If you’re out shopping today, then you’ve missed the fun part of shopping…where everyone’s happy and smiling and singing carols. Now people are stressed, desperate, and not quite as friendly. But don’t you worry, I sent my list in to Santa for all of us and this is what you can expect to find under your tree tomorrow morning.
**5 things that I hope Santa leaves for me (and my fellow coaches!)
when he comes down our chimneys tomorrow**
- Great athletes. I’m sure I don’t have to expand on this, but I’ll quickly define what I mean by “great”. Surely skill comes into play, as well as a high sports I.Q., a love of the game, a love of hard work, an understanding of and commitment to team, the ability to rise to the occasion, and a strong desire to be a leader. And that’s just the start.
- Understanding bosses. Administrators that know we’re slightly crazy during season and put up with it, who know what our programs need before we even ask, that understand that they’ve got to fight for our teams and programs so that we’re adequately funded and supported. Bosses who want success.
- Awesome recruits. These folks have all of the traits of “great athletes” as described above…and they fit in with your team seamlessly. Not only are they fired about your school and your team, they commit to your program early out of respect for the other people that you’re recruiting.
- Perspective. Every win doesn’t mean you’re going to win a national championship and each loss doesn’t mean that your team is awful and doomed to failure. Perspective shows us coaches that we are leaders and teachers of young people. While the most immediate benefit of our instruction is sport skill building, we’re also building them into better human beings. We’re teaching them how to win and lose with grace, how to take care of their bodies and eat healthily, how to value hard work, how to deal with the unfairness that will sometimes happen in life, and how to be a member of a group with a goal or cause that’s bigger than they are.
- Passion. I hope you love what you do. I hope that you can’t go to sleep some nights because you’re so excited about a new play that you know will work or the next competition. I hope that your athletes make you laugh even when you want to be serious. I hope that you jot down ideas about your team on napkins while you’re having lunch. I hope that you love learning about your sport and your craft. I hope you’re getting better every day. I hope you love what you do.
I’m sure this is a list that we can all get behind, one that’ll make our teams better. Merry Christmas folks and safe travels during the holiday season!
