Coaches

Welcome to the SportsLog website.

Please feel free to look around the site. Refer your players if you feel it is helpful. Give suggestions to us at support@sportslogapp.com.

A few thoughts on coaching - one of the toughest jobs there is:

1) Motivation is #1 as a coach:

• Motivation for 4 year olds is different from middle schoolers which is different from players on a varsity high school team.

• Finding what motivates your team is the key to helping them reach their goals.

• Kids want to have fun - whether the team is winning or losing, the coach can make it a good season or a bad season. 

• Your attitude determines whether the kids have fun or dread the season.  Try to stay positive. 

2) Understand your players skill level and abilities:

• Not all players have the skills. 

• Even a more advanced team might have some real weaknesses (every team does).

• Recognize the weaknesses, but don't single out players.  Teach, but don't alienate. 

• Be happy with performance based on ability, not some unreachable standard for each player.

3) Ask for players input:

• They know more than you give them credit for and if you listen your player may have some good ideas or insights.

• What are their weaknesses and strengths in their mind?

• What are the team’s weaknesses and strengths?

• How to improve practices? 

• The insights of your players might surprise you.

4) Have a playbook:

• On a team, there are frequently large gaps in knowledge. Whether freshmen versus seniors, fifth graders with different knowledge, or first time .   

• The only sport that seems to issue a playbook is football, but every sport could benefit from a playbook. 

• A playbook allows everyone on the team to have the same knowledge base (catch up young/new players), same vocabulary, same philosophy. 

• Critical teaching points can be communicated more clearly in pictures and diagrams than by inconsistent and fragmented teaching of concepts to players that don't know the language and don't understand.  "Chalk on boots" has no meaning to a 10 year old unless explained in a practice or viewed in a drawing..."Oh...you want me on the sideline to receive an outlet pass from the defense, why didn't you just say that...I had no clue who you were talking to." 

• At the very least, handouts can give you extra teaching time and get all the kids on the same page - plays, positions, skills