It has arrived… the last two days… the bane of all coaches, especially fall coaches.
Professional Development In-Service on Pre-Season Practice days.
Now, I never wanted to shirk any of my teaching duties or responsibilities, but I can remember stressing, mentally going through “to-do” lists, and thinking to myself virtually every minute of each session …
“Man, I have soooo much to do… I should have gotten up earlier (like 3:00 AM instead of 5:00 AM)”
Now, that being said, each year I go back to something I learned over 30 years ago in my first year of teaching and coaching. I was at Blue Springs High School, and was an assistant in Fred Merrell’s football program. Coach Merrell would always say, before each clinic we attended that,
”If I can get just one thing out of a clinic, then I consider it worthwhile. I don’t think I have ever been to a clinic that wasn’t worthwhile”
So with Coach Merrell whispering in my ear, I approached this year, as always, trying to find that one kernel to take away that will improve my teaching and coaching.
This year it slapped me in the face… and a Seth Godin post that I read early in the morning was prescient:
Don’t measure anything unless the data helps you make a better decision or change your actions.
If you’re not prepared to change your diet or your workouts, don’t get on the scale.
Most of the last two days has revolved around data… from Performance Based Teacher Evaluations, to MSIP, MAP test, STAR test, and all educational related data in between.
The big takeaway… finding efficient and productive ways to use all the data we have access to…. and how can we best use the data to help improve the performance of our students?
How does this relate to coaching?
- What data do you collect in your football program?
- What are you measuring?
- What are you testing?
- How are you using that data?
- Do your players understand how and why you are using the data?
- What data are you collecting when you scout an opponent… or yourself?
- How are you using that data?
- Are you using it?
If you’re not prepared to change your diet or workouts, don’t get on the scale!
Related Posts:
- What are you Measuring?
- You Reap What You Sow
- Lifetime Learning
- Defensive Game Planning: All Posts, Forms, and Video
You Can Do More… your brain is lying to you…. Don’t Believe It!
Jeff Floyd – youcandomore1@yahoo.com