The old saying in coaching goes, I don’t care if my players like me, as long as they respect me. That was great when everyone respected authority or their elders simply because they were authority or their elders. You can make any judgment on society you want, but today people want to know why, and they have to like you and the answer before they will give you any respect. They also have to know your background, and it has to be credible or you are lost as well. These days, you cannot just have one part, you must have all three if you want to be truly successful.

Coaches all over the place are learning this quickly. It is a new day, and these are new kids out there, there are a few old school mentality kids scattered around but they are now the minority. I am not saying you cannot yell, talk loudly, or discipline anyone, but what I am saying is they have to both like and respect you or nothing you say will matter. I think this is great, I like the new day, because coaches are now held accountable by their players, and if they are knowledgeable and they care, then they will be fine. Also, note, if you are faking it, or your players think you are faking it, you might as well quit, you will lose your team. Like I always say, just be the best you, you can be, and work hard. Stay true to yourself, and if that doesn’t work, then maybe it is time to find a new profession.

It used to be, you walk into a room and kids would respect a coach no matter what. Sorry, but those days are gone. These kids want to know that you know your stuff, you have to people able to pass the eye test and the actual on field test or you will be lost, and in turn you will lose your team.

If you are not a coach who does not like to get in there and really talk with the kids and relate to them, you better find an assistant coach that does, and that can. If you are not a coach who knows all the X’s and O’s, you better find a coach who knows them to a T. You can’t fake it anymore, these kids are too smart, and there is too much information out there for them to just listen to you when they know you are wrong, and why should they, if they could coach the team better than you.

Know your stuff and truly care, if you do that you will be fine.