Step Four: Discover Your Coaching Philosophy
In this module, we will delve into the essential elements that shape your Coaching Philosophy. Reflecting on your experiences and values is crucial to understanding how you want to approach your role as a coach.
ACTIVITY: YOUR COACHING PHILOSOPHY
Refer to pages 28-32 of your workbook for this activity. Here, we focus on collating everything you’ve discovered about yourself throughout this process. Reflect on the insights you’ve gained from previous exercises, including your favorite and least favorite coaches, your core values, and your strengths.
- Take the two examples about your favorite and least favorite coaches, together with your key values and the strengths presented in the earlier steps. Use this opportunity to write down the five most important behaviors you want to do consistently as a coach.
- Write down the five behaviors you aim to avoid doing as a coach.
- In a statement, write down your behavioral mission for how you aim to conduct yourself as a coach. As a coach, I commit to constantly...
- Next, describe what impact your behavior will have on your athletes. How they will feel, think, act, etc. The impact my behavior will have on my athletes is as follows...
- Next, describe the results your behavior will create for your athletes. What they will achieve, feel, learn etc. As a result of me behaving this way and the subsequent impact this will have on my athletes, my athletes will...
What you have just developed is a framework of behaviors that will guide your actions in your coaching role. This framework is a crucial component of your Coaching Philosophy and should closely connect to the core values you identified earlier in your journey as a coach.
In addition to outlining how you intend to conduct yourself, it’s essential to define what success means to you as a coach. This definition should also align with your core values. In the world of sports, scoring is a constant, and the outcomes of games are often measured in points. However, determining what success truly means goes beyond just the final score. Winning is only one aspect of success and may vary significantly depending on your individual coaching philosophy.
Reflect on how you will measure success in your coaching practice. Consider the broader impacts you want to achieve, such as the personal growth of your athletes, the development of life skills, or the creation of a positive team culture. By articulating your definition of success, you will further enrich your Coaching Philosophy and provide a clearer direction for your coaching journey.
Discovering Your Coaching Philosophy
In this section, take the opportunity to define what the elements of success are for you.
- Success for me as a coach means...
We’re almost there! It’s time to articulate your unique Coaching Philosophy in a concise statement. Begin by reviewing the key elements you’ve documented so far.
Many coaches find it helpful to jot down several versions of their statement on a separate piece of paper. This process allows you to explore different phrasing and ideas until you refine your statement to something that resonates with you.
Take your time, and remember to focus on what feels authentic and meaningful. Write down what truly reflects your values, behaviors, and definition of success as a coach. Do what works best for you, and don’t hesitate to iterate until you’re fully satisfied with your final Coaching Philosophy statement.
- My coaching philosophy is...
Congratulations on reaching the conclusion of this module on discovering your Coaching Philosophy! By reflecting on your experiences, values, and insights, you’ve taken significant steps toward defining what kind of coach you aspire to be. Your unique Coaching Philosophy will serve as a guiding framework, influencing your behaviors, interactions with athletes, and your definition of success in coaching.