Key 1: Success is Never Defined by a Trophy

coaching competitions

6 Unexpected Keys that Contributed to Winning Six State Championships Series

After my team competed at the State Championship preliminaries, I bumped into a coach I knew and she said, “Can I send you a video of your response when your team finished their routine?” This video of me jumping up and down, was not just because they hit zero, it was me thanking God for the growth and resilience of my incredible team. No matter how we placed, I was just thankful, my entire team was on the mat and they did the very best they could.

When setting goals for your team each season, is winning a certain competition on the list? My teams say it is a goal and of course, I would love to achieve that goal. However, I try to quickly redirect them to what would be a successful season.

I have lost more than double the State Championships than I have won. Some of these losses were extremely heartbreaking. However, I never make a season about winning a trophy. Yes, I will always train my teams to be the best they can be so they can be contenders, but I know more often than not, what can go wrong in 2.5 minutes on a mat.

In redirecting my teams, I ask some of the following questions:

If a State Championship were not possible, what would your goals be?
What are your goals that have nothing to do with your skills?
What scores would you want to improve?

Direct your team to setting goals that are in their control. For winning a certain competition, the only thing in their control is to do the best they can. But, the best they can perform may not be enough to win in their division. They can set a goal to hit zero, so regardless where they place, they have still achieved a goal. This year, one goal my team set was to have a better score in voices and motions in the cheer section - and we did it!

Another goal they set was to really get to know each other and bond as a team. From my vantage point - mission accomplished. This team went through a lot this season and they really came together. The bond they formed can never be taken away from them. They will have this for life.

My coaching staff and I challenged our team to claim victory in their lives - victory over fear, victory over anxiety, victory over a performance spirit, and more. As coaches, we had claimed victory in their lives, but it was time for them to do it for themselves. As the season progressed, we started seeing wins over various areas of our athletes’ lives. It was incredible. When State came, it was a showcase of resilience, tenacity, and perseverance.

The night before the State Championship, I had everyone on the team write themselves a card. I told them that I would pass it out to them at lunch after preliminaries the next day. By lunch time, we would know if we made the finals. I asked them to write a note to themselves of the victories they have already claimed in their lives. So, no matter what happened in preliminaries, they would be able to read about what they have already won. I was preparing them for any outcome at State. I wanted them to know that one competition does not define their season and more importantly, it does not define them.

Winning the State Championship was icing on the cake. There can only be one winner in each division and if you make sure you are defining success in other ways, it makes a loss not as difficult and a win more humbling. Success is not about a trophy, so be sure as a coach to work with your team to define success.