Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

11 Off-Season Team Building Ideas

There’s more to a good team than just talent, strategy, and philosophy. The best teams have a high level of trust, respect, and a sense of purpose. This doesn’t happen by accident. Building a strong and healthy team is intentional.

There’s an old adage that says, “One day the winter will come calling and it will ask what you did all summer long.” You reap what you sow, and this is no different for your athletes, your team, or even yourself. The off season is a great time to prepare for the upcoming season. It’s a great time to build strong habits.

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8 In-Season Team Building Ideas

11-time NBA Championship coach Phil Jackson said, “The strength of the team is each individual member, and the strength of each member is the team.” As a coach, you understand the importance of building a strong team.

There are plenty of teams that consist of skilled individuals and athletes with tremendous physical assets. However, some of these teams never reach their potential because they are just a bunch of puzzle pieces that don’t seem to fit together.

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Utilizing Committees On Your Team

There’s no doubt that you want a stronger culture and a successful program. This is oftentimes accomplished when you have athletes that are good leaders. This might manifest itself in the form of strong team captains, upperclassmen, or an overall atmosphere of all players taking responsibility for the team’s leadership.

However, whether the leadership on your team is currently where you want it to be or not, you can do something to make it even better.

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7 Creative Ideas for More Effective Practice Sessions

The Navy SEALS like to say, “Under pressure, you don’t rise to the occasion, instead you sink to the level of your training.”

Very few athletes are true “gamers” in that they can show up on game day and flip a switch. Most athletes need to prepare and build good habits, so they can call upon their skills when needed.

In order to best prepare your athletes to face certain situations during games, you need to inspire them.

Here are seven ways you can make your practice sessions a little more creative in order to increase their effectiveness…

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6 Ways to Better Utilize Assistant Coaches

The late great Billy Graham liked to say, “A coach will impact more young people in one year than the average person will in a lifetime.” The quote didn’t distinguish between head coaches or assistant coaches. All coaches have an opportunity to make a difference.

As a head coach, your platform is greater and you may have more opportunities, but your assistants can make a tremendous difference in the lives of your athletes – both from an athletic and personal level. The best programs have great coaches. A good head coach can only do so much if the assistant coaches are not very good.

Having a good assistant coach isn’t automatic even if that person has the knowledge or experience.

Here are 6 ways that you can better utilize your assistant coaches more effectively…

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What REAL Leadership Looks Like

You’re a coach, which means you have a position of leadership. However, keep in mind that just because you have a business card, plaque on your office door, or embroidered shirts saying “coach” doesn’t mean you are a good leader. There are plenty of politicians, CEOs, administrators, and yes, even coaches that aren’t maximizing the leadership potential of their positions.

Your status as a coach provides you a tremendous opportunity and starting point to make a positive impact on people. Leadership isn’t about positions or status, but about influence. Anyone can be a leader because anyone can have influence. However, you have a head start because you have power, status, and authority. You have a built-in platform and opportunity to use your power for good … or for bad.

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9 Things to Avoid as a New Coach

It’s very exciting to join a new program and start fresh.

Whether we’re a young coach or a wily veteran, head coach or assistant, there are still some important things to remember as we begin this new job.

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Episode 167: Hugh Freeze, Liberty Football Coach

Hugh Freeze is the head football coach at Liberty University. He has won an astounding 18 games in his first two years at Liberty. Prior to his time at Liberty University, he was the head coach at Ole Miss in the SEC. During his time at Ole Miss, they were the only team to beat Alabama in the regular season in both 2014 and 2015. His teams finished with a winning record in four of his five years. He is one of the only college coaches in history to win at least 10 games at four different colleges (Lambuth, Arkansas State, Ole Miss, and Liberty).

Click here for Coach’s complete bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • How to build a winning culture regardless of the school
  • Beating Nick Saban in back-to-back years
  • His role in the story of Michael Oher and “The Blindside”
  • Ways that he has improved as a coach

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Episode 150: Robyn Fralick, College Basketball Coach

Robyn Fralick was named the head women’s basketball coach at NCAA Division I Bowling Green State University in spring of 2018. Fralick was the architect of the two greatest offensive seasons in NCAA Division II women’s basketball history when she was at Ashland University. She was at Ashland for a total of 10 years. The last three years, she was Ashland’s head coach and had a record of 104-3, for an incredible winning percentage of .972. The Eagles won the NCAA Division II National Championship in 2016-17 before returning to the national championship game and earning a runner-up finish in ’17-18. She earned national coach of the year honors twice while at Ashland University.

Click here for Coach Fralick’s complete bio

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • Losing only 3 games in 3 years as a Division II head coach
  • Making the transition from DII to DI
  • Taking over a winning program vs. taking over a struggling program
  • Putting together a new staff of coaches
  • Work-life integration with a career and family
  • … and so much more!!!

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Episode 145: Joanna Bernabei-McNamee, ACC Coach of the Year

Joanna Bernabei-McNamee is the head women’s basketball coach at Boston College. In only her second season at BC, she was honored as the 2020 Atlantic Coast Conference’s Coach of the Year. She led BC to an impressive 20-12 overall record and a fourth place finish in the conference with an 11-7 record. The 20 victories were the most in program history since the 2010-11 season. The team also set a new program record for the most ACC victories with 11. She has previously coached at Albany University, Pikeville College, and West Virginia Wesleyan. She also was an assistant on the 2006 Maryland Terrapins squad that won the national championship.

Click here to read her entire bio.

In today’s episode, we discuss:
  • “Secret sauce” to turning around a program
  • First steps after taking over a new job
  • Football tailgating tips
  • Balancing a high-level job and family life
  • … and so much more!!!

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