Musings On Coaching And Teaching Poem by Susan Christiansen

I believe….. that good coaching, like good teaching inspires, not demeans.

I believe….. that to always expect the best brings out the best in others.

I believe……that with encouragement children flourish, and with negativity children learn to expect failure.

I believe….. in doing everything in moderation. There is a fine line between consequence and punition. One breeds reflection, the other resentment.

I believe……that learning is a social activity. Many insights have been gained,
and problems solved through discussion, play, and reflection with others.

I believe……that more is learned through guided practice, good modeling, and discovery than lecture and reprimand could ever achieve.

I believe……that like classroom environments that grow and develop over time, teamwork grows and is nourished with caring.

I believe……that endurance is mental as well as physical. Mental exhaustion can disable, sometimes more, than the physical.

I believe…..that sports can be fun! In life, people are willing to put up with discomfort,
minor annoyances, and disappointments when, at the end of the day, they can still
say they had fun.

I believe…..that everyone has accountability in life. Whether it is teacher’s test scores,
coaches games, or players’ teamwork. We ALL make mistakes. They make us human.

I believe…..that if, at the end of the day, I can look back and reflect on what I did right,
recognize my mistakes, and make goals for tomorrow, it was a good day.