Influence for Today's Coaches: Recent Episodes
DeAngelo Wiser
Are you ready to guide a player who has unlimited potential? What plans or ideas have you used in the past? Do you become frustrated when their vision is not the same as yours? Could there be underlying issues outside the game? What will you do if they just embrace mediocrity? It's frustrating because you know what it takes to be great and they are okay with watering their game down. So what can you do. We have a few ideas, but it may be a long challenge.
HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH ALL THE CHALLNGES, ISSUES AND REQUIREMENTS OF COACHING? HAVE YOU LOST SOME OF YOUR PASSION FOR THE PROFESSION. HOW CAN YOU GET BACK ON TRACK? IS IT OBVIOUS? WHO CAN I TALK WITH OR TURN TO? iS THE PROBLEM ME OR ARE THERE OTHER FACTORS TO CONSIDER?
Can you put off season training in a frame that encourages players to put in the work. Are you able to use an example so they see how much it stands to benefit them?
How do you deal with players who don't make your team during tryouts? Do you talk with them personally or just avoid them and post a list of those who made it? There may be another way.
If you're a Head Coach do you value your Assistant Coaches? Have you told them? Are they respected, deserving, reliable and a lot more? Their job is not about the money, it's about working with young people, trying to stay positive, and doing any task needed. Do you trust their decisions, their observations, their suggestions and their intuition? Have you told them you do? Have you gone to bat for them for more money or fees to further their coaching education? If not do it today.
Have you dealt with Dissent? What started it? How did you deal with it? Did you see it coming?Did the player or players involved surprise you or not?
Are you in touch with players on a timely basis? If needed, do they have a plan? Do they understand why they aren't playing or starting? How much time will you give them?
Do you struggle with naming, selecting, voting on and deciding who your Captains will be for the season. Have you or the team ever made a less than favorable decision? What if you separated the role of leader from captain? Here are our thoughts.
Are your players able to make their own decisions during a game? Are they capable? Do you find yourself constantly yelling instructions? Is there a way to assist your players so they're better prepared? Could our constant yelling add to an already pressure packed situation? Who will be shouting from the sideline in their office after they leave the game and start their career?
What does the game mean to your players? Do they have a burning fire to achieve more? Are they motivated to get more from their teammates? Are they fearless on the field? Is the fire burning deep that motivates them to reach a championship? Did you see it when you recruited them?
Which players are easiest for you to relate and communicate with? Which ones are the toughest? What traits draw you in, and what traits are easiest to deal with? How will you deal with a personality you didn't see or count on when you recruited a player? Will you be able to change them? What things are you looking for as you recruit them? Is it all about their skill or do you focus on their demeanor, reactions and composure as well?
What challenges have you faced with Captains? What traits should a Captain have to lead your team? How do you select Captains? What training do they have? Have you experienced challenges with Captains not expected? What are the expectations of your Captains?
Have you experienced a player quitting? Have you ever quit a job or team? As a coach how did you handle it? It's easier with a player who may not ever play, but what about a starter or star player? Would you ever consider letting them come back? What would the conditions be?
Where will you lead from at key moments? at practice? after a big win? a big loss? Are you willing to take the blame? Share the spotlight? Step to the back? Every moment is an opportunity to show who we really are? What exactly do your players see?
What will it take to get your team up to Championship Standards? Do you have skill standards? What are your markers for developing your players? Does it include Culture, Leadership, Competing, Skill, Strategy, Fitness, Mental, Decision Making, Examples of Commitment? Here are some ideas that might make a difference. Thanks for listening.
How much pressure do you deal with everyday in your career? Does it origin lie in the job or does it originate with you? How do you work through pressure? Have there been times when the pressure was to great and you had to make a decision or get help? As a coach do you have resources to deal with pressure? Do you feel it's a sign of weakness to admit the pressure is just to much? If that happens where will you turn?
Are your players content with past success? Are they prepared for your level of practice and play? How will you convince them their past success means little? What will you do when a player reaches their potential? Do you rank your players? Do you share that with the player? the team?
Are your players skills where you need them to be? How do you develop your player's skill? Do you rank their skills? Have you tried a Skills Olympics? A Skills Competition under the lights? An early morning session once a week? Do you have a Skills Coach? What would you include in your skills assessment?
Where do you turn personally for inspiration and motivation? Have you ever contacted a former coach or mentor for solutions or experience? What would you say the key to reaching your players is with respect to your message?
