Stone Murray

10/14/20

EDU 470

Coaching Philosophy

Balancing winning and student development can be tough for many coaches. There

really isn’t the perfect answer because many will say winning is more important, while others

say student development is. As the game develops and athletes become older, winning

becomes a priority and in order for winning to happen development must increase. Personally I

will balance both winning and student development for my students because they are both

important. These two components actually compliment each other. Development is the

foundation for all athletes. This is the base where children become bad to good to great. There

is no winning unless your kids are developed into great athletes who know the game. There is

no drive to develop if there is no winning. My style won't be win at all costs, because that’s not

me and that’s not always a good case for kids. Young athletes need to lose every once in a

while, because not only will it teach them valuable lessons about life and the game itself. But It

will make them want to develop even more and master their craft so they don’t feel the pain of

losing again. I grew up in a competitive area our high school never really lost. High School

football we won many games until senior year we lost not once but twice. Not only did we feel

that pain but we wanted to be perfect and make sure this never happened again. Coaching

changed from hitting non stop and banging around to mastering our craft such as footwork,

plays, mental errors (student development). We were a completely new football team and it

showed because we dominated after all the work we put in. You need those losses in your life to

change the way you think and to become stronger. I want to make sure all my students know

that and that we will win only if you take the time to learn to develop mentally and physically.

My core values and beliefs are three simple traits: family, hard work, and trust. Being on

a team is not only great because you’re a family but you build comradery, friendships, and
memories. Till this day I call my teammates from pop warner and high school my brothers. The

amount of dedication and time we put in together made us all so close. We wanted to play for

each other and protect the guys on my left and right. You understand so much about everyone,

being with each other for so long each and everyday, during doubles, or camp it’s incredible. We

will be family on the field and off the field. I will establish “family” to my athletes by having team

parties or bowling trips. The more we can bond and be with each other the stronger the

family/team will grow. Next hard work is a strong core belief I have because this is what sets

your team apart from the rest. I want my players to know that our team is only as strong as our

weakest link. Everyone needs to be all in and dedicated to the team and be willing to sacrifice

going through the hard, dealing with struggle and pain. All of the extra workouts, doubles, camp,

combines, all of that is hard work I will put them through. I want kids that want to play, so I will

put them through a lot to see who’s not only mentall tough but physically as well. In the long run

student-athletes will understand that it made them stronger and you’ll appreciate all that work

you put in. Finally, trust is a huge component for me. As a coach I need to be able to trust my

students and team that they are all in for me. They will do what I tell them, and perform it the

right way. Not only do I need to trust my players, but the players have to trust each other most

importantly. I will make my team run a play till their brains hurt. I need to know that all my

players know what to do on each play. But more importantly they need to know and trust that

their brothers or sisters will run it perfectly as well so they can win. This is why this trait is big for

me because trust is built through the season, through all of that hard work, through being a

family and trusting your brothers or sisters. You play at such a different caliber when you trust

the guys or girls around you. It all comes together when you put these core values together.

Balancing opportunities and developing the kids while trying to make cuts and roster size

can be tough for any coach. But at the same time you’re only allowed a certain roster size and

you have to abide by that. For me, giving kids two weeks of practice and then the third week

would be the cut week seems the most ideal. Within three weeks I hope that I can not only have
my final team and help kids develop more into better athletes, but even the kids I cut I hope that

I sparked something for them. The pain of being cut by a team can be sad and tough but

hopefully I got them to a point where they want to prove people wrong and next year for tryouts

they show everyone all the improvements they made. Watching an athlete develop into a player

that they never were is incredible and touching because you can say you helped with that. Even

if I cut a player, just knowing that they are still working to get better and make the team next

year is incredible. Most kids will just sit out and never want to step on a field again. That’s why I

think in my capability, that in three weeks even if they get cut, I made an impact on them to

always want to become better and prove people wrong. Also as coaches we don’t always have

to cut a player, based on what level and grade they’re trying out for you can always send them

down a level below to develop. This tool is great because it still allows athletes to play, but to

understand the game more mentally, and build teammates and friendships.