Find your why. Leadership training, entrepreneurial courses, goal sheets…. They all tell you to find your “why”. “Why” do you want to achieve greatness – however that looks to you. It works in other aspects of our lives so we might as well apply it to athletics. As a coach, I am a believer that before I can ask my athletes to do something (mental or physical) I have to first do it myself. So, in 2019 (in my 9th year of coaching) I set out to find my why. In retrospect this should have been done in year 1, but better late than never😊 A little reflecting and I was easily able to put my “why” onto paper.
Here is it:
I love coaching. I enjoy the game of softball- it is FUN (this is the one I see the most, and honestly it is the most important one in high school athletics)!!!!! Softball and baseball are familiar to me, and they are entertaining to play and watch. I need a challenge in my life (something with an unknown outcome). I like to win! Adrenaline rushes are addictive to me. BUT, the #1 reason I coach is because I get the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of young female athletes. I get to help them succeed in a sport, teach them how to lead, and show them what being a teammate is all about. And finally, I have 2 kids that I hope have dreams that are over the moon, but in order for them to know that they can truly do what they want and love- they have to see their mama doing it — THIS IS WHY I COACH!
I encourage you to start your season with this exercise. I have started my first week of practice with this exercise since 2019. It is always interesting to listen to the girls share this information with their teammate and coaches.
