Be More Critical

Coaches often have an eye for detail. They see things in such a way that fans, players, or everyday critics simply do not. It's one of the big reasons that they are behind the bench and it is also the same reason that they are responsible for people/athletes. It's vital that coaches are critical in their duties - It's a huge part of their job and it's needed if they wish for their teams to succeed. But, it is a trying and tough question to ask ourselves if we are actually being critical enough. Do we sometimes just let things slide under the carpet? Do we neglect things that at first glance don't seem all that important? Are we quick to dismiss things that don't interest us? These are just a few questions that almost all coaches can ponder and probably concur with. We've all done it, and some coaches have a habit of doing it over-and-over. It's not good, and here's why.

Being critical doesn't mean that you are close-minded or ignorant of other opinions - It simply means that you are willing to question things in order to improve a situation, a standard, a person, or yourself. A critical person is a person who thinks - It's a person who cares - And it's a person who wants to get better. If a coach is not critical, then how can their team improve? Surely, they will remain stuck in the same situation time-after-time OR be worse off down the road.

It is true that a lot of folks do not like people who are critical - Mainly because critical people are willing to go beyond the surface to find out details and technicalities that an average person is not. This is the difference between good and great coaching - Going the extra mile. It's important that coaches are critical in their everyday duties - It's not good to leave things at "good enough". Doing so is actually quite regressive because it fuels feelings of satisfaction - If one is satisfied, how can one grow? I mean, really, once you're satisfied, you no longer want more, correct?

We, as coaches, must be critical of all things - Ourselves, our coaching performances, our players, our practices, game film, programming, and the list goes on. Assessing situations and scenarios helps teams improve and outdo their competition. Putting in the extra work makes a huge difference come game day, and being critical of things such as weak areas allows teams to flourish. I guarantee you that if you put a critical coach up against a coach who is satisfied, the critical coach will win 10 times out of 10.

We cannot settle for mediocrity. We cannot allow weak-mindedness to slip in. If we wish to become great coaches, we must continue to be critical beings. We must question, press, and try things that others are not. If we want to succeed as coaches, we must be willing to be more critical.