Developing a Functional Coaching Philosophy

1. Developing a Functional Coaching Philosophy Don Burroughs donnyb@nktelco.net

2. Popular Thoughts on Philosophy • When you're in the muck you can only see muck. If you somehow manage to float above it, you still see the muck but you see it from a different perspective. And you see other things too. • The point of philosophy is to start with something so simple as not to seem worth stating, and to end with something so paradoxical that no one will believe it. • Unintelligible answers to insoluble problems. • There's a difference between a philosophy and a bumper sticker.

3. Wrong Reasons for Coaching • Power • Trophies • Fulfill their own agenda

4. Right Reasons for Coaching • Molding a group of individuals into a team • Be part of the game – love of the sport • Pass on knowledge • Enjoyment of teaching players to play better and help them develop • The thrill and excitement of sport • Help young players have fun • Want to share the experience with your kids • Nothing kills a team’s spirit faster than an apathetic coach • Leadership is inspiring people to do their best

5. Great Coaches Are Teachers • Teaching them the skills • Teaching them how to play within the team concept • Teaching them how to make good decisions • Teaching them not to be afraid to fail • Teaching them character values • Teaching them to be successful as players and people

6. Motivations for Successful Coaches • Love of coaching • Love of the game • Fear of failure • Need to prove to people they are good at coaching • Love of competition • The challenge itself • Highs of winning knowing there will be lows of defeat

7. Aspects of Coaching Philosophy (1) • Team needs a clear idea of what they’re expected to do and how they’re expected to do it • Goal setting is a major part of motivation, empowerment and commitment • Provide knowledge, information, and feedback through stats • Verbal communication • Our team will work harder and play harder than anyone else • Believe in a team playing together, playing unselfishly and having the characteristics of a family • No individual is more important than the team

8. Aspects of Coaching Philosophy (2) • Play smart and make good decisions • Total focus throughout competition • Team is totally positive and enthusiastic • Have fun and play loose • Play with composure in a crisis situation • Play with a lot of courage • Play with confidence • Play with a good attitude

9. Philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom • Helps us understand fundamental questions of what, why and how • Determines how we view objects and experiences in our lives • Determines how we view people and our relationships with them • Determines how much value we place on objects and people • Philosophical uncertainty leads to inconsistency in behavior

10. Why develop a coaching philosophy? • A well-developed philosophy will help you make difficult decisions and coach more successfully • Think like an accountant…

11. Purpose of a coaching philosophy • Starts everyone on the same page • Shows how you approach the game • Blueprint of you as a coach • No surprises for anyone • Players make an informed decision to play for you • Helps you keep winning in perspective • Guide to coaching decisions

12. A philosophy consists of… • Major objectives • Your beliefs or principles that you achieve your objectives

13. Possible concepts in philosophy (1) • Winning • Sportsmanship • Time management • Academics • Setting priorities • Choosing captains • Good decisions

14. Possible concepts in philosophy (2) • Commitment by coaches & players • Player roles • Substitutes • Trust • Work ethic • Resisting temptations • Coachability

15. Things that test your philosophy (1) • Parents • Administrators • College coaches observing - recruiting • Job security • Boosters • Personal competitiveness of the coach • Tradition • Time of season

16. Things that test your philosophy (2) • Rivalries • Team morale • Problem athletes – player behavior • Outside distractions • Media • Staff • Family problems

17. Know your “self” • Self-awareness • Self-esteem • Self-disclosure

18. Know your “self-awareness” • When you are at peace with yourself you can help your athletes be at peace with themselves • What you teach may well be less important than what you demonstrate through your character and philosophy • Your athletes are much more likely to become what you are rather than what you want them to be

19. Know your “self-esteem” • The inner conviction about your competency and worth as a human being • Not achieved by defeating others, but by living up to your own realistic standards

20. Know your “self-disclosure” • Must be relevant to your relationship and appropriate to the situation • If you don’t self-disclose with your players, they won’t with you

21. What is a “successful” coach? (1) • Wins • Relates to athletes • Motivates their players • Can recruit successfully (good players) • Has good support financially • Strong work ethic • Has right equipment & facility • Good knowledge of the sport

22. What is a “successful” coach? (2) • Good staff • Stays educated • Graduates players at a high rate • Their players love the game when they finish their eligibility • Enjoy a lifetime friendship with former players • Respected by players & peers • Mentors others in the field

23. Don Shula “[Coaching philosophy] set[s] the context and boundaries within which our players and coaches can operate. They keep me honest and heading in the right direction.” • Keep winning and losing in perspective • Lead by example • Go for respect over popularity • Value character as well as ability • Work hard, but enjoy what you do

24. Tony DiCicco“Catch Them Being Good” • Know your limitations and use them as strengths • Play hard, play to win, have fun • Less is more • The relay paradigm • Vulnerable, humble leadership

25. Tony DiCicco (cont.) • Validate their feelings • The challenge coefficient • Imprint vs. Perfect • One size doesn’t fit all • Be prepared to take a penalty

26. Tony DiCicco (cont.) • Validate their feelings • The challenge coefficient • Imprint vs. Perfect • One size doesn’t fit all • Be prepared to take a penalty

27. Pat Summitt“The Definite Dozen” • Respect yourself and others • Take full responsibility • Develop and demonstrate loyalty • Learn to be a great communicator • Discipline yourself so no one else has to • Make hard work your passion

28. Pat Summitt (cont.) • Don’t just work hard, work smart • Put the team before yourself • Make winning an attitude • Be a competitor • Change is a must • Handle success like you handle failure

29. Coach Krzyzewski • Preseason, Regular Season, Post Season, All Season • Teaching • Commitment • Family • Excellence • Motivation

30. Rick Pitino • Build self-esteem • Set demanding goals • Always be positive • Establish good habits • Master the art ofcommunication

31. Rick Pitino • Learn from role models • Thrive on pressure • Be ferociously persistent • Learn from adversity • Survive success

32. Anson Dorrance “Players get better everyday from the competitive cauldron. We keep score on everything we do in practice.”

34. Coaching Philosophy Hopefully it is based on… • What’s best for the kids • What may improve their chances of success