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The Most Basic Rule of Coaching - .COM

by: Bob Palmer
Peak Performance Coach
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I am probably the only sports fan who goes to a game and watches the coach as much as I watch the players.  As a peak performance trainer, I specifically observe what coaches do or don’t do in their leadership role, and I see too few coaches who know how to stay in the Zone.  Generally, because of this, I can predict the outcome of the game by a coach’s actions during the warm up and first quarter of the game.  Many—most coaches I’m afraid—have little understanding of the most basic rule of leadership:  “If the coach stays in the Zone, the athletes will as well.”

It takes an incredible amount of mental work for you to follow this basic rule, especially during a game of mistakes, early season incompetence and losses.  But you’ll have great gains if you do; your team will recover fast from mistakes; and they’ll develop unstoppable confidence with little or no emotional letdown.  And coaching in the Zone is a lot more fun. 

I’ve seen many technically sound coaches—students of the game—cause their teams to collapse by breaking this rule.  They mope on the sidelines, watching their defense struggle, as they stand with their arms crossed across their chests and their shoulders slumped.  They are barely breathing.  And right next to them are the offensive players, in exactly the same crossed-arm, shoulder-slumping posture, all completely out of the Zone like the coach.  When the players go back into the game, they fight not only their opponents but themselves. 

I was speaking with a volleyball coach once, who ultimately was to have an eight year grip on the championship.  He called me because he had a dream team that would still crash and burn in tournaments and he couldn’t figure it out.  So I said, “Let me get this straight.  Your players are crashing and who is helping them stop the slide?  The other team?  Certainly no empathy there.  The fans?  Not likely as they are just as defeated. 

Each other?  Very unlikely as they all have the same ugly thoughts of losing going through their heads.”  So I asked, “What are you doing as they crash?”  The coach laughed and shook his head. “I’m sitting with my face buried in heads,” he said.
  
That is what needs to be avoided and why I hold all coaches up to the standard of never losing the Zone.  If you stay in the Zone, your players will stay in the Zone.  When they are in the Zone, they will play inspired football.  When they play inspired football, they will win more games.  If it sounds simple—it is.  But like most simple concepts, it is all in the execution, and that takes work. 
 
Now for those of you who think I’m not talking about you, here is the test.  As a coach you are probably very good at analyzing game videos.  Well, now it is your turn to be evaluated.  Train a camera on YOU for an entire game, or, if it is the off-season, find some videos (especially in games you lost) where you and your coaching staff are prominently displayed.  Take a bit your own medicine and analyze your actions.

What I see when I watch coaches and what I think you’ll find as you watch the video of YOU, is that you display with your emotions exactly how your team is doing.  Your face and body posture will react to each success and react quit differently to each turnover,

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blunder or blown call by an official.  You will see a see a full range of emotions that are at times lead by the emotions of your players.  Make a list of the kinds of emotions you see in yourself, from the depressed and exasperated reactions to the excited.  When you
complete the review of the video, add to your list other behaviors you know you have exhibited in other games.  Be frank with yourself as no one else but you is going to see the list. 

Now comes the challenging part of changing your behaviors and building the kind of leadership that will win you more games.  Just being aware of how your respond will help you change many of your behaviors, and in following articles I’ll provide you with some easy-to-use strategies that will allow you to tackle the rest.  In the meantime, do your video homework and work with the skills you have.  When you live by this most basic rule of leadership, you’ll discover that the benefits will be many and victories more frequent.

Bob Palmer is a teacher and a Peak Performance Coach with 15 years of experience teaching leadership strategies to athletes and coaches in many different sports.  One of his athletes won a gold medal in skeet shooting at the Beijing Olympics and many have won national and international competitions. 

Bob gives Peak Performance workshops throughout Canada and the United States., a Program that quickly brings individuals into a Zone where powerful goals are established, enjoyment replaces stress and skillful leadership is the norm.   Bob is also a 4th degree black belt in karate, is the owner of a karate school, and has a book in the works.   He can be reached at 877-967-5747 or at bpalmer@sportexcel.ca.  His website is www.sportexcel.ca






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