coaches expectations

Possess a Positive Attitude

The attitude of our team begins with its coaches. Enthusiasm is contagious. Coaches should be able to create a positive environment. This applies to interactions with players, fellow coaches, parents, and faculty. Use positive reinforcement instead of negative as often as possible.

Coaches will approach situations with a “yes we can” attitude. Athletes will not believe something is possible unless we convince them that it is possible.

Be Selfless

The program is ours, not mine. It does not matter where an idea comes from, if it helps the team then it is the correct decision. Coaching is a service profession. We have a great opportunity to help shape the lives of young people every day. All coaches must realize that it is not about them; it is about the athletes. All successes, failures, ideas, and rewards belong to the team not any one individual.

Be an Educator

All coaches must be teachers. Great teachers make great coaches. Teach the game. If something is happening on the field it is either coached, or allowed to happen. If the point is not getting through, you are not teaching it. Different people learn different ways.

Expect Greatness

It is human nature for people to sell themselves short. As coaches in our program we need to set high expectations, and then push our athletes towards achieving those.

Remain Loyal

The success of the team is dependent upon each coach being on the same page. To accomplish this everyone must buy in to the vision, policies, and decisions set out by the head coach for his program. In addition all coaches must recognize the chain of command and utilize it.

Be Passionate About Coaching

Passion is being committed not just interested. All coaches will truly love what they do as a coach, educator, and mentor. They will demonstrate great determination and a competitive will that will model for athletes what it takes to be a champion. Coaches will coach for the impact they have on student’s lives, not for money, titles, or ego.

Make No Excuses

Our job is to prepare our student athletes for success on Friday nights. We can not recruit players, and must play with who we get. So figure out how to get the most out of those players. Lack of talent is not a reason for lack of success.

Be a Clear Communicator

Clear communication will clear up a great deal of problems that arise on a team. We as coaches must be clear in our communication to athletes, faculty, staff, and parents. Never show disagreements in front of the players. Any ideas are welcome at staff meetings, but once a decision is reached all coaches are expected to buy into that decision with energy and conviction. Communication with players should be positive and honest.

It is also important to be consistent, not only in our message, but in our terminology. If it is a base block then everyone calls it a base block.

Have Great Work Ethic

As coaches in the state of Texas you are paid a salary to coach football. Therefore, it is not a hobby it is your profession. All coaches should be self motivated to put in the work to be a champion. It is also imperative that coaches work smart not just hard. If you want the best, you must out work the rest.

Focus on The Process

We would all like to win a state and district championship, but our focus should be on the process to get there. Focusing on the end result will not allow us to focus on the particular task at hand.

Create an Environment of Trust

The key to any successful relationship is trust. Players must trust coaches, coaches must trust players, players must trust players, and coaches must trust coaches. Coaches will earn the respect and trust of the program by their common commitment to being a champion.

Use Imagination

All coaches will exercise the ability to think outside the box. Each football team is unique and coaches should have the ability to create ways for our players to be successful. Just because something worked in the past for someone does not guarantee it is the best for someone else in the future.

Continue to Develop Your Craft

In football there is no off-season. It is more a collection of different phases of a season. There is a great deal of opportunity to improve yourself as a coach every year. With players and coaches no one stays the same, you either get better or you get worse. Put in the same effort to improve as a coach as you would expect out of your players.