I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in athletics. Its my personal approach that creates the climate. Its my daily mood tat makes the weather. As a coach, I possess a tremendous power to make an athlete's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humour, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether an athlete will be escalated or de-excalated and an athlete huanized or de-humanized.
No Written word
Nor spoken plea
Can teach young minds
What they should be
Nor all the books
On all the shelves
But what the coaches
are themselves.
Adapted from Haim Ginott.
