Competitive sports is a world of comparisons. You win because, compared to your opponent, you scored better. A pro athlete gets top dollar because, compared to other position athletes, he is better.
So, how do you keep on target without letting the ugly green monster of jealousy tightly sequeeze you empty, and hang you out to dry?
Coach, God has called you for a purpose in coaching that only you can do with the athletes He has for you to coach. No one else with your exact chemistry can get the job done in the same way you can get it done.
Focus on what God has called you to do, and you'll never get into the grips of the ugly green monster.
Click on the "COMMENTS" link below, and let other readers and me read what your take on this issue of jealousy is.
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6 comments:
After reading Wes's book I realized I wanted to win for the wrong reasons/pride, self gradification &jealousy. treasures of earth. This past year I prayed for forgiveness and asked for Gods help.This was a wonderful year. I was tested however, I had just 6 players for the entire basketball season. We won more games than ever before.
Jealousy however has plagued our kids? At our school it is very common for kids to put others down &discourage them of participating. They would rather lose than have a winning team if it means they get to play!! How do you get them to see beyond there own agenda??
Focus on being the best you can be with what God has given you.
I have had some jealousy creap into my track team this year. I have a very talented team and many are talking and expecting us to win the state title. With competition high for relay spots I have had athletes tearing others on the team apart in hateful words. I called a team meeting and talked about a recently read book, "Silos, Politics, and Turf Wars." I related how this was taking place with our team and how our unity has been destroyed. God was present in this meeting and unity has come back. Without unity, success is empty.
Hornets, just a quick reply to your question: "How do you get them to see beyond their own agenda?"
Here are a couple of ways you might try, if you haven't already.
1. Develop a vision for the season that you can put down in print. A vision that will continually help your athletes give their best effort for the team. Then, put it down in print on posters, or banners, you can put at various locations. Keep the vision in front of them in print.
2. Keep the vision in front of them every time you evaluate performances. Always measure their performance as it relates to the vision. You can also do this by praising them when they give the kind of effort that connects to the vision. In other words, give positive reinforcement.
As a long time golf coach, I look at these comments and wonder why I could not do the things you all have been doing. I guess that my job was so overwhelming, that I did not take the time to let God come into our team and take control. I sought his guidance all of the time, but never extended it to my players. A big mistake for me. I am hopeful of returning to coach, but it has not happened yet. When and if I do get to coach again, I am going to let God have control of my team. I am going to use Wes' ideas of posting the team goals, to keep them in front of the players. While I was a good coach and a caring individual, I left a very successful program, that I started, because I could not cope with the daily pressures, and daily grind and the pettiness among the players on my team. I did not have God's voice speaking to my players.
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