Personal Coaching And Leadership Philosophy

Personal Coaching and Leadership Philosophypersonal Coaching And Lead

Personal Coaching and Leadership Philosophy: Bellefonte High School Football Patrick McDermott Master’s in Coaching and Athletics Administration, Concordia University Irvine MCAA 510 – Principles of Coaching and Leadership Professor William Harris December 13, 2020 Philosophy of Coaching At the core of any successful program lies a holistically based philosophy of coaching comprised of various essential parts. In order to effectively coach, train, and – most importantly – lead a group of athletes, a coach must have a well-defined mission statement, vision statement, and set of core values to act as the scaffold upon which the program is built. These elements build a framework that allow the coach and program as a whole to remain on track in pursuit of their commonly held goals regardless of outside factors that might be creating adverse conditions for the team.

In short, these statements and values act as a compass that keeps the program headed in the right direction and are especially important in times of adversity. These elements as they pertain to the Bellefonte High School football program will be outlined below. Mission Statement The mission statement of the Bellefonte High School football program is: “The Bellefonte High School football program will develop leaders for the future through the relentless pursuit of academic, athletic, and community success.” As a high school program, academics must always remain the top priority; at the high school level, athletics are a vehicle to promote academic success and the ordering of Bellefonte Football’s goals in the mission statement reflects that. Involvement in athletics allows students to develop many skills that can be applied throughout their lives and the pursuit of success on the field helps to enhance these positive lessons. Finally, the program will be committed to giving back and serving its community throughout the year. Not only will these community service opportunities provide valuable lessons for athletes, but they will also allow the program to give back to various community groups that support the team each season. At the end of a player’s career at Bellefonte, he will be prepared to positively impact his community as a leader.

Vision Statement The vision statement of our program is: “Bellefonte Football will pursue championships on the field and empower young men to be leaders of positive change off it.” Every athletics program wants to win and Bellefonte Football is certainly no different. But the program will commit to going about that pursuit of excellence while putting equal emphasis on the positive development of its athletes. This dual-headed approach differentiates the Bellefonte Football program from others and signals to those inside and outside the program what the team’s goals are about. The Bellefonte Football program’s vision statement will be put into action throughout the year by exercising both components included within it. There is no off-season to building a successful team on the field and there are no breaks when it comes to creating positive leaders within your program; both of these elements will be pursued concurrently. What will set Bellefonte Football apart from other programs will be the conviction that team success and individual growth can be achieved at the same time without sacrificing one of the two components.

In fact, the program will emphasize that on-field success is a direct result of individual growth as leaders and citizens. Athletic success, academic success, growth as a leader, and growth as a positive member of the community are not separate goals that compete for an athlete’s time and energy. Instead, they will be presented as parts of a larger whole, each contributing equally to individual and team accomplishments. The team’s vision statement is concise, clear, and memorable, making it a powerful tool in the day-to-day commitment to improvement in all areas throughout the program. Core Values Core values serve as the anchors upon which your athletes, coaches, and other stakeholders can rely. These values represent ideals that can take a program to the success proposed through its vision statement – when everyone commits to these values, success on and off the field will be realized. Within the Bellefonte Football program, these core values will be considered non-negotiable and essential to bring success now and to sustain it in the future. These core values show that the Bellefonte Football program is driven by distinctive leadership through its emphasis on the total student-athlete experience, not solely the team’s on-field performance. The firm belief that great people and great students create great football teams is one that sets Bellefonte Football apart from its conference opponents.

Each of the core values listed below will improve the Bellefonte Football team and sustain success in future years. Perhaps just as importantly, they can each be applied to each athlete long after his football-playing days end, keeping in line with the program’s overarching goals to create positive leaders for years to come. Perhaps just as importantly, they can each be applied to each athlete long after his football-playing days end, keeping in line with the program’s overarching goals to create positive leaders for years to come.1. Commitment to the Team All successful programs embrace the concept of accountability. The Bellefonte Football program will emphasize this through its first core value, “Commitment to the Team.” This commitment can be expressed in multiple ways. First, athletes will commit to being present at all team practices, workouts, and other functions and will commit to living by the program’s rules and values. But perhaps more importantly, each athlete will commit to the team by remembering that each individual’s actions will either build up or break down the team. This commitment is a dedication to do things the right way and to commit to one’s teammates to not let them down. This core value will serve to build trust and respect between players and coaches and – arguably even more importantly – between the players themselves through the creation of a culture of accountability. Once instilled, this value would likely become stronger over time as current players take ownership of the commitment to team and pass this mindset down to younger players in future seasons. As an athlete-driven value, it has the opportunity to be highly influential with younger athletes.

