Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, you are coaching in a culture that is quick to judge, assume, and allege. My goal isn't to scare you...simply to make you aware. You may think that abuse and molestation allegations are the most important liability issues to protect yourself from, and maybe you're right. However, there are many ways to get yourself in trouble.
One sure way to get a parent angry with you is to leave high school-aged and younger athletes alone while they wait for parents to pick them up. If you coach girls, this exposure goes up a lot. I've experienced this twice when my daughters were part of a team and I know how I felt as a parent. As a coach, you are responsible for your athletes' well being. Leaving them unprotected on a dark night in a parking lot leaves you culpable.
Now, you may be wondering about being left alone with a student and which is worse. My answer is two-fold. First, your athlete's safety is paramount...never sacrifice their well being for your protection. Second, make sure you have another coach or parent with you - in advance - in case a situation like this occurs. Some prior planning goes a long way to protecting your athlete and you.
Do you need some more protection tips as the 2008 school year begins? That's why I'm holding my 3-part teleseminar called Sex, Lies, and Violence: Protecting Yourself from Liability for Coaches. You will learn ways to best protect you and your student-athletes. Click here to learn more...
Friday, August 31, 2007
Monday, August 27, 2007
Final Thoughts on Steubenville
Well, I’m home now and getting used to the Pacific Standard time zone again. I wish I could say the same for my luggage. It seems my luggage was “delayed” in Philadelphia while I came home without it. Fortunately, the only real things of value were the presents I bought and my dirty laundry. I guess my luggage took to the saying of W.C. Fields who said, “All things considered, I’d rather be in Philadelphia”.
Thank you for allowing me this forum to share with you a significant event in my life. The lessons I learned from some of the experiences certainly flow into life. The concepts of teamwork, welcoming, family and faith all are integral to the walks in your personal and business life.
Think back to when you were 18 years old and had the world in front of you. Now, whether its 10, 20, 30, or even 50 years later, are you satisfied? Have you lived the life you imagined…are you ticking off those important adventures in your life’s to-do list? If not…why? This trip revitalized me to think ahead to things I want to accomplish and do. These things may be personal or business related, but they all are important, so taking the time to reflect and set goals is vital. I challenge you to do the same, regardless of what phase in life you find yourself. As my friend Jim Key says, it’s never too late to dream.
Dan
Thank you for allowing me this forum to share with you a significant event in my life. The lessons I learned from some of the experiences certainly flow into life. The concepts of teamwork, welcoming, family and faith all are integral to the walks in your personal and business life.
Think back to when you were 18 years old and had the world in front of you. Now, whether its 10, 20, 30, or even 50 years later, are you satisfied? Have you lived the life you imagined…are you ticking off those important adventures in your life’s to-do list? If not…why? This trip revitalized me to think ahead to things I want to accomplish and do. These things may be personal or business related, but they all are important, so taking the time to reflect and set goals is vital. I challenge you to do the same, regardless of what phase in life you find yourself. As my friend Jim Key says, it’s never too late to dream.
Dan
Sunday, August 26, 2007
OUCH!
Ouch is the only way to describe how I feel right now as I sit in the Pittsburgh airport after having said goodbye to Mindy about an hour ago. If you have been where I have, you know what "bittersweet" really means. There's a feeling that a part of you is now missing, but not gone. It's hard to describe. I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to spend the weekend with her to help her get started on her new adventure.
I'm at the same time anxious to get home and see Barb, Kelli and the dogs. Kelli just passed her drivers test, so she's official. Watch out if you're on the roads in Poulsbo;-]
That's all for now. I board a plane to Philadelphia soon and then a straight shot home to Seattle. I will do a re-cap tomorrow.
Dan
I'm at the same time anxious to get home and see Barb, Kelli and the dogs. Kelli just passed her drivers test, so she's official. Watch out if you're on the roads in Poulsbo;-]
That's all for now. I board a plane to Philadelphia soon and then a straight shot home to Seattle. I will do a re-cap tomorrow.
