The Responsibilities of CoachingThe Responsibilities of CoachingScott RosbergScott Rosberg

406-223-2327406-223-2327 Park High SchoolPark High School scott.rosberg@livingston.k12.mt.us

Coach with CharacterCoach with Character jsrosberg@gmail.com

Proactive CoachingProactive Coaching www.proactivecoaching.info

The Responsibilities of CoachingThe Responsibilities of Coaching

Responsibility – ability to be reliable, dependableResponsibility – ability to be reliable, dependable

Taking care of what needs to be taken care ofTaking care of what needs to be taken care of

Kids’ Responsibilities – Kids’ Responsibilities – Easy for us as coaches to talk Easy for us as coaches to talk

about the responsibilities that our kids must live up to.about the responsibilities that our kids must live up to.

Coach’s Responsibilities – Coach’s Responsibilities – We must look in the mirror We must look in the mirror

and do a self-check on our own responsibilities and how and do a self-check on our own responsibilities and how

well we live up to them.well we live up to them.

Various Responsibilities of CoachesVarious Responsibilities of Coaches

Coaches need to be responsible:Coaches need to be responsible: for their own actionsfor their own actions to their playersto their players to their players’ parentsto their players’ parents to their staff of coachesto their staff of coaches to the other coaches in the athletic programto the other coaches in the athletic program to their administrationsto their administrations to the school/league communityto the school/league community to their familiesto their families to their standardsto their standards to the profession of coachingto the profession of coaching

Responsibility for One’s Own ActionsResponsibility for One’s Own Actions

Actions are far more important than words.Actions are far more important than words. PunctualityPunctuality PreparationPreparation PoisePoise RespectRespect Work EthicWork Ethic Team-first AttitudeTeam-first Attitude SportsmanshipSportsmanship Living the Team StandardsLiving the Team Standards

Responsibility to Your PlayersResponsibility to Your Players

We owe it to our kids to be responsible for our actions.We owe it to our kids to be responsible for our actions.

Role Models – live your life the way you want them to Role Models – live your life the way you want them to live theirs.live theirs.

Must strive to do OUR best so that they will strive to do Must strive to do OUR best so that they will strive to do THEIR best. (effort, accountability, unselfishness)THEIR best. (effort, accountability, unselfishness)

Work to provide kids the best opportunity to have a Work to provide kids the best opportunity to have a positive athletic experience.positive athletic experience.

Responsibility to Your PlayersResponsibility to Your PlayersTake each element of the experience seriously (but don’t take Take each element of the experience seriously (but don’t take

yourselves so seriously).yourselves so seriously).

Balance the seriousness with FUN – (it’s the reason they play)Balance the seriousness with FUN – (it’s the reason they play)

Preparation – extremely importantPreparation – extremely important

Specifics - X’s & O’s, technique/strategySpecifics - X’s & O’s, technique/strategy

General – behavior, attitude, effort, team, standardsGeneral – behavior, attitude, effort, team, standards

Be a Teacher-Coach (Be a Teacher-Coach (Character Counts Character Counts article on John Wooden)article on John Wooden)

Level of Play – Youth, MS, HS, “C”, JV, VLevel of Play – Youth, MS, HS, “C”, JV, V

Owe it to them to push them to their best – improvement.Owe it to them to push them to their best – improvement.

Responsibility to the Players’ ParentsResponsibility to the Players’ Parents

Often overlooked by coachesOften overlooked by coaches

Biggest responsibility is safety of the kids – facility, Biggest responsibility is safety of the kids – facility, equipment, techniques, predators.equipment, techniques, predators.

Treat their kids with respect. Treat their kids with respect. Do not abuse the role you have been given as a coach.Do not abuse the role you have been given as a coach.No belittling, demeaning, embarrassing, hurting.No belittling, demeaning, embarrassing, hurting.

Communicate with them.Communicate with them.Pre-Season Parent/Athlete Meeting, Policy Sheet, etc.Pre-Season Parent/Athlete Meeting, Policy Sheet, etc.Listen to their concerns/questions – open line of Listen to their concerns/questions – open line of communication.communication.

Responsibility to Other CoachesResponsibility to Other CoachesYour StaffYour Staff

Head Coach to Assistant & Assistant Coach to HeadHead Coach to Assistant & Assistant Coach to HeadBe a “Team-Player” – for the good of the team.Be a “Team-Player” – for the good of the team.

