Balancing Act

Work – Life – Play

The coaching world is a balancing act, teetering from one obligation to the next. There is always something to be done. Operating through multiple phases of the day can be overwhelming.  A colleague and I used to joke about the “3 Part Day.”  

Part 1 = Teaching school for seven hours.  

Part 2 = Football practice for 3 hours.  

Part 3 = Returning home for time with the family and preparation for the next day’s reset.

The internal dialogue always exists within each part of the day.  There is a constant configuration of scheme development, player management, scheduling, nuances of competition, and overall organization. The mind is always at work and rarely rests or redirects.  Turning off the coaching mind in season is hard.  Part 3 of the day should be entirely dedicated to family and other endeavors. Teaching the mind to redirect and remain focused on other priorities is a must.  Do not fall into the trap of constant coaching. 

Subconsciously, an uneasiness swells up when football season arrives. Football coaching families routinely say,

“It’s football season, see you in December.”

The undertone of this quote is unnerving.  From July to December, football coaches enter into unending work and the family and friendships suffer.  It is difficult to remain focused on spiritual growth.  Physical health is placed on the back burner.  By saying yes to coaching we say no to these essential life-giving experiences. 

Finding balance should be a priority within the coaching staff. When applying for a coaching position, a work-life balance conversation needs to take place.  Where are the breaks built-in and how mindful are we of family health and growth? 

The days of the tireless grind are over. Do not burn the candle at both ends.  This form of approach is not sustainable over time.  When the balancing act is lost, relationships with self, family, and team erode.

The Elite Football Coach Blog Series

The Elite Football Coach Part 1

Human Behavior Part 2

Design the Unique Part 3

Finding Balancing Education

I was fortunate to find Aaron McHugh’s terrific “Field Reports” on Work-Life-Play. He’s been able to help frame this category in my mind. I’ve spent many hours washing dishes and exercising while listening to his podcast. Aaron’s unique style and delivery has inspired much of my work.