Bruce Springsteen made an album titled Magic (2007). In interviews, he has talked about how his collaborations with the E Street Band members and other musicians have been like making magic. He also gave an interview in which he commented that giving a concert is like making magic—there is nothing—an empty stadium—and then people arrive, and music fills the venue. Similarly, I have always felt this same “magic” in sports—packing my hockey equipment for Wednesday evening practices (Beachburg, ON), the anticipation on the car ride to the rink, noise and energy building in the dressing room, and finally looking at the smooth, freshly flooded ice as I waited for the Zamboni to finish. Even after fifty years, the magic of people gathering for sports still excites me.
Image: Wix media
A few years ago, I was coaching a young group of athletes. Following a team practice, I commented to my assistant coach, “I think the athletes need to train on their own. They would learn a lot by preparing for their training session, leaving from their front door, and doing it on their own.” I had just started coaching this group of sixteen and seventeen years old, one month earlier. I was confused and discouraged by the quality of their training, the lack of leadership within the group and the athletes’ underdeveloped skills and fitness. I felt the poor quality of their training was due to the athletes’ lack of responsibility for their participation. Their coaches were continually directing, encouraging and supporting them. The athletes were not required to make choices and think about their training. Training sessions involved a lot of stopping, athletes joined the practice late, and their practice was low-quality (“lazy” effort). Not all the athletes in the group trained this way. Several athletes were self-motivated and committed; however, the need to manage, support and maintain a safe training environment demanded significant attention from the coaches, impacting the practice session’s quality and leaving the organized and motivated athletes consistently waiting for teammates to be ready. This certainly didn’t feel like “magic.” And, I wanted this “coming together” to feel like magic for these athletes. What could we do to bring anticipation and energy to these team practices?
I didn’t leave the athletes to do their workouts from home. Not just yet. (Coincidentally, two years later, COVID-19 forced athletes to train on their own from home.) First, my goal was to improve the quality of group training sessions by establishing a practice routine that was consistent, positive, and inclusive yet challenged everyone. Our practices would require athletes to come informed, know our routines and make choices about their training. The leadership would come from the athletes, not the coaches managing athletes’ behaviour. This shift in leadership was crucial in creating a positive and inclusive training environment, empowering the athletes and making them feel responsible for their own development.
Image: Unsplash
It took time for the energy and excitement of practice to be created and the magic to start emerging; however, I remember vividly the evening when I felt the excitement of that magic—I sensed the athletes felt it in that workout, too. Appropriately, it was a damp and slightly foggy evening after a mild mid-winter day. I selected a new workout starting point. The novel location added variety and accommodated different workout plans for small groups. This small plateau was also dimly lite. The group energy seemed palpable. I sensed people were ready to get started. I called people’s names in the first group. I explained the loop they would use for the session and then told them the workout plan. After a quick confirmation, I said, “Have a great workout,” and I turned and called the names of the second group. As group two gathered, I heard one of the athletes from the first group confirm with her teammates, “Are we ready?” and puff, they disappeared into the foggy darkness. Groups two, three and four similarly vanished. Then, minutes later, as we waited in the dim light on the plateau—we heard them before we could see them—the groups reappeared briefly before vanishing again into the magical night.
End
The First Lap Coaching:
Are you interested in discussing how we can enhance the joy and engagement of athletes in your organization? You can contact me at kevin@canadianwintersports.com.
I offer Coach Education and Program Design presentations and consultations to sports clubs and associations. I would be excited to learn about your club’s challenges and successes.
All the best,
Kevin
Comments