The Most Important Line Missing From This Coach’s Weekly Plan
I intentionally blurred the top identifying information in this post by a football coach because I don’t think the intent behind it was wrong. He posted his weekly “to-do list” and captioned it with: “There’s always something you can do as a coach! Find work!”
And to be clear—most of us nod at that. We pride ourselves on work ethic, attention to detail, and doing whatever it takes to prepare our players.
But here’s my pushback: Seven categories of “work found.” Twenty-six bullet points of tasks.
Not a single one dedicated to relationship-building, trust-building, or space for player conversations—on anything beyond the game itself.
Maybe this particular coach doesn’t handle that piece of the program. Fair. But this list represents what so many staffs across sports think “the work” is.
And if we continue to spend our free hours searching for more scheme instead of more connection, we’re lying to ourselves when we say:
“Relationships are everything.”
“Our team is a family.”
“Sports build character.”
Those aren’t culture statements. They’re convenient slogans—until we back them up with intentional time and presence.
The real work isn’t just finding something to do. It’s finding someone to connect with.
Coach Prompts
When’s the last time you wrote “check in with ___” on your own weekly to-do list?
If a staff member shadowed you for a week, how much of your “coaching time” would they see spent on relationships rather than tactics?
What’s your plan to make emotional fluency part of your program calendar, not just an off-season talking point?
Player Prompts
Who’s a teammate you haven’t really checked in on this season—but should?
How would your coach describe your connection to the team beyond what happens in games or practice?
What does “being a great teammate” look like when no one’s keeping score?
