Expectations and Coaching

I recently became aware of a podcast from NPR called Invisibilia. The podcast "explores the intangible forces that shape human behavior – things like ideas, beliefs, assumptions and emotions." It is a fascinating look at what makes us tick. It takes a look at some of the things going on in psychology. The episode I most recently listened to was about expectations.

Expectations are a powerful part of our lives. The opening of the episode talked about giving people generic lab rats and one group is told the rats are smart, the other group is told the rats are dumb. The people, the real test subjects, ran the rats through a maze, and made observations. There was no difference between the rats but what the people handling them were told. The "smart" rats ended up performing better in the maze.

How this applies to coaching should be fairly obvious. Expect good things out of our players and teams and they will do better. It isn't going to be that simple, and it wasn't really with the rats, but the basic idea, and what comes with it, really are. With the rats, the "smart" rats were treated better. They were handled more gently and even affectionately. With our players we need to treat them positively as well. Expect great things from them, but also give them the encouragement and tools to succeed.

A powerful example follows in the podcast. They talk to Daniel Kish who lost his sight at an early age and instinctively taught himself echolocation. He is an example of someone who didn't have the culturally enforced expectations that blind people need our help, but discovered his world through exploration. After being able to walk himself to school and ride a bike, a new blind boy joined his class. The other boy was raised with the expectations that blind people need our help. The two boys were extremes in self reliance. One was almost indistinguishable from his classmates in ability, the other was not. Both were products of their environment.

He mentioned getting hurt a lot while he developed the ability to ride a bike. Mistakes happen, but he suggests the tendency to step in and prevent possible injury is a big hurdle to learning the skill. On the volleyball court there are a few things that can cause physical harm to our players, but trying something new is rarely one of them. Give them an opportunity to try and fail at something new in practice. Help them figuratively pick themselves up and encourage them to try again. Expect them to try, and celebrate them failing.

How expectations have helped a blind man see. Yes, see. http://t.co/pCcOoCbQSk pic.twitter.com/HBd3gR2MJ2

— Invisibilia (@NPRinvisibilia) January 26, 2015

The last season I coached, I had a team that was mostly first time players. I expected a lot out of them. Sometimes I wondered if I expected too much, but the more distance I get from that season, the more I think I would do the same thing. I might alter the methods, but I would have the same expectations. I might even push harder. At times what they did in a match was beautiful. Sometimes what they did was surprising. And amusing. One time one of the players who pushed himself in practices and matches called for a Bic when the setter was way out of position. What happened looked a lot like a quick set to the middle blocker right in front of the setter, but this all happened about 15 feet from the net. It looked funny. It wasn't quite "right". We won the rally.

When approaching a new season and team, take a look at your expectations. Are we expecting too little? Are we handicapping them with low expectations? I think we are. I'm not saying we should expect mastery too early, but teach them the basics and build from there. Push them. Encourage them. Get out of their way. Every failure in practice brings them one step closer to succeeding in a match.