READY: " . . . we try to persuade men" –II Corinthians 5:11
SET: I’ve often thought about what does it take to be a “good
coach” --one thing I know is that coaching is a position of
influence and comes with great responsibilities.
Coach Lou Holtz has said, “Coaching is nothing more than
eliminating mistakes before you get fired” –now you and I know
it’s more than that.
I like what Coach Red Auerbach thought about “coaching” – He
said, "To be a successful coach you should be and look prepared.
You must be a man of integrity. Never break your word. Don't
have two sets of standards. Remember you don't handle players .
. . you handle pets. You deal with players. Stand up for your
players. Show them you care . . . on and off the court. Very
important . . . it's not 'how' or 'what' you say but what they
absorb." As I’ve reflected on these words the Lord has pointed
out to me three simple keys that make good coach.
First, a good coach is a Mentor, who will stand behind you .
. . and will support you! Making a difference through mentoring
is teaching the fundamentals of the game while giving your team
support collectively and personally. Your team must have the
confidence that you’re there for them . . . win or lose.
Second, a good coach is a Model, who will stand beside you .
. . and will strengthen you! Influencing your team through
modeling is being an example of a disciplined life, on and off
the field of play . . . in the classroom, in the lunchroom, in
the locker room, in the living room or the Sunday School room .
. . as you stand with your team they will draw strength from
you.
Finally, a good coach is a Motivator, who will stand before
you . . . and will stimulate you! Motivation is "that which
causes action" –-and nothing will motivate a team to persevere
under pressure, be diligent in practice, stand firm in the face
of a challenge, and be alive with team spirit than a positive
coach who is inspired and inspiring. I’m convinced that yelling,
swearing, and put-downs may make a point but seldom motivate to
excellence. I can’t remember a time that my coach in high school
ever yelled, swore, or used put-downs to get us to run . . . yet
he had our respect because he was a motivator and that
motivation led our team to win the Ohio State Cross-Country
Championship.
If you want to be a “good” coach . . . it starts in your
heart. Let the Lord, coach you, guide you, and empower you. He
can change you and then use you to change your team. That’s what
I get from Coach Vince Lombardi’s comment, “After the cheers
have died down and the stadium is empty, after the headlines
have been written and after you are back in the quiet of your
room and the championship ring has been placed on the dresser
and all the pomp and fanfare has faded, the enduring things that
are left are: the dedication to excellence, the dedication to
victory, and the dedication to doing with our lives the very
best we can to make the world a better place in which to live.”
GO: 1. Is your heart surrendered to the Lord? 2. Are you
coachable? 3. As a coach is there an area you need help in?
Mentoring? Modeling? Motivating?
WORKOUT: Hebrews 11:1-6; Hebrews 12:1-3; Galatians 2:20
OVERTIME: Lord, I want to totally submitted to You and Your
Word that I may be the coach you want me to be. Amen.
