MY COACH PLAYS FAVORITES Dave Cross says "Hey, I play my favorites-all coaches should!” That's right-I play my favorites. You see, it's all in how the word, "favorite" is defined here. Who are my favorite players on my team? They are the ones who meet the following criteria: 1) They are respectful and pleasant to work with. 2) They listen and do their best to do what I ask them to do. 3) They bust it constantly-their physical effort is never in question. 4) They are honest with me. If they screw up, they admit it, we deal with it, and move on together. 5) They are team players-none of this "me, me, me” stuff. 6) They are goal oriented and focused on continuous improvement. 7) They are open to change. 8) They are loyal to me, their teammates, and our program. 9) They are willing to sacrifice personal things for what they need to do to improve and help the team. 10)They are committed to becoming the best player they can be. The bottom line is the athletes that meet these criteria will be my best players about 98% of the time. And in a case where the better of the two players competing for a spot doesn't live up to my expectations, the player that has been doing things "right" won't be far behind them in terms of performance-because doing things the “right-way" will lead that player to making their game much more solid in the long run. And the team will play better with my "favorite" on the court-simply because the other starters,(my other favorites), want to be surrounded with others that go about things just as they do-it's that simple! |
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Enthusiasm is What Coaches Like!
This article is from Mike Tully who is a
coach with "Yes, I Can!" volleyball.
You can spend years and years in the gym, and chances are you'll never hear a
coach criticize a player for having too much enthusiasm. Coaches love players
with enthusiasm! And players with enthusiasm, no matter what their level of
talent, usually find a way to make a difference on a team.
Here are some easy ways to express enthusiasm, and to be the kind of player
every team wants and needs:
1. Be the first one in the gym. Good things happen to those who arrive early.
There's a chance you'll get some individualized instruction. At the very least,
you won't be hurrying around, trying to catch up. No matter what happens, you've
shown that you care.
2. Hustle when the coach calls everyone in. Gym time is precious and expensive.
More importantly, hustling shows a winning tempo. By hustling in, you're sending
off positive energy. Those who mope in drag the team down. Which kind of player
would you rather be?
3. Look at the coach when he or she speaks. By doing that, you are sending a
message that you consider the comments to be important. Everyone likes an
appreciative audience; your coach is no different. Eye contact also shows that
you have the character to look someone in the eye.
4. Be a champion ball-shagger. From the moment you enter the gym to the time the
door closes behind you, do everything on a championship level. If there's a
spill, be a champion floor-wiper! If it's time to shag, be a leader in that
category. Players who sit back and say, "I've already done my share" are only
diminishing themselves. Why judge yourself on what other people do? Remember,
winners ask, "How can I help?" Losers say, "It's not my job."
Notice that not a single one of these qualities has anything to do with ability.
They are all purely mental. They deal with attitude and desire.
Anyone can show enthusiasm. So go do it today! One thing's for sure -- your
coach will never criticize you for it!
Are You Getting to Play?
If you are not getting to play in games as
much as you think you should, ask yourself:
1. Have I asked the coach what I need to improve? Do I practice on my own? Have
I read and studied the game?
2. Do I get along well with others so that they play well with me? Can I accept
criticism and suggestions from them and the coach?
3. How is my physical condition?
4. Mental Attitude! Do I let down if I make a mistake or do I try even harder?
(Don’t be so concerned with the mistake that you make two more while you’re
still thinking about it.)
5. Have I been to all the practices? Do I fully understand the offense and
defense we run?
6. How effective am I on the bench? A coach maybe reluctant to send a sullen
player into a game.
This item was 'borrowed' from Puget Sound VBC's web site.