Dan
Steubenville Journal - Saturday
Today was not as packed with things to do as Thursday and Friday…which was nice. There were several events, including a parent meeting and a brunch with the Franciscan friars. At the brunch, I got to meet some folks who are from Bothell. Mindy was glad to meet another native Washingtonian, especially one who lives so close. Turns out there are nine Washington residents at Franciscan.
I continue to be amazed at the warmth and generosity of this community. It’s a very inviting and welcoming place. If you were like me, your first day of school involved walking to your first class. That’s definitely not the case here. The kids already have an idea of what daily life is like on campus and have met friends. It’s a much better way to begin.
Mindy will get the opportunity to meet with the President of the University tonight at 7:15. All incoming freshman get the chance. After that, since it’s my final night here, we are going out to Dairy Queen for a dessert. It’s starting to finally sink in for me now, just like it did for Barb, Kelli, and Steve a few days ago. Being concerned for her safety is not the issue. I know she’s at the right place…no doubt in my mind. This is the beginning of a marvelous adventure and growth for her. She’s ready for it.
The real issue is I’m going to miss her. She has already left me a voice mail that I’m not supposed to listen to until she’s not around me. I haven’t found the courage to do that yet. I still see myself holding a newborn baby in my arms almost 19 years ago. Where has the time gone?
Many of you out there know what I feel. You have been there, too. In fact, I’m among good company as I see and hear similar thoughts from other parents. Distance doesn’t make a difference; whether it’s 100 or 2500 miles, the pain is still there. I feel fortunate that technology has brought us cellular phones (thanks to family calling plans), e-mail, and webcams. We still will communicate, maybe even better than before, and that will help. It doesn’t change that she won’t be there on Saturday mornings when I make pancakes, or when we are in church as a family, or every night when Barb and I would check to see if she was asleep.
I guess the moral of the story is this. Change happens. We all go through stages in our lives and Barb and I are embarking on a new one. Closing one chapter can sometimes be painful, but always seems to lead to new adventures. As out kids grow up and move on, it will really be like old times again and will give us the opportunity to focus on each other. What changes are you going through in your life? What might you be leaving behind? And, here’s the ultimately important question – what really cool things lay in store for you?
More tomorrow from the Buckeye State..
Dan
I continue to be amazed at the warmth and generosity of this community. It’s a very inviting and welcoming place. If you were like me, your first day of school involved walking to your first class. That’s definitely not the case here. The kids already have an idea of what daily life is like on campus and have met friends. It’s a much better way to begin.
Mindy will get the opportunity to meet with the President of the University tonight at 7:15. All incoming freshman get the chance. After that, since it’s my final night here, we are going out to Dairy Queen for a dessert. It’s starting to finally sink in for me now, just like it did for Barb, Kelli, and Steve a few days ago. Being concerned for her safety is not the issue. I know she’s at the right place…no doubt in my mind. This is the beginning of a marvelous adventure and growth for her. She’s ready for it.
The real issue is I’m going to miss her. She has already left me a voice mail that I’m not supposed to listen to until she’s not around me. I haven’t found the courage to do that yet. I still see myself holding a newborn baby in my arms almost 19 years ago. Where has the time gone?
Many of you out there know what I feel. You have been there, too. In fact, I’m among good company as I see and hear similar thoughts from other parents. Distance doesn’t make a difference; whether it’s 100 or 2500 miles, the pain is still there. I feel fortunate that technology has brought us cellular phones (thanks to family calling plans), e-mail, and webcams. We still will communicate, maybe even better than before, and that will help. It doesn’t change that she won’t be there on Saturday mornings when I make pancakes, or when we are in church as a family, or every night when Barb and I would check to see if she was asleep.
