10 Traits of A Coachable Athlete:
- You take responsibility for your progress
- You are open-minded and curious
- You continually want to improve
- You listen and welcome feedback
- You have humility
- You have self-awareness
- You are respectful of others
- You are not afraid to try new things
- You are grateful for the help
- You are committed to your improvement
How can you use this daily? Before reading on, take a moment to study the list and ask how it applies.
Coaches remember certain athletes for not only performance but for their "approach to the game."
- Cecilia Kay (now a junior at St. Joseph's in Philadelphia) had a great process. She did foam rolling before practice, warmed up intentionally, starting in close, studied game video. She became a Globe and Herald Dream Team athlete. Prepare intentionally.
- Sam Dewey missed all of her eighth grade season with injury. She came to almost every practice and game, with her notebook, studying the game. She recently graduated from Richmond and played in two NCAA tournaments for the Spiders. Study the game.
- Zoe Overlan had the best eye contact of any middle schooler I have ever coached. Work on eye contact.
- Naomi Breay was a little sixth grader who came up to me before tryouts and said, "Coach, I am really excited to be here." Be excited.
- Lauren Joyce worked to implement any skill that we taught her. She was always the first at practice and the last to leave. She was awarded Austin Prep's highest honor, the Charles & Helen McLaughlin Medal for Leadership and Determination to Excel. I wrote a letter to our US Representative explaining why Lauren would become an exceptional Naval Officer if given a nomination to Annapolis. Lauren graduated from the Naval Academy. Show up every day.
Lagniappe. Choose a few. They might change your life.
1. Give people grace.
2. Learn to say, "I don't know" or "what does that mean?"
3. Get better at eye contact.
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