bcg blog

Being A Coach

There’s a difference between coaching and being a coach. As insignificant as the semantics may seem, the gap between the two is seismic. Sure, both carry a clipboard, ride the team bus, and have a whistle around their neck but that is about where the similarities end. 

When you’re coaching you count the hours and know the salary. You view worthwhile as an exchange of time for money or, worse yet, a means to the power the title of “Coach” provides. Value is gauged solely by compensation and justified by wins.

A coach knows neither the hours nor the salary because both are secondary, even insignificant, compared to the purpose. The exchange is not transactional, but transformational. Value is gauged by change, progress, and growth into something neither knew, but both hoped, existed before. And, the timeline is unknown, but definite at the same time. It will make sense … at some point.

When you’re coaching you face challenge after challenge, disappointment after disappointment. Much of the time it seems like the universe is plotting against you. The ball rarely bounces your way and it seems you are the victim of bad luck far more often than you are the recipient of good luck. 

A coach doesn’t notice obstacles or challenges. He is so consumed by his purpose that any roadblock is simply viewed as part of the path. The way the ball bounces is irrelevant, just go get it. The glass being half full or half empty doesn’t matter either, a coach knows he is holding the pitcher.

When you’re coaching, your record defines your success.
When you’re a coach, you define your success because you know that sometimes the best efforts don’t result in the higher score and sometimes a win on the scoreboard is far from the best your team has to offer.

When you’re coaching, you celebrate wins and agonize over losses.
When you’re a coach, you celebrate people and agonize over missed relationships because you know that the wedding invitation, child announcement, and five-year-later text message to let you know how impactful the lessons they learned while playing for you were are infinitely more memorable.

When you’re coaching, you correct the behavior at the expense of the player.
When you’re a coach, you love the player and correct the behavior because you know it’s the behavior, not the player, that will help them become a quality husband, father, and friend.

When you’re coaching, you shout criticism and withhold praise.
When you’re a coach, you shout praise and whisper criticism because you understand that the power of belief is paramount and that both praise and criticism can grow hope when delivered properly.

When you’re coaching, connection and trust are a bonus.
When you’re a coach, connection and trust are the foundation because you know that no influence or impact occurs without them. And, without the prospect of impact, coaching is nothing more than puppeteering.

When you’re coaching, on time is on time.
When you’re a coach, early is on time and on time is late because you want your players to respect their own time and the time of their teammates.

When you’re coaching, you compare the past or look to the future.
When you’re a coach, you stay in the present because you know it’s the only place progress can be made, dreams can be accomplished, and fulfillment can take place.

When you’re coaching, you clock in and you clock out.
When you’re a coach, you never clock out because you know the example you set is the standard those you lead will believe is acceptable.

When you’re coaching, you work enough.
When you’re a coach, you just work. It never ends. It’s never enough. And, you never view it as what the real world calls work anyway. You don’t work, you just coach.

When you’re coaching, hard is a necessary evil.
When you’re a coach, hard is the most glorious aspect of the entire process because you know everything worth aspiring to is on the other side of hard. And, no one knows who they truly are until things get really, really, really hard … but from then on, they know and nothing can stop them.

When you’re coaching, you love the sport.
When you’re a coach, you love the player, and the team, and the sport. But, you also love every preseason conditioning, every locker room, every practice, every bus ride, every pregame, every loss, every win, every apology, every high five, every hug … you love it all.

When you’re coaching, you’re quick to give and quicker to take.
When you’re a coach, you give with no expectation of anything in return because you know the gift you’re giving may not truly be received for another five, or even then, years.

When you’re coaching, the game starts and the game ends.
When you’re a coach, the game never ends. 

Coaching is the greatest calling in the world. Everyday you have the opportunity to change the world. The opportunity to help another person find their path in life, discover what they believe, and live an intentional life at a standard they didn’t even know existed. It’s not something you do. It’s who you are.

Checkout Surrender the Outcome on Amazon and order The Score That Matters with Ryan Hawk & Brook Cupps before its release in March 2024. The latest blog from Blue Collar Grit can be found here!