With the Spring youth sports season winding down (or completed), it seems like it might be a great time to take inventory (of your program, not your equipment!). What went right? What went wrong? What things could you change? What things could you get rid of? (yes, sometimes/many times, less is more!).
And while we are all doing our review of the season, let's step back and take a look at our Mission Statement. Match that with what you did this Spring. Ask yourself...Does your Misson Statement match what you did during the season? Did the structure of your season match the goals and expectations of the program (i.e. the Mission Statement)? Did your coaches represent what you wanted them to represent? Your parents? Your kids? Are you checking with your KIDS to see what they thought of the season (many times we send questionnaires to our parents...why not the kids)?
If you answered "no" to any of the questions in the previous paragraph, then it's time to start fixing...or tweaking...your program.
Lastly...if the answers were all "yes"...great! Congratulations. But I ask you to ask yourself one more question...Do your program's actions benefit ALL of the kids in your program? If that answer is "no", then I ask you to go back and take a look at your Mission Statement. Because while I commend you for the execution of your existing Mission Statement, I challenge you to create a new Mission Statement that includes ALL of the kids...not just a chosen handful.
Keep smiling!
Mark
