What is your coaching philosophy?
Posted: 11/7/2018; Last Edited: 11/6/2018
By Coach Ryan
Mind Blowing Quote: “If it is to be, it is up to me” - Unknown
“What is your coaching philosophy?” This is the question so many of coaches will be asked by interviewers, athletic directors, student-athletes, parents and recruits. It is imperative that you have a solid answer not only for your constituents but ultimately for yourself. A coaching philosophy will guide you in your decision making, especially when tough choices must be made. Guarantee the best decision by establishing your coaching philosophy.
According to the Coaching Association of Canada, there are three elements that make up your coaching philosophy; your purpose, your leadership style and your core values.
Purpose
Assuming that you wake up everyday, energized for your job, what gives you the ability to have that level of passion? It can be what you do, how you do it, or who you do it for. Regardless, your passion should be your “why”; a constant reminder of why you continue to serve your team every day.
Leadership Style
Your leadership style is the way you approach various situations. The best way to discover your leadership style is through reflection. If you desire to be a coach, chances are you have already lead a group of people in some way or another. Reflect back on how you approached your team and the techniques you may have used to motivate them. Did your approach work? Did your strategy feel natural to you? It can also help to think through several difficult scenarios that you may encounter with your future team; i.e. How will you react if a student-athlete shows up late to practice?; How will you handle a student-athlete who isn’t meeting the team’s standards?; How will you address an upset parent? All of these scenarios can lead you to a leadership style that works best for you.
Core Values
In my very first blog, The Power of Core Values, I go more in depth on why core values are so important and the steps you can take in creating your own set. Your core values should guide every decision you make in good times and in bad. Each core value should have a corresponding statement that captures the meaning of the core value.
How to Communicate an Effective Coaching Philosophy
Ultimately, for a coaching philosophy to be effective you must create one that is true to you but also connects with your intended audience. While there is power in consistency, you should always be evaluating your coaching philosophy for its ability to connect with your current student-athletes. Every generation works differently, so what might have worked for one may not work for the next. To combat this, openly communicate with your team and ask their opinion about what works and what doesn’t. Culture surveys should be a reoccurring technique used to evaluate the success of your coaching philosophy.
According to Wade’s Gilbert’s book “Coaching Better Every Season,” one of the most effective ways coaches can communicate their coaching philosophy is by telling personal stories that reflect their purpose, leadership style and core values. Stories are great way of connecting with your team and spreading your philosophy without boring them. In my next blog, I plan on talking more about the art of storytelling.
