Coaching Information

Its Game Time! Four Powerful Lessons in the Game of Life


I turned 29 last week, and if statistics are right and I die on or around my 78th birthday, I am almost 40% done. In a numbers game, that is pretty close to half way. This had me thinking about when I played basketball in high school and college. I thought most about the half time events in the locker room.

Whether we were winning or losing at half time, the whole team gathered in the locker room and the coach would give us a talk. There were two major topics we discussed. One was to reflect on what went right and wrong in the first half, and the other was to decide what our strategy was in the second half so we could win.

Thinking of that and my life, I decided to reflect on how I wanted to feel going into the locker room at halftime.

Stay Disciplined. At halftime, I definitely want my coach to say I was disciplined. Now that I finally figured out the direction I want my life to take, I have been pretty disciplined about accomplishing my goals. I deserve to continue on that path and honor my desires with persistence and patience. Often coaches ask their players to be and stay disciplined in carrying out the game plan they have developed. So far, my game plan has worked well. Now I need to keep on it and finish well.

Take more risks. Life rewards those who take risks. This is all about trusting yourself. If you cannot take a risk on yourself, you are going nowhere. Use your instincts and intuition, make decisions and see what happens. When I played basketball with my brother, he LOVED diving on the floor for a loose ball. There were days he succeeded and days he didn't. Sure he got bruises and floor burns, but that was the risk he took. We won a few big games because of that risk, and that was worth it in itself.

Enjoy the game. I remember my high-school coach saying: "go out there and have fun." Those words ring true today as well. We deserve to have fun in our game of life. Aside from the winning and discipline, what good is it if it isn't fun? My wife always reminds me it is the journey that is more important than the destination. So I am going to make sure that I am having fun along the way.

Cherish your team. I look around at all the people who will help me succeed in my game of life, MY team. My Mom, Dad, Brother, Wife, friends and family. If we neglect our team, there is no way we will feel victorious at the end. I have asked myself: How can I spend more time with them? Show my love for them? Help them in their game? Get to know your team. All athletes know that great team dynamics lead to victories. Even a well played game that is lost, sill has great feelings and stories.

Those are the things I think about as I approach my half time of life. It may be the last 5 minutes for all I know. I have decided to make whatever time is left, the best.

CHALLENGE This week I challenge you to look at your game. What is your game plan that you have developed? What risks are you taking? What is one thing you do on a daily basis to have fun? Who is someone on your team you can contact RIGHT NOW to let them know you appreciate them? Who is your coach?

Jeffrey St.Laurent graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a BS in Exercise Science. He holds current certifications from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) as a Personal Trainer and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant and from the American Red Cross for Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Additionally, he is certified through BodyTrainingSystems as a Group Fitness instructor and National Trainer & Presenter. Jeff travels throughout North America giving workshops and providing continuing education to health clubs, personal trainers and group exercise professionals on exercise science, motivation and improving teaching / coaching skills.

Jeff is certified by one of the most highly acclaimed coach training institutions in the United States, The Institute for Professional Empowerment Coaching, iPEC Coaching. His passion for helping people from his health and fitness background has turned into a fierce desire to EMPOWER people to do it themselves through coaching.


MORE RESOURCES:
Google

UConn Huskies

Auriemma To Name Ralph To UConn Women's Coaching Staff
Hartford Courant, United States - Jul 7, 2008
By JOHN ALTAVILLA | Courant Staff Writer UConn coach Geno Auriemma is expected to name Shea Ralph, the former Huskies national player of the year, ...
Ralph couldn't look past UConn job Connecticut Post
Ralph returns to UConn as assistant coach Waterbury Republican American
Ralph leaves Pitt women for UConn position Pittsburgh Post Gazette
New Haven Register (subscription) - Hartford Courant
all 37 news articles


UCA Sports

UCA adds 2 assistants to football coaching staff
KFSM, AR - 14 hours ago
AP - July 8, 2008 11:54 AM ET CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - Jerry Mack and Jordan Malone have been added to Central Arkansas' football coaching staff. ...
Wide receivers coach Jerry Mack UCA Sports
all 11 news articles


Update: Randall back in HS coaching ranks
Oshkosh Northwestern, WI - 1 hour ago
Former Oshkosh West boys basketball coach Lance Randall will be pacing the prep basketball scene once again in the 2008-2009 season. ...


White Joins Coaching Staff
Oklahoma Baptist University,  United States - 7 hours ago
Oklahoma Baptist added Michael White to the staff as assistant coach for men's and women's soccer. White comes to OBU from Stratford Academy in Macon, Ga., ...


Andrews Joins LVC women's coaching staff
PennLive.com, PA - 7 hours ago
Catherine Andrews, a 2004 graduate of Lebanon Catholic, has been hired by Lebanon Valley College to join the women's basketball coaching staff. ...


New Bryant High coach may resign without coaching a game
Tuscaloosa News (subscription), AL - 9 hours ago
TUSCALOOSA | Paul W. Bryant High School head football coach George Pugh has told players, parents and supporters of the program that he will resign before ...


Small business owners to get life coaching
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 7 hours ago
By PETER RANSCOMBE A LIFE coach may not be the first person a small business turns to when times get tough. But James McKim, one of Scotland's leading ...


Coaching continuity pleases Hogg
Scotsman, United Kingdom - 7 hours ago
"If Andy had been promoted to Scotland then we would have been back to square one again with a new head coach, new systems, new everything, and as I've said ...


Melbourne Herald Sun

Fittler coaching by the stars
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - 15 hours ago
Photograph: Gregg Porteous / The Daily Telegraph EXACTLY a year has passed since Brad Fittler followed his higher calling to become an NRL coach - and he is ...


Annapolis Capital

Dobbs steps down after decade of coaching success at Broadneck
Annapolis Capital, MD - 13 hours ago
By MIKE PETERS, Staff Writer After 10 years and 30 seasons of coaching, Dana Dobbs is stepping down at Broadneck High School. Dobbs coached the Bruins' ...

Coaching - Google News

home | site map
© 2006