Coaching Information

What Rules!


There are things that we do automatically internally that we don't even realize are the things that make us who we are. Our own rules for living that we hardly ever question, and even less frequently examine.

A few months ago I made a statement in a small group of co-workers concerning the fact that somewhere along the way, as a mechanism (as in "clear the... " (from the movie 'For the Love of the Game', see it if you haven't. It's awesome...)) for getting through tough situations, I developed the belief that I always win. ALWAYS! Until I said it and it was "out there" I hadn't ever really thought about it in terms of being a belief that I had. I feel though that having this belief has smoothed me out. I don't suffer drastic fluctuations in the way I feel based on how things are going for me.

Basically I always feel pretty up in the game. It's because of this goofy voice in the back of my mind that constantly reminds me that no matter how bad things may look right now "you know you're gonna win, why even get bothered about it". I just believe I'm always going to win. What I'm saying here is that no matter what the situation I believe that if I keep my head, and dig into it more I will be shown a way to see myself as better off for the new experience that I've just encountered. No matter how rough the experience may appear to observers on the outside, you'd better understand and believe on the inside Clyde's winnin' baby.

A little education here, bare with me...

Back when I was playing in lots of racquetball tournaments, and losing more than I was winning, it was rough mentally. There were times at the end of certain matches when I had just got beaten so badly that I really seriously considered trying to dig a hole into that hardwood floor and covering myself up. This rather than go out of that stinkin little door and face what was on the outside of the court. Racquetball is not a huge spectator sport but there were some tournaments in California and Texas, two states where the sport enjoys it's largest participation, when somewhere around 500 to 600 people would turn out to see the action.

Now that doesn't sound like a lot of people when you consider how many people show up for some other sporting events, but in racquetball the fans are a lot closer to you when you exit the field of play than they are in most other sports. So close in fact that you can feel their stares and hear their comments about your performance, and we all know everyone has an opinion. They get to look into your eyes, and you into theirs. That's close, and not always comfortable. It's one of the now small things that I had to learn to deal with.

In racquetball if you get beat without scoring, as in 15 - 0, it's called "taking a donut". Let me tell you guys and girls something right here right now, you gotta have a strong constitution to take a 'double donut' in a 2 out of 3 game match and still show up the next weekend to possibly face the same opponent with many of the same people looking on. At one point my practice buddies took to calling me 'the baker'. I must have set some kind of record with the number of donuts I took in tournament play. I got so tired of hearing the question "Man, what happened?" that I developed a personal policy to never talk about the score off the racquetball court. Whether I came out ahead on the scoreboard or not I never talked about it. Period.

From this policy of never acknowledging the scoreboard grew inside of me a complete lack of focus on it. I would go into matches with personal goals that had nothing to do with what was on the scoreboard or how the match turned out. What I began to figure out was that the less energy I put into keeping score the more I had to put into playing the game. Which I guess made me a better player because the better I got at controlling this focus the more I played on Saturday and Sunday. (Which is a good thing.) Mentally letting go of the scoreboard freed me up to just play, which I had no problem doing once I figured this out.

Here's the meat.

When it comes to what you focus on, realize it's your decision. In life you can choose to focus on what everyone else thinks is important, or you could pick 2 or 3 things for yourself. Things that are important to you. You can be told what's important and accept what you've been told, or you could figure out for yourself where your focus should be based on what works for you.

Do not be afraid to be different. That's the beauty of the system were all in here together. We're all going to the exact same place but we all have different road maps for getting there. Your journey shouldn't look exactly like mine, because my journey is not your journey. How you get to where we're going is between you and your internal guide.

In closing I want to encourage you to be you. Examine the things that work for you and do more of them. The things that don't work for you, discard them. If being focused on the scoreboard doesn't work for you then forget it exist. Establish your own scoring system. Make your own rules. Define things in your own terms. Of course there is an established frame work within which we must all work, but I have found that the borders of this frame work are a whole lot further out than they first appear to be.

Don't wait to be led to where you want to go, be your own leader. Go there.

Thanks for your time.

Live some. Love some. Learn some. Everyday.

C...

Clyde Dennis, a.k.a. "Mr. How-To" has been writing and publishing Articles and Newsletters online since 1999. Clyde's company EASYHow-To Publications provides "How-To" information on How-To do, be or have just about anything one can imagine. For more information visit http://www.EASYHow-To.com. Email correspondence for Clyde should be sent to: cdennis@easyhow-to.com


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

RTE.ie

Music Note romps in Coaching Club American Oaks at Belmont Park
The Canadian Press, NEW YORK - Jul 19, 2008
NEW YORK ? Music Note turned in a dazzling performance, beating entrymate Little Belle by 11 lengths Saturday in the US$300000 Coaching Club American Oaks ...
Music Note dazzles in Coaching Club Brisnet.com
Music Note flattens opposition The Press Association
Music Note delivers loud and clear CBSSports.com
New York Times - Thoroughbred Times
all 30 news articles


Children the losers as volunteers pull out of coaching
New Zealand Herald, New Zealand - 7 hours ago
By Martha McKenzie-Minifie Some Auckland schools are cutting back on after-school sport because they cannot find volunteers to coach their teams. ...


Speed coaching for your career
New York Daily News, NY - 1 hour ago
For those of you unfamiliar with the ins and outs of speed coaching, as I was until recently, picture this: Numerous career coaches are positioned around a ...


Azul, America riding on coaching carousel
San Diego Union Tribune, United States - 12 hours ago
Cruz Azul, like America, has had four coaches in the past three years: current coach Benjamin Galindo, Sergio Markarian (2007), Isaac Mizrahi (2006) and ...


Jamaica Gleaner

Coaching, environment, and the development of great players
Jamaica Gleaner, Jamaica - 22 hours ago
One afternoon while coaching Wolmer's years and years ago, George Headley, the master batsman who became a legend, in explaining his hesitation in demanding ...


Vols defense sees little coaching changes
WATE.com, TN - 2 hours ago
There were four off-season changes on the offensive coaching staff, highlighted by first year coordinator Dave Clawson. On the other hand, John Chavis is ...


Fijivillage

Two Way Race For Fiji 7s Coach Position
Fijivillage, Fiji - 4 hours ago
Fijivillage had received confirmation that former 7s coach Waisale Serevi and Josateki Savou were the only two applicants interviewed by the FRU board last ...
FRU Board to finalise coaching post fijilive.com (subscription)
all 3 news articles


Leading Career Coaching Firm Seeks Affiliates, Looks to Expand ...
PR-CANADA.net (press release), Montenegro - 10 hours ago
The Ginac Group, Inc. has become a nationally recognized career coaching and training company for individuals and business large and small. ...


The Ashburton Guardian

Cousins' coaching career moving up
The Ashburton Guardian, New Zealand - 14 hours ago
She applied for the position through Netball New Zealand at an early stage and in turn was asked why she wanted the position, and what coaching experience ...


Coaching is 'secret weapon' in war for talent
Calgary Herald,  Canada - Jul 19, 2008
Some businesses say coaching is their 'secret weapon' when it comes to the war for talent, just as the trend is being embraced widely by companies across ...

Coaching - Google News

home | site map
© 2006