Coaching Transformation, Collateral Consequences, and Personal Mission

Aware

Of The Way Things Are and The Way Things Could Be

About ten years ago, I decided to quit coaching tennis. Well, I almost quit. I loved working with the kids but I had become pretty frustrated. We were a small team from a small school struggling to compete with even mediocre competition. Moderately talented teams blew us out of the water, and the good teams had dropped us from their schedules. Our teams had fun playing and even had some success playing other small schools, but we were simply not in the same league with teams in our conference and sectional. Our prospects of moving toward the top of conference or through sectional was grim. My goal in those days was to simply encourage the team to do their best, have fun, and hope to win about half of our regular season games. My early coaching years were difficult to enjoy knowing that we were not prepared to compete against even modest competition.

Assess

What’s Really Going On and Decide To Accept Things or Change Things

I decided to quit (almost) when it appeared that our obstacles were far too great to overcome. We didn’t have the number of players or money or indoor facilities like the big schools in our conference and sectional. Our kids were learning the game in high school and playing against kids who had been taking lessons and playing since elementary school. Our kids did not often play in the off-season, but those schools that had the “year-round, tournament players.” We did not have a tennis culture or a winning tradition of the big schools and I didn’t see a change in the horizon. Knowing what we were up against, I found it far too difficult to continue this coaching path knowing that season after season, we simply didn’t have a chance. We were just a small school that couldn’t compete against the big schools that had all the advantages, and that was a reality I just couldn’t accept. After my eighth year of coaching, I knew that I had to either quit or start doing things differently. I seriously considered quitting, but I couldn’t. Instead, I decided to start doing things differently.

Aim

To Change Myself First By Designing a Realistic Plan

To change our culture and tradition, I knew I had to change myself first. For years, I made excuses for our lack of results, I blamed our circumstances, and I complained about our disadvantages. After assessing our situation, I knew we needed buy-in, but there needed to be something to buy into. I finally decided to take ownership and take aim at developing a new culture. Lacking the knowledge and skill to really prepare our team to compete at a higher level, I needed to change my identity as a coach and become a craftsman. I knew what kind of coach I wanted to be, and I knew what kind of coach I was. All I needed to do was take action and start closing that gap.

Act

By Starting Where I Was then Creating and Following a Path

I started by reading autobiographies from a variety of successful coaches. It became clear that regardless of sport, there were a lot of commonalities in the approaches and mentalities of coaching successes. I also began reading about sport specific mechanics, fundamentals, and strategies. In addition to reading, I began taking lessons from teaching pros and attending coaches’ conferences. I even attended a few tennis practices at Indiana University to see how they teach and coach at the elite level. It was here that my outlook and vision for our local program really began to take form. After their practices, the IU coaches would talk with me and answer questions. They were completely transparent and honest. They told me what they did, why they did it, and how I could apply the same principles to my own coaching. They motivated and inspired me to dream bigger and work harder. This was far beyond helpful. This was where my coaching transformation truly began. And after I got to know them better, they invited me to help out at their summer tennis camps where I really began to change my coaching identity and began developing my craft more deeply.

And as the craft developed, the passion developed. I found great joy and satisfaction in seeing the program evolve, but I found even greater joy by connecting with and involving others in the process. Building buy-in with players, fellow coaches, parents, and administration. Sharing and inspiring. Listening and involving others in the process. It was not no longer me. It was us. We were a team, developing our culture and our tradition.

Adjust

By Seeing Results and Looking For Ways to Improve

The more I immersed myself into the craft of coaching, the more I began changing my attitude and outlook. I was still seeking successful outcomes, but my goals were becoming more process-focused instead of outcome-focused. We cannot always control the outcome, but we have complete control over the process. So by watching how we performed in competitions, we could could adjust and address our needs. Meaningful change takes days, weeks, and sometimes years, but by controlling the controllables, we were no longer at the mercy of hope and good luck. Our competition was in the preparation. We had to be fearless with experimenting in practice and in competition. We were continually trying new drills and strategies with the team. We focused on fundamentals, and began looking for ways to identify and address obstacles to our success. The days of excuses, blaming, and complaining became a thing of the past. By simply starting where I was as a coach and where we were as a team, we took small steps and made small gains that eventually created a snowball effect.

Again

Repeating the Process and Enjoying the Progress

After every season, I enjoy reflecting on our progress. There is great satisfaction in seeing growth in the team and in myself as a coach. Over the years, a series of tiny changes and adjustments have helped us make great gains. We play a very tough schedule, but we can honestly say that we can and do compete with the highest level of competition in the state. Being aware, assessing, aiming, acting, adjusting, and repeating the process again has made the difference. Meaningful transformation, change, and growth requires consistent attention and intention. Progress requires that we show up and keep showing up. As a coach, I truly enjoy the progress we’ve made, but more importantly, I’m enjoying the process. Focusing on the success of others, building healthy relationships, nurturing deep friendships, and growing a supportive network is what I view as the greatest success I can imagine as a coach. And it’s satisfying to know that we can compete at the highest level while maintaining dignity, character, and integrity. I’m so glad I didn’t quit ten years ago. Coaching has been and continues to be quite a compelling and cherished aspect of my life that has brought me great joy and has had many positive collateral consequences.

The Collateral Consequences

Coaching is only one aspect of this life I’m enjoying, but my approach toward coaching has had positive effects on all aspects of my life. Actions have consequences and approaching the key areas of my life with an intentional, Next Step mentality has help me design a more balanced and compelling life. Over the past ten years, I’ve worked to improve my coaching, but more importantly, I’ve noticed a huge improvement in how I approach my faith, my family, my fitness, and my finances. I think of these as my “foundational four.” I’m also paying much more attention to my connections, my career, my commitments, and my contributions to the greater good.

My Mission and My Hope and My Why

My personal mission in life is to “love, enjoy, inspire, encourage, and positively impact those within my circle of influence.” My hope is that I can inspire others to seek the best version of themselves. To live intentional, optimal, and compelling lives. To live life better while seeking the greater good. As a teacher and coach of 20+ years, I find great joy and happiness in working with people and helping them find successes great and small. For me, there is nothing more satisfying and compelling than working for the greater good and for the benefit of others. I am blessed to have shared in the growth experience with so many over the years. To me, this is what “living the dream” looks like. It is humbling to be a small part of anyone’s next step as they design their lives, make daily progress, and enjoy the process. Sharing in that process is my why in writing this book and in all that I do. This is my mission, my hope, my why, and what always guides and directs my next step. I hope you find value that you can apply in designing your own intentional, optimal, compelling life.

Takeaways: get curious, ask questions, reach out, see what successful people and experts do differently, find commonalities, read, learn the craft, build your knowledge base through experiences, try things, experiment, show up, keep showing up, build relationships, focus on the greater good, dream big, and always look for ways to take your next step.

Sorry this post was so long :)

Hope it was of value and worth your time.

Enjoy the day!