The Double-Goal Coach: Positive Coaching Tools for Honoring the Game and Developing Winners in Sports and Life by Jim Thompson
Chapter 1:
I had never heard of the term “Double Goal Coach” prior to reading this book. I found the first chapter to be very informative and was happy to see my coaching style reinforced by others. I have heard a lot of coach’s talk about books such as “Seasons of Life” and other feel good coaching books. It is nice to see some “real” facts behind developing life skills prior to developing a winner only on the field. I always found this concept almost comical because if you develop leaders off the field that will always transcend to on the field. Thus, as a High School coach my # 1 job is developing young men to be a success in life as a father, husband, and friend. If I can accomplish this, then success on the field will be a given.
I agree that it is harder to be a positive coach. The facts prove that for every negative statement made, it will take 6-8 positive statements to overcome that one negative comment. Simply being aware of the power of words and their ramifications on a child is critical. The Bible states “reckless words pierce like a sword” (Proverbs 12:18). As coaches we need to understand the power we have to motivate and to devastate a child.
Chapter 2:
The author talks about “Ego orientation” being Scoreboard driven, and “task orientation” being called mastery of a skill. This is a great example of learning V.S. performing. As coaches we can easily get taken away from what we see “performing” vs. the actual learning (Internal State) and “mastery” of a skill. I use a “trigger” statement with my players that “Effort will lead to results”. We have no control over results but we do have control over our efforts. The book lists (3) key elements of a scoreboard definition:
Results
Comparison with others
Avoiding mistakes
If you look at all three elements an athlete has no control over any of them. This is probably why we see such inconsistencies in behavior and performance with the “Ego Orientation” approach to coaching. Not to mention comparison will lead to animosity and trying to avoid mistakes will solicit afraid to fail behavior.
ELM TREE OF MASTERY
EFFORT – LEARNING - MASTERY
The central advantage of Mastery is that it tends to decrease anxiety and increase self-confidence. This leads to situation specific confidence, in essence, if an individual feels confident in regards to their sport, they will stay with it longer and work harder at it. The irony is that by focusing on mastery, and not on the scoreboard, your team is more likely to win. ELM taught athletes are less likely to “Choke” under pressure.
Tool Kit for Redefining a Winner
ELM Tree of Mastery Script
Reward Unsuccessful Effort
Effort Goals
Stretch Goals – and the just right challenge
Team mistake Ritual
Targeted Symbolic Rewards
Tool # 1: E.L.M.
Focus on what we have true control over:
E = Effort – All what an athlete truly has control over is effort, attitude, and behavior.
L = Learning – If we continue to learn, we will continue to get better.
M = Mistakes – Mistakes are part of the learning process. Give your athletes permission to fail.
Acting like a winner involves three things:
Give your best effort all the time
Continue to learn and improve
Not letting mistakes (or fear of making a mistake) stop you.
Tool # 2 Rewards Unsuccessful Effort:
Action speaks a lot louder than words. If a coach rewards only successful efforts, than we are not encouraging effort but the results. Effort is more important than results because effort will lead to results. Look for unsuccessful efforts for teaching moments.
Tools # 3 / # 4 – Effort and Stretch Goals:
Most coaches set only outcome goals which are beyond our athlete’s control. By setting effort goals we allow our athletes to gain control of their situation and outcomes. These effort goals should be revisited regularly and stretch to be challenging yet attainable and realistic. Jim Collins Describes a stretch goal as “BHAG” Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Key to knowing he limit is that these goals are set with understanding.
Tool # 5 – Team mistake Ritual
This may be one of the single most powerful tools a coach can utilize with his team. The Mistake ritual can kick in once an error has taken place. The book used a Baseball example of if a player misses a grounder he can take of his cap and be allowed to be mad or frustrated at his error, once the gap is on it is back to baseball.
Tool # 6 – Targeted Symbolic Rewards
Targeted symbolic rewards can be a powerful tool for recognizing contributions to the team without undermining a player’s internal motivation. “Lollipop Example” Allows a coach to specifically reinforce behaviors and actions he would like to see more of in his athletes. I have in the past utilize shirts as a targeted Symbolic Reward. It is a black shirt and I give it to the players that have continually displayed effort, attitude, and behavior. I am shocked at how important the shirts have become to our players.
