I respect coaches; I respect what good coaches do. I know that you don't learn to be a coach in an hour and a half.
Interpretation
Coaching requires time, respect, and a deep understanding of the role.
John Madden emphasizes the importance of coaching by acknowledging that it is a craft that takes time to develop and demands respect. He highlights that effective coaching cannot be mastered quickly, indicating that the skills and insights gained through experience are what truly define a good coach.
In practice
In a speech about the importance of mentorship, one could use this quote to highlight the dedication involved in coaching.
Since 1981, I've spent every Thanksgiving Day broadcasting a game, and it is one of my favorite days. You can say, 'Woe is me, I never get to be part of the tradition,' or you can say, 'Heck, we've got our own tradition, and it's pretty good.'
Sometimes you can be one of the best, but you don't accept that if you don't get the ring or win the Super Bowl. There's a lot of good teams between the Super Bowl winner and other teams. Once the Super Bowl is over, we lump everyone into the other 31, and that's not fair.
Coaches have to watch for what they don't want to see and listen to what they don't want to hear.
Any defensive coordinator is worried about two things: a running quarterback and a deep ball. You know, don't get beat deep and don't let the quarterback run, because a big part of your defense can't account for the quarterback as a runner, so he gets a free run.
Nobody, not even the head coach, would do anything to the football unilaterally, such as adjust the amount of pressure in a ball, without the quarterback not knowing. It would have to be the quarterback's idea.
I was an old tackle riding around talking to people about sports. Like I've said to a lot of people over the years, 'I only go where old tackles go, and if an old tackle does not belong there, I'm not going.'
There must be, not a balance of power, but a community of power; not organized rivalries, but an organized peace.
To get the best coaching outcomes, always have your 1-on-1's on your employee's turf not yours. In your office the truth hides.
A leader must be a good listener. He must be willing to take counsel. He must show a genuine concern and love for those under his stewardship.
There's so much more involved with the game than just sitting there, looking at the numbers and saying, 'OK, these are my percentages, then I'm going to do it this way,' because that one time it doesn't work could cost your team a football game, and that's the thing a head coach has to live with, not the professor.
You don't hire for skills, you hire for attitude. You can always teach skills.
A company is people ⦠employees want to know⦠am I being listened to or am I a cog in the wheel? People really need to feel wanted.
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