Watch the video
above and consider what St. Ignatius High School teacher and coach Anne Stricherz has to say about the importance of love in coaching. Consider that loving your athletes may be the most important thing that you do as a coach.
At the beginning of each of our Play Like a Champion Clinics, we ask coaches to share about a coach who made an important impact in their lives. While the characteristics of the coaches may be different for each individual, there is one particular attribute that repeatedly comes up in every session we do. The coaches who make the biggest impact in our lives are memorable because they
cared
about us as people, not just as athletes.
So how can we improve the relationship we have with the players on our teams? Ask them about how life is going off the field or court, paying attention to what they say so you can continue to check-in. Be empathetic. Put yourself in the shoes of the athlete and try to understand where he or she is coming from. Admit when you make mistakes and ask for input in the team throughout the season (giving Ownership demonstrates that you care by making the team athlete-focused). We should be aware at all times of the message we are sending through our words and actions: does it put the athlete first or suggest that the coach is the most important person in the room?
Love is at the very core of the Christian experience. God
is
Love. By demonstrating this love to others we can answer His call to be an effective Coach Minister and make a tremendous impact in the lives of the children on our teams.