Email Campaign Archive

Coaches: Avoid this Fatal Mistake

-By Dave Cross


As usual during the summer months, I have been
spending alot of time talking to other coaches
about their plans for their teams this fall. When
I was running my program, most of the time I was
doing this I was focused on picking their
brains-trying to find anything I could use to
help my own kids.

But since I retired, I guess it's only natural
that my focus has shifted. I don't have to worry
about getting my own group ready, so I am more
focused on what I can offer to help them out with
their teams.  

Through these many discussions, I've noticed a
certain theme come up. It's only reared it's
ugly head a couple of times, thankfully, but
still it's out there-and it drives my nuts!

I'm talking about this:

"I shouldn't have to spend time on that, they
should already know it."

Or, said to me during a personal training session:

"I asked coach what to do, and they told me I
should already know what to do, and they didn't
say anything else."

HUH?!?

I sure as heck hope you aren't making this fatal
mistake yourself, but if you are, it's time to
adjust your thinking now! Also, if you are running
a program, I suggest you make sure all the coaches
under you understand this is not acceptable.

No matter what level you are coaching at, it's
our job to teach and motivate our players and help
them improve as much as we can-no exceptions!

If a player asks for your help, you have to give
it. It doesn't matter how many times you've
tried to help them with whatever it is before, if
they still don't understand, you have to try a
different approach-and keep trying until you find
one that works.

Yes, there are certainly situations where no
matter what we do or say, they aren't going to be
able to perform to the level we need them to. A
kid is only going to be able to jump as high, move
as quick or swing as fast as their physical
training and muscle composition will allow them
to. But, they can always improve their technique
and understanding of the strategies of the game,
and that is what I am referring to here.

And, when they are asking for help-that means they
are wanting to improve!!

Hey, that's what we want from our players isn't
it? The desire and focus to keep getting better?

I can only think of two reasons for a coach to
respond to a request for help this way:


1. EGO: Some think so highly of themselves that
they feel they shouldn't have to lower themselves
and explain a simple concept, or re-explain
something they have covered before. They get
frustrated that a player isn't getting it the
"way they've taught it" and write the player
off as "not worth their time". I sure hope
that's not you-or any of your assistants.

Let me ask you this: How is a kid going to respond
when they get this attitude from the person in
charge of their improvement? "They don't
care-why should I?", "I'm not asking them
anymore questions-they always just end up making
me feel stupid anyways." Or even worse, "They
don't know how to help me."

Yep, put these thoughts in a kids head and you've
lost their confidence. When this happens, they
will naturally start to question anything new you
try to teach them, and you're in big trouble.


2. LAZINESS/LACK OF KNOWLEDGE: Some just don't
want to work that hard. "I showed her what to do
already", is a typical response here. This is
also a great way of "covering up" for not
knowing what to do to help the player.

Look, never expect a player to want to work harder
than you are as their coach-it simply isn't going
to happen.

If you don't know what to do to help the player
with their problem, find out! Don't hesitate to
pick the brains of your coaching colleagues. Some
coaches won't do this. Why? Because it shows they
don't have the answer themselves-that they don't
know everything.  

I ask you, what's worse: Admitting you don't
have the answer, or not helping the player find
the answer they need? There is nothing wrong with
telling a player, "Let me think about this one,
I'll figure it out soon." Just make sure you do
what you have to do to come up with a possible
solution before the next practice. And if that one
doesn't work, find another idea.

The bottom line here is simply this: Lack of
coaching knowledge is a direct result of coaching
laziness!

COACHES: No matter the reason, never respond a to
a player with a "you should know already" answer
when it's obvious they don't know, and never
walk away without doing your best to help-no
matter how many times a player asks.

It's our job.


-Dave Cross
National Director
Yes I Can Volleyball