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The philosophy of coaching and leadership within high school sports is fundamental to the development of athletes not only as players but as responsible individuals and community members. The Bellefonte High School football program exemplifies a comprehensive, values-driven approach that emphasizes holistic growth, character building, and leadership development. Central to this philosophy are clear mission and vision statements, along with core values that guide daily practices and long-term objectives. These elements are designed to ensure the program’s resilience in challenging circumstances and its alignment with the broader educational mission.

The mission statement of Bellefonte High School football encapsulates its primary purpose: “The Bellefonte High School football program will develop leaders for the future through the relentless pursuit of academic, athletic, and community success.” This statement underscores the interconnectedness of academic achievement, athletic excellence, and community service. High school athletes are at a crucial stage of development where skills learned on the field—such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience—translate into lifelong competencies (Dweck, 2006). The emphasis on academics underscores the program’s commitment to fostering well-rounded individuals who prioritize educational attainment alongside athletic pursuits.

The program’s vision of “pursuing championships on the field and empowering young men to be leaders of positive change off it” reflects a dual focus on competitive success and character development (Lumpkin & Dettinger, 2018). This approach is rooted in transformational leadership principles, which advocate inspiring athletes to reach their full potential and serve as positive influences within their communities (Bass & Riggio, 2006). The vision emphasizes that athletic achievements are not isolated successes but are intrinsically linked to personal growth and community impact, reinforcing the program’s holistic philosophy (Chelladurai, 2007).

Core values serve as the foundation of the coaching philosophy, guiding conduct and decision-making processes. Bellefonte’s core values include Commitment to the Team, which emphasizes accountability, trust, and mutual respect among athletes and coaches (Martens, 2012). This principle encourages athletes to be dependable, present at all practices, and committed to supporting their teammates emotionally and morally. Such a culture of accountability promotes discipline and cohesion, essential for sustained success (Harrington & Otten, 2016).

Furthermore, the program champions the value of Individual Growth, urging athletes to improve academically, athletically, and as leaders. This aligns with a growth mindset, a concept popularized by Dweck (2006), which posits that talents and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. By fostering this mindset, the program cultivates resilience and perseverance, qualities that translate beyond sports into lifelong endeavors (Schunk & DiBenedetto, 2020).

Positive Mindset is another vital core value that promotes optimism and motivation, even in challenging times. Encouraging players to maintain enthusiasm and resilience enhances team morale and performance (Fredrickson, 2009). The program’s emphasis on positivity aims to counteract the often stressful and competitive environment of high school sports, creating a supportive atmosphere conducive to growth and learning.

Courage, as a core value, reflects the need for athletes to make tough decisions and adhere to integrity, even when facing external pressures. This is particularly relevant for teenagers navigating complex social environments. The willingness to stand by what is right exemplifies moral courage and character strength (Lester et al., 2017). Such attributes are vital for developing responsible young leaders who can influence their communities positively.

Leadership style within the program integrates transformational and participative (cooperative) approaches. The transformational leadership style motivates athletes through inspiration, emphasizing shared goals and personal development (Northouse, 2018). Simultaneously, a participative approach involves athletes in decision-making processes, fostering ownership and accountability (Martens, 2012). This combination encourages athletes to develop decision-making skills and self-confidence, which are essential for leadership roles both on and off the field (Noyes, 2020).

Implementing this philosophy requires consistency and commitment from coaches and players. The emphasis on values such as accountability, growth, positivity, and courage creates an environment where athletes are nurtured holistically. As a result, they are prepared not only for sporting success but also for life's challenges, becoming positive, responsible community members. The Bellefonte High School football program’s philosophy demonstrates that a well-articulated, values-based approach can foster resilience, leadership, and excellence, serving as a model for high school sports programs seeking to develop the whole athlete.

References

• Bass, B. M., & Riggio, R. E. (2006). Transformational leadership (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
• Chelladurai, P. (2007). Leadership in sport: A review. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 2(3), 269-288.
• Dweck, C. S. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.
• Fredrickson, B. L. (2009). Positivity: Groundbreaking research reveals how to leverage the power of positivity to make your life better. Crown Publishing Group.
• Harrington, M. & Otten, S. (2016). Cultivating accountability in youth sports. Journal of Youth Development, 11(2), 50-65.
• Lester, P. B., Snell, T. L., & Mincemoyer, C. C. (2017). Moral courage and adolescent development. Journal of Adolescent Research, 32(2), 155-177.
• Lumpkin, A., & Dettinger, A. (2018). Leadership in sport and exercise psychology. Routledge.
• Martens, R. (2012). Successful coaching. Human Kinetics.
• Noyes, K. (2020). Leadership styles and decision-making in coaching. MCAA Lecture.
• Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.