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6 Things Great Coaches Do Differently
In 30+ years of coaching and leadership, I’ve come across a lot of different coaches.
Different personalities. Different philosophies. Different styles.
There is no single way to be a great coach.
But when I think about the best coaches I’ve been around, they consistently share the same traits.
Here are the six that stand out.
1. They Are Standard-Bearers
This might be the most important one.
Great coaches know exactly what matters, and they don’t allow those things to slide.
Standards for effort. Standards for behavior. Standards for preparation. Standards for how teammates treat each other.
They don’t need a hundred rules. But the standards that matter are clear, consistent, and upheld.
What you allow becomes your standard.
2. They Are Relationship-Based
Great coaching is transformational, not transactional.
The sport matters. Winning matters. Improvement matters. But great coaches understand they are coaching the person, not just the player.
They build trust. They know their players. And they use the game to teach lessons that last long after the season ends.
To them, coaching is about something bigger than the scoreboard.
Saban said it best:
3. They Are Competitive
Great coaches want to win.
They love competition, and they teach their players how to compete.
How to prepare mentally. How to respond to adversity. How to handle pressure. How to compete when things aren’t going their way.
Winning isn't everything. But learning how to compete is one of the greatest lessons sports can teach.
4. They Know How to Use Talent
Great coaches see what others sometimes miss. They recognize strengths and understand how the pieces fit together.
They don’t try to make every player the same. They put players in positions where their strengths can help the team.
They understand roles, combinations, chemistry, and fit.
Coaching isn't just collecting talent. It's knowing what to do with it.
5. They Build Culture
Great coaches see the big picture.
They aren't just building this year's team. They're building a program.
They develop leaders, establish standards, create traditions, and intentionally reinforce the behaviors they want repeated.
They understand that culture isn't a slogan on the locker room wall.
Culture is how your team operates every day.
6. They Communicate
Great coaches don't leave people guessing.
They clearly communicate expectations and roles. They have hard conversations when needed. They proactively communicate with players and parents instead of waiting until problems arise.
You can have great standards, great ideas, and a great vision.
But if you can't communicate them, none of it matters.
After 32 years in coaching and leadership, these are the six traits I keep coming back to:
Standards. Relationships. Competitiveness. Talent. Culture. Communication.
Great coaches may look different. They may coach differently.
But the best ones I've been around consistently find a way to do these six things well.
And that might be the real challenge of coaching:
Not mastering one of them.
Be great,
Greg
P.S. If you're working on building these six traits into your coaching, the Mega Bundle gives you every system I've built to help you get there. All my paid resources, one huge discount + save $50 today with code = MEGATODAY.
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📜 GREAT QUOTE
“A good coach can change a game. A great coach can change a life.”
🔗 LINKS FOR LEADERS
🎥 Video: Dan Lanning and his secrets of success [LINK]
🆇 ICYMI: Doug Collins on failure [LINK]
📰 Article: Leadership is a skill, not a trait.
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