Have you used Good, Better and Best in describing player decisions? Do your players have permission to make the Best Decision even if it comes with a risk? Are you highlighting decision making in practice? Is your demeanor and words on the sideline encouraging players to make the best decision or play it safe?
Are your coaching decisions consistent? Would you ever make an exception based on ability and the importance of a particular game? Would you do the same for a less skilled player? Have you ever had a decision come back with unintended consequences? At what point will you stand firm on a decision(s) based on the team's standards or expectations? Is your credibility on the line when you bend or relax an expectation?
Do you use a mentoring system with new coaches at your school or club? Where do your mentors come from? Is there a program for the mentors to follow? How do you qualify your mentors? What is the standard? Why would a new coach not want a mentor? Has your program been successful?
Have you experienced a losing season? How did you approach the following season? What areas of concern contributed to losing? Did you identify them? Was it more your approach with the team, or just a lack of commitment and talent with the players? What tough questions did you ask of yourself? What changes did you institute in the program? Did they prove to be a success?
What situations did you have to deal with this season? How did it impact your players? What characteristics or traits helped you in this tough situation? What will next spring look like for your team? What plans are you making? What are your priorities for the spring? Were there lessons you learned personally that will make you a better coach? What were they?
Do your players have Self-Discipline? Are they able to be in control in most every situation in a game, in the classroom and outside school? Where did they learn it? From you? What examples of self-discipline have they witnessed from you? What is your demeanor on the sideline? Have you taken time to teach them what Self-Discipline is, how it impacts their ability to play and how it can impact their life?
Will you sign or take a player with outstanding skill, but with less than favorable character? Have you encountered this situation before? What are three character traits you must have before a player joins your team? What challenges will a player with questionable character create for you and your players? Do you rate character as you observe a potential player in a game, or just their skill?
What pressures are your players working through today? Not just within the game or practice, how about outside pressure. How can some players seem so calm in tense moments? How can others fall apart? How did they get this way? Where does it originate? Can you help them? How have you dealt with this in the past? What worked? Here's our thoughts on doing all you can to help.
Have you dealt with conflicts between team leaders and teammates? Do you just deal with it one situation at a time? Do your team leaders know what you expect? Do you back them unconditionally? Have you trained your team leaders? What does that include? Here are some thoughts to consider.
What are your expectations of your assistant coaches? Are players confused by mixed messages from different coaches? Would your assistants be able to function without you? What are their responsibilities at practice and a game? What are your top three priorities when hiring an assistant coach?
What mentality do you expect from your players? Is it the same regardless of the position they play? Do they know what you expect? How can you help them develop the mindset needed? Are you able to convince them that a mistake doesn't define their intent or effort? Can they shake free from a bad game, a bad moment? Can you relate it to a career or professional job? Have you defined 3-5 mental traits they need for their position on the field?
Do you work to be relevant for your players? Is it a high priority? What would you include in the components of relevance? Is it trends, music, current events, technology and lingo? Should it include other areas? Do leadership components suffer at the expense of trying to be so relevant? Is that your focus? What would players say they expect and need from you most as a leader and coach? Could trying to be so relevant damage your credibility?
Do you feel the need to shout instructions continuously during a game? Is it for the players or does it help you? What if you weren't at the game, what would your players do? Are you able to let them work a situation out or make an independent decision? Could hinge on your team whether they're young or a veteran club, but at some point.........................
What adjustments will you make to your coaching plans, style and implementation with a pandemic? What will you expect from your players? What if your season is cancelled? What message will you share with your players? Will you be able to convince players to follow the health and safety guidelines?
What is essential in building a team? What challenges will you face as you grind through a season? What would your definition be of a coach who can finish. Of Builder, Grinder and Finisher, which one best describes you? Why?
Have you considered moving to another school? Is it your dream to coach at the highest level? Is it the right time? Why would you leave your current school? What challenges have you faced?
Will a move solve your problems? What new challenges might you face in a move? Have you considered many challenges have no boundaries based on level of play?
What is your coaching status? Will you stay in that lane? Who can help you move up? Who is the most successful coach in your conference or area? Why are they successful? Have you talked with them or asked what's their secret? What former or admired coaches could give you insight?
What positives can you draw from last season? Would you consider it a success? What do you hope to accomplish this season? What would your players say about last season? Should we make wholesale changes? How can we nurture young players early in their career?
Who is influencing your players ability to play? What messages are they sending? Will it impact your player's game? Are they listening to someone else more than you? How can you deal with it? What messages are you sending from the sidelines? Do your words have meaning? How will you approach a player who is independent in all they do, regardless of what you say? If the parent is the cause, what will you do?
