Coaching = Guidance + Accountability + Perspective
Too many times, I’ve been at professional and youth games where a player comes to me at halftime, frustrated with how things are going, maybe they’ve had a bad game, don’t get enough minutes, or the team is losing. In these moments, I focus on two things: holding space for their feelings and holding them accountable for what they can control.
Important: This never means trash-talking teammates or coaches. Gossiping or blaming others is not acceptable. Holding space is about listening, guiding, and helping the player process their emotions in a constructive way so they can refocus and improve.
Coaching is more than drills, skills, and stats. It’s guidance, showing athletes the path, helping them understand their role, and teaching them how to grow. It’s accountability, pushing them to own their choices, effort, and mindset. And it’s perspective, seeing the game and the journey from a vantage point that the player doesn’t always have, helping them make smarter decisions and stay grounded.
As Simon Sinek says (in the video): “The best athletes in the world have coaches. And by the way, they’re better than their coaches at playing the game. But the coaches have a perspective that they don’t have.”
At Coach Chris Sports Academy, this is at the heart of what we do. Our Player Development program isn’t just about training harder; it’s about training smarter, building mental resilience, developing leadership, and providing a structured environment where athletes can reach their full potential.
Guidance and accountability aren’t optional, they’re essential. Every elite player needs them. And every player deserves them.
