subject: 12 Steps to a Winning Coaching Philosophy [print this page] 12 Steps to a Winning Coaching Philosophy
If you haven't noticed, today's athletes both in volleyball and in every other sport are playing at levels that would have been near unheard of 5 or 10 years ago. This rapid change and increase in both skill and talent means that coaches will need to be more creative, make frequent changes to stay current in systems, training and game play.
While I'll focus on developing volleyball coaching philosophy, every coach of every sport needs to have a solid coaching philosophy. While winning is important in volleyball, your coaching philosophy should embrace total player development over only winning.
If you focus is on the overall player you will not only win more games, but leave an everlasting impression in your athlete's minds.
Pat Summit gave a list of important concepts to consider when developing your coaching philosophy.
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
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 (or vice versa)
After going through this list each of us can consider what we are doing well and what we need to improve on. If this list seems basic, then you can write or rewrite your coaching philosophy down on paper. As you frequently revisit your WRITTEN coaching philosophy you will find areas that you need to improve and definitely some that have changed.
Most importantly remember the athletes and their struggles in their own lives. While everything is volleyball to us coaches, each individual at every age has struggles and commitments in other areas of their lives.
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