Archives for April 2020

I had the pleasure of presenting a session on Productivity and Time Management for the FIAAA’s Zoom Conference on April 21st, 2020. To prepare, I recorded this screencast and thought I would post on my blog. I hope that you find a few strategies that you can use.

As leaders of school-based athletic programs, coaches and athletic directors understand that their coaches are one of the most important factors in both the success and SIGNIFICANCE of their respective programs. Despite the critical nature of hiring and retaining elite coaches, the reality is that oftentimes open coaching positions receive little attention from the caliber of candidates that we might hope for. While the importance of hiring the right people for your program shouldn’t be understated, we understand that we may be limited in the choices we have for our coaching staffs.

Regardless of the background and experience of our coaches who we oversee, it is essential that we as leaders do everything that we can to utilize their strengths while addressing their shortcomings. Developing and implementing a comprehensive professional development plan is necessary for us to ensure the long term growth and innovation of our coaches and therefore our programs.

(Note: the following five points are adapted from George Couros’s infographic 8 Things to Look for in Today’s Classroom)

To do this, I believe there are several elements that are critical to developing a meaningful and intentional plan. They are:

Voice: I believe it is important for us to provide our coaches with an opportunity to share their input for the direction of professional development for your program. Creating systems for feedback is important not only for keeping the program leader aware of what the “temperature of the room is,” but also to provide them with valuable insights they may not otherwise be aware of.

Choice: What they are in on, they will be into. Providing people with autonomy is critical in increasing intrinsic motivation, especially when you are in a position where you may not be able to easily remove a coach who isn’t compliant with department initiatives.

Reflection: Allowing coaches an opportunity to reflect on their coaching practice is an important part of the learning process. As George Couros says in his book, The Innovator’s Mindset, “I reflect, therefore I learn.”

Self Assessment: Whether you have your coaches set personal/professional goals or you use a self assessment tool such as the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Double Goal Coaching Self Assessment or that of 3D Coaching, self assessment is an important component of a coach’s ability to take ownership of their own growth.

Connected Learning: Helping coaches build a network of people they can collaborate with and rely upon for advice, feedback and inspiration is a valuable part of a comprehensive growth plan. For myself, being able to connect with peers from around the country as well as interact with athletic leaders from across the spectrum of experience has allowed me an invaluable opportunity to grow as a coach and an athletic director. Any opportunity you have to connect your coaches with one another as well as other “learning leaders” is well worth the effort.

Including the above five elements in your program’s professional development is an excellent way to build comprehensive and meaningful growth opportunities for your coaches. By incorporating voice and choice, you will increase both the relevance and buy-in of your coaches while time for reflecting and self assessment are integral in the learning process. Finally, connecting your coaches to others who can serve as a valuable resource can serve as a catalyst for their personal and professional growth.