I guess the moral of the story is this. Change happens. We all go through stages in our lives and Barb and I are embarking on a new one. Closing one chapter can sometimes be painful, but always seems to lead to new adventures. As out kids grow up and move on, it will really be like old times again and will give us the opportunity to focus on each other. What changes are you going through in your life? What might you be leaving behind? And, here’s the ultimately important question – what really cool things lay in store for you?
More tomorrow from the Buckeye State..
Dan
Friday, August 24, 2007
Steubenville Journal Day 2
The university is having IT issues so I have to type this out first and put in my blogs later. Right now, I’m in the VERY cool library. Not only is it a cool place but the air conditioning is very nice as it’s extremely hot and humid outside.
So far today, Mindy has added a class to her schedule, bought her books ($500 smackers) and put money down to go to Austria next Fall. Well, I guess I paid for the books and the deposit for Austria! She and her roomie are all moved in to their dorm room and after a decent nights sleep, all is well.
We had an awesome experience last night. I’ve only been part of something remotely similar at an NBC Team Camp event. All the kids who came back to run the orientation, affectionately called the “brown shirts” since they were all wearing one, formed a type of gauntlet for all freshman and family to walk through to enter the gym for the opening ceremonies. The brown shirts were whooping and hollering and giving High Fives to everyone walking in. We felt like were rock stars. You can’t imagine the faces of all of us as were walked through…surprise and joy. Talk about being made feel welcome. To me, that is teamwork at its finest…to make your new teammates feel welcome, wanted, and excited to be there. It might make you wonder what would happen if everyone who was new to a team (athletic, business, church, etc.) were made to feel that way!
Dan
So far today, Mindy has added a class to her schedule, bought her books ($500 smackers) and put money down to go to Austria next Fall. Well, I guess I paid for the books and the deposit for Austria! She and her roomie are all moved in to their dorm room and after a decent nights sleep, all is well.
We had an awesome experience last night. I’ve only been part of something remotely similar at an NBC Team Camp event. All the kids who came back to run the orientation, affectionately called the “brown shirts” since they were all wearing one, formed a type of gauntlet for all freshman and family to walk through to enter the gym for the opening ceremonies. The brown shirts were whooping and hollering and giving High Fives to everyone walking in. We felt like were rock stars. You can’t imagine the faces of all of us as were walked through…surprise and joy. Talk about being made feel welcome. To me, that is teamwork at its finest…to make your new teammates feel welcome, wanted, and excited to be there. It might make you wonder what would happen if everyone who was new to a team (athletic, business, church, etc.) were made to feel that way!
Dan
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Almost Heaven West Virginia
Greetings from West Virginia! We arrived safely and I type this from my hotel room in Weirton, WV. I'm only a couple miles away from crossing the Ohio River over to Steubenville. The plane trip was uneventful as you would want one to be.
Mindy and I will be soon heading over to start getting her settled, so this will be brief.
One quick note. Normally I fly Alaska Airlines but they don't fly into Pittsburgh. I was pleasantly surprised by US Air. It was clean, on time, and the employees had fun, made jokes, and made our trip enjoyable. Customer service is a great thing...especially after my debacle with Dell.
More to come later...
Dan
Mindy and I will be soon heading over to start getting her settled, so this will be brief.
One quick note. Normally I fly Alaska Airlines but they don't fly into Pittsburgh. I was pleasantly surprised by US Air. It was clean, on time, and the employees had fun, made jokes, and made our trip enjoyable. Customer service is a great thing...especially after my debacle with Dell.
More to come later...
Dan
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Steubenville Journal
Well, I'm heading out today to Steubenville, OH to take my oldest daughter Mindy to college at Franciscan University. She's a freshman so this is an emotional time in our family as you might imagine. Many of you may have already gone through this process and can empathize. Others of you will be looking forward to it.
This will start my daily journal that can be seen on this blog about my trip. I realize this doesn't have anything to do directly with coaching, but as I mentioned on my blog, there will be posts about life journeys as well, so this is one of them. If you are interested, I hope you will check in and see how we are doing.
