The Complete Guide to Reach Full Program Alignment
How to Build Your Coaching Philosophy and Secure Buy-In
Unity. Culture. Vision.
These buzzwords are used in nearly every profession, and coaching is no exception. This free guide will give you tips on how to coordinate your athletes, assistant coaches, athletic director and the community to form one cohesive, unstoppable unit.
Every team has a culture. Even if you don’t know what yours is, it exists. It’s the way things go in your program and isn’t defined by how you think, but by what you do.
Programs that recognize their strong culture are typically more successful, have less conflict and turnover, and experience higher commitment from athletes to the team goals and morale.
Simply put, when the culture is aligned,
everyone wins.
Engage with Your Athletes
It’s simply not possible to achieve success if the players aren’t on the same page. Successful programs are perfectly aligned top to bottom—everyone knows their role, and they all receive the same teaching from their first practice as a freshman to the day they’re promoted to varsity.
When the same set of rules, expectations and playing styles are consistent throughout their career, athletes are much more likely to succeed. They know what to expect and don’t experience growing pains as they transition through a program’s levels.
- Conduct one-on-one meetings with athletes to:
- Clearly lay out goals, starting from the moment he or she enters the program.
- Define their role and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
- Discover their motivations to help them achieve their goals.
- Establish leaders to take your message and present it a way that truly resonates with their peers.
- Identify players who can effectively communicate and reinforce your thoughts.
- Be willing to listen to your leaders’ input—this creates trust.
“We have a very consistent message. There’s a standard that we live by. We have high standards and we have certain criteria. Girls in our program know from the third grade what it is. We’re never lowering our standards.”
Tim Olszewski, Howell HS (Mich.) girls’ basketball coach
The key is to keep your athletes engaged. The more locked in they are, the more connected they feel to the program, which in turn creates more ownership of their role. Satisfied players are less likely to transfer and more willing to fit into the position you place them in, even if that means not being the star.
Use video to connect with the modern athlete:
- Create playlists of successful plays to build their confidence and reinforce good behavior.
- Share clips of things to work on to gain more playing time.
- Show video of stand-out players from previous seasons and encourage them to emulate their skill.
- Scout opponents so your players feel prepared and confident when facing stiff competition.
Generation Z individuals spend more than six hours each day on the internet, texting or engaging on social media.
Connect Your Coaches
You can’t deliver a consistent message to athletes if every coach on your staff isn’t in complete lockstep. The program’s core philosophy has to be presented to players at every stage of their careers. There should be no surprises for players as they move up the ladder.
- Hold all-staff meetings at least every two weeks.
- Discuss philosophy and playing style, but also set benchmarks for practice time, conditioning expectations, travel schedules and anything else that needs consistency.
- Review game and practice video with your staff to remove biases and retain an objective view of your teams.
- The human brain is physically incapable of creating objective memories. Previous experiences, mood and other influences mold our recollection of past events into an experience we think is the truth, even if it’s not.
- Video returns everyone to reality. It provides an accurate view of what actually transpired and squashes arguments and differences of opinion.
- Run the same plays and schemes with each team.
- Your style will become second nature to the players and create a system that doesn’t experience year-to-year fluctuations in performance.
Ask for input from the other coaches. Not only will they feel empowered and heard, but they may have some ideas that you hadn’t previously thought of. The creation of the Golden State Warriors’ vaunted “Death Lineup” in the 2015 NBA Finals came from assistant Nick U’ren. Head coach Steve Kerr uncovered this wrinkle by encouraging and listening to his assistants’ ideas, and it played a large role in helping Golden State win three NBA titles in the past four seasons.
“The same philosophy we have for the seniors we have for the seventh and eighth graders. We get together as coaches and meet and talk. We all harp on the same little things. I’ve been reaping the benefits of it.”
Jim Kelly - Head Boys’ Basketball Coach, Middletown High School
Align Expectations with Your Athletic Director
Professional teams like the San Antonio Spurs and New England Patriots have achieved long-term success by establishing a culture that touches every part of the organization. It all starts at the top—the owners and general managers hold identical values and make decisions that support every level of the organization.
The same is true for high schools. ADs should know their coaches’ habits, methods and philosophies to equip them with the tools they need.
Athletic directors receive requests from every coach and must make decisions about what to invest in. If you can achieve a shared vision and show the value of your requests, your athletic director will be more likely to grant them.
Tips for Setting Expectations with your AD:
- Meet with your athletic director and lay out your goals for the upcoming season.
- Whether you view the upcoming campaign as a rebuilding year or the beginning of a dynasty, it’s critical that the athletic director knows what to expect.
- Ask for input to get a sense of what your athletic director finds most important and how he or she views your program’s progress.
- Explain your budget requests in great detail, based on the priorities you communicate.
“Do you want to take your program to the highest heights that you want it to reach? I love video. It’s something that has made me a better coach, and it’s something that can do the same for any other coach and for their team.”
Rick Tune - Volleyball Coach, Punahou High School (Hawaii)
Excite the Community
The last critical piece is the community, which includes team supporters and athletes’ parents. Every coach dreams of having an excited, engaged fan base, jam-packed in the bleachers for each contest.
Fans want to know what to expect from their teams. Whether you have defensive system that prioritizes protecting the ball or an uptempo style that constantly pushes the pace, your supporters like to see an identity. It helps them understand what’s happening during the game and connects them to the program.
When fans feel connected to a program, they’re more likely to throw their full support behind it.
Gain their buy-in for your program with these tips:
- Construct consistent game plans that are adaptable, but built on core principles.
- Connect with the community on social media by sharing highlight videos, showcasing players’ successes, and shining a positive light on your program.
Parents are another important part of the community equation.
One of a coach’s toughest jobs is managing parent expectations. Every parent wants the best for their child, but there simply isn’t enough playing time to keep everyone happy.
“Video doesn’t lie, so (if) you have that parent that is kind of questioning what the coach is doing or wondering why their kid isn’t playing… You have video evidence.”
Bob Rickman - Boys’ Basketball Coach, Alton High School (Illinois)
- Craft a consistent practice schedule and core values to ensure they know what you’re requiring of their students.
- Consider the story of the 1999 Richmond basketball team, depicted in the 2005 film Coach Carter. Though the team was winning, coach Ken Carter suspended players and forfeited games because the athletes weren’t living up to the academic standards laid out in a preseason contract they signed. The parents were upset at first because the concept was new, but once they saw the reasoning, some rallied behind the embattled coach. This is an extreme example, but it shows the value behind clear communication of your philosophy.
- Instead of simply telling them what is keeping their child from seeing the field or court more, you can actually show them what needs to improve.
- Video creates a stronger bond between the parties and cause the parents to encourage their children to work on specific parts of their game.
