Working Out Efficiently?

Need workout planning structure? Here's one to consider:

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Be Intentional

PRACTICE WITH PURPOSE

"What's your purpose for your practice? I practiced to be the best ever. So, every time I walked on that field I had a purpose for my practice."@DeionSanders bringing the 💯 TRUTH 🙌 pic.twitter.com/x7aeU4ZuDI

— Jamy Bechler (@CoachBechler) April 10, 2024

Practice makes champions or it fills up time, "breaks up the day." What bothers coaches? What would you put on your list? 

• Tardiness (On time is late.)
• Lack of concentration. Always be focused. This is not 'social hour'.
• Lack of listening. 
• Lack of 'coachability' 
• Entitlement 
• Lack of energy...energize yourself and teammates. 
• Lack of effort..."Never cheat the drill" and "winners do not cut corners."
• Lack of communication..."Silent teams lose." 
• Lack of confidence... how you play reflects how you live your life." 
• Lack of leadership...the best teams are player-led teams.  

Before you warmup, mentally review your footwork, your arm swing, your timing. 

Be great at everything that doesn't require skill. 

Lagniappe. Hit 'faster' 

Fearless

Strive to be fearless. What does that mean?

Self-made billionaire Spanx CEO Sara Blakely says people tell her, "you're so fearless." She answers, "No, I'm not." She's afraid of heights, flying, public speaking. But she overcomes her fears, even holding a "Comedy Night" for her employees where everyone performs standup. 

Share examples. The Patriots faced the 'Greatest Show on Turf' in 2002, with an unheralded quarterback (Tom Brady) against Kurt Warner and the NFL's highest octane offense. Virtually no one gave the 14-point underdog a chance...except the Patriots. 

Harvard's women met Stanford at Palo Alto in the 1998 NCAAs as a 16 versus 1 mismatch. That didn't prevent the Crimson from winning. A future ER doctor made the winning basket. 

As an underdog, believe and compete. 

Unheralded doesn't mean untalented. Trust YOUR ability and system. "It's just a game." 

There no shame in defeat but never fail to show up. 

Lagniappe. Consistency is more than the hobgoblin of foolish minds.  

Deion Sanders said, "You don't have to be great or successful to be consistent. But, you do need to be consistent to be great or successful."

Consistency is rare.
• It means discipline.
• It means showing up.
• It means doing the work.

The hallmark of greatness is long-term… pic.twitter.com/0O1H9vhYfY

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) March 26, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Gold. Just gold. 

This is an awesome from Clemson HC @Coach_Brownell on toughness 💪💪💪 pic.twitter.com/6tjG0H7I08

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 26, 2024

 Lagniappe 3. Training makes toughness. 

No Days Off

Give the same effort as your mothers.  

In honor of Mother’s Day. A Throwback to this amazing quote:

"When you're tired, what do you start thinking about? Be as tough as your mother. They show up all the time." - Coach K

(Via @CoachBechler 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/rUjmPLnszT

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) May 12, 2024

MVB - "REP" the Change

Success often parallels attitudes, beliefs, and values that drive action. "Nothing works unless you do." Action beats intentions.

Organizational psychologists Chip and Dan Heath wrote several books about change, Made to Stick and Switch: How to Change When Change Is Hard. 

The Heath Brothers argue that reaching your destination involves metaphorical elements:

R - The Rider, an excellent thinker, sometimes short on action. 

E - The Elephant, emotional inputs that encourage or deter us. 

P - The Path - the journey to navigate to success. 

What concrete tips help the Rider (Rationality)? 

• Look to the MVB past...including many impactful freshmen. Chloe Gentile had 113 kills as a freshman, Emily Hudson 42, Victoria Crovo 161. Other notable freshmen whose performance impacted wins include Hannah Brickley and Paula Sen. 
• Get involved including camps, youth volleyball, and building athleticism. 

How can we motivate the Elephant (Emotion)? 

• See-Feel-Change. See how little girls like young Hannah Brickley or the Crovo sisters watched games, felt the excitement, and became MVB. 
• Emphasize identity. Winning is hard. Few programs experience the success of MVB with a State Championship, ten Sectional Titles, and many Middlesex League Championships. Be part of special. 

How can we shape the Path? 

• Make MVB part of your daily routine...your workouts, your video study (MHS-TV on YouTube), even reading the blog, the real-time history of MVB. 
• "Rally the herd." Peer support adds strong motivation for individuals and the group. Work out as a duo with a teammate or a bigger group to practice platform and other skills. 

Lagniappe. Report. Study relationships such as hand to ball, arm position and swing. 