Last night, we had 11 people over for dinner - all members of the family. It was a great chance to see Mindy off and say "see you later" until Christmas break. Family is an important part of life, whether it's your personal family, your faith family, your family at work, or the family you coach. The support you gain from your family in all walks of your life is critical to your happiness. I'm sure Mindy received that last night.
We're off tonight on a red-eye to Charlotte and then on to Pittsburgh. My next blog will come tomorrow.
Cheers,
Dan
Monday, August 20, 2007
What you can learn from a dog - The Blondie Rule #1
What you can learn from a dog - The Blondie Rule #1
The other day I was taking my dogs out for their last potty break before going to bed. It was a miserable evening as the rain was really coming down hard. I put on my rain coat, and started the “leashing up process”. As I was getting Charlie, my black lab ready to go, my 16-year old terrier mix mutt Blondie decided she wasn’t going to wait.
She walked through the screen in the door (Now, how did THAT get there?) and proceeded to the top of the porch step just under cover. It was at that point she decided to do her duty, turn around and come back in. I guess a 16-year old dog has more wisdom than her 42-year old human owner. She wasn’t about to get wet, while Charlie and I got drenched.
So, what can we learn from Blondie? It didn’t take much analysis to determine that going down the stairs into the rain just to get her “job” done wasn’t necessary. She made a “command” decision and solved the problem at the least expense and effort, and still got the job done.
How many times do we fall victim of “analysis paralysis”? Sometimes, we may take an inordinate amount of time to make a decision that was staring us in the face all the time. Instead of using our wisdom and acting, we waste time, energy, and money in over-analyzing. Sometimes, we lose an opportunity because of it! If you’re like me, you have been guilty of this.
I’ve learned that my old dog can teach me new tricks. This was a good example. Granted, I will continue to use the acceptable human way to go to the bathroom; Blondie’s method of decision-making was not lost on me!
Dan
P.S. Are you procrastinating on getting your game plan in place? You have the opportunity to learn more about protecting yourself and your program with my webinar, Sex Lies & Violence: Protecting Yourself from Liability for Coaches. Click here learn more...
P.S.S. There is also a FREE webinar on September 13th on fundraising. Click here to learn more…
The other day I was taking my dogs out for their last potty break before going to bed. It was a miserable evening as the rain was really coming down hard. I put on my rain coat, and started the “leashing up process”. As I was getting Charlie, my black lab ready to go, my 16-year old terrier mix mutt Blondie decided she wasn’t going to wait.
She walked through the screen in the door (Now, how did THAT get there?) and proceeded to the top of the porch step just under cover. It was at that point she decided to do her duty, turn around and come back in. I guess a 16-year old dog has more wisdom than her 42-year old human owner. She wasn’t about to get wet, while Charlie and I got drenched.
So, what can we learn from Blondie? It didn’t take much analysis to determine that going down the stairs into the rain just to get her “job” done wasn’t necessary. She made a “command” decision and solved the problem at the least expense and effort, and still got the job done.
How many times do we fall victim of “analysis paralysis”? Sometimes, we may take an inordinate amount of time to make a decision that was staring us in the face all the time. Instead of using our wisdom and acting, we waste time, energy, and money in over-analyzing. Sometimes, we lose an opportunity because of it! If you’re like me, you have been guilty of this.
I’ve learned that my old dog can teach me new tricks. This was a good example. Granted, I will continue to use the acceptable human way to go to the bathroom; Blondie’s method of decision-making was not lost on me!
Dan
P.S. Are you procrastinating on getting your game plan in place? You have the opportunity to learn more about protecting yourself and your program with my webinar, Sex Lies & Violence: Protecting Yourself from Liability for Coaches. Click here learn more...
P.S.S. There is also a FREE webinar on September 13th on fundraising. Click here to learn more…
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Are you prepared for the crisis?
Football practices are kicking into high gear and soon will be followed by the other Fall sports. Hard to believe summer is ending and we will soon start to feel the chill in the air.
