Stone Age Coaching: Avoiding Narrow Minded Pitfalls

Most of us at some point in our life, probably in our youth, have thought we had it all figured out. Often times we've had view points that were so strong that we can't see any other way of doing things as being the a viable route, the "My Way or The Highway" or "World is Flat" approach. Everything was black & white, cut & dry. As we get older, generally, those view points either change or vary to a certain degree. Perhaps because of certain situations or events in our lives that show us that maybe things just aren't that simple. Experience is a key factor in this, but most of the time it's because of the information that we come across that expands our horizons or causes our minds to be open to new ideas.

We have all witnessed, worked with, or even ourselves been narrowed minded individuals that only see one direction to the end result. In coaching, we can be frustrated by players who at 16 or 17 years old believe that their knowledge of the game is higher than those who have donned a whistle for more years than they have been alive. We have all known parents that believe that given the opportunity, they could take your team to the glory of a state championship with all of their valuable knowledge, after all that group of athletes won the Super Bowl in the 5th grade. Perhaps you have even worked under an administration that gets swept up in the current of "this is the way is has always been done around here." Still, there is an important thought to consider. Have we, as coaches, gotten caught up in the same, one track, narrow-minded mentality?

What I have witnessed from others and continuously learned in coaching is: the more I learn, the more I realize I do not know. As a young coach, I didn't even realize the scope or broad spectrum of what I did not know. At first, this thought was extremely intimidating, almost to the point that I didn't know where to begin. The issue that I found I struggled with is that I was letting the fear of not knowing "everything", or not knowing "enough", stop me from even trying to expand my knowledge of the game, of different ideas, of different strategies. I was content to stick with the small amount of information I did possess for fear of contaminating the principles of what I believed in. What I missed out on was the thirst for knowledge I would develop as I was exposed to different ideas. That thirst can become somewhat of an addiction. It's exciting to discover a new play wrinkle, practice drill, or workout.

As coaches, we all have a certain offensive or defensive system that we swear by, a system that often times in our eyes gives our players the best chance to win. Gus Malzahn is a hot name in the ranks of college football coaches right now. What is interesting to see is the progression Coach Malzahn's offense from his days at Shiloh Christian to his offense now at Auburn, and his numerous stops along the way. Coach Malzahn became famous for his hurry-up, no-huddle offense in a variety of spread formations. Now, he has implemented many "Wing-T" concepts and an extremely effective "quick huddle" that has propelled Auburn's offensive production to near the top of the college football world. Coach Malzahn has used his extensive knowledge base to build packages into his offense from schemes that aren't primarily ones he's used in the past.

We all have concepts, schemes, and principles that we firmly believe in, but we shouldn't let those beliefs and principles hinder us from branching out and being innovative. There are many parts of the game of football, or anything in life, that we will never fully know or understand. However, we can't allow that to let us fall victim to the same actions and mindsets of others that make us cringe. It applies to anything within the realm of the operation of our program from schemes, to leadership, practice habits, drills, workouts, competitive situations, and team building activities. What worked in 2003, may not translate to 2014, especially when it come to motivation of today's athletes. The best advice I can offer to young coaches (including myself) is to dive in. Gather as much information from as many sources and coaches as possible, to create and mold your own philosophy. There is no "One Way" to build a successful program or product on the field. Much of the same can be said for the game of life. Have an open mind. Be creative. Most importantly, be fearless in your exploration of the game. Better to find that out sooner than later.