THEIR COACH OR YOUR PLAYERS

One question you will need to ask yourself on your coaching journey is the difference from you being the players coach versus the view that they are your players. 

My perspective is that I am the coach. The players are not mine. My thoughts are that I must always remember that I am the coach. The boundaries for the coach/player relationship must not cross the line if I am to remain objective with my coaching. If I'm going to give effective instruction, to guide, deliver feedback, ask how they feel, I can't do this to the best of my ability if I view the players as mine.

Players aren't a commodity. I've been around coaches who claim players are theirs. They are their product. They made them. I've seen these same coaches throw their commodity on the scrap heap, back to division 2 or 3 because they have performed poorly, went outside the structure or got beaten by their opposite.

For me, its why I must be the coach always. If a player has gone outside the plan or structure then maybe our coaching instructions got lost in the message. If a player was really poor this particular game then maybe something away from the field is going on that our coaching group isn't privy to. 

There are so many variables you will face as a coach. It's why I truly believe you are the coach and they aren't your players.