Do you award an MVP to your team? Has it ever caused dissension? Did it change the player in a positive or negative way? What was the reaction by teammates? How would you deal with an MVP who's attitude drastically changes in a bad way? Do you feel comfortable handing out that award? How can you help an MVP who's clearly indifferent with teammates?
What will be different this coming season? What will be the same? What are your team goals? What do you hope to accomplish? What's the key to reaching your goals? How would you describe your team? What's the key to your leadership being effective?
How are you working with your team during the Coronavirus? How would you rate their emotional stability? What is their biggest question or concern? Are you in contact with them weekly or more often? Have you given them assignments, tasks or challenges to complete? Are your leaders assisting? What ideas do they have? Do you feel you need to have all the answers? What is your mental outlook through all this?
What coaching decisions outside the game are most challenging for you? Are you able to hold all players accountable? Have you ever delayed accountability to allow a player to play? How did other players react to that decision? Are you consistent in your decisions?
Have you been confronted after a game? Blamed for a loss? Criticized over a starting lineup? Second Guessed on a substitution? Most of us would answer yes. It goes with the territory as a leader in sports or business. How will you react? Are young coaches prepared to face this challenge? Do we lose potential great coaches in the process? How is your school or club grooming new coaches to be prepared for these possibilities?
Wish you all the best as you work through personal challenges of this global virus with family, team and those who depend on you. I pray you are safe.
Are your players able to work through mistakes? What emotions are they feeding? Are they positive or negative? What steps can they take to reset their thoughts? Are you as their coach contributing to negative emotions? How do you react to their play when its less than stellar?
What's your player's mindset at key moments, game situations, practice or perception of their ability? Are you able to change it if it's less than positive? Where does the avoidance, inability or inaction originate? What will it take to turn it into a positive?
Does your school train coaches? What training have you been a part of? What components did it cover? What about Integrity and Character? Working with parents? Do you have a personal model for solving tough situations?
Are you ready to move up the coaching ladder? Do you have the necessary qualifications? Would you take a lesser role to prove yourself? Will you family support a move or return to school to earn the qualifications? What are you willing to give up or sacrifice to achieve your dream job?
Are you able to share the day to day stress of coaching? Who can you confide in? What situations have been the most stressful for you in your career? Have you ever considered quitting? Do you have a mentor or someone at home who understands your struggles? Do you have challenges you're unwilling to share?
Have you later regretted words you spoke to your team? How do you recognize and deal with moments of frustration and anger? Are their personal steps you can take to regroup or calm yourself before addressing a player or your team?
How can you connect to your players? What role does consistency play? Should you adapt to every personality or just be yourself? What are your keys to connecting?
Will you hold players accountable? Will it be based on a player's status or ability? Are your players part of forming the team's expectations? What questions should you consider concerning accountability? What happens when we make exceptions or delay accountability? Would you let the team vote to allow a player to play? Will it damage your coaching credibility?
Are you now or have you been as assistant coach? What questions had to be answered before you took the job? Is your dream to be a head coach? What challenges have you dealt with? What would you share with others concerning being an assistant? What roadblocks or dead ends have you experienced?
Do you have faith in your players? Do they have faith in you? How can you earn their faith? Will you be able to build confidence and trust with your players? What are some examples you've used to build trust and confidence?
How will you lead your team to success? What's your definition of success? Have you considered Trust, Loyalty and Respect as pillars of a team's success? What attributes would you list as necessary for your team's success? Listen as we share our ten and see if any match.
What distractions do your players deal with everyday? How can those distractions influence their performance? How can you as their coach impact those distractions? What traits do you possess that could be attributes in solving these distractions? What creative solutions have you tried?
What sets your team apart outside the lines? Is your team known for serving and helping the community? Do you recognize those players who rarely enter a game? Do you meet every player who attempts to make your team and thank them? Are you involved with youth clubs in your area? Is your team active with charitable organizations? Do players recognize or thank teachers in your school?
How will you deal with that season ending loss? Are there takeaways that can help us next season? Will you ask tough questions of yourself to improve? Were there decisions left unanswered? What will be different next season? How can you best serve your team? What do they need to buy into your team's culture?
What words or phrases do you use to challenge your players? Are they always receptive? Could they same words apply to you and your coaching career? Does your AD or DOC challenge you? What have you done to become a better coach? Do you have resources for coaching education?
