Why I coach the way I coach…
By: Coach Bobby Smith
Whether you attend a Complete Speed and Power Summit or ask one of my athletes, the answer will be the same.
I bring the JUICE!
For those of you that do not know what the juice is, it’s energy.
It’s passion, enthusiasm, love, service and most importantly, caring.
It’s who I am and my mission in life.
My athletes, parents, and coaches often ask, “How did you become the way you are? How do you maintain that level of energy and dedication?”
When I think back over my life as an athlete and my evolution into coaching, I realize that I have not always been the way I am now. Sure I have always been an energetic person with a love and enthusiasm for sports, but I have had many experiences that have truly shaped me into the person and coach I am today.
Throughout high school, I was a typical jock. I cared primarily for my personal accomplishments and myself rather than of those around me. In college, I began to focus more on the accomplishments of my team, but it was still largely all about me. Along the way I had some great coaches but it’s taken me many years to realize that I have learned from each and every coach that I encountered. When I decided that I wanted to be a coach, my goal was to coach kids the way I wish I had been coached when I was young. So I set out to do just that when I started RYPT.
Little did I know that my journey into coaching would not only allow me to positively affect young athletes, but “by serving others, I would gain and grow in the process.” This is a quote from the book The Carpenter, by Jon Gordon, a book that has played a large role in my development as a coach and a person. After reading this book, it was obvious to me that what I had originally thought was my mission of making kids better athletes, was only a fraction of my true mission of making kids better people.
In The Carpenter, Jon Gordon writes that to love, serve, and care is the greatest strategy of all. “When you care, you inspire others to care. Find ways to extend yourself to others and serve them. Go beyond the expected. People know you care when you go out of your way to show them they matter.”
Being a former collegiate football player, I had thought that my strength coaching career would lead me to working with athletes similar to myself—meat head, male athletes with their eyes on size and goals to be swole. But as RYPT began to grow, I saw a trend in more female athletes reaching out for our services. And with these young ladies, Jon Gordon’s words constantly pop up in my head. “Never underestimate the importance of making time to make someone feel special.” I realized that by taking the time to make each individual athlete feel special, like they truly matter, they in turn will show me respect and allow me to have a bigger impact on them. I realized that I could actually positively affect their lives.
Here’s how:
First, I could change their lives by teaching and showing them how to physically be a better athlete. In the short time I have with these athletes, I have the power to change and improve the way they move, thereby improving their athleticism and reducing their risk of injury.
Second, I could change their lives by positively impacting them mentally and emotionally. With my own positive energy and enthusiasm, they can feel a sincerity in the way I coach that.
I coach from the heart. I coach by example. I love what I do. I love being an athlete. I love training like an athlete.
I love that what I do can help young people get stronger, fitter, healthier, and become successful athletes and people. The beauty of the field of strength and conditioning is that all it takes is hard work and motivation and everyone will see results. And to get my athletes to work hard and be motivated, I give them everything I have every moment that I have them in my gym.
I truly take every single opportunity that I am given to make a positive impact on my athletes. And it’s not just about motivation; it’s about empowering them to be the best they can be. And when I see these young athletes becoming confident, empowered young people, it motivates me even more to be the best strength coach I can be.
After 6 years with RYPT and working with over 4000 female athletes, I am excited to be able to share the things I have learned. Yes, I have taught, coached, motivated, and empowered these athletes. But they have given just as much back to me.
Our new DVD, The Complete Guide to Training the Female Athlete, is our way of empowering other strength coaches, thereby, empowering their athletes to truly REACH THEIR POTENTIAL.
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