Know Thyself - Personal Coaching Philosophies

A coaching philosophy helps you make wise decisions in times of crisis and is also helpful in clarifying why you coach. It's important to know, on those not so great days, what will motivate you to continue.

It's essential you know yourself before you attempt to learn about each and everyone of your players.

Key Action Points: 

·      Define a vision or personal philosophy

·      Live it “actions determine what kind of characteristics are developed” (Aristotle)

·      Communicate it to others 

When Developing Your Vision or Philosophy: 

·     Reflect upon your life history

·      Support your philosophy with direct evidence from your life

·      Always write it down

Great Goals

Goal setting can be very powerful in changing behavior. Not only does goal setting help people achieve what they are aiming for, but it also increases their self-confidence, motivation, and decreases anxiety. 

Effective goal setting requires hard work. Setting specific, measurable, adjustable, realistic, and timely goals is a step in the right direction. Below are a few additional helpful hints to create GREAT GOALS! Systematically providing feedback and following up with athletes can make all the difference.  

Coaches, when beginning goal setting as a team for the season don't forget the power of modeling. Take part in the goal setting process. 

Great goals are:   

1. Positively Phrased

2. Specific and Measurable

3. Manageable and Achievable

4. Written down

5. Performance goals, not outcome goals

6. Something the athlete actually wants to work towards! 

7. Simple

Using these tips, create a structure within your team to make goal setting part of your team culture (a ritual, fun, and enforced by participants). 

RR