When we talk about sound preparation for coaching for Peak Performance in Sports, we are referring to the grand scheme of things. No effective coach can perform his coaching job properly without a vision of where he/she wants to lead the team to. It does not matter at what level of play the coach is involved in. Whether it is high school, college, varsity, professional or international levels, coaches must come into their job with a clear vision in mind. Very often, this vision is determined by the organizations hiring the coach. The person been hired must fit the bill of what the sports organization intends to achieve.
When Chelsea FC hired Jose Mourinho as their Head Coach in 2004, they got a coach who could deliver the results, but not the flamboyant playing style that their owner craved for. Although Mourinho won two Premier League titles, it was not sufficient to keep him in the job as he preach and coach a style of effective and discipline soccer, focusing on grinding out results instead of playing beautiful soccer. Here is a case of a coach with a vision of playing mechanical soccer for success, whilst the team organization was looking for a coach who could deliver beautiful soccer with success. The marriage here was never sound and Mourinho's departure was inevitable.
This kind of story and outcome is a loud call for all coaches and owners of sports organizations to be aware of when filling the most important position of the team. When looking for a coaching job, coaches must actively look for the best match in terms of team philosophy. Money and incentive can be huge draws, but ultimately, it will result in a poor working relationship if the manager or coach cannot express his/her coaching philosophy on the playing field. Owners must also be fair to coaches and be out front with their prospective hires. Just because the coach is reputable and successful does not mean that he is the right person for the job. The team's philosophy must be communicated to the coaches before the job is confirmed.
Once a common understanding is established - when the coach understands the requirements of the job and when the organization is frank with the type of job to be taken. It becomes so much easier for the vision of the team and coach to be established. The coach will be able to whole-heartedly devote his energies in ensuring that this vision is communicated to the players. Let him/her get on with the coaching job with minimal interference and peak performance in sports for the team will follow naturally.
It is important for the coach to set his vision early and communicate this to his players as soon as possible. The vision must have a long term horizon of where he/she intends to lead the team. This vision also needs to be supported by short, medium and long-term goals. For instance, a high school baseball team's vision as set out by the coach might be to become the most recognized team in the region in 10 years time. When people think of baseball in this region, the school's name must come to mind. In 2 years time as part of the goal, the school might want to make it to the playoffs. As a medium term goal, the school might want to reach the finals in 5 years' time. The long term goal could be a winner or regular finalist in ten years' time. That will fulfill the vision as set out by the coach right from the onset when he/she took up the job, and management must support this vision.
Setting the vision is an important step in ensuring that sound preparation can take place. This will lay the foundation of what is to come in terms of designing and planning a good sports programme for peak performance in sports.
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