How To Impress Your Coach
As the spring season has kicked off, I feel it is important to highlight how players can impress their coach’s and potentially get more time on the game field.
While this process could have started in the off-season by showing up to everything your team does… like leagues and tournaments, it is still possible to impress your coach and take on a valuable role for your team.
Be early and stay late.
Show up early and ready to go mentally and physically. Be where your feet are. Stay after practice for 10,15,30 minutes getting extra reps whether they are groundballs, dodges, shots, or lax golf with teammates.
Build rapport with your coaches and teammates.
Have meaningful conversations with your coaches about where they think you fit best in the field and how you can make an impact and improve at that position.
Be coachable. Ask yourself these questions.
Are you able to execute the skills and drills that your coaches demonstrate at practice quickly and effectively? What is your response to a coach telling you that you did some wrong or not fast enough?
Be a team player.
Do what your coach asks. Each tiny little play in a game has equal value. Understand that you can make an impact for your team at any position and have just as much value as the leader in points.
Some prime examples of men's college players that no one really highlights are Matt Abbott, Ryan Conrad, and Evan Zinn. All of these guys are well rounded players that took on a two way midfield role or defensive midfield role for their teams and have made major contributions to their college without scoring tons of points. These guys made impact with sound defense, groundballs, and clears.
So be early and stay late, build rapport, be coachable, and be a team player.
And remember to have some fun this season!
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Defy Athletics