“All you need to [coach] is a few tools, a little instruction, and a vision in your mind.”― Bob Ross (Ross, 2017)

Faith, Process and Bob Ross: Coaching the Modern High Schooler to Success

What are kids like now?

What is their world like?

What are kids like now….Kids have more choices….they have more choices than ever they can walk away from you and be just fine doing something else.

They see themselves through a different lense than 20 years ago….(even 5 years ago)....comparing, commenting, watching... gratification through empty friends.

They are more vulnerable than ever to depression, heartache, negativity and to each others self absorbed bullshit.

What are kids like now…They have access to more information than ever in the history of the world…If you don’t know something they will find it for you.

They are more experiential than ever... for school it used to be you just needed interesting and or useful information to share, then you needed good stories, then you needed audio visuals and now you need activities and experiences in the classroom. (Elmore, 2015)

What are kids like now?

They get more out of transforming experiences then the classroom...thus making our jobs more important than

ever (Elmore, 2015)

They want connection before they will listen to you...They want to be believed in, before they will believe in you.. no matter who you are. (Elmore, 2015)

They are gifted physically, cognitively, and socially, but lack severely in emotional intelligence...they lack patience, endurance, responsibility, empathy and connection skills (Elmore 2015)

Coaching is like painting...

The canvas..(kids, team)... might be a different size or shape but the techniques you use will be the same.

We talk endlessly about science and workouts.. but ultimately your context...your story is YOURS. You have to paint your own picture.

This job we do is all art and science…

Coaching ...It’s not about who writes the best workouts, it’s about making great decisions….It is more about thinking effectively than just telling kids stuff to do.

PROCESS

over

OUTCOME

TOOLS and RESOURCES

FAITH

5 Elements of Effective Thinking (Starbird and Burger)

Understand Deeply: foundational knowledge is best. Stick to basics done really well

Make Mistakes: Remind yourself of previous mistakes, and consider them.

Raise Questions: The more you ask, the better...most important is finding the right question

Follow the Flow of Ideas: Use others and your kids, Small ideas can have huge payoff

Change: Sometimes the old ways (techniques) are best...but you have to be willing to progress and adjust and change and use your knowledge to create something new.

Process What is your process as coach? What is your technique? Your Modus Operandi?

How do you make decisions? What’s your metacognitive approach?

● Are you giving in to your confirmation bias? ● Is your ego too big to be wrong? Is it your way or the highway?● Are you doing things just because thats the way you have always done?

What is YOUR Process: Gathering Information

How do you gather information? How much time do you spend? Where From?

● Podcasts...magness and marcus?● Reading? How wide ranging is your reading list? “Good To Great”? ● Discussion? How often are you meeting other coaches for beer?● Clinics? State? National...how wide ranging? ● Communication with your kids? How when and how long do give them to talk?● Communication with your staff? How, When, Where how much time?

Process...Kids have Choices:

● How flexible and accommodating are you for your student athletes life?

Kids have access to information:

● Can you explain to your athletes in plain english why you do things?● How much do you include your kids in the training?

Kids are experiential…

● What is the experience like on your team? What is your culture like?● What is it like to be coached by you?

ProcessKids are brilliant and gifted physically and socially...but emotionally lacking…

● How are you handling their emotional intelligence? ● What is your own self care routines?

Kids want connection...a mentor or guide not a sage on the stage.

● How are you connecting with your kids?

Tools and Resources... What do you have to work with?

>Track? Indoor facility? Pool? Weight Room?

What do you have nearby your school that can be of use? Use your Environment!

How creative and open can you be?.(...complain a little but DO SOMETHING…)

Can you accomplish______________by using ________________?

Tools and Resources…Team Website

Twitter, Instagram

Final Surge

Farnam Street

HMMR Media

Jack Daniels VDOT Calculator, Vigil, Canova, Lydiard, Nokes….(magness)

Breckenridge Brewery, Blue Spruce Brewery and Crown Royal and Jack Daniels when necessary.

FAITH: Keeping the ship sailing in the storm.

Faith…

Nothing ever goes as planned…it never looks how you think it will look….

2013 Girls Regional Title…..

2018 Season….

Stockdale Paradox…

Balance Realism and Optimism…..

Don’t die of a broken heart…..

This is bad and we have to do this to survive.....maybe we get out of it…

Stockdale Paradox…you must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, and at the same time, have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.https://www.jimcollins.com/concepts/confront-the-brutal-facts.html

Have faith in those around you…. And you. Create a staff and coaching network that you can lean on.

Give your kids the keys to the car sometimes have faith in them.

Be ready, when the time comes to seize whatever opportunities come your way stay faithful to yourself and your story...and have faith you will prevail in the end.

“I can't think of anything more rewarding than being able to express yourself to others through [coaching]. Exercising the imagination, experimenting with talents, being creative; these things, to me, are truly the windows to your soul.”― Bob Ross, The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross, Vol. 29 (Ross, 2017)

Elmore, T. (2015). Generation iY: Secrets to Connecting with Today’s Teens & Young Adults in the Digital Age. Atlanta, GA: Poet Gardener Publishing in association with Growing Leaders, Inc.

Collins, J. C. (2009). Good to great: why some companies make the leap ... and others dont. New York, NY: Collins.

Ross, B. (2017). Bob Ross: the joy of painting. New York, NY: Universe.

CITATION

Quick Case Study 2: Coaching and Training the Fragile Mind

Student athletes with mental blocks...the underperforming thinker who can’t think themselves into a good race.

How do you handle them?

What is your process for getting them back to competitive racing?

What tools and resources do you use?

Quick Case Study 1: Coaching and Training the Fragile BodyOften Injured or Physically Fragile Student-Athletes...In general…..

How do you handle them?

What is your process for getting them back to competitive racing?

What tools and resources do you use?