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Coaches
The Coaching Philosophy
The Positive Coaching Alliance
The Double Goal Coach™ by the Positive Coaching Alliance
What a Positive Culture Looks Like
Team Management Program (select teams only)
Select Football Coaches Directory COMING SOON!
Select Baseball Coaches Directory COMING SOON!
The Coaching Philosophy
- The Means to the End – Not all players are “created equal”. Some have very special talents or skills while others have to work harder at it. The experiences and circumstances the players are involved in and how they react to them is more important than the end result on the scoreboard. Our kids are “winners” when they develop strong work ethics, show how responsible they are in learning their position, are disciplined and persevere when times are tough. Character and integrity…that’s a winning combination.
- Responsibility to TEAM – You may have heard that the acronym of TEAM means “Together Everyone Achieves More”. It couldn’t be more true. The players will learn to put the needs of others before themselves. All positions on the field are important. The level of effort each player puts forth to perform at their very best at all times is the critical element to ensure success for all the others.
- Practice with Intensity – Players need to leave a practice pumped with a desire to test what they’ve learned in a game. We will plan every practice – on paper – against the clock. We have to keep things moving, keep them focused. It’s the only way to build a TEAM with the desire to out-perform.
- Praise, Praise, Praise – Every improvement, however small, deserves a compliment. One of the best things about coaching is seeing the players do better – individually and as a team. Let them know it – praise even minor accomplishments because they may only be minor to you, but major to them! We should continually attempt to foster this type of attitude—not only as coaches, assistant coaches and team moms; but also as parents. Heck, let’s teach our kids to do it with each of their teammates. Talk about unity!
- Life Lessons – We have seen the development of strong character qualities in those that experience the pains and challenges in sports training. An athlete’s involvement in sports is ultimately a portrayal of a sequence of events and decisions that will be replicated in other multiple endeavors that await them in their futures. There is an exhilaration of victory that comes from the fruits of their labor and the decisiveness of their choices; overcoming the multiple emotional, spiritual and physical battles that face them throughout any given day. These situations provide a “training ground” that provide the opportunity to place the youth of today on the road of EXCEL~eration”.
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The Positive Coaching Alliance
We are a proud member and sponsor of the Positive Coaching Alliance which was established at Stanford University in 1998. PCA believes that winning is a goal in youth sports but that there is a second, more important goal of using sports to teach life lessons through positive coaching.
In the United States, youth are dropping out of sports at an alarming rate. A major contributing factor is the "win at all cost" mentality of many parents and coaches that creates a pressure filled environment for the kids and ultimately turns them away from sports. According to Michigan State University's Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, children participating in organized sports tend to achieve higher results in school, develop excellent interpersonal skills and lead healthier lives.
Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) provides live, research-based training workshops and practical tools for coaches, parents and leaders who operate youth sports programs to get them on the same page about what it means to Honor the Game. Positive Coaching Alliance educates adults who shape the youth sports experience by offering partnership programs with YSO's, schools, cities and national sports governing bodies. PCA also provides corporations with the opportunity to offer sports parent workshops to their employees.
You may visit their website at www.positivecoach.org.
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The Double Goal Coach™ by the Positive Coaching Alliance
Coaches are the most important person in our organization. They determine the kind of experience our athletes have with sports. We are committed to the principles of Positive Coaching. We expect our coaches to be "Double-Goal Coaches™" who want to win and help players learn "life lessons" and positive character traits from sports. The following is what we expect from them during the season as a part of the ESN Coaching Philosophy.
- Model and teach your players to Honor the Game. Teach the elements of ROOTS (Respect for Rules, Opponents, Officials, Teammates, and one's Self).
- Appoint a parent to be "Culture Keeper" for the team.
- Share with your players' parents your desire for them to Honor the Game.
- Drill Honoring the Game in practice.
- Seize teachable moments to talk with players about Honoring the Game.
- Help players Redefine what it means to be a "Winner" in terms of Mastery, not just the Scoreboard:
- Teach players the ELM Tree of Mastery (Effort, Learning, and bouncing back from Mistakes).
- Use a "Team Mistake Ritual" (like "Flushing Mistakes) to help players quickly rebound from mistakes.
- Reward effort, not just good outcomes. Look to recognize players for unsuccessful effort.
- Encourage players to set "Effort Goals" that are tied to how hard they try.
- Use Targeted Symbolic Rewards to reinforce effort and team play.
- Fill your players' Emotional Tanks.
- Use encouragement and positive reinforcement as your primary method of motivating.
- Strive to achieve the 5:1 "Magic Ratio" of 5 positive reinforcements to each criticism/correction.
- Schedule "fun activities" for practices, so players will enjoy our sport.
- Use the "Buddy System" to teach players to fill each other's Emotional Tanks.
- Develop "player coaches" by asking for player input and asking rather than telling them what to do
- Learn to give "Kid-Friendly Criticism" so players will be able to hear it. Criticize in private, "Ask Permission," use the Criticism Sandwich, avoid giving criticism in non-teachable moments.
- Have Conversations during Team Meetings with your players at every practice and every game.
- Review Honoring the Game, the ELM Tree and the Emotional Tank throughout the season.
- Remind players about these three concepts before and after every game.
- Ask questions and encourage players to speak and contribute during team meetings.
- Use the Winner's Circle after a game to reinforce the positive things players did.
