“I think in terms of the day’s resolutions, not the year’s.”
(Henry Moore)
Dec 30 2011
Happy New Year!
In the final guest post of 2011 Gretchen Rose shares with a family member some lessons she’s learnt.
As you read her guest post, I invite you to consider the lessons you would share for someone else just starting out. If you are a coach who has a “niche”, what would you share especially with your niche? Even if you haven’t got a “niche”, what would you share about having a better 2012?
I suspect that even though, for reasons I’ll let her explain in a moment, Gretchen has written for a specific situation, that there are many things on her list that can be transferable to other situations and scenarios.
Feel free to share anything you would add and how you’d word your list in the comment section below.
Happy New Year!
We have a new baby in our family, William. He is my baby cousin’s baby! Her precious little girl is almost 3. So fun to reflect back on when my children were that little and sweet.
Our kids are now 16 and 11. I remember when the days were long, but oh how the years are short. I feel the sand draining out of the hour- glass at a rapid rate with our 16 year old daughter. We have much more time with our 11 year old son, but it is speeding up as well.
So much” intel” to share with my cousin. But like any great book, I don’t want to spoil the plot. It is better for her to “read” her own book in her own time. I love the picture of baby William with his dad, both dressed in dad’s college colors. They are not MY college colors, but I appreciated the sentiment all the same.
They are at the beginning of the Sports parent journey. In their honor this is a reflection on New Year’s resolution for ALL Sports parents to re-evaluate our New Year and new season of play and reminisce on seasons past and lessons learned.
- Remember your family is your team. And sometimes your team can become your family! There are so many people to meet along the sports journey. Always block out time for family interest, activities and vacation. Some of coaches, players and parents will stick with you for a lifetime.
- Invest in a cushy portable chair and a stadium seat with arm rests. Always keep it in your car. On second thought, you now know what you are getting for your birthday!
- Yell good things for your kid with wild abandon. Apparently it is the only thing they will remember. It does not embarrass them nearly as much as they say it does.
- Drop everything you are doing for a chance to play catch, kick the can, or hoola hoop. The shelf life on this form of communication is brief!
- If possible, volunteer to coach, even if it is not your sport. Be the team mom. It might seem like a time suck in the moment, but the benefit happens in 10+ years when a player from that team of yesteryear is a moody teenager. You may get a head nod, a small wave or even a smile of acknowledgement in public. PRICELESS!
- Always let the team decide their name, colors and uniforms. No one will ever defeat the Power Puff Girls, Stomping Unicorns, Screaming Daisies, Purple Scorpions (in blue uniforms) or Salty Dogs!
- Always travel with a first aid kit in the car. This is MUST with boys. You will need it more than you think. Other parents will be impressed, too! Just tell them it will not sting and remember fish hooks go out the same way they go in!
- If you are not up before dawn driving to _______________ ( fill in blank with tournament, game, competition, ) you are officially late. For some reason the gods that form these competitions try to ring every minute of every weekend to make it a worth -while experience. You can catch up on the rest later!
- You can never have enough pictures! Team pictures, individual pictures and action shots. Please share with your cousins!
- Do not let child get ears pierced 3 days prior to weekend tournament. Players cannot play in jewelry and you can be re-piercing ears ( see first aid kit above) in the dawn’s early light and after every game!!!
- When buying shoes for the “season”, if possible, buy a back up in a half size larger. This will keep you from being embarrassed when your kid comes off the field with a big toe popping through the top of a shoe! Seriously these feet grow over night!
- Be proud of every milestone and every accomplishment! You are not bragging! Tell everyone who will listen. ( Especially your cousin!)
- Share your favorite team with your child – Professional or college or local. This is a great way to share knowledge, form a mutual interest and fodder for gifts for a lifetime! Travel to a game together.
- Don’t yell at referees or officials even they made a HUGE mistake. If the official is a non -adult, remember they are some one’s kid, too. Be an example of good citizenship.
- Don’t over structure. Kids love free time. Sports and teams are meant to be a treat to look forward to, not a job that must be done! ( For parents, too!)
- Sports and teams can teach life lessons. Make sure they are the good lessons. Become a good and encouraging team member, try your best, sometimes you do not win but you try again next week, and respect everyone. You know-There is no “I” in Team!
I think this will get my cousins on course for a few years of an amazing journey. Hopefully I can still add updates as I discover them!
Have a happy and safe New Year and new season to everyone.
About the Author/Further Resources
I am a wife and mom of two athletic and active children in Dallas, Texas. In my spare time, I am the inventor and founder of KidzMat – the premier organizational equipment for youth sports.
