Successful Coaches

Chill,
Great post!
I am a firm believer, a coach can make ya' or break ya'.

I think a very important quality of a coach is the notion of being fair and consistent. Do what is right not what is expedient.

FIRST, I'M NOT CLAIMING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COACH. HERE IS A LIST THAT I HAVE POSTED ON MY CLASSROOM DOOR THAT SAYS WHAT I BELIEVE MY JOB IS. SORRY IT IS LONG.

1. Hate to lose and will do anything to avoid loss.
2. Coaches – Must have same work habits, desire, philosophy, knowledge (or effort to learn), get 3 coaches on varsity level.
3. Discipline – Be tough. If you don’t have discipline you will never achieve next level of competition. (State)
4. Sports Complex – Must come from work of coaches, players, parents, and community. Everyone has something invested in it.
5. Kids – Demand that the kids act right – in the classroom, in the hallways – on the field and how they talk/treat their parents.
6. Schedule – 1/3 hard or better than you, 1/3 equal to you, & 1/3 you will beat. (1/3 you will beat will give you a chance to get other kids varsity experience.
7. Equipment – always bust your butt to make sure your players have the best equipment around.
8. Success breeds success. Success at the varsity level means success at lower levels and therefore, kids used to winning.
9. Sacrifice – show kids willing to stay late – won’t ask them anything you won’t do.
10. Honesty – demand it – give it. If kid is on bubble for next year, tell them. (Steve Flowers story.)
11. Clinic – Get the community involved in getting their kids there. Have the players be the instructors. They will learn how to play because they are forced to think!
12. Team selection – Coach puts kids into positions and not just where they played in little league. Cut borderline kids. Keep inspirational kids. Always have a spot for a bullpen catcher.
13. Field – get it ready to play in rain etc. Every player must sacrifice for game.
14. Guts – be a decision maker and go down how you chose. Don’t back off.
15. Play lower level kids to give them a look. Also, at end of the year, bring up lower level kids to help for the run at state. This gives the varsity players more time to get repetitions.
16. College contacts – get them interested in your kids.
17. Get Help – Community – shop teachers – administration – don’t be afraid to ask.
18. Media – get your kids in the newspaper – pictures, get TV station to come over. Get on St. Louis Post Dispatch Nomination Board.
19. Create a program for the kids – Must maintain interest of Grade school kids!!!
20. Shirts – Get them out in public. Give shakers and bakers shirts to wear.
21. Trophies/plaques – give your seniors something special.
22. Banquet/picnic – Make it highlight for Seniors but be sure to include all. Recognize special people and get the media there.
23. Parents – compliment those parents that met criteria you set for parents.
24. Player talks – peanuts, pizza, etc. sit down and talk to them for a few minutes away from competition.
25. Praise/abuse – this is for players and coaches. For players never let abusive situations exist. For coaches, buy them things and praise them. A head coach will be upset with assistant coaches at times. It goes both ways. Always remember you and your assistant coaches are in this for the kids and it is not an ego trip.

Coach B25

Seems like you are going to have to add a few more hours to the day.

Chill.......you are very wise!!!

Communication, communication, communication!!

Will, there aren't enough hours in a day. I had a parent call today to find out when the weight program starts. I will be coaching Boy's Basketball again. That means I will start plyos/weightroom at 6:15 a.m. and I will get in from scouting and/or coaching basketball sometimes after 11:00 p.m.. If we watch film, then I may leave after midnight. I'm going to be a little tired.

The "LIST" - I typed this list after looking at a list that Tom Pile comprised after he resign his position at Edwardsville High School. I figured that a guy that won 700 games might know something. Naturally, I changed most of it to fit my situation but he did inspire the list. I keep it on my door with a couple of other "reminder" of what it takes to coach. When I can't get those things done, and someday I won't be able, then I will resign.

Coach B25

#25 great always give credit to your assistants. I always made it a point to mention any success we had was a direct result of the hard work of the assistants.