What vision do you and your staff have for your team? What vision does the team have? Do you have a process to lead the team to a vision? Will players have input in forming the vision? Why is that important? What roles and responsibilities will be established by the team? Do you have a vision of what you want to accomplish in your career? Who can help?
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 say or fail to say?
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?
Have you changed as a "Captain" or becoming a "Head or Assistant Coach?" How will respond when teammates or colleagues say, "You've Changed!" Is it true? Did you flaunt your new status or position in others faces or were you humble and grateful? In what way would you say you've changed?
What will you say when a player asks why they aren't playing? Have you met with them and defined their role? Do they understand where they fit in? Is there hope for them to move up or play more? Were you honest about their ability to play? Will they become disgruntled?
Are you working with players on their career once their playing days are over? Will they be ready to leave the game? Are they planning for that day? What can you share with them? What questions need to be asked?
Can you help a player who thinks more than reacts? Are they tentative with every decision? Where does this originate? Are they being to tough on themselves? Is your team's culture accepting of mistakes under certain conditions? Do you show your players you have confidence in all they attempt?
Are you content with your training regiment? Is your team as successful as you would like? Have you considered how successful teams train? Would you be willing to bring in a coach to observe your practice or evaluate your game?
Do players expect you to handle their problems or issues? Do you give them the freedom to solve problems without you? Are they equipped to deal with a teammate over a disagreement? Do they feel comfortable sharing issues with you?
Remember that first day for your players? How have they changed over a career? What influence did you have in their development? Was it all positive?
What is your team's pregame routine? When does it begin? Does it include mental preparation? Is the pregame part of your team's identity and culture? Were your players involved in it's planning and implementation?
Do you have social media expectations and accountability for your players? Does your school have a social media policy? Do you personally train them in respect and integrity while using social media?
Has your team experienced dissension? How did you deal with it? What will you do with a divisive player? What about a divisive parent?
Do your words carry meaning and resonate with your players? What do you think of when you hear Genuine, Sincere, Authentic and Integrity? Could they help players hear and relate to your message? Why is that important?
Who are the best candidates to be your assistant coaches? What are you looking for? Are you hiring new ones year after year? Where will you find assistant coaches?
Would your players want to be known as a follower at practice, a game or team setting? What are potential leaders afraid of? Why is that important to you? What does the word teammate mean to you? Your players?
How do you work through team conflict? Have you trained team leaders in properly holding teammates accountable? Are they willing to do that? Could you be contributing or creating the conflict?
Are your leaders always in key field or court positions? Is that how they are selected? What are your expectations for leaders? Do you currently conduct a leadership class? What is your definition of leadership? Do you interview potential leaders with key questions?
Are meetings a grind for you? Is there a way to make meetings more engaging? Have you ever required players to work on the topic before arriving? Is there a sense with your players that the meeting is only to check a requirement box? What can you do?
Do you feel you need to know every answer to every situation or question? Where do you turn when you don't? Is your coaching philosophy based on sincere, authentic and genuine? Can being vulnerable as a coach actually strengthen your team?
Do you trust your team leaders unconditionally? Are they totally respected by their teammates? What leadership styles do they use? Do you counsel them weekly or have a leadership class?
How do you motivate your players? What motivates them the most? What circumstances drive them to be their best? Can you help them succeed? Can their teammates push them to improve?
Do all of your players buy in to your leadership, words and actions? Should they? What can you do? Have you had players that didn't buy in? How did that workout?
Do you have players who would make good leaders, but are unwilling? What are their objections or reasons? Can you help them overcome that doubt? It will be worth it. Listen to our suggestions.
What components will be included in your team culture? Will players be involved in deciding? How will your personality and philosophy influence your components?
Do your words have meaning for your players before a game? Do they inspire your players to reach higher? How can we improve our ability to prepare our team with words?
Is your team involved in forming the expectations for your team? What about values and principles are they discussed? Does your team represent your school in a positive way in the classroom, community and on the field? Listen to our thoughts.
How would your players describe your coaching style? Are you flexible depending on who you are dealing with, or does the situations dictate your style? Are you consistent? Do players know they can count on you to make tough decisions in a consistent manner?
Are your players able to communicate on the field without talking? Can they look, nod, point or make eye contact and make their point. Why is that important? What are the benefits?
Do you assess player personalities? Are there drawbacks? Will it help or hinder their performance? What are the benefits?
Would you consider yourself an honest coach? Would your players say the same? Are your decisions based on honesty? What challenges have tested your honesty?
How do you train your coaches? your players? with respect to leadership and challenges? Who does the training? What is the setting? Are coaches leaving your school more often than you want?
