Many love the x's and o's of the game and they are important but ......
Do you know WHO you are coaching?
I have known teachers/coaches who at the end of a semester could not tell you the name(s) of the students/players under their direction. Hard to believe? A good coach/teacher knows they will be much more effective if they learn WHO they are working with. One of the deepest and most painful experiences anyone can have is being "rejected." If you fail to acknowledge the young people you are privileged to work with, how do you think that makes them feel? I liked to be one of the first people on the practice floor and as players came into the gym I tried to address each player. I always wanted to communicate to ALL the players on the team that I recognized them. I often tried to find a nickname or asked them what their favorite class was. You need to find something you can share with your players
besides basketball.
I wish I could tell you I never emotionally hurt a player but I know that I have.
There were times I had to apologize for a remark that I had made, whether it
was intentional or not. Some may see apologizing as a sign of weakness but
I never claimed to be a "Leroy Jethro Gibbs." I believe it is a greater weakness
to never take responsibility for your actions. Players can relate much better
to someone who can say ...... "This is on me. I didn't have you ready for this."
I at times got "on" a player in practice but I wanted them to know why I was
correcting them. I don't know where the quote came from but I believe, "Everyone needs someone in their life that expects greatness of them." You
as a coach, should be demanding without being demeaning. Players sometimes confuse coaching and criticism. They need to know you care enough about them to demand they seek to reach their potential.