 

The Power of Now

Coaching leadership maven Jeff Janssen shares his ideas:  

NEXT SEASON'S CHAMPIONS ARE..
What are YOU doing NOW?#CultureWins pic.twitter.com/5y44xyreFY

— Jeff Janssen (@janssenleader) May 13, 2024

Lagniappe. Ideas. Useful? I don't know.  

"Make Friends with the Dead"

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"Make friends with the dead." Something like 6 percent of all people ever born are alive today. Learn from different cultures and generations. Find people to emulate in virtue and example. 

There's a saying from ancient Rome, "everyone needs a Cato" about Cato the Elder and his great grandson Cato the Younger. In a time of self-indulgence, both were known for their virtue, eloquence, and influence. 

Cato understood women. "Suffer women once to arrive at an equality with you, and they will from that moment become your superiors." He respected their abilities. 

Antoninus was the predecessor as Emperor to Marcus Aurelius. He is best known for presiding over the empire with peace for 23 years from 138-161. Decades of peace in that era was inconceivable. Conflicts rage today in more than half a dozen countries.

Few women achieved status or power outside of marriage in the ancient world and they lacked rights. The few who did, notably Claudia Metrodora must have had remarkable force of personality. "One inscription in particular describes her as 'being desirous of glory for the city ... a lover of her homeland and priestess of life of the divine empress Aphrodite Livia, by reason of her excellence and admirable behaviour.'"

We don't have to return two millennia. Learn lessons in leadership from Doris Kearns Goodwin in Leadership in Turbulent Times. 

Don't confine yourself to the narrow world of the living. 

Lagniappe. Know your defense's seam responsibilities. Consult with your coaches for their preferences. 

Lagniappe 2. Shoulder exercises with resistance bands. 

Incremental Gains Are Magical

Grow one percent daily. Magic will follow.

Great Coaches

Coach Greg Berge shares a lengthy post with an extensive thread on the qualities of great coaches. 

• Relationships First
• Clear standards
• Emotional IQ
• Self-Awareness
• Excellent Communicators
• Mindset
• Master Teachers
• Healthy Competitive Mindset
• Humble
• Build leaders

Coaching is a Tough Gig.

Few can do it.

What makes a Great Coach?

Here are 10 Traits of the Best Coaches.

[THREAD] 🧵

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) May 7, 2024

You can award yourself character qualities - commitment, honesty, integrity, work ethic. 

You cannot award yourself "external honors" such as Player of the Year, Hall of Fame status, etc. 

Having been an athlete, parent, and coach helps one see through "dragonfly eyes." Everyone sees through a blend of self-interest, emotion, and objectivity. Hope, pride, optimism, and disappointment cloud our vision. 

Exceptional coaches have 'receipts' - the fruits of their and their players' talents. You've got them. 

Every successful coach points out having talented players as the most important reason. 

Lagniappe. Receipts. 

 

Happy Mothers Day

Repost

Captains

Sam Walker wrote The Captain Class about the premier captains on the most elite teams in history.  

What makes an Elite Captain?

Sam Walker did the research in his book, "The Captain Class."

He found 7 keys to the most elite leaders in sport. pic.twitter.com/hlXpEvcfAw

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) May 9, 2024

Think about what it means to be a captain.  

1. Model excellence. You represent the team on and off the court. That involves both "dos" and "don'ts." 

2. Energize physically and verbally. Accepting captaincy means you are chosen to lead and must choose to lead. 

3. Team first. Serve the team. Do whatever is in the best interest of the team. 

4. Never embarrass the program. Be 'professional' with the officials, on social media, and in the community. 

5. Lead with joy. Bring joy to practice, to games, to the locker room. "Mudita." Take joy in the success of the team and players performing well, regardless of your personal results. 

Lagniappe. Never short-change preparation from now through the final day of the season. 

Peyton Manning said, "I've never left the field saying I could have done more to get ready and that gives me piece of mind."

Success comes from preparation.
• It comes from doing the work.
• It comes from living the details.

What does great preparation look like to Peyton… pic.twitter.com/zI2lPU69w2

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) May 9, 2024

Simplified

To figure it out, understand this. No more, no less.

Legacy

 

Anything is possible.  These need updating with sectional titles in 2021 and 2022 and league title in 2023. I thought the team won the Freedom Division in 2014 and 2015, too.

Make Mental Toughness Your Brand

Exceptional play radiates physical and mental toughness. The 2012 team team felt the sting of defeat in the 2011 State Final. They made sure they would not repeat it. 

What goes into mental toughness? 

