November/December 2024 - 48

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY
Confrontation is generally uncomfortable. Sometimes it
can be made easier when someone violates a clear policy
or expectation, but it is never easy, especially when you're
still in the process of developing trust and relationships
with athletes. However, being honest with athletes about
their role on the team, and how they are or are not
embodying the standards and expectations set for the
group, is key to creating a positive team culture. There is
no simple tip or method I can provide to make facilitating
these conversations easier, except to say that they take
practice, vulnerability, and kindness. Being honest can
sometimes cause pain, no matter how kindly that honesty
is shared, but athletes will trust you more when they
know you care enough to tell them the truth and help
outline ways for them to become better people.
Being honest with your athletes is important to
building a good relationship, but being honest with
yourself is also key to developing a grounded
philosophy. It can be challenging to have a clear vision
and expectation for a team when you step into a
leadership position, especially when group input is
important for buy-in. However, being honest with
yourself about what is important to you as a leader lets
your athletes know which parts of the experience are
and are not negotiable.
FIND YOUR CRITICAL SUPPORTERS
During transitions, especially those involving groups of
people and cohesive group functioning, you will run into
rough patches. Your knowledge base and philosophies
will be questioned, your team will test your boundaries,
and people will disagree with your decisions. Being in a
leadership position - especially as a coach - is hard
because you are there to serve the people you lead. For
coaches, student opinions and experiences matter in
determining your success. This can make setting
expectations, developing group norms and culture, and
being the final decision-maker challenging.
Find people who you know will listen to you, be honest
with you, and challenge you to think about situations
from different perspectives. It's always nice to have
someone who will listen and agree with you, but it's more
valuable to have someone who will really dig into why
you're making a decision and what you're hoping to gain
from it. Find the people who will tell you when you've
overstepped, when you're taking a balanced approach,
and when you're being true to the philosophy, standards,
and expectations you've set as a leader.
YOU WILL MAKE MISTAKES
Mistakes are inevitable. We are all human, so making
mistakes is part of our nature. Making - and admitting
to - a mistake can feel like a loss of authority, but it's
really an opportunity to make a connection and show
vulnerability. As a coach and a leader, I strive to admit to
48 COACH & A.D. | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024

November/December 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2024

Table of Contents
Between the Lines
Athletic Administration
CSCCA Strength Focus: Preparation is King
Facility Focus: What's Trending in Sports Facilities
Feature: Strength Training Facilities of Excellence
Coaching Focus: Prepping for Pressure
Referee Shortage: Stemming the Tide
Sport Focus: Serving Up Success
Athletic Administration: Q&A.D.
Leadership Focus: Learning on the Job
Product Focus: Game Changing Products
Product Marketplace
Ad Index
November/December 2024 - 1
November/December 2024 - 2
November/December 2024 - Table of Contents
November/December 2024 - Between the Lines
November/December 2024 - 5
November/December 2024 - Athletic Administration
November/December 2024 - 7
November/December 2024 - 8
November/December 2024 - 9
November/December 2024 - 10
November/December 2024 - 11
November/December 2024 - 12
November/December 2024 - 13
November/December 2024 - CSCCA Strength Focus: Preparation is King
November/December 2024 - 15
November/December 2024 - 16
November/December 2024 - 17
November/December 2024 - 18
November/December 2024 - 19
November/December 2024 - Facility Focus: What's Trending in Sports Facilities
November/December 2024 - 21
November/December 2024 - 22
November/December 2024 - 23
November/December 2024 - Feature: Strength Training Facilities of Excellence
November/December 2024 - 25
November/December 2024 - 26
November/December 2024 - 27
November/December 2024 - 28
November/December 2024 - 29
November/December 2024 - Coaching Focus: Prepping for Pressure
November/December 2024 - 31
November/December 2024 - Referee Shortage: Stemming the Tide
November/December 2024 - 33
November/December 2024 - 34
November/December 2024 - 35
November/December 2024 - Sport Focus: Serving Up Success
November/December 2024 - 37
November/December 2024 - 38
November/December 2024 - 39
November/December 2024 - 40
November/December 2024 - 41
November/December 2024 - Athletic Administration: Q&A.D.
November/December 2024 - 43
November/December 2024 - 44
November/December 2024 - 45
November/December 2024 - Leadership Focus: Learning on the Job
November/December 2024 - 47
November/December 2024 - 48
November/December 2024 - 49
November/December 2024 - 50
November/December 2024 - 51
November/December 2024 - Product Focus: Game Changing Products
November/December 2024 - 53
November/December 2024 - 54
November/December 2024 - 55
November/December 2024 - 56
November/December 2024 - 57
November/December 2024 - 58
November/December 2024 - 59
November/December 2024 - 60
November/December 2024 - 61
November/December 2024 - 62
November/December 2024 - 63
November/December 2024 - Product Marketplace
November/December 2024 - 65
November/December 2024 - Ad Index
November/December 2024 - 67
November/December 2024 - 68
November/December 2024 - 69
November/December 2024 - 70
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