So I saved the hardest for last. Probably because it’s hardest. Maybe because I needed a lot of time to think it through. As you’ve seen from the previous posts, I have obviously questioned whether our team under achieved this season, and I put most of that on myself. The success of individual player’s and the team feel like my responsibility. Similar to the other … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 5): Me, Myself and I

Measuring Coaching Success (Part 1): Reflections on a season past Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers Measuring Coaching Success (Part 3): Getting better or getting worse? Every season is different. Even the slightest change in players, schedule, unforeseen circumstances, can shift the trajectory of a team pretty dramatically. Without preparation and shared values, this shift can be even more dramatic. As you listen … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 4): Core Values

Measuring Coaching Success (Part 1): Reflections on a season past Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers Prior to the season, I listened to John Wooden’s biographer talk about his pyramid and how he measured his team by effort rather than wins. Obviously that’s a bit easier to say when you’ve won 10 national championships, but there’s something to be said for the attempt … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 3): Getting better or getting worse?

Read Part 1: Reflections on a season past My high school football coach used to tell us that high school sports weren’t meant to be fun, they were meant to be rewarding. I’ve never fully subscribe to this belief, but completely understand his sentiment. My son’s under-8 YMCA games are meant to be fun. There is a scoreboard, but you generally shouldn’t care much about … Continue reading Measuring Coaching Success (Part 2): Winners and Losers

While being an assistant head of lower school is my main job, my role as high school coach can become difficult to put to the side at times. We are nearing the end of our basketball season, and this has been a long one. After five years as head coach though, maybe they all are. It is a job we do out of love for … Continue reading The emotional balance of coaching