Are you surprised that no one has previously taught your players character, values and integrity? If you don't teach them who will? Should you make it a priority?
Which player personalities can you better relate to? Which ones seem to be more challenging? How can you be fair to all personalities?
Will you play it safe with your career? Are you willing to be all in and go after your dreams? Have you thought about what's on the other side of possible for you? Is it time to go after that job or career? If not now, when?
How do you react during tough or joyous moments on the sideline? Do you take a moment to think about the perception of your emotions? Will you look back and regret some of those moments?
How will you respond or react to parents who doubt your ability or philosophy? Can you be prepared? What do parents want in a coach?
What's your demeanor when the game is on the line? What do your players see and hear? Are you in control at these moments?
How will you deal with a dismal season? What will you say at the banquet? How can you change your program's culture? What example will you set for your players?
Divisiveness can be a huge issue for your team. Where does it originate? Could you be the cause? How could that be? What can you do?
Do you rank your players? Why or why not? Is it a benefit and driving force for players to know where they rank with respect to teammates? What are the dangers in ranking players?
What do fans, other teams and coaches see when your team plays? What could possibly set your team apart from other teams? Where does that originate?
What are your personal guidelines for social media? Are they for players and parents as well? Have you ever been blasted on social media? How did you deal with it? What common sense expectations are needed?
Are your players driven? Do they have a clear understanding of what that means? Have you shown them examples or taken them to see what it looks like outside your sport?
Could your personality be holding your team back? How would you know? Have you cost your team a game through your demeanor and actions?
What do you need from your Athletic Director or Director of Coaching? Do they know? How best can they serve you?
Are you able to move on and let tough coaching moments go? Have you experienced depression from outcomes that weren't favorable for your team? How can you deal with those times?
Will this be the class that pushes your team to success? What do they need to know? Will others try to derail them? Can your environment promote their growth?
What makes up the bones of your program? What does the foundation represent? What allows it to shine when others see you play or do community service?
Ever observe your players after a season ending loss? Can you tell if it means anything to them? Do they deal with it better than you?
Do your expectations have some "must haves?" Could your team develop a list of "must haves" for teammates, coaches, and captains?
How can you put your team in a position to be successful against a seemingly unbeatable opponent? Is it possible?
Are there players in your area playing out of district? What is your school district's policies? Are they enforced? How can they tackle this issue?
Are your players difficult to motivate? What drives them to be the best? Do they have a vision of what they can accomplish?
What characteristics do you have that make you a special coach? What are your top five?
Are you an positive example of fitness for your team? Do you practice good nutrition habits? Are you aware of the image you portray every day?
As a coach where does your motivation come from? What drives you every day? Why do you coach? What do you stand for?
Are your fans unruly? Parents a problem? Is that your concern? Are you as a coach prepared to deal with these situations? Do parents understand the behavior expected with your club?
Are you able to hold your players attention? Are they distracted? What can you do to keep them engaged?
How will you motivate your team for the postseason? Can it transform them into a super team? What are the keys to real motivation?
How will you deal with player challenges on your team? Will you be able to hold players accountable?
Ever give a player instructions in a game or practice, only to see them do something else. Were they listening? Is this an ongoing issue? What can you do?
How do you deal with being nervous before a big game? Can you players sense your nervousness? Is that good or bad?
Are your players able to make decisions on their own during a game? Is it part of your philosophy? How will it impact the game?
Do you attend every coaches meeting concerning recognition for your players?
Are you building solid relationships with opposing coaches to work together for your players post season District, Regional, State and National Awards? You will need each other to truly assist your players.
Why would a coach leave after his or her first year? Does your school have a support system in place to assist coaches and families? What does it involve?
What's your dream coaching job? How will you get there? What should you consider? Is it worth the sacrifice? Everything that glitters isn't always gold.
Adversity.......How will your players respond? Have you prepared them for the situations they will encounter? Is that possible?
Are you prepared for a coach to leave your school? What's the procedure for hiring a new coach? Do you have a coaching leadership program for all coaches at your school? Could it help?
Do you involve your players in your evaluation? What insight could they have? Who sees your coaching demeanor and impact more than them?
Think successful teams don't have distractions? As a coach can you minimize those distractions? Should you get involved or not?
What do others see when they watch your team on and off the field or court? How do you build and shape your team's character?
What criteria do you have for making your team? Will you talk with every player who didn't make team? Why should you?
Do you rank your players for fitness testing, skill competitions and 1 V 1's? If not, why do them? Do you have warriors on your team who are examples of what you want and where your team is headed? What characteristics make them special?
