LITTLE THINGS MAKE BIG THINGS HAPPEN.

Whether it is harping on an athlete about technique, remembering a member’s birthday or cleaning a piece of equipment after class all of the small things add up to the big picture. Do not allow complacency, laziness or boredom to overtake or impact the way you operate; all are a state of mind & something you control.  Commit to excellence & consistency when it comes to the little things; be organized & detail oriented. REMEMBER: Success is a culmination of a bunch of little events. Focus on doing the little things right every time & the big things will generally take care of themselves.

 

BE A TEACHER & A COACH.

Coach John Wooden coined the term teacher-coach during his winning career as head basketball coach at UCLA.  He emphasized the importance of being a teacher 1st & a coach 2nd.  Do not simply bark out orders concerning weight, reps & sets; instead explain the movements, provide reasoning behind certain mechanics, demonstrate exactly how you want it performed & ask for their feedback to check for understanding.

 

NO WRONG REPS.

The longer an athlete performs a movement incorrectly the more difficult it is to fix. Even if it is during a WOD allowing an athlete to perform reps improperly increases their risk of injury & is detrimental to their overall development. Be consistent, picky & detail oriented when it comes to form or mechanics. An error, big or small, is still an error & needs to be corrected. Fix it early, & make it perfect every time.

 

WHEN IN DOUBT, GO BACK TO THE BASICS.

As you coach there maybe times where you know an athlete is performing a skill incorrectly but you are unsure of exactly where the breakdown is taking place. When in doubt, go back to the basics of the movement. No matter the skill level most athletes will benefit from reviewing the basics & fundamentals associated with any movement.

 

NEVER STOP COACHING.

There is not a single athlete that can perform every movement perfectly. Elite athletes are constantly dissecting their form in order to find the slightest breakdown; they know once an error is highlighted they have an opportunity to make an improvement & continue their development.  As a coach commit to constantly challenging each & every athlete to get better at all times.