• Focus. "Play present." Don't allow an error or opponent success on the previous point to bleed into the next. 
• Conditioning. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." Conditioning isn't optional or an afterthought. Jumping rope, total body training, and Tabata Training all contribute to mental toughness. 
• Proven success. MVB knows "the wind blows hardest at the top of the mountain." 
• Balance. Confidence balances arrogance and doubt. 
• Self-belief. Every contest is a winnable match. Want the ball. "Winners want the ball." 
• Relentlessness. When you have the receipts (work), you have the right to win. 
• Visualization. Visualization (mental practice) improves performance. 
• Team spirit. "The strength of the wolf is in the pack." Believing in each other strengthens each other and the team. 
• Determination. "Keep the ball up," then "put the ball down." 

Lagniappe. 

 

Schedule

MVB faces a challenging schedule in 2024, front-loaded with highly competitive teams.

Each of the first 6 matches present challenge and opportunity. 

Plus and Minus

Once you understand this - and accept it - coaching becomes easier. https://t.co/L3q48nUgZY

— John Carrier (@JohnCarrier42) May 9, 2024

Cellphones have pluses including use of video, cameras for screenshots, and obviously communication. 

There are negatives. Phones are distractions. 

High performance needs planning, preparation, and focus. The opposite of focus is distraction. Some advise banning cellphone use on game day to improve vision. There's no way to enforce it. 

Decide on your priority. If it's texting or calling friends over full engagement at practice, you're following a lit fuse. 

Lagniappe. Blocking drill. 

Role Players

Speech: “All the world’s a stage”

BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

(from As You Like It, spoken by Jaques)

                                        All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances;

And one man in his time plays many parts,

His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,

Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms;

And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,

Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad

Made to his mistress’ eyebrow. Then a soldier,

Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,

Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,

Seeking the bubble reputation

Even in the cannon’s mouth. And then the justice,

In fair round belly with good capon lin’d,

With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,

Full of wise saws and modern instances;

And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts

Into the lean and slipper’d pantaloon,

With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;

His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide

For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,

Turning again toward childish treble, pipes

And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,

That ends this strange eventful history,

Is second childishness and mere oblivion;

Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. 

.....................

Know our role and excel. Critics have their way with the arrows of 

misfortune. 

Focus on process and habits not goals. "Do more to become more and 

become more to do more."

Most of life's players are role players although the news doesn't focus on

them. Coach Erik Spoelstra's says, "there is  always a pecking order." 

Whatever our role, commit to teamwork, improvement, and accountability.

Embrace coaching as you "buy-in" to get value and add value. 

MVB value appears as "how you do anything is how you do everything." 

The 2012 team raised the standard. MVB 2012 seized the crown going 

26-1, losing four sets all season. 

Lagniappe. "Champions do extra."

  

Prove It

"Every day is showtime." Student-athletes have to prove themselves every day. So do teachers, bus drivers, and nurses.

Excellence requires 'escape velocity' from mediocrity. You can't have the same process as everyone else and expect better results. 

1. Do the work. 

2. Show your work (in your notebook). 

3. Track your work. Be consistent.

4. Share your work (with teammates). 

5. Work out with a teammate. 

Be Special

Running basketball tryouts, I heard players keep calling a girl "Special." During a break, I asked, "How did she get the nickname 'Special'?" Someone answered, "It's Beshel." 

Everyone wants a chance at special. Few teams have the purpose to be special. They may lack talent, experience, leadership, culture, or haven't learned how to win. Winning is an art. 

You know "special" when you see it. Four years ago I told a player, "you're the best I've ever coached and you'll benefit from new coaching." She earned a McDonald's All-America nomination, one of six in Massachusetts. Your team has a chance to be special. 

"Win this point." 

"Never be satisfied."

"Play harder than your opponent." 

"Play for each other." 

"Communicate. Talk energizes. Talk intimidates." 

"Be coachable." 

"Excel in your role." 

"Study the game to SEE THE GAME." 

Lagniappe. Coach Jay Wright is one of the best around in leadership and player development. 

Jay Wright said, "We have a saying that everyone’s role is different, but everyone’s status is the same. It’s a reminder that no matter how bright the spotlight gets, we are all part of something much larger than ourselves."

Great teams emphasize the team.

They know that the… pic.twitter.com/TxZCHsBP8j

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) May 7, 2024

Earn Trust

PLAYERS: When your coach doesn't play you, they aren't disrespecting you or hating on you. They are respecting your teammates and loving the team. Good coaches play the players that make up the best team and that are the most trusted team members. Become that kind of teammate.

— Jamy Bechler (@CoachBechler) May 7, 2024

Every year Melrose has 'stay ready' players who would start for many teams. They matter in many ways: 

• They compete at a high level in practice daily.
• They provide vital depth with injury and illness. 
• Many develop into bigger roles as younger players. 
• Some earn more time with better performance. 

