The Lessons We Learn from Football
Yay! For me, Fall means football games. On Saturdays at our house, the scarlet and grey Ohio State attire comes out of the closet to wear proudly.
As a fan of football, I find great personal development lessons in Football. On any given Saturday or Sunday, the chips can be up or down. And if you think deeper about the game, there are a lot of parallels between Football and Coaching. Here are a few to ponder.
It’s about mindset – In sports, we know how important mindset is for an athlete’s performance. Just like athletes, how we approach our work as a Coach starts in our mind. The stronger we are in consciously choosing our thoughts -- through the wins, losses, ups and downs of life -- the healthier humans we are. It takes self-awareness, honesty and discipline. As Coaches, we must be intentional to practice a healthy mindset daily.
It’s about perspective – Some games, like Iowa v. Iowa State or Ohio State v. Michigan (Go Buckeyes!) are big games and the stakes are high. Yet it’s just a game. And, even though the players, coaches and fans are “all in” for the moment, perspective is still important. It’s just a game. Someone wins, someone loses. In our work, we have to remember perspective. We must see a bigger picture for what we do. As Coaches, we will have wins and losses but through it all, we are continuously being shaped into amazing humans, placed on this earth for big impact. Bigger than the game de’jour.
It's about community – Being part of a team is everything in football. Being a fan, we often share in this community though self-affiliation. There is camaraderie, celebration and fun being aligned with a team. As a Coach, find your community. Share in the joys of the common work we are doing together. Cheer each other on and encourage each other through the wins. Stand along-side one another though the hard times. Community is about extending a hand.
It’s about resilience – Sometimes seasons are hard. Truth be told, when things aren’t going your way, it is easy to give up or change course. You don’t have to be a losing football team to feel like that. If you are an entrepreneur, starting up a business is challenging and you have to be committed to the long game. In sports, like in life, we have to be resilient to the set-backs and disappointments. We’ve got to push through the hard stuff. The real “trophy” is to the one who perseveres.
It’s about momentum – In a football game, it is easy to see how powerful momentum is. You can see and feel the momentum by crowd noise and what is happening on the field. Momentum impacts results. As Coaches, how do you create your own momentum? At ithrive31 our philosophy is action creates momentum and momentum creates results. Creating momentum for one’s life means pushing through the fear and stepping out – boldly and confidently.
It’s about joy – At the root of it all, football is played because of the love of the game. Players, Coaches, fans love the game. It is their “Why”. As a Coach, never forget your personal “Why”. This is where joy originates. Whenever you feel disconnected, remember what pulled you into the work of Coaching. It is the love of what we do.
As a football fan, I find fun in the game and a sense of community in the team I root for. I love listening to post-game reflections and the wisdom that is generated. The memories my family has made together through the love of the sport has created a joy that transcends the game. I guess that is why I love football.
The next time you watch a football game, reflect on what messages it can offer you.
Here is a picture of my family from last year’s Ohio State v. Michigan game in Columbus Ohio. It did not work out so well for our team, but we had a bunch of fun!!!!! So, onto the 2023-24 Football season. Cheers to game and the lessons it offers each of us!
Sincerely,
Dorene MacVey
President, ICF Iowa Chapter