Traditional coaching vs …..

3 thoughts we perhaps should share with coaches:

1. Is traditional coaching failing athletes
2. Perhaps real coaching is about connection, not control
3. Perhaps we should who care more about people than programs

For years, we’ve clung to clipboards, spreadsheets, and sports science as the heart of coaching.

BUT

1. Athletes are burned out.
2. Kids are quitting in droves.
3. Coaches are frustrated.
4. Parents are fed up.

We’ve turned coaching into content delivery – but athletes aren’t USB drives.

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The Great Coaching Lie

We’ve been told coaching is about what you “know”, Degrees. Certifications. Data.

None of it matters if you can’t connect.

I’ve seen genius-level coaches who couldn’t motivate a puddle to freeze.

And I’ve seen unqualified coaches change lives by showing up, listening, and caring.

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What Real Coaching Looks Like

It starts with one question:

“Who is this person in front of me?”

1. Not “How fast are they?”
2. Not “What can they achieve?”
3. But: “Who are they—really?”

Real coaching is:

1. Asking about their day
2. Listening with full attention
3. Admitting when you’re wrong
4. Seeing the “person”, not just the player

Because the relationship “is” the program. Without trust, nothing sticks.

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The Coaching Revolution

This shift isn’t happening in lecture halls or courses.

It’s happening:

1. On the sidelines
2. In quiet one-on-one chats
3. In the moments you choose “connection over correction”

Develop a new mindset.

Old coaching: Know more. Control more. Deliver content.
New coaching: Connect more. Care more. Change lives.**

Don’t just teach — *transform “them”.

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Your To-Do List

1. Stop leading with drills—start with dialogue
2. Ask every athlete: “How are you doing?” And listen.
3. Plan connection time—not just sessions
4. Be human. Be honest. Be present.
5. Remember: your impact starts with trust, not tactics

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Be the coach they remember for life.

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