By Wayne Goldsmith
So - you had to coach the local under 8 team because no one else would?
As Douglas Adams would say - DON’T PANIC!
There are millions and millions of people just like you all over the world - i.e. what we call “THE LAST ONE STANDING”.
Let me guess.
You took your kid to the local football or basketball or hockey or baseball club.
They announced “Hey everyone. We’re looking for a coach for the team this year. Is anyone here interested?”
And you looked around - no one put their hand up - so you thought “I guess it’s up to me” and you volunteered.
Then….the reality hits…”What the h$&k I am supposed to do now? I don’t know anything about coaching!!!!”.
Again my friends - DON’T PANIC!
Take a deep slow breath. Say to yourself “I can do this” - and follow these three easy steps:
Make it safe;
Make it fun;
Keep them moving: It’s the game itself that is their best coach!
Don’t be stressed or worried about designing practice sessions or finding the right drills or how to teach skills. There’s mountains of that stuff on the Internet, You Tube, Ai, the sport’s web site and other sources.
Don’t worry about any of that stuff. It’s all available free on your device anytime you want it!
Coaching can be a wonderful, enjoyable, rewarding career - but for the vast majority of coaches around the world it’s likely to be one season where you’re coaching because no one else would or could do it.
My best advice is enjoy that year!!!
Have fun yourself.
Turn up at every session thinking of yourself as just another one of the kids.
Run around.
Don’t coach them: PLAY with them.
Try to learn the same skills they’re learning.
Just coach like you’re one of the kids and love every minute of it.
A funny thing will happen.
If you’re having fun - they’ll be having fun and it’s going to be a brilliant, unforgettable year for the kids, their parents and most importantly of all - YOU!
Wayne Goldsmith
COPYRIGHT WAYNE GOLDSMITH - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
