Through 23 years in education, I have learned one major rule to always follow…be the leader your students need. Be it students in a classroom, because every classroom section is different, or student-athletes on a team, because every team is different. Every good leader understands that every one of their followers will have something they bring to the table. How to get out of these individuals what you need is dependent on the leader doing their job well. Though there is the consideration of the team in most sports, the individual should never get lost amidst that dynamic.

            One of the most prominent stories I have heard, which is also one that I continue to return to, is from an interview I conducted for my master’s thesis in 2008. One of the interviewees recalled a previous coach who, though successful, only saw one way to lead, all the while knowing that several players did not respond well to the coaching style being exhibited. This caused my interviewee to seriously consider leaving their sport, as a professional, just to no longer have to endure the negative coaching behavior they were experiencing. As a coach, your role is to grow your athlete, and anything less, just for the sake of a win, is diminishing that duty.

            As a high school golf coach, we will do have team goals of region or state, but for the most part I do work to continue to see my athletes as individuals, as well. I make sure to form a connection with each athlete so I can help them meet their goals per season, but also for their golf career, as a whole. Some athletes only want to be part of a team and want to learn to play golf well, so we coach them to that capacity, knowing it could lead to more goals, but if not, we still met our duty. Some want to play for a chance at the state tournament or a college scholarship, or both. We work hard to provide these athletes with the opportunities to make that happen, even if it means pushing them a little harder when they really want to let up a little. Or duty is to remind them of their goals without causing burnout. A good coach knows that balance per athlete.

            As I look towards my career post-graduation, I would like to consider leaving the classroom and course and eventually gaining a leadership position in a school district’s athletic department. If I am able to do so, I want to be able to shift my coaching style to the coaches I will be responsible for growing. My goal would be the same as it was with my athletes, to meet everyone where they are and help them get to the next step in their careers all the while still making sure we work as a team to best push the district athletic programs forward.