How can you earn trust? 

• Never be a distraction (grades, tardiness, social media).
• Work as hard as you can.
• Stay in great condition throughout the season. 
• Be coachable, seeking improvement specifics. 
• Take advantage of opportunities in games. 

Standards

Saban says, “We create a standard for our team and everyone has to buy into that standard.”

Standards matter.

Standards determine the Bar.

- Do you raise it?
- Do you keep it!
- Do you lower it?

Raise the Bar!

🎥 @CoachRikStewart

pic.twitter.com/CVI7i8dJfc

— Greg Berge (@gb1121) May 4, 2024

Accountability means holding yourself to a high standard. Without standards, how do you have accountability? 

Return to the ACHIEVEMENT equation:

ACHIEVEMENT = PERFORMANCE x TIME

High achievement flows from both HIGH PERFORMANCE and its application over TIME.  

Achievers ask themselves, "How can I improve? What can I do more or better next time?"

One of the highest complements Coach Scott Celli shares is, "She wants to play. She wants to learn." 

Becoming your best version takes extreme commitment to a standard. One core concept is to identify the player for whom high performance is important. 

Lagniappe. 

Embrace the Message

Remember that your opponent wants to win, too. You make your coaches proud as a "worthy competitor." The competitor doesn't back down, regardless of the opponent. "Posers" back down. 

"It's always been - you have to learn how to compete.
Then, you have to learn how to always compete.
Then, you have to learn to compete at the high levels.
When you do that, you are always going to give yourself a chance to win." pic.twitter.com/p0SpbBtexb

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) May 7, 2024

Lagniappe. Great teams play both parts.  

Body Language

Body language equals non-verbal communication. Body language reveals our energy and confidence. Body language energizes and deflates.

Negative body language is not an option. 

A former MVBer explained how she walked into the gym tall, head up in a power position. "I want everyone in the gym to know the best player in the gym just walked in." You can only be as good as your self-belief.

Look back at some body language lessons. 

Body language shapes team energy. 

Note the bench energy.  

The majority of our communication is non-verbal. Convey a strong, positive message by standing tall. 

When you walk onto the floor, posture signals your attitude and confidence. That goes for entering a classroom or a job interview. Show that you're a serious person.  

Everything goes into our 'brand' including verbal, non-verbal, and written communication. That covers moral, ethical, and legal territory.

From Urban Meyer's Above the Line, "There is a red line at the end of our practice field. Every day before practice, I stand at that red line and watch guys take the field. The rule is that once they cross that red line, they are not only running - they are prepared to give all they've got. If I don't like somebody's demeanor - it could be body language, a look on a guy's face, anything - I turn him around and point to the locker room. You better be ready to go; otherwise don't come on the practice field."

Use body language to your advantage. 

From The Art of Coaching Volleyball about tryouts, "Don’t give off a negative vibe. Look like you’re having fun playing the game. Smile, be upbeat, support your teammates, enjoy yourself. Coaches like players who bring positive energy to the court."

Lagniappe. "You own your paycheck." If you want to 'get paid', then earn it. 

   

G.B.E.D.

Work on your game. Work on your body. Work on resilience. Work with a teammate.

You might be tired of hearing it. Dream big. Work bigger. 

Get Better Every Day. Sometimes that means you have to hear a message you don’t want to hear. As bad as you may want to avoid it - it may very well be the advice or motivation you need to take yourself to new heights. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable when the goal is📈 pic.twitter.com/4LYaBCqZwS

— Coach Ray Ostrowski (@CoachRayO3313) May 3, 2024

Lagniappe. "Keep the ball up." 

Winning Requires More Than Talent

Talent doesn’t make you a winning basketball player…

Coaches want talented players. It’s simple. But those talented players need to fit in to a team. And your Core Values of Competitiveness, Resilience, Attitude, Coachability, etc. are going to either raise your value or… pic.twitter.com/AmuDUmg0EM

— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) April 30, 2024

Talent is necessary but not sufficient to succeed consistently and to become an elite player or team. Brad Stevens demands what he calls, "competitive character."  

Competitive character includes being a good teammate, playing "harder for longer," and resilience. Hard work is a skill. Toughness is a skill. Understanding winning actions is a skill. 

Teach players who are less skilled than yourself. Compete against tough, talented players at your level. Learn by competing against better players. 

Playing "better teams" doesn't mean rolling over or "showing your neck" in submission. Long-time Melrose fans know MVB has beaten "better teams" as the underdog. What helped the "Rocky" movies succeed was the 'never say die' spirit of Rocky Balboa. 

