6 Lessons for All Coaches to Follow from Bill Belichick
Success is measured in many ways. When it comes to coaching, you want to know what makes the best of the best. Bill Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion. His record of wins, strategy, philosophy, and reputation make him a perfect model to follow. Bill’s wisdom and knowledge can transform your coaching and take it to the next level. It does not matter the sport. What matters is the process.
Here are six essential qualities to practice for your team and players to excel.
1) Talent sets the floor. And character is the ceiling.
When it comes to the NFL, a lot of talent is literally running around. But character is something difficult to find. So, to play for the Patriots, Bill looks for good talent and emphasizes that character is essential. Bill said he looks for players that don’t need their egos fed. Instead, players must do what they are told and supposed to do because they know and love the game and will do the job without receiving glory or praise. The team needs to function as a unit.
2) Success is not just about talent. It is about being dependable, consistent, and coachable. You must understand what you need to do to improve.
You can be a very talented player and successfully transform the game. But if you’re not dependable, consistent, and able to be coached, you will not be a very successful player. You have seen this happen with players like Antonio Brown from Tampa Bay and Terrel Owens from the Philadelphia Eagles. They are and were some talented wide receivers, but wide receivers who’ve had bad attitudes. And a bad attitude makes you undependable nor coachable and affects the rest of the team. This is probably the reason why Bill loved Tom Brady so much. He is talented, consistent, coachable, and reliable to win games.
3) Every single player matters. Every single player can change the course of the game.
This is a great statement, a quote by Bill. You have seen this happen many times in the NFL over the past years. For example, when Drew Bledsoe was injured, Tom Brady came in and never left and changed the course of the New England Patriots history, winning six Super Bowl titles. And Tom was one of the lowest players in the draft. You saw the same thing with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Carson Wentz was injured, and Nick Foles came in and won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. And to include Kurt Warner, an undrafted player and an underdog who took the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl.
4) Trust Your Process
Belichick says you can only focus on only the things that are in your control. Don’t live in the past nor worry about what will happen in the future. Focus all your attention on the present moment and trust the process. The outcome will occur. Looking back is a distraction from what you need to do now. And what you need to do now affects moving forward. Bill said that is why he, the coaches, and other players don’t speak about prior years or the coming weeks. Today and the next game is what matters and are in your control.
5) Trust Your Instincts
When it comes to using your talents and instincts, Bill says just because someone else has not done something, don’t talk yourself out of doing or using your ideas and strategies. He emphasizes that if you believe it will work, don’t be afraid to use and try it.
6) Follow Your Passion
Bill says if you are passionate about something, then do it. Passion will make everything fall in line correctly and take care of itself. So, pick your career for passion, not money, because it will never feel like work if you love what you do. And Bill is passionate about coaching.
Bill Belichick believes in communication and preparation. He feels that if the players and coaches do their job effectively, be attentive, pay attention to details, and put the team first, everything should fall in line and function well. Bill believes, “Every battle is won before it is fought.” Sun Tzu– The Art of War. It is also the only sign in the Patriot’s locker room. He says it is a daily reminder of all games that aren’t won or lost. The outcome is based on preparation. And preparation leads to constant improvement.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
6 Lessons for All Coaches to Follow from Bill Belichick
Success is measured in many ways. When it comes to coaching, you want to know what makes the best of the best. Bill Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion. His record of wins, strategy, philosophy, and reputation make him a perfect model to follow. Bill’s wisdom and knowledge can transform your coaching and take it to the next level. It does not matter the sport. What matters is the process.
Here are six essential qualities to practice for your team and players to excel.
1) Talent sets the floor. And character is the ceiling.
When it comes to the NFL, a lot of talent is literally running around. But character is something difficult to find. So, to play for the Patriots, Bill looks for good talent and emphasizes that character is essential. Bill said he looks for players that don’t need their egos fed. Instead, players must do what they are told and supposed to do because they know and love the game and will do the job without receiving glory or praise. The team needs to function as a unit.
2) Success is not just about talent. It is about being dependable, consistent, and coachable. You must understand what you need to do to improve.
You can be a very talented player and successfully transform the game. But if you’re not dependable, consistent, and able to be coached, you will not be a very successful player. You have seen this happen with players like Antonio Brown from Tampa Bay and Terrel Owens from the Philadelphia Eagles. They are and were some talented wide receivers, but wide receivers who’ve had bad attitudes. And a bad attitude makes you undependable nor coachable and affects the rest of the team. This is probably the reason why Bill loved Tom Brady so much. He is talented, consistent, coachable, and reliable to win games.
3) Every single player matters. Every single player can change the course of the game.
This is a great statement, a quote by Bill. You have seen this happen many times in the NFL over the past years. For example, when Drew Bledsoe was injured, Tom Brady came in and never left and changed the course of the New England Patriots history, winning six Super Bowl titles. And Tom was one of the lowest players in the draft. You saw the same thing with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Carson Wentz was injured, and Nick Foles came in and won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots. And to include Kurt Warner, an undrafted player and an underdog who took the Los Angeles Rams to the Super Bowl.
4) Trust Your Process
Belichick says you can only focus on only the things that are in your control. Don’t live in the past nor worry about what will happen in the future. Focus all your attention on the present moment and trust the process. The outcome will occur. Looking back is a distraction from what you need to do now. And what you need to do now affects moving forward. Bill said that is why he, the coaches, and other players don’t speak about prior years or the coming weeks. Today and the next game is what matters and are in your control.
5) Trust Your Instincts
When it comes to using your talents and instincts, Bill says just because someone else has not done something, don’t talk yourself out of doing or using your ideas and strategies. He emphasizes that if you believe it will work, don’t be afraid to use and try it.
6) Follow Your Passion
Bill says if you are passionate about something, then do it. Passion will make everything fall in line correctly and take care of itself. So, pick your career for passion, not money, because it will never feel like work if you love what you do. And Bill is passionate about coaching.
Bill Belichick believes in communication and preparation. He feels that if the players and coaches do their job effectively, be attentive, pay attention to details, and put the team first, everything should fall in line and function well. Bill believes, “Every battle is won before it is fought.” Sun Tzu– The Art of War. It is also the only sign in the Patriot’s locker room. He says it is a daily reminder of all games that aren’t won or lost. The outcome is based on preparation. And preparation leads to constant improvement.