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In today’s issue…
5 ways to lead your coaching staff better
🗣️ QUOTE
“Anytime you get an award as a coach, you've got to be the ultimate fool to think it wasn't your assistant coaches and all the players responsible for the award.”
The cohesion of a coaching staff can make or break the success of a team.
Too many head coaches feel frustrated by the lack of contribution from their assistants and too many assistants feel frustrated by the lack of ownership they’re given by the head coach.
Here are 5 ways head coaches can lead their coaching staff better.
#1: Identify Strengths and Areas of Growth
Take time to have each coach complete a self-assessment and share those results with the staff.
This is an opportunity to discuss how each of you operate, as well as to discuss what each of you views as your strengths and areas of growth are as a coach.
Discuss what everyone’s “Coaching Super Power” is and how that can contribute to the success of the team.
Some examples might be teaching, Xs and Os, practice planning, film breakdown, scouting reports, relationship building, etc.
Then take some time to let each coach set a “Growth Goal” for the upcoming season that is focused on improving in an area they need to grow in.
#2: Define Roles and Responsibilities
Take the conversations that happened above and outline roles and responsibilities.
Be very specific.
Go through things like…
Who will send the weekly parent email?
Who will write the practice plan?
Who will do data collection during practice?
Who will schedule the bus?
Who will wash jerseys?
What are our roles and responsibilities during games?
What are our roles and responsibilities during practices?
What are acceptable and unacceptable ways to handle conflict/disagreement amongst the coaching staff?
“Clear is kind, unclear is unkind.” — Brené Brown
#3: Let Them Own It
Once you’ve agreed on roles and responsibilities, clearly articulate the expectations for those responsibilities, then let them own it.
Resist the urge to micromanage every aspect of the team or program.
Ask your assistant coaches to set their own deadlines, then hold them to those.
People grow when they’re given meaningful responsibility.
#4: Consistent Check-Ins
Just as with players, head coaches should have consistent check-ins with their coaching staff.
Here are some recommendations:
Weekly meetings with the entire staff
Monthly one-on-one meetings with each coach
Annual start of season and end of season meetings with the entire staff and individual coaches
In the all staff meetings, conduct AARs (After Action Reviews).
What’s working?
What’s not working?
What do we need to do differently going forward?
In the individual meetings, make a habit of doing these things:
Express appreciation (what are they contributing)
Notice progress (where are they growing)
Hear aspirations (where do they want to be)
Give feedback (what can they do to move toward those aspirations)
#5: Learn Together
Make a habit of learning together as a staff.
Some examples of things you could do as a staff:
Attend a coaching clinic
Read a book and discuss
Listen to a podcast and discuss
Observe other coaches and discuss
Bring in a speaker or consultant
The goal is to create a coaching staff that loves getting better.
When the leader of a team or program is a learner, it trickles down.
🧠 COACHING APPLICATION
A few thoughts on how this could apply in your coaching or leadership context…
Take a self-assessment and discuss results as a staff
Examples: The 5 Voices, DISC, Enneagram
Meet to define roles and responsibilities
Put staff and individual meetings on your calendar
Find one resource to learn from as a staff and set a time to discuss it
🎧 PODCAST EPISODES
Most Popular Episodes from Season 2:
#134 (S2 E10): 4 Keys of Good Coaching According to Players with Alan Keane of MVMT Sports
#135 (S2 E11): 3 Steps to Create a Winning Team with Brett Ledbetter of What Drives Winning
#126 (S2 E2): Becoming a Head Coach, Building Culture, & Team Rituals with Napoleon Sykes
Season 3 will drop in the fall.
📝 Download the Notes (located inside the community) 👉 Free PDF
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 hosting NIKE Sports Camp at your school or club, reply “NIKE” to this email or contact me, and we’ll get on a call!
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