The Elite Football Coach

Reflection

As I reflect on my coaching career, I look back on the elite football coaches I’ve worked with. From my time at Madison Southern High School to traveling abroad to Stockholm, Sweden, I’ve had the privilege of coaching with some of the finest and sharpest people. Every coach brought their unique style and revealed strengths and weaknesses. There are key characteristics of the elite coach. If you are an aspiring coach, a coaching veteran, or a future leader in any industry, this writing can bring value to you.

How to Become an Elite Coach

The high achieving coaches immerse themself in study. They are always learning about the human condition and watching the game for how it schemes. Quality coaches look for trends and identify how certain coaches use their personnel. Beyond X’s and O’s, the coaching mentor plays a significant role. Most successful coaches were fortunate enough to have someone show them a way. All coaches are different and it’s vital that we create our own coaching philosophy based on what we’ve learned. If you’ve decided to coach, be sure to immerse yourself with like-minded men and women.

Ask the question “Do the ideals of this individual, align with what I want to become?”  If that is a firm “Yes”, then follow them.  Speak little and listen more. 

If the answer is a hard “No”, then distance yourself and continue to seek the coach who inspires you.  

Begin to construct your own style.  Take pieces of each mentor/learning experience and create a version of you.  Be patient and persistent in your development.

How to improve as a coach?

To improve as a coach you must approach it like a craft.  It starts with educating yourself on the specific area you’re attempting to develop.  Seek out the best resources available and implement the discoveries.  When implementing new concepts, there is a trial and error period, also known as the “Creative Process.”  Persistence and adaptation are vital to improvement.

What skills do you need to be a quality football coach?

A deep love for the nuances of the game can not be understated.  A great coach is detailed and assesses the finer points that support the greater team intention. With any leadership position, there must be a high sense of awareness internally and externally.  

