I’ve struggled to start this blog… is this an opinion piece, a self-reflection piece, or an education piece. Well, I’ll stop right there… I don’t think I have the audacity to educate the very educated sports people that I have had the pleasure (mainly) of working with over the years.
So, we’ll just meander through some of my thoughts and ramblings on positive coaching.
Do we just think of our coach on the field of play or is it much wider than that?
I remember my first coach as a teenager, she was the county coach and I had just made the squad. Helping me play better was her role. She was positive, trustworthy, funny and gentle and mostly empowering. She was fair and harsh, strict, and strong, distant but approachable.
I was the daughter of very busy parents; she filled a gap, taught me autonomy and gave me freedom of choice. Oh yes, and she was a woman in a very male dominated world of sport. I’ve never considered the impact that she had on me and my life until thinking about positive coaching. I don’t remember learning to drive the ball into the back corner, cross court drop or return the serve. But I remember her with love and warmth. I didn’t realise until later in my life that my mum and dad were not great at getting me places, understanding a sporting schedule and ensuring I was prepared. My coach helped fill that gap without fuss, without payment, and without much thanks. She had my back and pushed me forward, she taught me to schedule, to prepare, to rely on myself. She showed me that I mattered, not the score or the win, just the getting there, showing up and trying hard.
So, for all the coaches on the sidelines, driving the bus, empowering the maybes, the might dos and the reluctant. Thank you, and keep showing up for us. What you do is life-changing.
Related Services
Find out more about Developing People in Sport!
