Coaching: It's hard to go along when you know they're doing it wrong

This is a random thought that popped into my head as I was updating my log. I've run into this quite a few times and I think it bares mentioning. First I'll say that I am a control freak. I operate in common sense and experience. I like things done my way. When I see things done the wrong way (either in my opinion or because I know it's wrong) it bothers me. This is a situation that occurs often. It's still something I struggle with. I know how it's supposed to be, either through experience as a player, football coach or strength coach and I have to deal with it. My advice to young coaches, especially, is figure out how to deal with it. I don't have THE answer for you on this. The advice I got from my boss is, "Hey, remember it's not YOUR team and it's not YOUR job on the line. If they want to do it their way it's on them." Not all places will have your back like this so this may be useless information. What I can say on that is what I've done prior to speaking in depth with my boss. I presented my points articulately and with research or experience to back it up. There's not research on everything. The pencil-neck labcoats haven't invaded all areas, yet. If I can make my point clearly and the head sport coach still wants to go with their way, I've done my job. I read the book "Extreme Ownership" this fall. One of the points in there was that if you present your idea and the boss goes another direction, you, as a subordinate, HAVE to treat his/her way as if it were your way. This is extremely hard when you know they're wrong and/or you just don't agree. But, you have to get yourself on board. I believe this concept goes along with the idea of knowing your place. Young coaches, especially, think they know everything about everything because they've been in the business for 1-3 years. I'm not saying older coaches are perfect with this, either. I certainly am not. My next step is to try to look objectively at the situation and I ask myself, "What can I control (control freak coming out)? Once I have my list of controllables (not a word) that is what I focus on. I can control:

1. How I run my weight room (general rules)
2. The intensity and environment for the athletes
3. Teaching proper technique and coaching that up so the athletes are safe
4. Holding the athletes to my standard while I'm working with them
5. Making sure that my part of the puzzle is locked down and as close to flawless as possible.

I have a situation where a coach wants me to run another program's workouts for a number of bad reasons. This is what spawned my original talk with my boss. I have little control here. But, I can control teaching proper form/technique, approaching the workout with the right intensity and being a resource for the athletes. Here's where I stray off the course I've recommended. I simply will not waste my time proctoring a workout. I will hand it off to one of my GA's and be around for all workouts, but I will not lead these workouts. This is a great opportunity for a young coach to have to be forced to learn and understand someone else's workout. I understand the workout. I don't like it, but I understand it. I'm 42 and I've been in college athletics as a coach for 10 years. I have a leg to stand on. As a GA or young coach, you have no legs yet. I know that as long as I provide each team with what they need I am in the right and I'm doing my job. I also know that the athletes, regardless of who's "in charge" of the workouts, will get what they need. For the record, I still recommend knowing your place and falling in line with the wants of the sport coaches. But, take advantage of these "bad" situations. Open your mind and view. There is no doubt you'll learn from these situations. These tools can be added to your toolbox. Down the road you'll see that some ideas you didn't like (for whatever reason) eventually creep into your philosophy. I have a feeling there will be a follow-up post to this one. As I reread this, I know myself and I don't think I'll do as I've said in here. As I see it, I'll go back and reread this (yes, I reread my posts to look back on things) and remember where I was (here at this point) and where I end up (at my future reading of this). In that process I will have more clearly developed my take on this type of situation for WHEN it arises again in the future. Until then...