This is a repost from Last Year (Jan 1 2013). Just doing a little self reflection to see how I did in 2013. How did you do? I find it odd that I was thinking about this as I spent a very early morning plowing and spreading salt after 2 days of rain and ice.
Tony 12/31/2013
I spent this morning plowing the parking lots of my gyms. While plowing I have a lot of time to reflect on gym, life, gym-life, and caribbean vacations.
My thoughts today were on ways to become a better coach and how to inspire those around me to be a better coaches and teachers. Now that I am sitting on my couch, half watching a football game, I found a good article, “Top 12 Ways to Become a Better Coach” on Gymnasticszone.com. Summed up in a sentence:
for coaches to get success like they have never had before, coaches are required to do things they have never done before.
My New Years Resolutions for 2013
1. Get out of my own head and get out of my own way.
2. Try to see what I am doing through the eyes of my gymnasts. Look at the BIG PICTURE
3. Challenge my beliefs, ideas, methods and strategies about how coaching should work. I ‘ve been coaching a LONG time. I’ve had National Team members and I’ve had gymnasts who broke my heart because they had the talent but not the heart. I’ve had gymnasts who were amazing swinging bars and kids who struggled. The same is true for all events. This year I will keep in mind that every gymnast and every group is different. I need to coach outside the box and try to find some innovative solutions.
4. Look for the opportunities in every problem situation.
5. Identify the blocks that keep me from breaking a bad habit that affects my coaching. New year, New Good Habits.
6. Make a stronger effort to connect with my gymnasts and their parents. The more I know about them, the more I will appreciate them, and can provide excellent service.
7. Read and study information about coaching other sports, thinking all the while what lessons I can learn and new techniques I can apply to my own coaching in gymnastics.
8. Spend time every day watching gymnastics videos. The Internet has made this remarkably easy and virtually free. I will gain much insight into your coaching and sport by watching the latest and greatest being done around the world.
9. Find a gymnastics and/or life coaching mentor.
I posed this as a question to a few coaches who work for me, to some coaches who I know and respect and even a few gymnasts. Here are some of their responses:
3. Let the pizza cool before biting into it.
4. Receive less restraining orders (Yeah, I probably should NOT have e-mailed this guy)
5. Make someone smile every day
6. Teach each kid an individual skill
7. Contribute more to GYM MOMENTUM. This should be on everyones list!
