In life, we find that there are certain things that can help you improve in all areas and not only one. Some of these things can be tied into the world of athletics. For example, constant and consistent improvement. We have a tendency to look for big changes which will bring the results we are seeking. Sometimes we look to firing a coach, or a drastic change in plans or schedule to improve productivity.
What we have discovered from studying Coaches John Wooden and Pete Carroll, is that change can be small, constant, and consistent. Both coaches have their own style of coaching. John Wooden is more quiet and has a professor type of mentality, where as Pete Carroll is the high energy, motivational type of coach. Their coaching styles fit their own unique personalities, yet you will find several similarities between the two. The one that seems to stands out thr most, is how they constantly, consistently improve what they are doing.
Toward the end of his career Wooden allowed two professors (Ronald Gallimore and Roland Tharp) to follow him throughout the season to watch him while he worked. Gallimore and Tharp were studying Wooden to see what they could take back to their teaching careers, and consequently improve what they were doing. Coach Wooden allowed them to do so, because he wanted to find out where he could improve. They published their experience in “You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden’s Teaching Principles and Practices”. In a nutshell, the book discusses how Coach Wooden was not a coach that yelled a lot, gave motivational speeches, or had extremely high energy at practice and games. The thing they highlighted, is that he gave constant, consistent feedback to his athletes all practice on how they should improve. He figured out the best way to communicate with each of his athletes so they could comprehend what he wanted them to know. Each practice was scripted and prepared well before the actually day. Coach Wooden taught that if they were not ready for the game by the time they were ready to play, no speech would help them be ready.
Coach Carroll failed during the first couple of opportunities he was given as a Head Coach in the NFL. Regardless, he never stopped trying to improve. At USC he made some key changes, and pioneered one of the best football programs to several conference championships, as well as two national titles. When he finally got his opportunity to coach again in the NFL, he took what he had learned and still continued to change how he did things. Five years later, he coached the Seattle Seahawks to winning their first Super Bowl. He has been making constant and consistent improvements throughout his whole career and I will not be surprised if he wins one or two more Super Bowls before he retires.
That is our approach to helping our athletes. We continue to find ways to improve, even if it is small and minute. A bunch of small steady steps to help us achieve our goals for our athletes, will help them better in the long run, than trying to make big changes that don’t have staying power. Contact us now if you want us to help you achieve your goals.
Sincerely,
Donny Mateaki
Leave a Reply