On the TunneySide of Sports November 29, 2021 #876 Up next… Coaching And Teaching Can Be Synonymous
”Nothing is ever so bad it can’t be made worse by firing the coach.” wrote former syndicated sports columnist Jim Murray. Murray, arguably the greatest ever, was able to succinctly capture the essence of a sports story with humor and satire. What brings the Murray quote to mind is that this is the time of year when football coaches are separated from their jobs.
So, what is the role of a coach? At the Little League or high school levels, the coach’s focus needs to be on teaching. Players certainly should “play to win the game,” as Coach Herm Edwards says in my book “It’s the Will, Not the Skill.” However, teaching must come first. My belief is coaching and teaching can be synonymous.
As a former high school teacher and administrator, I believe that the role of a teacher is to help students become better people as well as better learners. What if in any given classroom, a teacher treated students as players, for example, some as quarterbacks, some as linemen, some as receivers with each student/player having different abilities? The teacher then helps develop that student’s special talents.
Should college and professional coaches be teachers as well? A former NFL coach, who has won a Super Bowl, told me “In the NFL, you don’t get paid to teach, you get paid to win.” Should that be the challenge for college coaches as well? Can a college or pro coach do both? Pro coaches with whom I had the pleasure of being with on the field did both [Lombardi, Landry, Walsh, Shula, Madden, and Edwards). Players spoke highly of their learning experiences both on and off the field. They appreciated the efforts coaches make in helping them become better people as well as better players.
Good coaches do that. However, all too often teaching takes a back seat to the pressures of winning. The race to be number one becomes too important. Economics often drives winning at all costs.
Will you support those who teach/coach the person inside the player?
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Jim’s books include many messages about rules and regulations (remember he was a referee). His bobblehead on your desk or shelf will be a treasure in your office or home.
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To contact Jim, go to www.jimtunney.com or email jim@jimtunney.com.
