Life Lessons
Life Lesson #60: Team Coaching Communication
Use Consistent and Honest Communication to Avoid Headaches
After 4+ years of having an indoor training facility (nearly one year in our new building), we’re preparing to launch our first season of competitive TravelBall teams this summer. Earlier this week, I was talking to a friend I really respect and admire about the lessons he’s learned from raising his own kids and coaching numerous teams that they’ve played on. This guy is the kind of coach that everyone knows – the one that consistently has success on the field while for the most part avoiding any of the drama often associated with managing. When I asked him the secret to his team’s success, his answer was short and sweet: “Communication.”
As is probably true with any sort of relationship, communication is the key to keeping frustrations down and the level of understanding and compromise up. Being the middle of April, it’s a great time to stop and issue a mid-season report – an update on all things team related. Review what happened during the first half of the season, and what’s to come in the second half.
The following areas of communication were consistently mentioned as important components of successful coaching:
- Pre-Season Meeting: Begin your season with an effective team meeting, where philosophies are clearly communicated and the balance of playing-to-win versus development is established. Use this meeting to thoroughly explain all of your own motives and set up a regular schedule and process for communicating.
- Regular Updates: The most powerful (and simple) idea that my friend uses is a regular weekly update. He uses email, and sends this message on Monday mornings. This weekly update message should highlight the previous game(s) and then specifically points out strengths, weaknesses and areas that need to be addressed at practice. Communicate the mini-goals for the upcoming week of workouts, and include updates on the greater goals that have been ongoing throughout the season. Point out ways that the team is developing and following along your coaching philosophy. You will find that doing this sparks two or three action items each week that you might not have otherwise remembered to do or incorporate into team functions.
- Issues or Conflicts: These meetings are to take place either before or after taking the field, and away from the eyes of watching kids. The belief is that if you, as a coach, are approachable and consistently communicating, then any issues will not result in heated exchanges or temper-flaring arguments. Regardless, when discussions need to happen, conduct these before or after practice. Give parents your contact information at the pre-season meeting and include the best days/times when you can be reached for further conversations. If necessary, the weekly update can include the current week’s schedule and when might be best to chat.
- Mid-Season Report: Near the middle of the season, take the time to do a team analysis. This can involve statistics (as appropriate) and analysis as both a coach and a manager. The coach-speak will involve baseball performance: How are the players performing? Are mental and physical errors decreasing? Is the team improving? The manager-speak will involve team behavior, actions and activities. Is the team showing growth, having fun and playing hard? Are teammates pulling for one-another? Are there any issues with parents, punctuality, attendance or sportsmanship?
- Umpires: While it’s difficult to follow, the rule states: “Treat umpires the way you’d like to be treated.” One coach mentioned his rule of not allowing the dugout to hear his discussions with umpires. Doing that required him to go out and talk to an umpire… and taking the time to physically walk to the umpire had often times helped him collect his emotions and stay calm. This type of communicating remains professional and respectful, and ensures that you are leading by example for the kids on the team.
- End-of-Season: The end-of-season party or meeting is a chance to make sure each family leaves with a positive experience. Take this opportunity to communicate something positive about each athlete and their family. With four months of work dedicated to the team, there IS something positive to be said for everyone. Do this well and get creative with this final “meeting,” and you’ll be sure that every family walks away from the season on a positive note. Consider Lifeletics as the ideal spot for an end-of-season party ;-)
I think that regular communication is a positive reminder for all of us. Whether family, business or sports, regular communication is seemingly always recommended by all the experts. I am reminded how important it is with regard to the Lifeletics family, and can think of several occasions where communication helped bring an issue to light before it became much more of a distraction. Having gotten married last September, I can attest to the absolute fact that communication is a theme that quickly become relevant in my life and undoubtedly will be in the top three keys to maintaining the “happy wife… happy life” philosophy!!
Validate the extra time spent communicating (10 minutes on Monday mornings) as an investment against wasted time in the future. Provided the communication is consistent, honest and straight-forward, parents will really appreciate your efforts and feel like a bigger part of the team. This will help to create a “we” environment, where all work together towards a common goal… rather than a “me” environment, where you stand alone working against the forces of 10-20 parents.
Best of luck!!
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