Design the Unique

The Elite Football Coach Part 3

Pioneers of sport are those who continually design the unique idea and implement it. This is known as the creative process, where ideas are put into the world. Good coaches try things on and see if they work. The offseason is when quality coaches spend time in study. They research schemes, create and modify their offensive, defensive, and special teams playbook. Coaches identify previous season deficiencies and build solutions. Establishing unorthodox ways of doing things and considering if they stand the chance of succeeding. It is important that we do not construct walls around the creative mind, but allow it to breathe.

Successful coaches are able to effectively solve personnel equations. They place players in positions that allow them to succeed through a thought process. Constant analysis of player development is always underway. Structuring depth-charts according to player assessment takes creativity and effective communication among coaches. It’s difficult as a head coach to have eyes on everyone. Trusting those around you to deliver accurate feedback is key. Design the unique assessment process that creates lethal personnel groupings.

Constructing a coaching staff requires savviness. Understanding strengths and weaknesses allow the head coach to assign responsibility. Identifying specific responsibilities can be tricky. Constant assessment is used to figure the needs of the team. Once those needs come to light, the head coach must select an assistant to make sure the need is met with diligence. If someone is not assigned, the head coach must take on the duty.

Building a yearly calendar is challenging. It plays out like a puzzle. Oftentimes, coaches must schedule important events with little information about potential time conflicts. The head coach should be the primary decision-maker when scheduling opponents. They must be creative and forecast the strength of their team and those of the opponents in the macro. The quicker calendars are developed and distributed, the better. This allows families and the community to plan accordingly.

Time is valuable to all people. Meetings should be organized with a written timeline. Creatively facilitate meetings and make them streamlined. Do not hold meetings to hold meetings. Lean into technology to extinguish potential multi-hour-long gatherings. There are countless tools that allow us to communicate. Figure out how to optimize them to maximize productivity.

Creatively navigating communication with staff and the student body is critical. A significant role of the coach is relationship building and giving time to others. Face-to-face conversations, social media posts, email, speaking at assemblies, or simply being present is a must. There needs to be a community connection that is reciprocal. A coach who consistently shows appreciation to those who support the program will ultimately win. This is not a political approach, but a genuine approach.

Design the unique thing that is from your heart, mind, and spirit. When we do this we unconsciously allow ourselves to be free. Joy becomes more accessible when the creation is from us and not another. New things move the world forward. Take parts of what was learned from others and experiences, then craft a masterpiece of your own. Creativity is found in all things. We are not restricted to one way.