Coaching for Mastery
Consider the following scenario ... What Would You Do?
Your players know this week's opponent has an enormous and skilled
linebacker (#54). You sense they fear not only how he will affect the
game, but that he might also cause physical pain. As a Responsible
Coach, what will you tell your team before the game?
"I would tell my players that as long as they try as hard as they
can against #54, I will be proud of them. Ultimately we cannot control
the final score of the game, but we can control how hard we try, and if
they give me all they've got, that's all I can really ask for."
- Ron, Youth Football Coach (U12), Sacramento, CA
"I would say: Some of you may know about that big number 54. He'll make his plays, but let's not focus on him. Let's stay focused on
executing what we've practiced all season."
- Rodney, Youth Football Coach (U14), New Castle, Delaware
"I think I'd tell my team that although we're playing a tough team
and a tough player, it is a great opportunity to prove things about
ourselves and to ourselves. Honestly, it may hurt when 54 hits, but it
will hurt more if we're tentative and afraid of making mistakes."
- Joe, Youth Football Coach (U10), Chicago, IL
"I'd start by asking my players if they were nervous. I'm guessing
most of them would be. Then I would tell them that it's OK to be
nervous. In fact, I would be wondering what was wrong if they were not
nervous. Everyone gets nervous before a big game, and if they were not
nervous, I would question if they really cared. Then I would tell them
to use the adrenaline that nervousness produces to our advantage. We
have nothing to lose in this game, so let's give everything we've got!"
- John, Youth Football Coach (U8), Honolulu, HI
"I'd do my homework on #54, so I could give my players a special
insight/trick when it comes to #54. I would have scouted him enough to
find one or two weaknesses that I could give to my players to make them
feel like they have an edge."
- Steve, High School Football Coach, San Mateo, CA
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