Will you be able to convince a player who has the potential to lead your team? Why are they reluctant? How can you help them?
Have you had a player or players that were disruptive either obviously or behind the scenes. How did you deal with them? Were you able to reach them?
What coaches have influenced your career? What made them so special? Do you have those characteristics or traits?
Are you pressed for time everyday with the demands of coaching? Is there a solution. Listen as we share nine reminders for making each day productive through positive coaching habits.
Do you have all the information you need to take that new coaching position? Did you ask all the right questions? Can you take your emotion out and look at it logically with all it's challenges?
Does your school attract athletes and their families? Are fans filling your stands? If not, are there steps you can take to get your programs on track? Building great programs never ends.
Have you selected leaders for your team yet? Should they already be in place on the 1st day? Will it be beneficial or should you wait?
Has your team been successful? How did they respond the following season? Should we teach our players about the traps of success?
What defines you as a coach? How would others describe your style? Who influenced who you are as a coach?
What do you look for in a recruit? Are you able to see them under adverse conditions? How will they react? Do you need to know?
How will you deal with selfish players? Where does this originate? Can players work this out on their own?
What analogies have you used for your team? Have you considered a stained glass window. Listen as we compare the two.
Are you planning wholesale changes with your team for this season? What criteria do you use to evaluate or consider change from season to season? Is change necessary?
How would you describe the culture of your team? Where does that originate? Can you mold and shape that culture? What components are critical?
Can you paint a championship picture for your players? What will it take? Will it relate to them all? We have some ideas that may assist on that journey.
Will you know when's it's time to leave coaching? What will you do when it's over? Listen to our thoughts on leaving and staying active in what you love.
Do your words have meaning? Who inspired you? What challenges have you faced as a coach? Are you able to make tough decisions? From our coaches presentation at the convention.
Respect lost may never be gained again. How can it happen? Here are ten situations that stand to destroy respect between a player and a coach
Have you experienced challenges with parents? Do you have expectations for parents as well as players? What are they?
Can you read your players? Are they able to share the challenges they face? What would some of those challenges be?
Do you have a training program for your coaches? Or do you let them take care of their education on their own? We have a few in house ideas that could work and be more efficient and beneficial.
What do you expect from your assistant coaches? What are you looking for? Part-Time? Is that the best you can offer your team? You wouldn't expect your players to be part-time, so how will you justify your staff being part-time?
Have you shared with your Athletic Director what it will take for your team to be successful? Are you a voice for your program? Tune in as we talk about priorities, why they're important and sharing them with your AD.
Selecting and naming captains can be a challenge. How do you select yours? Have you ever considered interviewing candidates? Here are some questions to consider.
What principles is your coaching career based on? Will they carry you through the tough times? Listen as we share five that are crucial to a long career.
How do you determine your vision and expectations for your players? Do you expect to much? Not enough? What is their vision?
What gives you the coach the confidence in key moments with players, parents and boosters? Are there special traits that some coaches have that others do not? Listen as we explore a trait that all coaches must have to be confident.
Do you have players who get in their own way questioning their ability and success? How can you help? Listen as we talk about solutions to ease their anxiety and get them back on track.
Many challenges await your coaching career. How best can you deal with them? Let's explore the categories of challenges and some guiding questions.
How often are you evaluated as a coach? Is it enough? Are there ways you can improve through your initiative? Tune in as we discuss becoming a top coach.
Does your team understand hunger and how it is a vital part of success? Can you build hunger in your team?
Everyday your players send messages spoken or unspoken with respect to what we hope to accomplish with our team. Those messages can make us a better coach if we listen and learn.
What should a new coach know as they start their new career? What would you list look like? Here's our 16 thoughts on helping that new coach on their coaching journey..
How will you reach a skeptical player? Even so, will you be able to trust them? Will it have a far reaching impact on your team?
Are you prepared for the moment a reporter asks for a comment or wants an interview? Emotions run high after a game. Will you be calm and under control?
How do you react when your players make a mistake in the game? How do they react to their mistake? Are you teaching them how to deal with mistakes in a productive manner?
Do you dictate the entire game from the sideline? Can your players handle a situation without knowing what you want to do? How will they hear you over a big crowd? Is there a way to teach decision making, and then put the game in their hands?
Have you experienced a player that was uncoachable? How did they arrive at that point? Can you turn them around? How will it impact your team?
What questions keep you awake at night as a coach? Can you deal with them in a positive manner?