Does your team ever get a chill in the locker room? You know what I mean - drama, fights, discontent with teammates? When I was coaching, I received some great insight from a fellow coach. He said, "Dan, every year, you will have at least three crisis' to deal with. Be prepared." He was right. Depending on your definition of a crisis, there may be a lot more than that.
As the leader of your program, are you prepared for the three or more crisis' you will face? Being prepared for a myriad of surprises is just as valuable as being prepared for that crisis in a game. The better your game plan, you more likely the crisis will be minor. How do you know what to expect? You don't. But, you've probably been around long enough to take some pretty educated guesses, right?
As part of your pre-season preparation, brainstorm some potential issues that could come up with your coaching staff. You will find that you will be better able to handle those tough times when they surface. And, they will!
Dan
P.S. How would you like to go a long way to averting a communication crisis? One of the reasons I made my educational CD, Panic to Power was to help coaches improve your presentation skills. You will learn how to most effectively communicate with parents and players in group sessions. You can learn more by finding the giant CD to your right...
Does your team ever get a chill in the locker room? You know what I mean - drama, fights, discontent with teammates? When I was coaching, I received some great insight from a fellow coach. He said, "Dan, every year, you will have at least three crisis' to deal with. Be prepared." He was right. Depending on your definition of a crisis, there may be a lot more than that.
As the leader of your program, are you prepared for the three or more crisis' you will face? Being prepared for a myriad of surprises is just as valuable as being prepared for that crisis in a game. The better your game plan, you more likely the crisis will be minor. How do you know what to expect? You don't. But, you've probably been around long enough to take some pretty educated guesses, right?
As part of your pre-season preparation, brainstorm some potential issues that could come up with your coaching staff. You will find that you will be better able to handle those tough times when they surface. And, they will!
Dan
P.S. How would you like to go a long way to averting a communication crisis? One of the reasons I made my educational CD, Panic to Power was to help coaches improve your presentation skills. You will learn how to most effectively communicate with parents and players in group sessions. You can learn more by finding the giant CD to your right...
Monday, August 13, 2007
What You Can Learn from Tiger Woods
If you’ve ever watched Tiger Woods play golf, you know you’re looking at arguably the greatest golfer of all time. He unquestionably fits that title for this generation at least. Even if you’re not a golfer, you are certainly aware of his dominance in his profession. This past weekend, he picked up his 13th career major victory at the PGA Championship in Tulsa, OK; moving him ever closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major wins.
So what can we learn from Tiger? No, I’m not talking about his thunderous drives or his precision putting. We can however learn something about work ethic, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.
Tiger Woods has been called a “phenom” by many. However, his phenomenal play really comes from an endless regimen that strengthens his mind, body, and skills. The mental focus he brings to his game is really what sets him apart from his competitors. Think about this weekend. After 72 holes in temperatures that soured to over 100 degrees each day, he won a tournament by a mere 2 strokes. Two strokes over 72 holes isn’t a lot by numbers, but it’s that little “extra” that Tiger brings from the mental side that puts him over the top time and time again. His ability to focus on the task at hand, without being distracted about what happened in the past, or what will happen in the future, has made him the most dominant athlete in sports since Michael Jordan.
Do you bring that type of focus to your “game”?
Your players have to have the right focus, but so do you. Preparation starts with the coach and he or she transfers that through their leadership to their players. John Wooden was a master of preparation. He won a couple of championships, too!
Dan
P.S. Part of being prepared means making sure you, your family, and your program are protected from false allegations, embarrassment, and unwanted distractions. That's why I created my workshop titled Sex, Lies, and Violence: How to Protect Yourself from Liability for Coaches. You will walk away with the tools to make sure no distractions about liability ever keep you from enjoying your coaching experience. Learn more by clicking here...
So what can we learn from Tiger? No, I’m not talking about his thunderous drives or his precision putting. We can however learn something about work ethic, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.
