Listening to former Team USA head coach Mike Candrea at a coaching clinic many years ago he delivered a message that really hit home with me and should strike the same chord with anyone who wants to coach.
“They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care!”
When working with players of any age, there have never been more meaningful words delivered. The fact that they were delivered by one of the most successful coaches ever just makes the message that much more clear.
The message is a simple one: If we want our players to absorb the softball techniques and strategies that we are delivering, we need to be sure we have built a relationship with them first.
Players want to feel like their coaches care about them and that their coaches like them as people. Without that personal connection, we’re always fighting an uphill battle.
Coaches, I believe you all care, because I always cared. The hard truth, however, is that I had players who didn’t know or believe that I really cared about them. Shocking that many of those same players never fulfilled their potential.
Don’t make the same mistakes I made.
Be sure they know you care!
