|
|
Post by coachjim on Aug 1, 2007 5:57:45 GMT -6
Having character or a unique personality as a HC, I believe, helps in team unity and overall Team Character. I think that, and Heart, even supercede talent in whether or not a team will be successful.
For instance, I still remember one of my HC's from 25 years ago for his beer breath, unkempt appearance, and a licence plate on his big old Dodge that said, "Italian Stallion." Man, we really looked up to that guy. We worked hard and won a championship, just to please him; something that I hope and pray my kids will do with/for me. Some coaches, like Brophy, just seem to be born with a presence of that calibre, and I have no doubt his team is that much better for it.
What is it that gives you your character as a HC, are you respected for your knowledge, wear a unique outfit/hat, 8 feet tall, a shouter, or do something else to make you special?
For some, personality just comes naturally. For those of us that tend to just blend into a crowd, what are some good ideas on how to enhance a plain HC's image; make him one of a kind, or special?
What is it that makes you special and/or respected, unique?
I need some ideas and fast! Any help, suggestions, or good stories would be much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachJohnsonMN on Aug 1, 2007 8:08:44 GMT -6
There are so many factors that contribute to high character but I think that it all boils down to trust. Your players have to trust that you do the things you do because you are looking out for the best of the team. You can be the most knowledgable coach in the world but players will turn on you quickly if they do not trust you. Trust will be developed through honesty, dedication, open communication, and the time to acquire some battle scars with your troops. I think personality plays very little into this equation. I have seen soft-spoken coaches win championships. I have seen screamers win. I have seen rah-rah guys win. I have seen a-holes win. I have seen nice guys win. It just means that the HC must take what he is given, be genuine to himself and his players, and consistently look out for the best interest of his team. Thankfully, I believe most coaches are in this profession (at least at the high school level) to promote the well-being of the boys they coach. Case in point: I am entering my 6th season as the HC of the school I am currently at. The school has a terrible tradition (one winning season in 19 years as a co-op) and we exactly have not been lighting the world on fire since I have been here. The previous staff did not push weightroom commitment, did not have good communication with the team, nor had the respect of its players. The players wanted to just show up and play: win or lose. The coaches had allowed this culture to develop and therefore players would show up to practice, screw around, and became very lazy. I know this because I had worked several camps for them and helped with practice before I left my previous school. When our staff arrived, we had a group of seniors that were perfect. They understood the downfalls of the previous methods. They did everything that we asked of them. We improved drastically as the season went on (won a conference game for the first time in four years). Unfortunately, the underclassmen hated the accountability we had placed on them. They viewed this as mistrust ("Why is he picking on me? Why can't I jog during windsprints? He must be picking on me.") To make a post that is becoming longer than I had anticipated, the next three years were hell. Anytime we had punished players for anything, they viewed this as a me vs. you sort of thing. We knew we were doing the right things but we had to continually reinforce the expectation we had for the team verbally. Last year we had started to see the changes. Players who had not been part of the "old way of doing things" were trusting that we held the teams best interest in every decision that we made. This year has already been better. Weightroom commitment has been better and the focus in camps is remarkable compared to what it used to be. It also helps that I am a jr. high basketball coach so I can start molding these kids before they become varsity football players.  Team success is the by-product of several factors that must precede it. The one I truly believe is the most important is trust. |
|
kdcoach
Sophomore Member
Posts: 194
|
Post by kdcoach on Aug 1, 2007 10:46:28 GMT -6
coachjohnsonmn, sounds like we coach in the same place!!!
I recently received a letter from a players mother. The kid just graduated this past year and as part of admittance into the school he is attending he had to write an essay about someone he admired. He picked me (which if you knew the kid would understand just how flattering that was) his mother said in the letter that she knew when he was asked that he would pick me without a doubt and the reasons he explained in his essay were all about things that had nothing to do with football. He explained how I took time to ask him about his life away from football and took an interest in his interests away from our team. He is a total gear head (I can barely put gas in my car!) and we always found a few minutes to talk about his latest engine rebuild...I didn't understand a word of it!! He also talked about how I found time to stop in the local convenience store where he worked on Christmas eve just to wish him a Merry Christmas while I was on my way to dinner with my family.
Anyway the point to all of this is that I do that kind of stuff with all my kids when I can and I try to make sure that they understand that I care deeply about them as people not just football players. Kids pick that up much faster than we think they do and they are ALWAYS watching. Also, it's not just me, my entire staff is the same way. I not only encourage that in them I expect it and they know it. It has really helped turn our program around.
The old saying is that "they have to know how much you care before they care how much you know." If you totally commit to your kids and your program everyone will notice, even your detractors in the bleachers that know so much more about football than you. ;-)
|
|
|
|
Post by fbdoc on Aug 1, 2007 10:55:41 GMT -6
" ... what are some good ideas on how to enhance a plain HC's image; make him one of a kind, or special?"
Coachjim - I don't want this to turn into a motivational seminar but, you are "Special" and You are "One of a kind". For someone to tell you to do something to make you more respected or unique probably isn't the best idea.
What are your current personalty traits? Are you high energy or laid back? Do you get your players attention through High volume or through a quiet voice? My point is that you have to be YOU and not what you think will work. As far as enhancing your image (or anyone's) I think some key CHARACTER traits would include:
Honesty
Loyalty
Servant's Heart
Willingness to Learn
Desire to Excel - for the kids and the program
There was a "list" of these traits awhile back on this board, but my free advice to you - going into year 27 of coahing - is to figure who you are and then develop your own positive personality traits to the utmost. THAT is what's going to enhance your image.
|
|