Lagniappe. Decisions define destiny. 

Lagniappe 2. Sport rewards athletic explosiveness. Every great MVB player has been an exceptional athlete. 

Failure Is a Weigh Station on the Highway to Success

Baby steps. Nobody magically learns to walk. Roll over. Sit up. Pull yourself up and cruise along furniture. Stand up; sit down. Again. Take your first steps. The process repeats and repeats.

Failure is a weigh station on the highway to success. 

Have the will to keep going. 

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Are You Willing to Do What the Beast Does?*

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow- witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him. - Tolstoy

*Adapted from my basketball blog

Winning needs focused investment in areas that work. Neither 100 percent investment in offense nor defense is best. Full belief in your failing process is nonsense. 

Leadership. Can the coach sell the program, get buy-in, and add value? In Community Health (1977) we learned about barriers, efficacy, severity, and susceptibility. 

• Barriers - what hinders us?
• Efficacy - what's the 'applicable' track record? 
• Severity - how bad is the situation? 
• Susceptibility - does it apply to the community? If "hockey" or something else is king, is there room for basketball? 

Philosophy. Can we sell our philosophy to smart people "firmly persuaded that they know already?" 

• Do well what you do a lot. 
• Do more of what works (e.g. hard to defend actions) and less of what doesn't.
• Know Knight's Power of Negative Thinking. Don't take bad shots, don't turn the ball over, don't foul needlessly. Don't give games away. 

Player development. What's your player development track record? 

Show your receipts - D1 players, McDonald's All-America nominee, All-Scholastic/All-State selections, Local Athletic Hall of Famers, valedictorians and more. 

Strategy  "We can't run what we can't run." Without core skills, the choice of 'offensive system' doesn't matter. 

Physicality (strength and conditioning) Without training, we cannot play "harder for longer" needed to outperform opponents. Measurable performance like 12-minute runs, broad jump, and bench press repetitions give easy to obtain, reproducible results. 

Psychology Have a simple program that you can implement such as mindfulness and visualization. 

Commitment is king. Players choose whether to invest in themselves and winning or not. "It takes what it takes." In addition to all of the above, players need to play, a lot.

"Mentoring is the only shortcut to success." Find a mentor. 

"Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect   Measure what you do and seek improvement and betterment of your personal best. 

Are you willing to do what the beast does? "Champions do extra." It's a big ask. 

Lagniappe. What the beasts do. 

Lagniappe 2. One minute of magic...on winning points

Special

Ask yourself, "what do you want from your season?" 

1. We're in a time where our desire to retain players and keep them happy is making them fragile and less proud to be on the team. If we want to be special, we need to be more demanding. pic.twitter.com/jU798EXiVj

— J.P. Nerbun | TOC (@JpNerbun) May 2, 2024

Craft a great story. 

Lagniappe. Reach. Stability. Speed. 

AI Can Help

Everyone needs better communication with player families. Without exception, coaches and administrations get complaints about player minutes, role, and recognition.

Coaches use the "24 hour rule" to allow a 'cooling off period' and many limit discussions about playing time and absolutely about other teammates.

President Abraham Lincoln had his "Hot Letters," where he vented his displeasure with various generals and other parties, then filed as "never signed, never sent."

Coach Neal Cobleigh wondered what would ChatGPT artificial intelligence say to an unhappy parent. I asked. I've also edited, shaving syllables. The edited (easier to read) version is below.

Write a letter from a coach to a disgruntled parent upset about her child's playing time and role.

ChatGPT

Dear (Parent's Name),

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to address the concerns about your child's playing time and role on the team. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success in the sport, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters openly.

First and foremost, I want to assure you that every decision I make regarding playing time and roles on the team is done with careful consideration and with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. I understand that it can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you may feel they deserve, but please trust that these decisions are based I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations for each game.

I want to emphasize that playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication between among players, parents, and myself. and I'm available always willing to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and ways we can how to work together to help them succeed.

It's important to remember that sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. I truly believe that every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute in meaningful ways and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.

I want to thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to providing a positive and nurturing environment where all players can thrive and reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Dear (Parent's Name),

I hope this letter finds you well. I want to address concerns about your child's playing time and role. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters.

First and foremost, every decision I make regarding playing time and roles is done with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. It can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you feel they deserve, but I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations.

Playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication among players, parents, and myself. I'm available to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and how to work together to help them succeed.

Sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.

Thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to a positive and nurturing environment where all players can reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please reach out to me.

Sincerely,

(Coach's name)

All coaches have been there. Build rapport. Build trust. Emphasize team, time, and improvement.

Lagniappe. Trust matters.