.... Adapt, Migrate or Die
Many years ago I taught a class in ecology. One of the ecological principles I taught came from a famous ecologist named Barry Commoner. Mr. Commoner taught that any living organism, when faced with a change in its environment, had three "choices" or alternatives. Either adapt to the new environment. Move to a more favorable environment (migrate) or if the organism was unable to adapt or migrate they would die.
Now it's not much of a stretch for me to apply these three alternatives to coaching. We have had an incredibly disruptive change take place in our environment. Seemingly overnight our whole way of life has been altered. As a coach/teacher, we also have some choices to make.
A world wide pandemic has altered our lives significantly. How can or should we respond to the change(s) in our environment? Can we adapt?
Some possible adaptations: Use current technologies to keep in contact with our staff members and players Develop drill file videos to send to our players. Encourage players to work out at home. Send them the offensive
and defensive "tweaks" you were planning on applying this summer. Communicate with them and keep lines of communication open. Show
interest in what they and their families are going through.
The second alternative is to migrate. I've always thought geese and monarch butterflies were smarter than us humans. I mean why fight harsh winter conditions when yo can fly south! It is certainly much more difficult
for coaches to move into a new teaching/coaching position this coming
school year but not impossible. We can consider the difficulties of the
pandemic as a burden or as a challenge.
The last alternative is death. Now I am not talking about literal end of life.
Yes, this disease is causing a great deal of loss of life and I hope and pray
all are taking this situation very seriously and taking proper precautions.
In the case of your career, I am talking about stepping away and no longer
coaching. We coaches are not always understood by some members of
the educational establishment. When we express disappointment or frustration with coaching, we sometimes get little sympathy from some of our fellow teachers. Reality is some do not see coaching as being important
and they don't understand why we continue to coach. I have had those same thoughts at times and each person has to decide when and if its time
to quit.
Comments