Establishing a Coaching Philosophy

In hunting for a perfect example of a coaching philosophy, I ran across a very interesting article from 2006 involving the U.S.A Men’s basketball team and head coach Mike Krzyzwski. The team was about to take a team picture and the photographer asked all coaches to be seated in the middle and front row for the picture. Coach K declined with this statement: “We aren't going to sit there. Coaches will be on the sides, I do that with all my teams. The players are the most important, and they are supported by us. We're there in support of them. We aren't there because of us. The only way to accomplish what we want to accomplish is to do it together. It's not about me or any single individual." That is where I would like to put the focus of my coaching philosophy, placing my athlete’s NEEDS before my professional WANTS. The role of a coach is much more than X’s and O’s, wins and losses, it’s about taking young individuals with different needs, different backgrounds and different paths in life and molding them into high character and high moral valued individuals along with giving them the resource, knowledge and motivation to become the best athlete and teammate they could become. The love of being a coach, teacher and leader comes very naturally and has been a dream of mine since grade school. The realm of sports is more than just a game, which is a cliché line but very true. According to Clifford and Feezel “Coaches and, for that matter, administrators, parents, fans, officials, and everyone else involved in youth athletics are moral educators, whether they want to be or not.” In the world of sports we get too wrapped up in the need to win and lose sight of what sports are really meant for, Clifford and Feezel stated “Sports creates a world of utopia, were we can participate in a realm governed by rules and regulation, were we can escape the ruggedness of the real world, but also know sports can be a helpful tool in creating values and life-long lessons to those who participate.” A sport is one of the best ways to teach morals, virtue and life-long lessons to anyone involved. It’s very difficult to establish a coaching philosophy with no coaching experience, but as time passes, I will gain that necessary experience needed to build a winning program. But most importantly, I will become the motivational leader to those individuals participating in my program, helping them reach their full potential on and off the field. There would be nothing greater, than hearing others speak about my current or former athletes with high regard. “High-character individuals, leaders, hard workers, respectful, never make excuses, loyal, strong, intelligent and always positive.” Ultimately my coaching philosophy will be based on me becoming the best role-model, coach, teacher, leader, father, counselor, educator, and mentor I could ever possibly become; this will be foundation for my coaching philosophy.  

Reference

USATODAY.com - It's all about the team for Krzyzewski http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2006-08-02-krzyzewski-cover_x.htm

Clifford, C., & Feezell, R. M., (2010). Sport and character: reclaiming the principles of sportsmanship. 16, pp 87