The Sports Doc Chalk Talk

Coaches are regularly challenged to be successful leaders and get the most out of their team (Sport Success 360).  When their team is “loaded,” they have to make sure they keep the team focused and playing up to their abilities.  On the other hand, when they coach teams with average or below-average talent, the challenge is to lead the team so that they believe in themselves and play over their heads (and over-achieve).  How a coach leads his or her team is important in both of these situations, and there are a few general rules all coaches can benefit from in order to help the team reach its full potential.  Getting the team to “buy in” to the coach’s philosophy is key — listed below are a few quick sport psychology tips to help:

• Set appropriate, realistic goals. Studies consistently show that when people set realistic, challenging goals (rather than goals that are too easy or too difficult) people are more likely to persevere and remained motivated toward the goals.  Set goals that challenge your players, and then with every accomplished goal try and set another tier of goals that are even more challenging than the first.
• Generate enthusiasm. It’s no secret that when we are excited, we are more apt to be motivated to play hard and win.  Coaches who show positive enthusiasm almost always benefit by the team picking up on this energy, and as a result the team usually plays with better focus, motivation, mental toughness, and resiliency.
• Be consistent. Coaches who treat all players as fairly as possible usually build the best team cohesion.  While it is important to motivate players as individuals, when it comes to team rules and protocols it is important to be as fair as possible in order to improve team chemistry and cohesion.
• Praise often. People are much more likely to reach goals when they are praised and shaped in positive and instructive ways.  Rather than embarrass, berate, or humiliate players into performing better,  find creative ways to praise for effort and encourage players to do a better job the next time out.
• Prepare to deal with losses. While it might sound strange to prepare for tough times, it actually makes a lot of sense when you think about it.  The reality is that most teams will lose (some will lose a lot), so preparing for dejected players and a negative locker room is very important.  As a wise man once said, “it’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you get up.”  Coaches need to think about how to regain the team and move them quickly through the sadness and sulking stage and back toward the focus and motivation needed to play at a high level tomorrow.

Being a successful coach at any level is a challenging task when you think about it.  Getting a team to buy into a coach’s philosophy can be a tough sell, and then keeping a team motivated throughout the season can be an equally difficult task.  Coaches who learn about leadership techniques and work on their interpersonal communication skills put themselves in the best possible situation to create a great team environment, as well as win more games.

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Check out Sport Success 360 to help improve the overall culture of your team, athletic department, or youth league – get started today!

Most youth sports coaches do a great job building strong relationships with kids, and inevitably help kids experience success on and off the field as a result of their efforts (Sport Success 360).  On the other hand, there are some coaches who do not have this type of positive experience, and instead struggle with building rapport with kids they coach.  When kids do not connect with their coach, they often play below their potential and run a greater risk for prematurely quitting the team/sport.  It is for these reasons that it is important for coaches to do a quick self-check on the following 5 no-no’s to ensure they are providing the best sport experience for the kids they coach.

• Forgetting the importance of FUN! Sport psychology studies clearly show that the #1 reason kids play sports is to have fun, and while at times this can be tough to remember in the heat of the battle, it’s important to try and create a sports environment that is both instructional and fun for kids.  Keeping it fun also means coming to the field with a good positive attitude, using a lot of positive reinforcement, and steering clear of using profanity and off-color remarks.
• No pre-season meeting. Successful coaches prioritize having a pre-season meeting where they discuss team rules, protocols, and methods for communication.  Unfortunately, not all coaches realize the importance of having a well planned pre-season meeting and decide to not have one.  When this occurs, families are left confused about the coach’s policies, philosophies, and playing time — usually resulting in frustration and confusion throughout the season.
• No talent evaluation system. Successful coaches develop their own talent evaluation rubric and make it clear to their team what skills are evaluated when it comes to playing time.  Kids benefit from this approach by knowing what they need to do in order to earn more playing time.  On the other hand, when coaches do not discuss how playing time is decided it almost always leads to confusion, stress, team problems, and sometimes angry parents.  While it is true playing time will always be a point of contention between some parents and the coach, these problems can be dramatically minimized by having a talent evaluation system established for the team.
• Playing favorites. While it may be impossible to treat all kids fair all of the time, it is possible to create team rules and enforce the rules when kids do not comply — even if they are star players.  Oftentimes coaches “lose their team” when they begin making special provisions for star players, leading to poor team chemistry and cohesion.
• Embarrassing kids. While coaching styles will vary as people vary, it is never a good idea to embarrass or humiliate kids.  Good coaches know that while it may take more restraint and control to respond to emotionally-charging situations without going nuts, it is always better to find ways to make “teachable moments” out of problems than it is to chew a kid out in front of his peers.  Kids don’t improve their mental toughness by being humiliated, but do become more resilient through positive reinforcement, proper instruction, and genuine encouragement.

Continue to develop into the best coach possible – Sport Success 360 is designed to help coaches develop strong relationships with kids, work more effectively with parents, and win more games!

www.drstankovich.com

Players don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care

That quote is one that has been around for a long time, although the author of it is in question (I have seen it attributed to a number of different people).  Regardless of who first coined the phrase, it’s one that every coach should think about when developing their own unique coaching philosophy (Sport Success 360).  Borrowing from the field of sport psychology, it’s clear that when players feel respected they are far more apt to pay attention to the coach, and they increase their motivation and mental toughness as a result.

