Whose job is it to get the players better? January 29, 2020 |
For a long time I thought it was the coach’s job to get players better… But as the years go on, I’ve realized what the roles really are, and it comes down to who takes ownership in the improvement process. There’s a talk I have at the beginning of the season with every team I coach. It goes something like this… COACH: I am the coach, and you are the players. It is my job to coach, and it is your job to…? PLAYERS: Play? COACH: That’s right. And so whose job is it to get you better? PLAYERS: (they often sense the trick question and get quiet) … You? COACH: I’ll tell you. It is MY job to give you the TOOLS to get better. But it is YOUR JOB to use those tools. I create the environment, and I give advice and feedback. But in the end, YOU are the one who has to make the changes. And so for the rest of the season, I’ll give you reminders of what to do… But you will go much further if you take it upon yourself to be great. Now don’t get me wrong - I am not saying that coaches should be lazy, nor am I saying that players don’t need coaches. Coaches SHOULD teach, and SHOULD try to improve the players. But if a player really wants to be great, they need to realize it is their own conscious effort that will take them there. COACHES: Think about having a similar talk with your players. And look up what the best training environments are. PLAYERS: Take ownership in your own improvement. Be mindful of your thoughts, be mindful of your body and its actions. Be mindful of changes you make, how those changes felt, and how they affected the result. If you’re only improving when there is a coach around, you are missing out on great opportunities for growth. Pat PHD Volleyball |