Set the Table
As our players continue growing as leaders it’s essential they take control of leadership opportunities when they are presented. Our practices present numerous leadership opportunities for players; unfortunately those opportunities are often scooped up by coaches, instead of players. What if our players when presented with leadership opportunities not only stepped up but competed with each other to be the first to step-up. What if those opportunities were led by the players and the coaches could simply observe and watch; our players and team would grow as a result. In the Beat The Coach exercises our players will begin establishing a new standard on how to handle the leadership opportunities they face each day in practice.
"“The Beat The Coach exercise is the exact exercise I had been hoping to discover. I’ve been wanting my players to take more ownership and initiative in leading each other in practice and the Beat The Coach has helped produce that result”"
Varsity Girls Basketball Coach – Pennsylvania
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Lesson Plan
Player Growth Areas
Exercise Length
Exercise Reminder Card
To emphasize and reinforce the lessons learned in this exercise with your players, download and share this graphic with them 24 hours after completing the exercise.
Quiz Questions
Use these questions below to engage after you have taught the exercise.
- What 6 areas in practice should players look to beat the coach in addressing?
- If something needs to be addressed, why should you not wait for the coach to address it?
- What happens on a team where players become an extension of the coach?
At Home
Coaches, use the below question, reflection, and action to engage parents, guardians, and other family members in the lessons learned in this exercise.
Suggestions on how to use: Email to parents the day you have taught this lesson, add it to the materials you send home, or text it to text message threads with your players.
- Question: Why is it important for a team’s leadership for the athletes to “Beat the Coach”?
- Reflection: Why should you look for leadership opportunities and not always rely on coaches?
- Action: Choose one area (focus, energy, enthusiasm, commitment, attention-to-detail and engagement) each day at practice and compete to be the athlete who can either address poor performance or enhance the level of performance first.
Coach’s Reflection
Coach, take a moment to reflect on the lesson and how you can lead by example to your players.
Coach, how quick are you to scoop up the leadership opportunities as they present themselves each day at practice? This week, be intentional about letting those moments breathe and allowing your athletes to step up as leaders. And when they do, be sure to celebrate them at a high level. Remember, that which gets praised well gets repeated well.