Think about it for a moment – people care a lot less about your knowledge in most cases than they do your authenticity and true intentions. Similar to how we often hear the music before we take in the lyrics of a song, human beings more quickly “tune in” to see if you have their better interest in mind before they make an appraisal of your knowledge base.

Some coaches are masterminds of the X’s and O’s, but don’t seem to “connect” with their players.  Other coaches, however, might be light on the strategies of coaching, but terrific at building strong relationships with players on the team – often propelling them to believe in themselves and reach new athletic heights as a result.

How a coach builds rapport with his players is a unique experience, but if he has genuine and true intentions the steps needed to do this really don’t need to be scripted.  What I mean by this is that as human beings, it seems we have a built-in homing device when it comes insincere communication.  With that said, coaches who truly believe in their players don’t really have to do anything except be their genuine, caring selves.

Developing plays and running practice drills are certainly important, but perhaps the biggest job for any coach is to build the trust necessary for his players to believe in him, and more importantly, through that coach-player relationship come to believe in themselves. It is in these moments where players will push out another set in the weight room, run another lap on the track, and study a few more minutes of film.  Players who believe in their coach increase personal motivation, have more fun playing, and develop mental toughness for when times are tough.

Think about the significance of developing strong interpersonal relationships with the players you coach and watch how your team blossoms – if you need some help, check out our popular “Peak Performance for Coaches”audio pro0gram!

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The New York Jets are a mess these days, as a number of players have spoken out about quarterback Mark Sanchez, openly questioning whether he has the abilities to lead the team to the Super Bowl.  Of course, it doesn’t help matters that Peyton Manning may be available through trade as the Colts have the first pick in the draft and are expected to select Heisman runner-up Andrew Luck.  What will happen next remains to be seen, but much of what has already happened to date is a direct reflection of Head Coach Rex Ryan and his leadership abilities.

While I don’t have any interest in “piling on” Rex Ryan, the current Jets situation does serve as an excellent example to learn from for coaches at all levels – including youth and interscholastic – about the impact of coach leadership skills. As every football fan knows, Ryan is a very outspoken and brash coach, which has seemingly created a culture within the Jets locker room that not only allows for but may even encourage players to openly call out teammates in public.  This may be a perfect case of “live by the sword, die by the sword,” as Ryan’s tough exterior may help his team in some ways, but seems to have also created an environment where players also feel very comfortable airing their dirty laundry for the world to see.

What we are seeing in New York has nothing to do with Ryan’s play calling or knowledge of the game of football.  Instead, his style may be directly influencing, permitting, and enabling players to say what they want, when they want, and to whomever they want.  Herein is where the team culture problems have developed, leading them to what we are seeing today — their star quarterback (Sanchez) getting publicly ripped by numerous anonymous Jet players.  Coaches at all levels know this is not good.

Of course, there’s probably a lot more to the problems with the Jets than we know, but fellow coaches should pay close attention as these examples of broken player relationships and toxic dynamics can occur on any team.  Team culture is a very important part of any organization’s success, yet it is a very misunderstood and often devalued construct.  Some coaches don’t think much about their team culture, while others believe it simply “comes together” from playing together.  Others, however, place great emphasis on “the way we do things” and model themselves for the rest of the team to follow suit.

There are a lot of entertaining things about Rex Ryan, and I suppose most people would say he is very good for the NFL.  He is direct, candid, and funny.  He is also harsh, critical, and outspoken.  Unfortunately, you cannot simply “pick” the parts of him you like — instead, you get the whole thing.

Every coach has his or her own style and way of doing things, and this is part of why we enjoy sports so much.  The head coach, however, is the biggest influence on the team and because of this should think about the following things:

• Overall demeanor and ways in which he/she treats others, including players, the media, parents, and others involved with the program.  Players — especially at the youth/interscholastic level — will often model their coach, for better or for worse.
• How he/she handles team issues and crises – does the coach play favorites and/or use other players as punching bags for what not to do?
• How does he/she respond to player problems — does the coach step up and defend the player, or instead stay out of the mess?
• What tone does the coach set for the team?  This includes how the team dresses, presents themselves, and speaks to the public.
• When it comes to doling out punishment to players who break team rules, is the coach fair in the process?  In other words, does he/she penalize the star player in the same way any other player would be punished?

There is a lot that goes into positive team culture, and it usually doesn’t just “happen.”  Coaches who are respectful to the process and keep their egos in check usually get it, while others who minimize the importance of team culture often end up in situations like we are seeing in New York.  While there is no “cookbook” way to develop a positive team culture, coaches who care, are specific with team goals and rules, and apply consistent consequences to players who break team rules usually develop a very psoitive and healthy team climate and culture.

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One of the most challenging duties a coach is faced with is keeping his team upbeat, positive, motivated, and optimistic after losing a game (or enduring a losing streak).  Coaching is a lot easier when the team is winning, but what about the times where the team is dejected, frustrated, and with little confidence for the future (Sport Success 360)?  It is in these moments that the overall success of a coach is often measured.