I had never heard of the term “Double Goal Coach” prior to reading this book. I found the first chapter to be very informative and was happy to see my coaching style reinforced by others. I have heard a lot of coach’s talk about books such as “Seasons of Life” and other feel good coaching books. It is nice to see some “real” facts behind developing life skills prior to developing a winner only on the field. I always found this concept almost comical because if you develop leaders off the field that will always transcend to on the field. Thus, as a High School coach my # 1 job is developing young men to be a success in life as a father, husband, and friend. If I can accomplish this, then success on the field will be a given.
I agree that it is harder to be a positive coach. The facts prove that for every negative statement made, it will take 6-8 positive statements to overcome that one negative comment. Simply being aware of the power of words and their ramifications on a child is critical. The Bible states “reckless words pierce like a sword” (Proverbs 12:18). As coaches we need to understand the power we have to motivate and to devastate a child.
Chapter 2:
The author talks about “Ego orientation” being Scoreboard driven, and “task orientation” being called mastery of a skill. This is a great example of learning V.S. performing. As coaches we can easily get taken away from what we see “performing” vs. the actual learning (Internal State) and “mastery” of a skill. I use a “trigger” statement with my players that “Effort will lead to results”. We have no control over results but we do have control over our efforts. The book lists (3) key elements of a scoreboard definition:
Results
Comparison with others
Avoiding mistakes
If you look at all three elements an athlete has no control over any of them. This is probably why we see such inconsistencies in behavior and performance with the “Ego Orientation” approach to coaching. Not to mention comparison will lead to animosity and trying to avoid mistakes will solicit afraid to fail behavior.
ELM TREE OF MASTERY
EFFORT – LEARNING - MASTERY
The central advantage of Mastery is that it tends to decrease anxiety and increase self-confidence. This leads to situation specific confidence, in essence, if an individual feels confident in regards to their sport, they will stay with it longer and work harder at it. The irony is that by focusing on mastery, and not on the scoreboard, your team is more likely to win. ELM taught athletes are less likely to “Choke” under pressure.
Tool Kit for Redefining a Winner
ELM Tree of Mastery Script
Reward Unsuccessful Effort
Effort Goals
Stretch Goals – and the just right challenge
Team mistake Ritual
Targeted Symbolic Rewards
Tool # 1: E.L.M.
Focus on what we have true control over:
E = Effort – All what an athlete truly has control over is effort, attitude, and behavior.
L = Learning – If we continue to learn, we will continue to get better.
M = Mistakes – Mistakes are part of the learning process. Give your athletes permission to fail.
Acting like a winner involves three things:
Give your best effort all the time
Continue to learn and improve
Not letting mistakes (or fear of making a mistake) stop you.
Tool # 2 Rewards Unsuccessful Effort:
Action speaks a lot louder than words. If a coach rewards only successful efforts, than we are not encouraging effort but the results. Effort is more important than results because effort will lead to results. Look for unsuccessful efforts for teaching moments.
Tools # 3 / # 4 – Effort and Stretch Goals:
Most coaches set only outcome goals which are beyond our athlete’s control. By setting effort goals we allow our athletes to gain control of their situation and outcomes. These effort goals should be revisited regularly and stretch to be challenging yet attainable and realistic. Jim Collins Describes a stretch goal as “BHAG” Big Hairy Audacious Goal. Key to knowing he limit is that these goals are set with understanding.
Tool # 5 – Team mistake Ritual
This may be one of the single most powerful tools a coach can utilize with his team. The Mistake ritual can kick in once an error has taken place. The book used a Baseball example of if a player misses a grounder he can take of his cap and be allowed to be mad or frustrated at his error, once the gap is on it is back to baseball.
Tool # 6 – Targeted Symbolic Rewards
Targeted symbolic rewards can be a powerful tool for recognizing contributions to the team without undermining a player’s internal motivation. “Lollipop Example” Allows a coach to specifically reinforce behaviors and actions he would like to see more of in his athletes. I have in the past utilize shirts as a targeted Symbolic Reward. It is a black shirt and I give it to the players that have continually displayed effort, attitude, and behavior. I am shocked at how important the shirts have become to our players.
Posts