At the beginning and end of the season we will survey each team’s players and their parents to give our coaches feedback on how they did at implementing these Positive Coaching principles during the season.
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What a Positive Culture Looks Like
Bottom line, we want to create a culture where kids love to play the game. They look forward to practices and games as times when they will have fun. The joy they find in playing will last a lifetime.
In a positive youth sports culture, all resources do not flow to the elite level. Athletes have options determined by their ability and interest. Elite athletes compete in "meritocratic" environments in which a place on the team and playing time are determined by ability, performance and effort. Less talented or skilled athletes, or simply athletes who want a different kind of experience, have the option to play in developmental or recreational programs in which they are guaranteed the right to play at least a part of every game.
At every level, players are proud to have their families and friends see them play. Knowing that they are an important part of the team contributes to this proud feeling; their coaches are supportive and do not embarrass them in front of those watching; they are confident that their parents are supportive and will not confront the officials over questionable calls; and ultimately, they know that those watching are proud of them whether or not they win the game.
All involved in youth sports (players, coaches, parents, officials, and fans) realize what a special time this is. They look at their involvement as a privilege that they never want to dishonor. They realize that sports provide a time when they get to interact with people they do not see on a regular basis, and they come to cherish this time. Players know that this is a time when they can learn from each other (as well as from the coach), and the coach sees how much can be learned from the players. Players look forward to playing challenging opponents because they push them to perform to their highest potential.
Coaches feel the responsibility not only to teach their players the skills and strategy behind the game, but also a respect for the tradition of the game and for all who are involved (teammates, opponents, officials, and fans). Learning to honor the game contributes to a growing sense of responsibility and maturing moral reasoning that helps athletes prepare to become contributing citizens of the larger community.
Coaches realize that what they are teaching their players carries far beyond the field into the classroom, the home, and even into future jobs. Coaches have their players (and team as a whole) focus on their effort and personal improvement, rather than simply on the results of the game. They help players recognize that mistakes are an inevitable and important part of the learning process and that a key to success is being able to rebound from mistakes with renewed determination. This way, players gain a sense of control over their own development and confidence in their ability to succeed, in life as well as in sports.
Players have an important voice in creating this positive culture, and there are multiple and ongoing opportunities for them to shape their own environment. During team discussions players speak and contribute. When decisions are being made that affect the entire team/league, coaches and league organizers make a concerted effort to be approachable and players' ideas are sought out and considered. Having this voice increases players' sense of internal motivation, and they feel a stronger sense of control over their surroundings.
This positive culture encourages athletes to play multiple sports and never pressures players to specialize in one sport too early in their careers. Coaches resist the urge to pressure their players to give up other sports besides their own, realizing that what might give them the best winning percentage is not always the same as what is in their players' best interest.
The Challenge
When a game is on the line, can we really live up to this description of a positive culture? Can we really expect coaches, players, fans, and parents to uphold this positive culture if it might result in losing the game? The answer has to be, "Yes!" All involved must realize that winning cannot be the only goal. Maintaining a positive culture where positive character traits are developed in our players must come first. When the game is on the line and tensions are running high, it can take a high level of moral courage to keep our focus on what is really important, but if we can do that, we will teach our children an invaluable lesson. We must believe that maintaining this positive culture is so vital that we are willing to stand up to others that are putting it in danger. Our vision needs to stretch far beyond winning a specific game to making a lasting impact on the lives of our players.
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Team Management Program (select teams only)
ESN has developed a Team Management Program that helps a coach establish his own unique program for his team. Even the best select coaches have a hard time "managing" the entire process. We work with our coaches to find the right program for his team. Most importantly, ESN coaches deliver their own customized program that includes their personalized team initiatives for the season in a clear, concise and focused manner.
STANDARD PROGRAM FEATURES:
There are standard features that are included as part of every ESN Team Management Program. These features provide the very platform necessary to support a team’s creation, marketing and recruiting effort, delivery of the sponsorship and fundraising infrastructure; as well as other essential needs like team insurance. In summary, the program includes:
- Immediate status as being part of a 501(c)(3) non-profit association
- Support in the marketing efforts for your team
- Hosting of Try-outs in your region for the purpose of recruiting and evaluating select players
- Providing access to a Peer Database that provides detailed evaluation results of participating select players (under construction – not available at this time)
- Providing team insurance coverage
- Registration to the United States Sports Specialty Association (USSSA) – for baseball teams
- Support in delivering the premier features we promise to your sponsors – which includes a team banner as one of the necessary elements
- Planning and administrative support of fundraising activities
- Delivery of the ESN Coaching Manual – providing tools, aides and forms that are useful in coaching and managing ESN select teams
- Each player receives an official ESN T-shirt and window sticker
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CUSTOMIZED TEAM MANAGEMENT PROGRAM FEATURES:
There are a multitude of customized features available for coaches to choose from as part of their team initiatives for the season. This enables our coaches to include (or exclude) items that most commonly make up a team’s seasonal needs (such as uniforms and other equipment and competition registrations), as well as their desires (such as coaches’ apparel, team pictures, awards and even specialized instructional clinics). The ESN Team Management Program equips coaches with the ability to clearly define and communicate their customized program to the parents of their players while focusing their time and attention to what really matters… being their team’s Coach!
Select Football Coaches Directory COMING SOON!
Select Baseball Coaches Directory COMING SOON!
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