Key To Winning, Put Down The Butter Knife
Where I live we have a lot of trees, big tall ones. On occasion one of those big trees has to come down or a big limb has to be trimmed. I don’t know about you, but when this is the case I’m getting out a big power chain saw to do the job right. I wouldn’t use a butter knife to cut off a big tree limb. Sure, it can be done, but I would probably get frustrated and quit long before it was accomplished.
This is the process a lot of coaches follow when preparing their team. They work hard and their players work hard, but something is still missing. The emphasis on winning is like using a butter knife when a power saw is needed. Using the right tools is important and very satisfying after the job is completed. Everyone wants to win, but few prepare to win. The key to winning is building self-confidence in players. Players that play with confidence don’t talk about winning, they do it. Winning is a product of what they do.
Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, talent is important. Practicing to improve your skill must be done at all times. But if the approach is wrong, even if you do win, the scars will be deep and too many to enjoy the accomplishment. This is a mistake many fathers make with their young athletes. They want them to do well and push them, but frustration sets in. The accomplishments are not enjoyed and there is always more to do. The positive is overlooked and the failures are pointed out first.
A parent should be a sounding board for their child, not a critic. After you listen awhile, then they will take your suggestions. The same is true with the coach, but the difference is the players are eager and waiting for your instruction, but the timing of the instruction is important. Good coaches think first, talk last. (not a skill easily learned, it takes practice)
One of my pet peeves is parents that stand at the fence and give their son advice. Is the advice wrong? Not always, sometimes they are reminding them of important teaching points, but the timing is bad. The last thing I need for a player to do is start thinking. It’s tough enough without having 10 things going through your head and trying to win the game. We have prepared our players for the game, now they need to go out and execute. Don’t think, just do what is natural and what has been practiced. When I was playing we had a term for those guys that could hit during Batting Practice, but would freeze during a game. We called them 5 O’clock Hitters. For a night game we usually took BP at 5:00 pm. Everyone was relaxed, not thinking too much. But as soon as it hit game time the stands were full and the lights were on, some players just started thinking too much. Strike one, strike two, sit down.
The key to winning? Put down the butter knife first, then learn to use the right tools in teaching your players the process. The journey is great and the end product is much more enjoyable.