• Confidence
  • Believing in yourself is so important. Do not question your ability. If you’ve studied your craft and know your niche, then attack it. Disregard the weak opinions of others because there will always be those who question and believe there is a better way. Respect yourself by not doubting yourself. Your preparation leads to confidence. 
• Ability Under Pressure
  • Difficult situations will surface. Decisions will need to be made on and off the field.  This must be trained like a muscle. Place yourself in positions where problems must be solved. Learn to quickly analyze and make the best decisions with what is available. Harnessing emotion is a requirement to consistently function under pressure. Don’t shy away from solving problems.  Show initiative and work up the chain of command only when needed.   
• Focus (Limit Your “Squirrel” Moments)
  • Do not become sidetracked easily.  Develop an internal trigger that signifies when you’ve lost focus when on task.  This is relevant in coaches’ meetings, studying game film, on-field practice, & during games.  The list is long and you can be sidetracked easily.  This will undermine what you’re attempting to accomplish.  Those who are able to remain focused, are those who quickly achieve and win.  This is a trait that is transmissible to your team.  There is a trickle-down effect.  If your team knows you are always engaged, they will be as well.  If they recognize you fading with frequency, they will fade as well.
• Anxiety Control
  • Learning to deal with the uneasy feeling that stress creates is key to long-term success.  Anxiety in its many forms can be debilitating if not managed appropriately.  There are many ways to combat anxiety and each of us is different.  I have found that frequent exercise, leaning into my spirituality, and my relationship with God is very helpful.  Breathwork has also helped to calm my mind and redirect my energy.  Discovering the tools that help you in these moments is crucial.  Always be ready to open the toolbox. 
• Composure
  • Exhibited composure is a tremendous gauge for the effective coach/leader.  We must keep it together and not let moments overtake us.  Teams do not have composure if their coach is a mess.  Be even, where you’re not too high or low.  Remaining composed when the critics surface is difficult.  Terrific support systems assist in keeping it cool.  They can be quick reminders to stay in the moment and not be derailed by the negative noise.     
• Self-awareness
  • Monitor your current physical and emotional state.  What do the body and mind feel like?  Keep an inventory of the energies that are going in and out.  Recognize the need to recharge through a good diet, exercise, rest, solitude, etc.  Do not deplete the self to exhaustion. You do no one any good by burning out.  Your family will suffer the most once this state has been reached, which should be avoided at all costs.  Take care of yourself so others may experience your best.    
• Team building
  • Activities and frequent discussions regarding the construction and maintenance of the “team” should be a priority.  The coaching staff should creatively approach this topic.  Brainstorm what content could be introduced that athletes will respond to. This is an area where there could be push-back from coaches within the staff.  This is a philosophical subject that not all are open to.  I find this to be a priority when attempting to create a culture and sustain long-term success.  It is expansive and should be handled with care. Give ownership to players and coaches in this niche and it stands the chance of becoming an enormous success.        
• Thought Control
  • Thought control corresponds with focus.  Being a coach is a multifaceted profession that requires a lot of moving parts.  Idea creation plays an enormous role.  Organizing those thoughts and framing them in the mind is difficult.  Coaches must be able to categorize information.  If you’re like me, I like to keep a small notebook with me at all times.  When an idea surfaces I write it down immediately.  Using a note-taking app on your phone is another approach.  Bottling up content so you’re able to apply it later is a skill that should be manifested.  Also, where you’re pulling information from plays a role in this topic.  Are you pulling from individual conversations, books, online material, podcasts, etc?  These different mediums may require different styles of note-taking.  
• Self-Regulation
  • I’ve never understood the coach who needs their personal “Get Back” coach.  It takes a certain level of discipline to study and create a winning game plan week to week.  It also takes discipline to self-regulate and rely on your restraint to keep emotions and actions in check throughout a hard-fought game.  The competitive spirit can be exhibited in other ways.  I am motivated by coaches who are remarkably poised.  That’s what I want to be and need in my coaches.  If your role within the coaching staff is the hype guy, then bring the thunder. If not, be under restraint, teach, and place your athletes in the best situation to succeed.     
• Communication
  • Jared Goff, who was formerly with the Los Angeles Rams and now plays for the Detroit Lions, had a few interesting points regarding coaching communication.  Each individual requires a different level of communication.  I agree with this, and I’ve shared some additional thoughts below.
  • Those who can handle a lot
    • Styles of communication should vary from player to player.  Identify those who can retain information and present it to them effectively.  Allow them to become saturated with knowledge.  They will then be able to take what is given and begin to create on the field.  
  • Those who can not
    • Have a gauge of what a player can handle.  If it isn’t much, then don’t overwhelm them.  Administer information strategically.  Discover the best way to teach athletes.  
  • Players
    • Provide timely communication where expectations are laid out clearly. Create mixed modes of communication.  Be savvy in the use of technology.  If you’re not using the tools of today to communicate, then you’re making things more difficult on you.  Determine what technology that players respond to.  Create support groups that information is passed through. 
    • Be consistent in the type of message you’re sending the team.  Does your philosophy align with your actions?  Is the team allowed to put into action the message that is being sent?  Are words reinforced with consistent action?  
  • Coaches
    • It all starts with staff communication.  Vision is established by the head coach and it’s their job to articulate the vision to the assistant coaches.  Each coach has the responsibility of protecting that vision and promoting it to the team. The coaches must model the message being sent and move in the same direction philosophically.  Inconsistencies should be minimalized. There is no room for undermining and each coach should display extreme ownership. They should take great pride in all they do and find honor in the intricate details.  Clear expectations for assistant coaches should be established during the hiring process.  All disagreements should be handled through face-to-face conversations away from the team.    
  • Media
    • The media should be treated like a close friend.  It should be nurtured and given a role. The media is the bridge between the program and public perception.  Help the media control the message being sent by establishing strong relationships with personnel. Provide clear and timely information.  Give insight that helps promote the team and players.  It is the head coach’s responsibility to do this, not the assistants.
    • Social media is a tool that should be used by everyone on staff.  Each staff member holds the responsibility of sending a positive message about the program.  Every professional and personal post counts.  Once again, you control the message that the public perceives.  Be intentional about promoting the good that is occurring.  Know what is unique about the team and write about it.  Take countless photos and videos that can showcase the team.  I believe that a fourth coordinator should exist on every football staff, called the Media Coordinator.  They are the creator of content that sells the program and stages an experience that players and the community want to be part of.  
  • Administration
    • Direct and concise communication between the head coach and administration should be a priority.  There should be frequent conversations about philosophy, direction, culture, financial, and media relations.  Talks should remain professional and always be about growth and creativity.  Each new idea should have room for consideration and not be instantly dismissed. Work and grow together.

• Steadiness
  • Those who hold their peace and operate according to need, ultimately win. The way of the steady produces a consistent outcome. They reliably stick to a path that is dependable.  Those who operate under them, lean into the steady way and take on the demeanor.  Stoic leaders are inspiring because they are able to endure hardship without displaying their feelings or complaining. They exhibit a sound, composed, and competitive spirit.  Steadiness does not mean non-competitive.  Players need to know their coach has the fire to win.

Elite coaches have a continual thirst for leadership development.  The knowledge they obtain is passed on to other coaches and their players.  Communication and action play an integral part in their success.  They take on a pioneer mindset and remain on the quest for betterment.