Tiger Woods has been called a “phenom” by many. However, his phenomenal play really comes from an endless regimen that strengthens his mind, body, and skills. The mental focus he brings to his game is really what sets him apart from his competitors. Think about this weekend. After 72 holes in temperatures that soured to over 100 degrees each day, he won a tournament by a mere 2 strokes. Two strokes over 72 holes isn’t a lot by numbers, but it’s that little “extra” that Tiger brings from the mental side that puts him over the top time and time again. His ability to focus on the task at hand, without being distracted about what happened in the past, or what will happen in the future, has made him the most dominant athlete in sports since Michael Jordan.
Do you bring that type of focus to your “game”?
Your players have to have the right focus, but so do you. Preparation starts with the coach and he or she transfers that through their leadership to their players. John Wooden was a master of preparation. He won a couple of championships, too!
Dan
P.S. Part of being prepared means making sure you, your family, and your program are protected from false allegations, embarrassment, and unwanted distractions. That's why I created my workshop titled Sex, Lies, and Violence: How to Protect Yourself from Liability for Coaches. You will walk away with the tools to make sure no distractions about liability ever keep you from enjoying your coaching experience. Learn more by clicking here...
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Grace Stands the Test of Time
It was April 8th, 1974 and I was 9 years old. I was watching a nationally televised baseball game featuring the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers. Glued to the television and clutching my brand-new Hank Aaron “714” baseball mitt, I was waiting anxiously to watch my hero come to the plate. I can still smell the leather of the glove. Aaron was tied with Babe Ruth as the Home Run King and his next homer would leave him standing alone. I’ll never forget it – his second at bat against Al Downing was hit over the left-field wall and as he rounded the bases, he was mobbed by two fans who somehow managed to elude the police. It was quite a scene and a thrill for this young fan. I remember how gracious “The Hammer” was in his comments before, during, and after the chase. Ruth was a legend and Aaron endured much hatred and contempt. His graciousness under these circumstances was more heroic than his accomplishment.
Now, 12,173 days later, Bobby Bonds stands alone as the new Home Run King. This article isn’t about blasting Barry Bonds. This is his time, plus there are enough people to tackle that job anyway. This is about a man who 33 years later still exudes graciousness. Hank Aaron wasn’t in San Francisco last night for the festivities. He had said all along he had no interest in attending and stuck to his word. However, he did issue a video statement that was played on the big screen congratulating Bonds for his “skill, longevity, and determination.” He considered himself “privileged” to have held the record and sent his best wishes to Bonds and his family. In conclusion, he said this, “My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams”.
It makes mo wonder if I’m always gracious in challenging times. How about you? If we can learn anything from Henry Aaron, it’s this; baseball records will come and go, but what stands forever is the character of a human being.
Oh, by the way, read his final statement one more time. Are you still chasing your dreams? As my friend Jim Key has said, “It’s never too late to dream”! My hope is that you will be inspired to keep your dreams, whatever they may be, alive and well.
Dan
Now, 12,173 days later, Bobby Bonds stands alone as the new Home Run King. This article isn’t about blasting Barry Bonds. This is his time, plus there are enough people to tackle that job anyway. This is about a man who 33 years later still exudes graciousness. Hank Aaron wasn’t in San Francisco last night for the festivities. He had said all along he had no interest in attending and stuck to his word. However, he did issue a video statement that was played on the big screen congratulating Bonds for his “skill, longevity, and determination.” He considered himself “privileged” to have held the record and sent his best wishes to Bonds and his family. In conclusion, he said this, “My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams”.
It makes mo wonder if I’m always gracious in challenging times. How about you? If we can learn anything from Henry Aaron, it’s this; baseball records will come and go, but what stands forever is the character of a human being.
Oh, by the way, read his final statement one more time. Are you still chasing your dreams? As my friend Jim Key has said, “It’s never too late to dream”! My hope is that you will be inspired to keep your dreams, whatever they may be, alive and well.
