Exceptional Coach

John Smith

Coaching

The Exceptional Coach

Terry Pettit was excellent in this film. He made his best attempt at trying to answer the very hard question of what it takes to make a successful team and coach and I believe he did it effectively. The first thing that he said may be the most crucial of them all. He stressed that there isn’t a specific formula for success. Each team, each coach, and each environment are unique and it is important to realize and adapt to that. He believes that success comes when you bring everyone’s talents and gifts together. It is like putting together a puzzle, each strength of an individual is another piece that helps to put together the whole picture.

Even though there isn’t an exact equation for putting together success, he does state that there are certain characteristics that can be seen in every successful program. He details six and each are very true and important but I think there are two that stick out above the rest. The first is the ability of the coach to identify who he/she truly is, what they do exceptionally well and what their athletes do exceptionally well. Coaching can be a very intense and challenging world to be a part of and understanding who you are and what you stand for is crucial to have a tight grasp of. Our faith is an integral part of our lives and it is impossible to not bring that wherever you go but sometimes it can be a balancing act in a secular world. Pettit is very strategic and competitive. He realized this and decided that he was going to exploit these strengths to his advantage. He also realized the potential in his athletes and never tried to force them into something they didn’t have the skills for but rather benefited from what he recognized as their talents. The second characteristic that sticks out to me is the idea of developing a brand. There may be others that are more important but this may be one of the most unique and beneficial plans for a coach and program. Understanding that you...