The best way to see what people really believe is to watch their actions. But since we can’t watch ourselves as coaches. And we don’t often get feedback on our own coaching. The simplest way to put yourself on the hook as a coach is to write a coaching manifesto.
It begins with the questions. Who am I? What do I fundamentally believe in? What do I stand for?
Here is mine for coaching my kids u 9/10’s football team.
Development > Competition.
I told you it was simple. And here are the 3 directives that bring that statement to life.
I don’t care who wins.
I do care that my kids compete for and with each other.
I don’t care about the better players getting more game time.
I do care that each kid gets the same amount of playing time.
I don’t care that my best players play out of position.
I do care that all my players play in every position on the pitch.
Provided you can remember that a brilliant idea with no execution is worth nothing. Writing a manifesto can help shape how you show up as a coach.
And if you can’t? The kids you coach and their parents will soon remind you.
What do you really stand for, coach?