Dan
Monday, August 6, 2007
Do You Have Your Game Plan in Place?
Did you here the one about the 40-year old Cross Country Coach who married his 16-year old start athlete? Sounds like a bad joke, but instead it’s a stark reality - http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3305652&page=1. No wonder coaches come under the microscope so much these days. That means even coaches with the best intentions must be careful of how you are perceived by parents, players and the community.
What do you do to protect yourself? Just like you have a game plan for your games and practices, you should develop a game plan for yours and your coaches own protection from false allegations.
It can be little things that make a difference. I remember one year I was hosting a team dinner at my house. All of a sudden, about two hours before the dinner, I found out my wife had to work late and wouldn’t be there on time. Even though my two children would be present, my game plan said that if there was not at least one other adult, there would be no dinner at my house. Especially coaching girls, it was important to have a female there. In order to make it work, I called upon the aid of two very gracious team mothers who volunteered to come take part in the event. It’s a win-win for everybody – the players get the team dinner they love and the parents feel part of the team.
Sticking to your game plan may sometimes be challenging, but it’s always worth the extra effort. Just like any good planning, it takes time and effort to put together. That’s why I developed my workshop called “Sex, Lies and Violence: Protecting Yourself from Liability for Coaches”. Its three one-hour workshops spread over three months. You will learn strategies to develop your own game plan for protecting yourself, your coaches, and your program. To learn more, contact me at 360.271.1592 or dan@danweedin.com. The ability to register online is imminent at www.danweedin.com/store.php.
What do you do to protect yourself? Just like you have a game plan for your games and practices, you should develop a game plan for yours and your coaches own protection from false allegations.
It can be little things that make a difference. I remember one year I was hosting a team dinner at my house. All of a sudden, about two hours before the dinner, I found out my wife had to work late and wouldn’t be there on time. Even though my two children would be present, my game plan said that if there was not at least one other adult, there would be no dinner at my house. Especially coaching girls, it was important to have a female there. In order to make it work, I called upon the aid of two very gracious team mothers who volunteered to come take part in the event. It’s a win-win for everybody – the players get the team dinner they love and the parents feel part of the team.
Sticking to your game plan may sometimes be challenging, but it’s always worth the extra effort. Just like any good planning, it takes time and effort to put together. That’s why I developed my workshop called “Sex, Lies and Violence: Protecting Yourself from Liability for Coaches”. Its three one-hour workshops spread over three months. You will learn strategies to develop your own game plan for protecting yourself, your coaches, and your program. To learn more, contact me at 360.271.1592 or dan@danweedin.com. The ability to register online is imminent at www.danweedin.com/store.php.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
How much money can you make for your program?
Wow...first a blog and now a webinar. Scary how much time I'm spending looking at the computer monitor. I'm really pleased to announce that I've started doing webinars. What's a webinar, you may ask? Basically, it's a meeting or seminar you can attend from the comfort of your own home. You simply dial in on your phone, or cooler yet, log onto the web and tune in there.In September, I'm hosting a webinar for high school and youth coaches on how to earn more money fundraising so you can travel to tournaments, buy needed equipment, or attend camps/clinics. If you're a coach that wants to be a more efficient and productive fundraiser, this webinar is for you. The best news is that it's FREE. Yes, you read correctly...FREE. Here's the information you'll need to join the event:EVENT: Sweating the Little Things - Fundraising SolutionsDATE & TIME: Thursday, September 13th at 6:30pm PacificFORMAT: Simulcast! (Attend via Phone or Webcast -- it's your choice)TO ATTEND THIS EVENT, CLICK THIS LINK NOW...http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=472845That's it...very easy. You can even ask questions leading up to the event that I will answer.Psst..here's a secret. Even if you don't coach, you may find this webinar valuable. If you're like me and are a member of a service club or non-profit organization, you need to raise money, too. These concepts and tools work for ANY type of fundraising. You're welcome to join. After all, it's FREE!
