going forward. Will you regret not giving that person a chance or will you unrealizingly negatively shape the next generation of athletes that, eventually, may age into coaches themselves one day? What lasting legacy do you want to leave on your players? What impact or mark do you want leave to help them realize their goals? Having the student athletes advocate for themselves makes them stronger people. It helps build these powerful social skills that are transferable later in life that they incredibly need to have to attain success.
You have nothing to lose right now and everything to gain. Giving an athlete a chance to play is probably the best thing you can do. It helps promote a trust bond in a relationship between player and coach, it allows for player growth and development, it allows for team building within your ranks, it builds team and organizational culture, and on a personal level, it helps fulfill what a coach is designed to do… empower others. So the next time an athlete comes to you and tells you they are ready… do exactly that, listen. Put them in the game.
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Written By Chris Hulme ( aka – Coach Hulme ) #CoachHulme #ChrisHulme #TheHulme
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Coach Hulme 