The Initiative

“Whether you are a new or seasoned coach, this program will help you think creatively and effectively about what motivates you to coach, how you work with your athletes, and how you manage the team as a whole.” — John Yeager

The Coaching Zone Initiative is a national program designed to help new and seasoned coaches who are lifetime learners, bring out the best in themselves, their athletes, and their teams. We believe that the most effective coaches keep stretching themselves to learn more not only about how to teach the technical and tactical components of the sport, but also about the psychological, social, emotional, and mental strategies that influence performance, satisfaction, and enjoyment. The Initiative empowers coaches to make a bigger difference and impact with their athletes and teams on and off the playing field.

Based on the book, The Coaching Zone, our team works with youth, high school, and college coaches.

We are aware that coaches have a finite time to interact with their athletes and teams, as well as with fellow coaches. The Initiative provides practical and interactive strategies for Athletic/Program Directors and coaches. We build a modular experience at multiple levels that focuses on readiness and fit for various groups of coaches.

The Coaching Zone curriculum is grounded in three basic principles that helps coaches develop and sustain a meaningful community, that all coaches working together helps to make everyone better as a whole.

The First Principle: Coach Self-Management
Coaches become more effective by enhancing self-awareness and understanding their own strengths, blind spots, and behavioral styles. In the process, they learn how to manage their personal psychological well-being so that they have the energy to respond skillfully to athletes and teams in the moment and over time.

The Second Principle: Leading and Empowering Athletes
Coaches become more effective by knowing how to connect effectively with their athletes, how to direct them toward further improvement, and when to let them take the lead in their own development. They also help their athletes learn how to stay focused on the present moment and manage the ups and downs of the competitive environment.

The Third Principle: The Team Dance
Coaches become more effective by enhancing their systems thinking, responding effectively to the rhythms and patterns of their teams. In the process, they help teams build collaboration skills and hold each other accountable. They maintain a healthy culture that is based on shared values and mutual responsibility.