I also own and operate a catering company and am an avid runner with my two dogs! I love to write about my experiences as a sports mom. My web site is www.kidzmat.com!
Tags: business coach, business coaching, charging, client, clients, coach, coaches, coaching, coaching courses, coaching qualifications, coaching skills, coaching techniques, coaching training, executive coach, leadership coaching, life coach, life coaches, life coaching, performance coaching, personal coach, personal development, nlp coach, Gretchen Rose, new years resolution, sports parent, kidzmat
Dec 30 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 30th December 2011
Dec 29 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 29th December 2011
Dec 28 2011
Want to be one of our guest posters?
Friday is guest post day here on coaching confidence. It’s the day when a guest author will share a post on a topic or area that they feel will be of interest to coaches/ those interested in coaching.
I’m currently looking to schedule at least the next 6 months worth of guest posts – if you’d like to be one of them contact me via here.
Want to know more info before making an offer to be a guest poster in 2012?
Topic/content
I am very flexible about the topic of the Friday guest posts – I ask that it is something that you think will be of interest to coaches.
I love the fact that this has produced a range of topics, approaches and opinions. I know that this is a very broad brief so if you want a bit more guidance I also offer a list of questions that you can use to act as a catalyst to spark some inspiration about what you want to write your post about. (After all I am a coach and we do like questions 
)
The only other request that I make is that you show respect to others views. It’s perfectly OK to discuss why you like a particular approach as long as you don’t throw insults at those who don’t agree with you.
I’ll also mention at this stage I don’t impose any word limit, I allow my posters as many words (or few) that you need to say what you want.
Date
You’ve probably noticed that the Friday guest post is posted on a Friday (normally around 6.30am UK time). So I ask that guest posters send me over their copy by the Wednesday lunch (UK time) allowing plenty of time to make any tweaks you want and generally schedule the post to go live.
If there is a particular Friday you’d prefer a post to run because it helps to promote an event you are running, etc I’ll do my best to accommodate that request. In the event I have two people wanting the same date I think the fairest thing to do is schedule them on a first come first served basis. 
If that does happen I will make sure that I’ll communicate this with you and offer alternative available Fridays.
Bio
At the end of each guest post you may have noticed an “About the author” heading, this is where we put your bio. I think this gives the reader the opportunity to find out more about you and your background. I also like it to include ways (ie a link(s) ) for anyone who wants to find out more about your work etc to easily do that.
Experience
While some of the fantastic guest posters of 2010 and 2011 have decades of coaching experience we have also had some who are just establishing their coaching practice. So do not rule yourself from being a guest poster because you don’t think you have enough experience. As far as I’m concerned it’s that mix of perspectives that makes the Friday guest posts what they are.
What are you actually committing to?
- Providing a guest post via email by the date agreed
- Providing a bio to be included on your guest post, again by the date agreed.
That’s it – if you are on twitter and you let me know your username then I can include that in any promo about your post.
Want to be a 2012 guest poster?
Contact me via the form here. If previous occasions when I have issued an open invite is anything to go by do act quickly if you want a specific Friday.
Still got questions?
Ask me either by adding a comment below or dropping me an email.
Thanks and a Happy New Year!
Dec 28 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 28th December 2011
Dec 27 2011
Coaching Quote of the Day 27th December 2011
Dec 26 2011
The 12 days of coaching resources – recap
The festive season is often a busy time for many people so in case you missed any of the 12 posts here is a quick recap with links for each day.
A mix of different topics providing support and solutions for a range of problems and questions were deliberately selected. You’ll notice that there is a mix of books, audio and other products spaced throughout the 12 days. Some will be more appealing if you are new to coaching, whilst others will be more attractive if you have more experience.
I invite you to explore the following and decide which one is most useful for you.
Day 1 – “The Life Coaching Connection: How Coaching Changes Lives” by Steve Chandler
Day 2 – Get Clients in 30 Days by Elizabeth Purvis
Day 3 – Playing Cards For Happy Managers & Happier Employees
Day 4 – The One Page Business Plan: The fastest, easiest way to write a business plan by Jim Horan
Day 5 – “Effortless Success” by Michael Neill
Day 6 – “The 8th Habit: From effectiveness to greatness” by Stephen R. Covey
Day 8 – “Coaching for performance” by Sir John Whitmore
Day 10 – “Get Unstuck & Get Going … on the stuff that matters” by Michael Bungay Stanier
Day 11 – From Non-Coach to Coach Discovery Session
There are many other coaching resources out there, like on this list, some are complimentary and others require an exchange of money. Coaches, if you were to add one extra coaching resource to this list what would you add and why?
Feel free to share you thoughts in the comments box.
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