As you know from my last letter of encouragement, I am a quote guy. The other day I saw a quote that relates well to coaches. I feel like this quote is the reason we all chose to enter the coaching profession. “Coaching is the universal language of change and learning.” Although a wide variety of people from pastors to bosses may be considered coaches, I am going to focus on high school athletic coaches.
I firmly believe that athletic coaches have the ability to make the most positive changes in communities and schools by helping their students learn and change for the better. Coaches have the opportunity to facilitate the learning and growth of their athletes every day. This can be done during practice throughout the season, at summer open gyms, and during film sessions. Coaches can provide methods and techniques for their athletes to improve on their weaknesses. This will help change their skill set, work ethic, and attitude for the better.
Coaches are also blessed with the opportunity to help their athletes learn countless life skills. In my opinion, the main life skill athletes need to learn from coaches is accountability. Accountability is becoming somewhat of a lost characteristic of people in our society today. People today are far more likely to make an excuse and/or blame someone when they make a mistake. This has carried over to coaching as parents are quick to blame the coach before knowing if it might be their child who made a mistake or is at fault. Oftentimes it can be difficult to change the attitude and skills of our athletes because of factors beyond our control. However, it does not mean we should give up on “coaching them to change for the better.”
Coaching today is more difficult than it has ever been. Coaches are being fired at a higher rate than ever before at every level from high school to professional. Unfortunately, this trend seems to be trickling down to the high school level. Parents, administrators, and community members have become quick to blame coaches for problems and losses. They believe firing a coach will be the cure-all to their problems. This belief means coaches are the only people who are being held accountable when things go wrong.
Tom Izzo once said, “You use to have to be accomplished and important to speak your opinion and have it heard.” It seems today EVERY person has their own “expert opinion” on how things should be done, and social media has provided an outlet for them to voice their “expert opinion.” This has put even more pressure on coaches. Every coach faces criticism from “experts”, no matter what sport they coach. Don’t let these “experts” bother you. Do what you do and believe in what you do.
I believe coaches genuinely have the best interest of their players and work to help them develop skills needed to succeed in life. There are times when parents and players may not agree with a coach’s decision or feel they are treating their child unfairly. However, what parents and players often do not realize is that those situations are going to prepare them to deal with adversity later on in life. Bosses are going to hold their employees accountable the same way coaches hold their players accountable. Coaches can change their players for the better by holding them accountable when they make mistakes. Coaches have the unique ability to take a player where they cannot take themself by changing their weaknesses into strengths. Encourage your kids to be lifelong learners and teach them how to be lifelong learners. Remember this, the job of a coach is to teach their players to change and learn. I want to thank all of you coaches for everything you do for the kids. I would especially like to thank all of my past and current coaches. Every coach I have ever had has changed me for the better. I will continue to learn as much as possible and work to become as good of a coach as my father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were. I challenge all of you to strive to become more like the coach/coaches who have been your role model/s. Have a great spring!
Jeff Graham
Belt History/Physical Education Teacher
Head Football Coach/Head Girls Basketball Coach /Co-Head Track Coach
Athletic Director