🏆 Why do you Coach?

As a coach, understanding your “why” is foundational. What is your why?

Author

Greg Berge
September 05, 2024

Good morning! A warm welcome to the 99 new subscribers who joined 12,900+ others this week. We are happy to have you on board!

Here's what's coming:

  • Why do you Coach? 🏆

  • Pele GOLD 🥇

  • Great “X” insight from Sports Psychology 🆇

  • Read Time ~ 4 minutes.

Let's dive in, but first, check out this opportunity to Empower your Athletes👇

SPONSORED BY HONOR THE ATHLETE

Unlock a year of game-changing athlete management with Momentum—FREE! Empower your athletes with streamlined tracking, recognition, and development. Plus, score a $100 Dick’s Sporting Goods gift card. Click here to see if you qualify to get started!

💭 ONE THOUGHT
Why do you Coach?

I know the exact time I knew I wanted to be a coach and a teacher.

August, 26, 1991.

I had finished my freshman year of college as a business major and came home for the summer.

My high school football coach asked if I wanted to help coach the B-Squad during “two-a-days” in August before I went back to school.

I said, “Of Course.”

I coached the quarterbacks during the first two weeks and helped with the offense. I was a quarterback in high school and knew our offense inside and out.

We ran a unique high school offense: the true triple-option (just like Oklahoma or the Air Force Academy in the 1980s). But even more than that, the entire offense was “no-huddle.” We were ahead of the times. The coach signaled all of our plays to me. I had to read the defense and make the call at the line of scrimmage.

I didn’t realize until years later how impactful my high school football coach was on me as a coach, especially on the “cerebral” side of coaching.

He was a great coach.

Anyway, I was going to be around for our first B-Squad game, and this was when it happened.

Our Varsity Coach, Bob Jackson, asked me if I wanted to “Call the Offense” of the B-Squad game before I left for year two of college.

“Are you serious?” I asked. 😳

He said, “Yes, I am!”

And so I did.

And right after that game, I knew I wanted to be a coach!

I was hook-line-and-sinker.

Calling plays and coaching those two weeks solidified what I wanted to do with my life.

I wanted to coach, but to coach, I needed to teach. So, what was I going to teach?

I thought about the course I liked the most, which was Math. So, with that, I changed my major, became a Math Teacher, and began coaching basketball and football immediately while I was still in college.

So what exactly was my “why?”

It was the feeling I got working with kids, connecting with them for a common purpose or goal. It was the relationships. I loved the “chess game” of coaching and teaching the game.

It was everything that I had loved and craved as a kid.

I loved sports. I loved what they did for me and wanted to help shape the memories and experiences of others.

So what is your why?

What drives you through the highs and lows and keeps you committed even when times get tough?

Reflecting on why you coach can reveal deeper motivations and strengthen your resolve during tough times.

And I can guarantee that tough times will happen in coaching!

Here are a few of the many reasons “Why” coaches coach:

1. Passion for the Game - Many coaches start coaching because they love the sport. This passion fuels their dedication and inspires their players. They love the thrill of competition and the fact that they get to teach the game they love.

2. Impacting Lives - Coaching is more than just winning games; it’s about shaping lives. Many coaches use sports to teach life lessons, build character, and prepare athletes for the challenges beyond the field. This is why they coach.

3. Building Relationships - The bonds formed between coaches and players are unique. These relationships often extend beyond the season, creating lifelong connections and mutual respect. Many coaches coach because of these deep bonds with their players.

4. Embracing Challenges - Coaching is filled with challenges, from tough losses to difficult decisions. Those who thrive in this environment do so because they embrace these challenges as opportunities for growth. Many coaches love the challenge of coaching, which drives their “why.”

5. Creating a Team and Culture - Coaches are architects of team culture. They instill values, set standards, and cultivate an environment where everyone strives for excellence. Coaches are culture builders, and many coaches coach because they love the challenge of building a culture.

Summary:

Understanding your “why” is the first step of successful coaching.

All of the reasons above motivated me to coach.

Module #1 of my coaching masterclass, Better Coach OS, focuses on “Why Do You Coach?” and sets the foundation for effective, impactful coaching.

I encourage you to invest in your personal growth and check out Better Coach OS. I am 100% certain it will help make you a better coach. And if not, I will refund you completely!

Good Luck!

🔗  LINKS OF THE WEEK

🎥 Video: The Cost of Greatness by Brett Ledbetter

🎙️ Podcast: Coach Collins and I discuss the concept of Collective Leadership in this Basketball Leadership Podcast episode.

📜 TWO QUOTES

"The more difficult the victory, the greater the happiness in winning."

Pele

"The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing."

Jackie Joyner-Keresy

𝐗 THREE POSTS FROM OTHERS

📚 BOOKS, COURSES, BUNDLES, & FREE RESOURCES

Bundles:

Courses, Curriculum, and More:

Books:

Free Resources:

Find all FREE books and resources at gberge.gumroad.com.

👀 LOOKING FOR MORE?

  1. Are you interested in Sponsoring an Issue? Reply to this email or click here: Sponsor Great Team Better Leaders.

  2. Are you seeking a Culture or Leadership workshop for your team or school? Contact Greg for more information.

  3. Are you interested in a 1:1 Coaching Call with Greg? Reply to this email to request more information.

Contact Me: Greg Berge, [email protected]

Reply

or to participate.