It was my first year as the head coach, but honestly it wasn't much different from years past as an assistant coach. I have coached in a variety of settings, but nothing too intense. I have helped coach my son's soccer team (under 5 team - which was a miserable experience). I have coached football at the junior high level (5 plus years at the 9th grade level and a few years at the 7/8th grade level).

>-How do you avoid one-size-fits-all motivation?

Never really thought about this one. When I played, I was always a team captain. I was also much more vocal as a player and have become much more reserved and quiet in my adult years. You have to be comfortable in your own skin, but also open to the idea of stepping outside your comfort zone. I force myself to be more outgoing and energetic for the sake of team.

One thing that helps is I motivate our responsible leaders to help take ownership of the team and provide them with leadership opportunities - like leading stretches or leading team breakdowns, etc.

I'm more of the 'focus and build on the positives' type of guy so I think that helps my players. My assistant took on more of a military style approach and surprisingly a lot of kids took well to his leadership style. So what the heck do I know? Personally, I think they responded well to both of us.

Also, rule numero uno: Always be fair and consistent in how you approach matters of discipline and praise.

>-What's your biggest individual success/failure?

As a coach? Not sure. I think the fact that many of my former players approach me - whether it's at school or in public - and thank me for my efforts and influence really means a lot to me.
>
>-If you're at a school, how does the overall athletic
>environment there help/hurt you?

Our head AD was my head football coach. He's like family to me and I know he has my back 100% in all I do. I can't ask for a better boss. I coach at the school I currently work for. I'm a school counselor which sort of complicates things, but for the most part it's been a great experience.
>
>-How did your team do this year / How does your team look this
>year?

My team did horrible. Our program in general is in a state of flux. From the early 80s through the mid 2000s our school dominated football in our region. I played on some great teams. Losing - especially at the 7-9 grade levels was very, very uncommon. This program has been very up and down for the past decade now. This year my team went 2-7 and quite honestly, 4-5 would have been our absolute peak. We had 2 games I thought definitely could have swung our way. However, we were greatly outmatched in most games.

Most 9th grade teams we played had the benefit of 4+ coaches whereas we had just 2. We had 24 players and on any given game or practice, we were lucky to have 20 guys dressed. Also, we just lacked players with grit and toughness. I never in my life have been around a bunch of football players who were so apathetic to playing physical. It was just weird. We did everything we could to motivate our players, but for many, it just wasn't in them. It was also the first group of players who I felt didn't truly understand and love the game. That was a weird feeling too.

All in all though, I had a blast (except for feeling the wrath of my wife throughout the season for the excessive time I spent away from the house). I coached the nicest collection of kids ever and I did seem some very real progress.


>If you do,* maybe come bullshit about it here.
>
>As background, I coached baseball when I lived in Chicago for
>two seasons. I wasn't very good at it, and (intentionally)
>served as "guy with a big bag of baseballs" who could be
>counted on to show up to practice twice a week. When I moved
>back to DC, I started coaching track at a high school near
>where I grew up. I have been an assistant for cross country
>since I was hired. I was an assistant for track for one
>season, then promoted to head coach for two seasons, then
>stepped back to assistant when my other job(s) conflicted with
>administrative requirements of being a head coach. Since then,
>I've been an assistant coach for track, left more or less to
>run the distance runners (hereforth defined as 800m on up) as
>I see fit.
>
>It's been fun. I know I wont be able to do it forever, but I
>start every season expecting it to be my last one and then see
>some underclassman make the big leap forward and tell myself
>"well, I've got to see what this looks like when he's done
>cooking."
>

>
>-What's your biggest individual success/failure?
>
>-If you're at a school, how does the overall athletic
>environment there help/hurt you?
>
>-How did your team do this year / How does your team look this
>year?
>
>Or anything else of interest. I have a very indulgent social
>circle of smart, interested people who are happy to listen to
>me prattle on about this but don't really know anything about
>it directly. And I know people who do the same thing as me but
>it's weird talking to them about it because we're talking
>about the same kids, etc.
>
>*If you don't, consider volunteering some of your time. It's
>usually kind of a pain to get looped in with most good
>organizations (more organized rec leagues, but especially
>schools) which, understandable, want to make sure you're not
>there for any villainous reasons. But it's worth it. And if
>you're like me and hate the idea of being in charge, I can
>assure you that most youth coaches would be thrilled to have
>somebody show up and say "I don't want to have any opinions,
>but I'm here to help things run smoothly by clicking a
>stopwatch (or whatever)."
>
>