Coaching students that want to get better is fun and for the most part it is easy. Students that are eager to improve show up to practice ready to learn and ready to work. If you have any doubts, go watch a practice of a college team. I’m not talking about rodeo practice, go watch a good college football or basketball team practice. Within a few minutes you will be able to see the student athletes that are different from the rest.
For coaches it’s easy to spot. Athletes separate themselves by what they do and how detailed they do their work. It’s noticeable and they are coachable. Coaching is fun and exciting when you have students that are willing to embrace practice. Coaching is exciting to see students reach their full potential.
Believe it or not—after a few practices every year I can tell you the students that have a chance to make the CNFR. I’ll repeat that, coaches can tell very early in you have what it takes to take your abilities to the next level. For everyone wondering what I am talking about, championships are won by the work you do in the practice pen. How coachable you are in the practice pen. Your attitude and effort that you bring.
Coaching is easy when students listen to improve. That is becoming more and more rare. Now many students are only listening to reply. Instead of hearing what the coach has to say, they are just waiting to reply with an excuse or an explanation. As a coach—this is when coaching becomes difficult. How do you help someone improve when they can justify excuses to themselves and to coaches? Student athletes that have this attitude become very difficult to coach and honestly take the fun out of coaching.
To be an elite athlete, students need to embrace being coached. Hearing the things that are uncomfortable to hear. Making changes that are not easy to make. The old cliché to be different than everyone else to have to do things that others are not willing to do. Coaches want to see you do well. Trust me.
What most students don’t understand about coaching is that as a coach our success depends on the success of our students. For us to be successful we need our students to be successful. We need our students to be coachable. Coaching is fun and rewarding when we see our students be successful.
For all the athletes out there remember your coach wants to see you be successful. Don’t take it personal when they hold you to a higher standard—they know what you are capable of.