I have always liked the saying “forewarned is forearmed,” with the implication that if we have a good idea of what is ahead we can responsibly prepare for the experience.  In sports, it is inevitable that you will lose, so it is important for coaches to think ahead about the strategies that might be considered when dealing with dejected players who seem to have lost their hope and confidence for future team success.  By spending a few minutes thinking ahead of time how to handle these types of situations, the likelihood for a faster bounce-back increases dramatically – as does the team’s resiliency and chances for future success.

As with most things in life, the way a coach handles defeat with his team is about as unique as each coach and his players.  Still, there are a few important aspects of team dynamics as they relate to future team success that are worth considering, including the following:

• After a loss one of the most important things a coach can do is to emphasize effort (assuming the team didn’t quit).  By positively reinforcing effort, you will essentially be shaping future behaviors that, in all likelihood, will lead to future success.
• Re-frame the experience. It goes without saying that losing is never fun, but often when we lose in life we tend to make the experience more catastrophic than is necessary (or accurate).  Losing a big game can be deflating, but is it the end of the world?  Are there experiences to build on, or ways to use the experience to come back stronger later in the season?  If it is an early-season loss, how can you keep it in perspective so that the rest of the season isn’t lost?
• Even in losses, there are always important points to build on for the future. What did the team do right?  Were there specific plays that went well, or periods in the game where you were more competitive?  Great coaches find those moments and use them to build positive future scaffolding to use to improve the team as the season wears on over time.
• Teach the team to develop a short memory for losing. Great athletes have incredibly short memories, and instead channel their focus and motivation toward the next practice, training session, or game.  This is not something they are “born with,” but instead a skill they have developed over time that has allowed them to learn from their previous frustrations, adversities, and failures.
• Ask the team for their input. Authoritarian coaches out there may not like to hear this, but when people (in this case, the team) are solicited and encouraged to share their thoughts and perspectives in a democratic-type manner, they often begin to take even more ownership of their experience (and play harder as a result).  This perceived “loss of power” does not imply that the coach should sit back and allow the team to take over in the film room or when looking at ways for improving in the future, but instead suggests that coaches find a delicate balance between their own instruction and soliciting input from the team.  How could we have done that better?  What play might have been more effective in that situation?  Ask the team and listen closely – you might be surprised at what you learn!

To learn more about effective strategies for coaching kids, check out our popular audio Peak Performance for Youth Sport Coaches

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In sports, to what extent does the coach have an impact on the team’s success (or lack thereof)?  Can a really good coach take a team full of average players and turn them into a championship-caliber team?  On the other hand, can a bad coach ruin the chances for a team that is comprised of many talented individual athletes?  Sport psychologists enjoy studying these types of questions, as they center around how well coaches teach X’s and O’s and develop mental toughness in their players (Sport Success 360).

This year, Bill Belichick is under the microscope as it applies to the relative importance of a coach on a team’s level of success.  The New England Patriots are playing as an average to slightly above-average team, and being written off as a serious Super Bowl contender by most experts.  Even though the Patriots are currently 6-3, most football fans agree that they are not even close to any of the previous Patriots teams we have seen over the past ten years.  Previously viewed as a God, Belichick has received more criticism this year as he attempts to win with one of the league’s worst defenses and an overall aging NFL team.  Can Belicheick “work his magic” again, or has Belichick been the recipient of unwarranted praise in the past for merely guiding along teams full of All-Pro and future Hall of Fame players?

Andy Reid, Head Coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, is another interesting story.  The Eagles loaded up in the off-season with high profile player acquisitions, yet after calling themselves the “Dream Team” they have become anything but a dream.  Is this all on Reid’s shoulders?  This is an interesting case as it’s not a question of talent it appears, but more one around leadership and getting the most out of the team’s abilities.

In the NBA, Phil Jackson has been revered for his 10 NBA championships, and while many of those winning seasons may have been due to Jackson’s leadership, one could certainly make the argument that having Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal on his teams certainly didn’t hurt.  In reality, it’s hard to gauge the true effectiveness of Jackson as he has never had to coach a team that didn’t have at least one future Hall of Fame player!  Would Jackson have been as successful coaching other, less star-studded teams?

Professional sports are not the only places where these discussions take place, as there are tens of thousands of youth and interscholastic coaches that can also be examined as it applies to their overall impact on team success.  In these examples, should we assume traditional powerhouse teams are good because of the coach, or is the success due to other factors, including caliber of athletes on the team, school/community support, funding, or any other variable that might impact success?

Even when you look at coaches, there are countless “types” of coaches to consider – are yellers/screamers the most effective?  How about those with a more democratic style?  Are perfectionists the best type of coach?  What about “old school” coaches?  Is there a best “type” of coach??

Do coaches receive too much praise when teams win, and too much blame when teams lose?  Some people feel this way.  Another comment I regularly hear, even from coaches who are generally successful coaches, is that you “gotta have the horses” (implying that good athletes are the biggest variable toward team success).  Perhaps “having the horses” is the starting point, but having a great coach able to develop the talent is the key.

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