As a coach you always set the tone for whatever aspect you are in charge of. The staff always has to be on the same page with the same message. In the weight room I always gave my staff this strength overview. We would go over it specifically during every new training phase, but I always referred to parts of this overview daily in our strength staff meetings or in our conversation.
Consistency is the key to success. Some say its the magic bean. Consistency always starts with us as coaches. Good days and bad days you must be the same person, as I usually say “don’t flinch”. Consistency is commitment. It’s demanding attention to details all the time, not just when things are going your way.
Below is the strength program overview that I go over. It’s what is expected daily for there to be consistency.
STRENGTH PROGRAM OVERVIEW
ENTITLED TO NOTHING BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK YOUR BUTT OFF!
HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU ABOUT BEING GREAT?
HOW SERIOUS ARE YOU ABOUT LEARNING HOW TO BE GREAT?
EMPHASIZE THE FOUNDATION OF THE TOTAL PROGRAM
HARD WORK / TOUGHNESS / COMPETITIVE / ACCOUNTABILITY
WHAT IS TOUGHNESS – IS MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
DOING THINGS RIGHT ALL THE TIME…
WITH GREAT EFFORT, STRAIN, URGENCY AND NASTINESS.
NO MATTER HOW HARD
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THESE FOUNDATIONS ARE ON AND OFF THE FIELD
YOU HAVE TO HAVE CONSISTENCY IN THE CLASS ROOM, MEETINGS, WEIGHT ROOM,TRAINING ROOM AND PRACTICE.
EMPHASIZE ATTITUDE / EFFORT / ENTHUSIASM
IMPROVE AS A PLAYER AND TEAM / BE COACHABLE / HIGH EXPECTATION OF SELF
ENTHUSIASM IS NOT FAKE ENERGY.
ENTHUSIASM IS EVERYDAY BY STAFF AND LEADERS THAT CARRIES OVER TO THE TEAM ORGANICALLY.
TRAINED EVENTS WITH CONFLICT
FORCEFUL ADAPTATION – MAKE A DECISION – FIGHT OR FLIGHT
ALLOW COACHES AND PLAYERS TO PUSH!
HAVE A HUNGER AND CHIP
BE RELENTLESS IN IMPROVEMENT – GREAT PROGRESSION – EXHAUST ALL RESOURCES
YOUR ACTIONS SPEAK SO LOUD I CAN’T HEAR YOU!
PLAYERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS TO OPERATE AT FULL CAPACITY…USE ALL YOUR POTENTIAL! (WHY DO SOME END UP GREAT AND OTHERS AVERAGE?)
EMPHASIZE POWER OF THE UNIT AND BUILD TEAM FROM MIXED UNITS
SINGLENESS OF PURPOSE
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO DO AND DO IT.
DO IT UNTIL YOU CAN’T GET IT WRONG. YOU HAVE TO WANT IT
BE SPECIAL
DEVELOP PLAYERS FROM ALL CLASS LEVELS. HAVE A GREAT UNDERSTANDING OF TRAINING AGE AND PLAYING AGE. DON’T LET YOUNG PLAYERS WAIT FOR THE OFF SEASON, MAKE YOUR PROGRESS NOW. WE SHOW AND TEACH THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS.
Remember consistency is the magic bean. If you don’t have consistency you don’t have commitment or attention to detail. As a coach it starts with you.