Ahh yes, the off-season: Time for some rest and relaxation, getting away from it all, connecting with people you haven’t seen in a while or perhaps reading a good book. Where do you coach buddy? My off-season is filled with preparation for next season, broadening my knowledge of the game, preparing improvement plans for my coaches and promoting LinemenInc. Players need time in the weight room and meetings regarding changes to the program. The off-season is the perfect time for self-improvement.

When do you stop learning? Well, if you want to improve, never. I once had a ski instructor tell me that if I wasn’t falling down at least a couple of times each day, then I wasn’t trying anything new. I wasn’t opening myself up to the possibilities, wasn’t being challenged. It’s very easy to become complacent in coaching. You put together a good program, you’re successful, and you even have some winning seasons. Hey! That doesn’t mean you’re done! It doesn’t mean you know it all! It might only mean you’ve had a good run with what you know or what you’ve been doing.

The game has always evolved and as coaches, if we want to stay up with it, we too must evolve. So, if you’re gonna read a book, make it something you can learn from. Entertain a couple of new ideas, a few new formations. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Certainly has its place but there isn’t anything wrong with slapping a new coat of paint on it so it at least looks fresh.