Learning To Coach, Coaching To Learn
By: Brian Caldwell
As I have come to finish my MAED at MSU I find myself relieved. Traditional class learning has never been my strong suit nor been a process that I have ever truly enjoyed. However, this does not mean that I will not strive to further my education; it will just be by other methods. What I mean by this is that I do not intend to pursue my PhD. I feel that I have gained as much education from colleges and universities that I can for coaching. This does not mean that I know everything (believe me I do not), I just feel that it is time to further my education using different methods. My work at MSU is a major reason for this belief. Before attending MSU I would never have considered earning a Masters’ Degree through an entirely online course. While I am grateful for the time I have spent working through traditional classes I feel I have always been more successful in situations that were hands on; such as my physical education courses. Also, I have found many learning opportunities that are more suited to my learning styles.
One example of these opportunities is provided annually by NIKE. They provide coaching clinics around the nation, during which, many division one coaches come to teach and talk on specific topics for approximately an hour and a half. After each session most coaches offer a brief question and answer period that allows the attendees to inquire about any issues they have. This is a great opportunity to learn from coaches and professionals who have been where I am and are dealing with similar problems as well. It is a great feeling when you see that elite college coaches are struggling with trying to solve the same defensive issues that you were trying to work on the previous year.
Another avenue that I intend to utilize are the various webinars provided by the NCAA. My work in the MAED has provided me with the opportunity and confidence to pursue education through technological means. They offer several webinars that are relatively short (about an hour) and address a specific need or area of study. One of the perks of these sessions is their affordability; while most of them are free, the ones that do require a fee are reasonably priced. This would allow me to watch and attend multiple sessions and work to further my education in specific areas that I feel I am lacking.
I also intend to further my education through direct contact with other coaches during the variety of events that bring coaches together. These will include conference meetings, formal dinners, and recruiting events. Many of these activities are required for coaches and have time specifically for continued education through sharing and networking. While the time allotted might not seem like much it is amazing how many ideas and the wealth of information that can be shared during these times.
Through all of these different learning processes it is important to remember that I need to keep my own perspective. What I mean by this, is that through all of the clinics, webinars, and conversations with coaches I should only take one or two ideas and apply them to my own team. The more I try to change and adapt everything I learn the more complex my coaching becomes and the less effective I will become. For every coach I talk to about how to run a highly efficient zone defense I will be able to find a coach who will tell me the easy ways to beat it. Does this mean I will never run a zone? Of course not, it just means that I will adapt how I coach that particular defense and prepare it for the different offenses we will face during the season.
As I look to the future I realize how far I have come and while I have come to the belief that my education needs to become more specialized; I am aware of how helpful my current education will be. Many smaller colleges require their coaches to teach at least one class (usually an intro or basic course) along with their coaching duties. My degree and education from MSU will be extremely useful in this aspect of my career. In closing, while I may have reached my goals in formal education, I believe that I will never stop learning nor striving to learn.
One example of these opportunities is provided annually by NIKE. They provide coaching clinics around the nation, during which, many division one coaches come to teach and talk on specific topics for approximately an hour and a half. After each session most coaches offer a brief question and answer period that allows the attendees to inquire about any issues they have. This is a great opportunity to learn from coaches and professionals who have been where I am and are dealing with similar problems as well. It is a great feeling when you see that elite college coaches are struggling with trying to solve the same defensive issues that you were trying to work on the previous year.
Another avenue that I intend to utilize are the various webinars provided by the NCAA. My work in the MAED has provided me with the opportunity and confidence to pursue education through technological means. They offer several webinars that are relatively short (about an hour) and address a specific need or area of study. One of the perks of these sessions is their affordability; while most of them are free, the ones that do require a fee are reasonably priced. This would allow me to watch and attend multiple sessions and work to further my education in specific areas that I feel I am lacking.
I also intend to further my education through direct contact with other coaches during the variety of events that bring coaches together. These will include conference meetings, formal dinners, and recruiting events. Many of these activities are required for coaches and have time specifically for continued education through sharing and networking. While the time allotted might not seem like much it is amazing how many ideas and the wealth of information that can be shared during these times.
Through all of these different learning processes it is important to remember that I need to keep my own perspective. What I mean by this, is that through all of the clinics, webinars, and conversations with coaches I should only take one or two ideas and apply them to my own team. The more I try to change and adapt everything I learn the more complex my coaching becomes and the less effective I will become. For every coach I talk to about how to run a highly efficient zone defense I will be able to find a coach who will tell me the easy ways to beat it. Does this mean I will never run a zone? Of course not, it just means that I will adapt how I coach that particular defense and prepare it for the different offenses we will face during the season.
As I look to the future I realize how far I have come and while I have come to the belief that my education needs to become more specialized; I am aware of how helpful my current education will be. Many smaller colleges require their coaches to teach at least one class (usually an intro or basic course) along with their coaching duties. My degree and education from MSU will be extremely useful in this aspect of my career. In closing, while I may have reached my goals in formal education, I believe that I will never stop learning nor striving to learn.
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