In today’s issue…
5 shifts to change your coaching (newsletter)
How to become a 100X leader (podcast)
And more…
🗣️ QUOTE
“The best example is always what you would need yourself.”
📝 NEWSLETTER
Earlier this week, I came across a video of Jürgen Klopp talking about how we can get and keep more kids in sports.
It’s a short two-minute video, but the insights he shared were so good that I’ve watched it at least four times.
Klopp’s 5 shifts coaches can make coach and lead better:
#1: Standing Back —> Standing by Their Side
“Years ago, one of my strikers lost the ball and we conceded a goal. [His] head was down, [and] he was completely devastated. So, I took him to the sideline, gave him a hug and told him, ‘I give you all my power because I don’t need it right now. Take it and go again.’ He went in again and scored three goals. The best example is always what you would need yourself.”
Athletes need support when they struggle.
We should be quick to stand by their side and speak belief into them.
No one enjoys being kicked while they’re down.
Lift them up and tell them to “go again.”
#2: Video Game Coaching —> Let Players Play
“Video Game Coaching and telling them each step they need to do is not helpful.”
Players don’t like it, and its effectiveness is questionable at best.
Teach them how to play, then let them play.
I want my team to play free and present.
When the game starts, I don’t want them to need me.
#3: Scoreboard Shouting —> Gameplan Gestures
They know the score. You don’t need to put your attention or their attention there.
Use cues to keep them focused on the present moment and what they can do next.
These can be physical or verbal cues, Klopp shares some examples he uses in the video.
Give athletes some space to consider what they’d like to do or say as a reminder to play present.
We teach the concept of a “Reset Button” at our camps and have athletes come up with their own. It’s a simple ritual to bring you back to the present moment.
#4: Focus only on Outcomes —> Focus on the Effort
“If you give your absolute everything, everyone knows that. If you give absolutely everything, you’re done, you’re exhausted. But it feels great.”
Be process focused.
Praise and reward effort not just outcomes.
With a past team I coached, we would award an empty gas tank at the end of games or a week of practice to the player who “emptied the tank.”
On another team, we awarded a “Golden Plunger” to a player that was willing to do the dirty work (things that didn’t show up on a stat sheet but helped our team succeed).
We wanted our players to be recognized and validated when their effort was outstanding.
The funny thing is, when the effort is excellent, positive outcomes often follow too.
#5: Don’t be the Post-Game Analyst —> Be the Support Act
“It’s not a post-game analysis [where] you go into detail.. when the wound is still bleeding… You have to give them time to reflect themselves. If something was not that good, you can say it was not that good, but you don’t say it wasn’t that good because you’re not good enough. It’s a big difference. It’s important that athletes have someone that makes them believe, ‘you got this.’”
Losing sucks. No player or team wants to listen to their coach be a post-game analyst when they’re already feeling down about the outcome.
Be the support act.
Recognize and validate their emotions.
Give yourself a time limit on your post game talk.
Do celebrations and shoutouts, even after a loss, to connect back to your core values and reinforce effort over outcomes.
Then, turn their attention toward the future.
It could be as simple as saying, “I’m excited for us to work on getting better at ___ before our next game.”
Great leaders embrace The Stockdale Paradox (credit to Jim Collins). They embrace the brutal reality of the present AND hold unwavering hope that things can get better.
We should do this as coaches post-game.
“We weren’t good at _____ today, AND I know we can get better at it. I’m excited to see our progress.”
Watch Klopp’s two-minute video below.
🧠 COACHING APPLICATION
A few thoughts on how this could apply in your coaching or leadership context…
Write down the name of every player on your team and one specific way you could support them better
Have a discussion about “Gameplan Gestures” with your team and decide what you will use as a team
Discuss post-game talks with your coaching staff and limit it to 2-3 minutes
Decide one new way you’re going to reinforce effort over outcome with your team
🎧 PODCAST EPISODE
136. Becoming a 100x Leader with Kevin DeShazo & Seth Kindig of Better
Topics include:
Becoming a 100X leader
The 5 dials of the Leadership Control Panel
Performance rhythms every coach needs
The pace of purpose vs the pace of fear
📝 Download the Notes (located inside the Better Coaching Community) 👉 Free PDF
👋 CLOSING
Thanks for reading, I hope this serves you on your journey.
To your growth,
Luke Gromer, RYG Athletics | A NIKE Sports Camp Provider
P.S. If you’re interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, learn more here.
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