TIP OF THE MONTH

Well, it has been a little while since we last spoke and the season is well underway. I would like to say that all our games have gone the way we had expected, but the ball bounces both ways. We as a coaching staff have had early season struggles and seen our players battle through some tough matches. This has caused some moments of frustration and deep thought and discussions. Where and why are things not going well and why does it seem that certain players are having more difficulty than others?

 

The key points to understand in this week’s talk centers around the prime topic of "Are our athletes ready to play?" This is a broad topic and can encompass many different areas. First of all, have you and your athletes/players committed to the process? Have you set aside time to set goals and discussed them with your team? Is everyone "all in" when it comes to accomplishing these goals? Have you set a process in motion that allows for your players to have the best chance to meet these goals?

 

Secondly, do you and your athletes have the discipline to work towards the goals that have been set? Are the players disciplined enough to put the time and effort into to training schedule and put aside all distractions to allow for success? Discipline requires on field and off the field planning and maturity by both the players and coaching staff. Have you discussed the obstacles that may fall in the way? This may require discipline from family and friends as well to keep the goals in the players mind at all times.

 

Third, and this is a tough one, are you as a coach and you as a player coachable? Can you let go of bad habits and learn and adapt new habits that allow for success? Are you willing to learn new skills and implement them even though they may feel uncomfortable at first? Can you listen with an open mind and heart and ask appropriate questions that foster learning and success?

 

Forth, are you respected and respectable? Do you arrive at training on time and prepared to put forth the effort it requires to be the best? Timeliness is paramount to a successful player and coach. Tardiness means that you do not respect the process or those that are engaged in the process. Are you prepared on and off the field? These may include everything from making sure you have that right nutrition to having your boots and ball in the right shape for practice and games. Do you respond in a manner that breeds respect to your fellow players and coaches? You need them as much as they need you, so make sure they understand your seriousness.

 

Have you prepared yourself for success and, maybe more importantly, for failure? Success can come in bunches and if you have not set aside the concept of "winning" and what all that may entail, then you will fail to repeat the steps necessary to succeed again. As much as succeeding is import, it is vital that you prepare to address and understand what failure means. If you cannot identify what went wrong and where your training regimen is falling short you will be doomed to repeat failing. The steps in identify success and failures are key to being able to adjust and move forward.

 

Are you a leader? Can you instill in your fellow teammates the drive towards the goals you and your team have set? Can you rally "the troops" in times of need and provide positive motivation? This may mean that you have to set the example in training attitude, training effort and game preparation and effort. Can you set the example that everyone else will follow on and off the field?

 

Are you emotionally and mentally strong enough to train for success and deal with failures? Do you work hard to avoid mistakes and adjust to challenges when they approach you? You cannot fall apart when a tackle is missed or a goal is scored. You must meet the hardship head on and focus on what you need to do to correct the problem? Worrying about what everybody else is or is not doing right on the field is a sure way to get lost in the details. Focus on what you can influence and what your responsibilities are and all else will take care of itself.

 

Finally, are you a team player? Sometimes, I think this statement is thrown around without understanding what exactly it means. Can you put the effort into training and playing for the success of the team? Are you in it for you or are you in it for the team? This may mean that personal goals take a backseat to what is best for the team. This is a hard thing to accomplish in these times of the "Me" generation, but once accomplished can be the keystone to lasting success. Make sure that everyone is going in the same direction and wants to put forth their best for what is best for the team. If one player/coach has differing ideas, then it will be impossible to "win" and internal stress will rear its ugly head.

 

These concepts are not new. As a matter of fact, they can all be found in an article recently published in FUEL magazine by the USYS. They are key in defining the success of not only your team, but the success of each individual player. Ultimately, it is to their success that we as coaches are in this game for....Isn't it?

 

 

 

 

Chris ODonnell

623.512.6065

George Archuleta

480.433.9600

Fax: 623.518.4477

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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