Clarifying Your Coaching Philosophy: 4 Key Areas Every Coach Must Consider

Hi Coach,

Before you dive in, three quick notes:

In today’s issue…

Our behaviors flow from our beliefs.

The North Star of the Better Coaching Wheel is the Coaching Philosophy.

The beliefs we hold about sports, coaching, motor learning, relationships, etc., shape our coaching behaviors.

Every coach would be well served to clarify their philosophies in 4 key areas:

#1: The Purpose and Value of Sports

Sports have been a vital part of societies for centuries.

In our current world, they’re a central part of many countries’ economies and individuals’ lives.

But why?

Why are people drawn to sports?

What is the purpose of sports and the value they offer to individuals, communities, and society as a whole?

Every coach should be able to articulate what they believe about the purpose and value of sport.

I believe the purpose and value of sports is its to help people and communities connect and thrive.

#2: The Purpose and Value of a Coach

Coaches exist in all walks of life, but the term coach is inextricably linked with sports.

Why?

Why do coaches exist and what value do they provide to athletes and teams?

I believe coaches exist to help others grow and to use sport for good.

The value of a coach is in their ability to help others become what they might not be able to on their own as an athlete and a person.

#3: The 4 Questions

Joe Ehrmann’s 4 questions from his book, InSideOut Coaching are the 4 most powerful questions any coach can answer:

Answering these questions can change everything for a coach. It requires coaches to take an introspective look at their motivations and behaviors.

It connects coaches to a purpose deeper than just winning games.

#4: Motor Learning & Skill Acquisition

The philosophies coaches hold about motor learning and skill acquisition, consciously and unconsciously drive our coaching decisions.

The fastest way to know a coach’s philosophies in this area is to observe their practice.

Is the practice focused on repetition of technique or isolated skills, or is the practice focused on developing decision-making within the context of the game?

Is the practice environment representative of competition, or does it remove stimulus that players interact with in competition?

These decisions come back to fundamental questions like:

In addition to the 130+ podcast conversations I’ve had, here are a handful of books that have shaped my answers to the questions:

I threw together a short PDF that you can download below that lists the questions I’ve highlighted above.

It provides some space for you to write down your thoughts and answers.

Click the “Download” button below the picture if you’d like a copy.

Topics include:

✅ A mindset and values assessment
✅ Developing mental resilience
✅ Preparing athletes for life after sport

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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. We’re recruiting coaches to join our NIKE Basketball Camps and NIKE Volleyball Camps staff. If you’re interested in working a camp, learn more or fill out the form HERE.

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