Friends who know me will tell you I often wind them upi with the statement, “I can’t wait until tomorrow”. When they ask, “What’s on tomorrow”, I retort with a smile, “Oh, I get better looking every day”. 

I will use this theme of ADDING VALUE to oneself over the next few months when taking courses such as Learning Skills, Business Insight Skills, and Communication Skills with young students of all ages and abilities. In sport, I try to re-invent myself every year as a coach so that I can motivate players to achieve their “personal best” by adding value each day to what they had the day before.

The recent Olympic games were perhaps the best ever; not only as a spectacle but in terms of performance. The number of “lifetime bests”, National records, Olympic records and World records which were recorded was astounding. These achievements were the result of four years excellent preparation like the adage says “Perfect practice makes perfect”. Remember, practice only makes permanent, so ensure that in everything you do chase perfection because when you chase perfection you always catch excellence. 

This notion of “ADD VALUE” sadly is not found at all levels of sport and may be the reason why so many sportspeople do not reach their full potential. In a number of sports the “best” coaches are not found with the youngest players. When this happens the enthusiasm of mediocre coaches may only be generating bad habits in players. Remember, we first make our habits, then our habits make us. Many coaches do not adequately prepare sessions, if at all, and simply decide on the spur of the moment what to do when they arrive at the training ground. “Added Value” will not happen here. There will be little return on the player’s effort at such a session. If sessions are not recorded, reviewed and filed, “added” value will be an impossible dream. If programmes do not match and support visions and goals then training will have no direction, players self worth will be reduced and there will be little return for effort expended. 

Players learn as quickly as they are taught but often the coach has nothing more to coach. How many coaches up-skill themselves, update their knowledge, take refresher courses or regularly review with players what they are giving their players? If a coach does not know how to teach the individual skills or team skills of their sport, how will they add value to individual players or team strengths. How they address weaknesses to improve the competency of players.

In gaelic sport, I see teams at senior level coached at kicking, catching, hand passing etc while their club U-10s are expected to perform team skills to win the U-10 championship. Thus the coaching emphasis is upside down – Seniors should work on team skills while U-10s should work on individual skills. How can value be added if there is equipment in a club that coaches don’t know how to use? A little knowledge is a dangerous thing but coaches expecting that methods used decades ago will be appropriate today can lead to even greater disasters. There is no such thing as generalised coaching or “one size fits all”. Coaching must target the needs of the individual. If planned, reviewed and recorded the process is not time consuming. In fact, it becomes time being used opportunely. Every player should then “look forward to tomorrow” because they will be better every day, having recorded their achievements. In future, cal yourself AV – “ADD VALUE” and ensure you do so every day. Record each day and in time you’ll have a hugely positive book based on a “personal best” person – YOU. See you AV!