It’s all about Grassroots Coaching

Dear Readers:

It has been 3 years since our book, Grass Roots Coaching; Using Sports Psychology and Coaching Principles Effectively, has been published.  There is a section of the book that we were not able to use. It was called Clipboard Notes, just the kinds of thoughts that coaches might remind themselves of their thoughts. 

As we move into the Spring sports season, we want to revisit and share these key concepts and ideas with you. We will give you the whole list of the eight clipboards this week and then focus on and expand on one chapter each of the next eight weeks.

Chapter 1 / Our Vision for Youth Sports and Youth Coaches

Clipboard Notes

Coaching: Becoming a coach is a gift to myself. Being a coach is a gift to others.

Team Work: A team is much more than a group of individuals – it has to do with relationships.

The Pursuit of Excellence: Some of our best attempts are experienced while the scoreboard shows that we are not winning the game.

Growth: My players become less and less dependent on me as they grow and learn. Taking charge of their own growth leads to the fulfillment of their own goals.

       In any type of athletic contest, a true champion wants their opponent to play their very best; then they know they are truly Champions.   — Cindy Bristow

Chapter 2 / Leading Yourself: The Goal—Your Why

Clipboard Notes

Coaching is love made visible. And if you cannot coach with love, it is better that you sit in the stands and watch those who coach with love.                                                                                                                                                              --- Adapted from Kahlil Gibran       

Winning: Winning is not worthwhile unless there is a real possibility of Losing. 

Self-Fulfillment: Good coaches expect us to do our best – and we respond in kind. 

Basic Perception: Good coaches are interested in us as people, not just as players.

Leadership: A Coach leads – that’s what she does.

Chapter 3 / Leading the Player

Clipboard Notes 

Players’ Perceptions: Youngsters in their fantastically honest way are clear about what sports are and how they would like to be involved.

Fun and Joy: Young people just naturally love to play games.

Maturation: The Joy of playing the game remains at all times and at all levels. 

Motivation: The energy and desire to play come from the game and from the player’s interest in it.

Rights and Responsibilities: Every player has Rights.

Just as important; each player has Responsibilities.

They are opposite sides of the same coin.

Chapter 4 / Leading the Team

Clipboard Notes

The Team: Interaction between teammates - flowing and creating the game together.

Title IX:     “… no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from     participation in….”

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit.      --Harry S. Truman

Expectancy: Leading the Team -  is the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.

Culture: The challenging step is in the development of and then living in your ideal culture..     

Culture is the combined lived behaviors of everyone. 

Culture is alive and organic.  It’s the way we do things around here.

Cooperation: We must first have cooperation among all elements of our team - then we’ll be able to    compete at a much higher level against our opponents.

Chapter 5 /   Coaching PracticeClipboard Notes

The Practice Mode: You learn new skills and mechanics and sharpen up the ones you have already learned.

The Game Mode: When you have learned a new skill in the Practice Mode, you must trust yourself and use it without fear in the Game Mode.

Acknowledgment: Praise and Encouragement together are a great team for moving your players along.

The Natural Way: It is necessary to have your players kick, swing, pass, etc., as naturally for them as possible.

Games-Based Approach: A better and alternative approach to the mindless drills during practice.

Chapter 6 / Coaching Games

Clipboard Notes

The Player: It is imperative to recognize the Person in the arena is the Player. - Not the Coach. - Not the Parent. - Not the Fans.

Our Challengers: These challengers are much more than acting as our opponents - they are the co-creators of an environment which enables us, which forces us, to express our excellence.

The Officials: Referees and officials are essential parts of the Game. They share in the privilege of participation and responsibility of this co-creation.

Winning and Losing: If you play with someone nearly equal in ability to you - sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose - you will stay involved and you will improve.

Doing their Best: If doing their best isn’t good enough for us coaches and for that crowd in the stands then we’re having kids play the game for the wrong reasons.

Chapter 7 / Partnering with Parents

Clipboard Notes

The Team: The Kids, the Parents, and the Coaches are ALL members of the Pack.

Parent Roles: Parents are spectators and support people - those are their correct roles, and they must learn how to be responsible, caring, experts in those roles.

After Game Comments: “And then she tells us to remember the things that we did right and to hang  on to them.” 

There is amazing power in the statement “I am proud of you!  I love watching you play!”

Coaches and Parents Encouragements: Give your athlete/child a chance to explore as many sports as    possible. Otherwise, you may never know where her greatest abilities and interests are. 

Success is a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.

                ---John Wooden

Chapter 8 / Moving Forward - The Best is Yet to Come

Clipboard Notes

Levels of Competition: Competition, the quality that includes Winning and Losing, exists in many forms and levels throughout our lives. It grows and becomes more complex at succeeding stages.        

A player’s mistake is a signal from him to you that this is a place where you can help him.

---Peter S. Pierro

The Joy of playing the Game is Essential: This joy we take with us for the rest of our lives. This is a passion that we will share and pass onto others.

The Game is for the Kids: We have always said that. “After all the game is for the kids.” Since this is true, let’s live up to it.

Coaching: Coaching is a journey. A journey that takes many curves and twists. Learning and passion are our companions. Values and beliefs are our road signs and guideposts.