How to protect yourself from parent problems
Have you ever had a confrontational meeting with a parent? Were there things said by either you or the parent that could come back to haunt you later? If so, what was your next step? Maybe, there has been a discipline issue you had to deal with in practice. Will you need to remember the details next month, next year, or in five years?
If you’re like me and part of the post-40 generation, you’re memory is not what it used to be! Even if you are younger, your memory will never hold up to intense questioning or in a court of law. That’s why documentation is the most important tool you have in your arsenal for liability protection as a coach and a teacher.
Do you keep a journal of unusual events, player and parent conversations, and discipline? If not, why? Keeping a written documentation is the best form of protection you have. With technology today, you can easily store an untold amount of data forever without it being a space burden. Now, you may be saying “Dan, did you say FOREVER?” Yes…you heard me right. There’s no time limit on when a bad situation rears its ugly head and you’re called upon to show your practice plan from a date many years in the past. Don’t take chances. You can store several years of practice plans and journal entries on one thumb drive.
You should have been outside my locker room five years ago when an angry parent surprised me coming out of my locker room right after an agonizing one-point loss to our arch rival. He was upset because his senior daughter hadn’t played in the game. He didn’t know that she and I had an agreement about her role on the team. She was a “bubble” player and probably wouldn’t have made the team as a senior, but we wanted to keep her because of the great person and motivator she was. She knew there would be games she might not play in. Bottom line – I had documented my conversation with the player, and then the confrontation with her father. Nothing ever came of it, but I was glad I had it in writing.
Do yourself a favor and document unusual events and conversations. I know it’s not like you have loads of free time but consider the loss of time you face if you have to re-create things. Documentation is your best form of protection.
One last note; if you have witnesses to any discussions or events and you feel their account is important, ask them to write an account and keep it with your documentation.
P.S. Would you like to improve your presentation skills so you can really get your message through to parents at your next parent meeting? Check out my new educational CD, Panic to Power: Swift & Simple Speaking Strategies Anyone Can Use. You can purchase it now by clicking under the giant CD to your right! Make sure your parents know your expectations and rules. Take the next step to better communications.
If you’re like me and part of the post-40 generation, you’re memory is not what it used to be! Even if you are younger, your memory will never hold up to intense questioning or in a court of law. That’s why documentation is the most important tool you have in your arsenal for liability protection as a coach and a teacher.
Do you keep a journal of unusual events, player and parent conversations, and discipline? If not, why? Keeping a written documentation is the best form of protection you have. With technology today, you can easily store an untold amount of data forever without it being a space burden. Now, you may be saying “Dan, did you say FOREVER?” Yes…you heard me right. There’s no time limit on when a bad situation rears its ugly head and you’re called upon to show your practice plan from a date many years in the past. Don’t take chances. You can store several years of practice plans and journal entries on one thumb drive.
You should have been outside my locker room five years ago when an angry parent surprised me coming out of my locker room right after an agonizing one-point loss to our arch rival. He was upset because his senior daughter hadn’t played in the game. He didn’t know that she and I had an agreement about her role on the team. She was a “bubble” player and probably wouldn’t have made the team as a senior, but we wanted to keep her because of the great person and motivator she was. She knew there would be games she might not play in. Bottom line – I had documented my conversation with the player, and then the confrontation with her father. Nothing ever came of it, but I was glad I had it in writing.
Do yourself a favor and document unusual events and conversations. I know it’s not like you have loads of free time but consider the loss of time you face if you have to re-create things. Documentation is your best form of protection.
One last note; if you have witnesses to any discussions or events and you feel their account is important, ask them to write an account and keep it with your documentation.
P.S. Would you like to improve your presentation skills so you can really get your message through to parents at your next parent meeting? Check out my new educational CD, Panic to Power: Swift & Simple Speaking Strategies Anyone Can Use. You can purchase it now by clicking under the giant CD to your right! Make sure your parents know your expectations and rules. Take the next step to better communications.
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