Other Coaches in the Athletic ProgramOther Coaches in the Athletic ProgramYou are part of the entire “team” of coaches.You are part of the entire “team” of coaches.Be a good teammate to all of them.Be a good teammate to all of them.Your actions/decisions affect the other teams & programs.Your actions/decisions affect the other teams & programs.Help them learn, develop, and grow.Help them learn, develop, and grow.Be a student of the game and of coaching in general.Be a student of the game and of coaching in general.Find/Be a “Mentor Coach.”Find/Be a “Mentor Coach.”Watch, ask, listen, absorb all that you can.Watch, ask, listen, absorb all that you can.

Responsibility to Your AdministrationResponsibility to Your Administration

Another overlooked groupAnother overlooked group

Follow the Rules/Guidelines/StandardsFollow the Rules/Guidelines/Standards

Perform the job expected of you to the best of your Perform the job expected of you to the best of your abilities.abilities.

Keep administration “in the loop.” (No blind-sides)Keep administration “in the loop.” (No blind-sides)

Be a positive leader.Be a positive leader.You’re in the spotlight – SHINE!You’re in the spotlight – SHINE!Speak to other organizations, get involved in the community, Speak to other organizations, get involved in the community, go to other school events, etc.go to other school events, etc.

Responsibility to School/CommunityResponsibility to School/CommunityLive up to the name “Coach.”Live up to the name “Coach.”

Appropriate/Inappropriate comments & actionsAppropriate/Inappropriate comments & actions

BB vs. Wrestling ScenarioBB vs. Wrestling Scenario

Represent your team and your community well.Represent your team and your community well.

Sr. citizen homes, grade schools, clean-up days, etc.Sr. citizen homes, grade schools, clean-up days, etc.Talk to players about behavior in school/community.Talk to players about behavior in school/community.Perception of one becomes the reality for all.Perception of one becomes the reality for all.

Sport programs are often THE identity of a community.Sport programs are often THE identity of a community.

Not only about winning either – DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!Not only about winning either – DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!

Responsibility to Your Own FamilyResponsibility to Your Own FamilyYour core team for life – keep them involved.Your core team for life – keep them involved.

UnmarriedUnmarriedMarried, no childrenMarried, no childrenMarried with childrenMarried with children

When the season is over, make sure loved ones come When the season is over, make sure loved ones come first (and second and third!).first (and second and third!).

Responsibility to Team StandardsResponsibility to Team StandardsTeach, Model and Emphasize good character for your team to Teach, Model and Emphasize good character for your team to

live by. live by. Live by those character elements yourself.Live by those character elements yourself.Establish Team Standards Establish Team Standards

Policy SheetPolicy SheetPhilosophyPhilosophyCore Covenants (Bruce Brown)Core Covenants (Bruce Brown)GoalsGoalsExpectationsExpectations

Discipline – Be disciplined and instill disciplineDiscipline – Be disciplined and instill disciplineHold yourself and your kids accountable to team standards and Hold yourself and your kids accountable to team standards and

expectations. You lose your team’s trust when you don’t.expectations. You lose your team’s trust when you don’t.

Responsibility to the ProfessionResponsibility to the Profession

We all impact the profession of coaching by how we We all impact the profession of coaching by how we handle ourselves and our teams.handle ourselves and our teams.

Youth Youth middle school middle school high school high school Instill good character traits and habits, so the rest of Instill good character traits and habits, so the rest of

the profession deals with kids who already have the profession deals with kids who already have positives instilled.positives instilled.

Unfortunately, the opposite of the above happens all Unfortunately, the opposite of the above happens all too often. (BB situation & Aussie Rules FB Player)too often. (BB situation & Aussie Rules FB Player)

SportsmanshipSportsmanshipBlowoutsBlowouts

BlowoutsBlowoutsNo cut & dried rule, but coaches MUST do No cut & dried rule, but coaches MUST do

something about it.something about it.

Justification – “Opponent needs to get better.”Justification – “Opponent needs to get better.”

Nothing good comes out of major blowouts.Nothing good comes out of major blowouts.

What is a blowout in your sport?What is a blowout in your sport?

Have a plan - prepare your team for blowouts.Have a plan - prepare your team for blowouts.

Great teaching moments on sportsmanshipGreat teaching moments on sportsmanship

Your Legacy

Develop young people, not just athletes and victories.

“How will I be remembered by my players, their parents, the fans, and the community?”

You have complete control over the answer.