Echoes beyond the game: the lasting power of a coach's words | Coach Reed | TEDxCincinnati

Summary

This powerful speech emphasizes the profound impact that a coach's words can have on young athletes, shaping their futures far beyond the game. Drawing from personal experiences, the speaker highlights how positive reinforcement can inspire confidence, resilience, and growth, while negative words can harm a child's development. With examples from their own coaching career, the speaker underscores that a coach's true legacy lies not in the skills they teach, but in the words they use, which resonate long after the final whistle. The message challenges coaches to focus on both skills and the lasting influence of their words.

Takeaways

• 😀 Words have a lasting impact: A coach’s words can elevate, motivate, and resonate with athletes far beyond the game itself.
• 😀 Coaching is about more than skills: The true legacy of a coach lies in their ability to influence athletes through encouragement and positive reinforcement.
• 😀 Positive words fuel motivation: Research shows that positive language boosts creativity, resilience, and mental focus.
• 😀 Negative words cause harm: Negative feedback can trigger anxiety, reduce logical thinking, and negatively impact an athlete's emotional well-being.
• 😀 Coaches have a duty to empower: Beyond teaching sports skills, coaches are responsible for fostering confidence, resilience, and emotional growth in their athletes.
• 😀 Words can heal: A coach's supportive language can help athletes overcome personal challenges and negative emotions, leading to healing and growth.
• 😀 A single moment can shape an athlete’s future: A coach's words in a critical moment can inspire an athlete to take risks, gain confidence, and make positive life choices.
• 😀 Words create lifelong influence: Even after athletes leave the field, the words they heard from their coaches continue to guide their decisions and life paths.
• 😀 Coaches impact more than just performance: Coaches' guidance can instill values such as perseverance, self-belief, and a growth mindset.
• 😀 Every coach leaves a legacy: Coaches may not always be remembered for their technical skills, but their words can shape athletes' lives long after the game is over.

Q & A

What is the main message of the speaker in this transcript?

The main message is that words used by coaches have a lasting and powerful impact on youth athletes, influencing not only their performance but also their development and mindset beyond the game.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of words in coaching?

The speaker emphasizes that words can elevate, accelerate, and resonate with athletes. Positive words can motivate and build confidence, while negative words can harm a child's emotional and mental development.

How does the speaker describe the effect of negative words on a child's brain?

Negative words trigger a reaction in the amygdala, the brain's fear center, which can lead to anxiety, irritability, reduced reasoning abilities, and the release of stress hormones, all of which are harmful to the brain's development.

What personal experience does the speaker share from 1998?

In 1998, the speaker witnessed a coach telling a child who missed a game-winning shot, 'I believe in you,' which helped the child gain confidence and learn the value of taking risks, ultimately leading to personal growth beyond the game.

What is the '99%' mentioned by the speaker?

The '99%' refers to the majority of individuals who play youth sports but do not go on to pursue professional sports careers. They eventually use the life skills and lessons they learned in sports in other areas of life.

What role does the speaker's wife play in his approach to coaching?

The speaker's wife helps him realize that coaching goes beyond teaching skills, and that in some situations, athletes may need more than just technical instruction. They need support, encouragement, and a positive environment to rebuild and grow.

What happened in 2009 with the speaker's team?

In 2009, the speaker took over a team that had gone through a traumatic experience. Despite initial skepticism from parents, the team overcame their challenges, won the State Cup, and more importantly, healed emotionally through the positive influence of words.

What impact did the speaker have on one of the athletes, Mikey?

Mikey, a player who had been struggling with school and personal relationships, was inspired by the speaker's positive influence. He decided to become a soccer coach himself, seeking to emulate the speaker's ability to positively impact others.

What does the speaker mean by 'Echoes beyond the game'?

'Echoes beyond the game' refers to the lasting impact of a coach's words, which continue to resonate in the lives of athletes long after the game has ended, shaping their character, decision-making, and outlook on life.

How does the speaker challenge the audience at the end of the talk?

The speaker challenges the audience to reflect on whether they will focus solely on teaching skills that fade after the game or whether they will also be mindful of the lasting impact of their words, which can influence athletes' lives well beyond sports.