3D Coaching for Softball: Certification Briefing Document

Overall Theme:

This certification program focuses on “3D Coaching,” a framework that goes beyond traditional coaching methods to emphasize character development, values, and purpose, alongside skill development. The goal is to equip coaches to have a positive impact on the lives of their athletes, not just their athletic performance.

Key Concepts and Modules:

The 3 Dimensions: The program operates on three dimensions:

1st Dimension: The fundamental skills, techniques, and physical conditioning of the sport. (Module 4 touches on how conditioning is approached.)

2nd Dimension: Psychological factors, strategies, and team dynamics (Motivation (Module 5), Confidence (Module 6), Team Cohesion (Module 8), Goal Setting (Module 9), and Rethinking Competition (Module 10).

3rd Dimension: Focuses on character, values, purpose, and the coach’s influence on the athlete’s personal development. (Values & Significance – Module 13, Legacy – Module 14, Wisdom – Module 15, and Key Relationships – Module 17)

Module 1: Influence on Young Lives: Begins with introspection, prompting coaches to consider the impact they have on young people. The warm-up question asks, “At what point in your career did you realize the influence you had on a young person’s life?”

Module 2: Current Sports Culture: Explores the health of the current sports culture and invites coaches to reflect on its positive and negative aspects. “Would you describe the current sports culture as healthy or unhealthy? Why?”

Module 3: The Journey Ahead: Introduces the 3D framework and the concepts of Chronos (chronological time) and Kairos (significant moments) time. “3D is a framework for coaching built on a foundation of purpose… You are now on the ‘path to mastery.'”

Module 5: Motivation: Differentiates between extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and emphasizes the importance of developing intrinsic motivation in athletes. “Motivation is defined as the inclination to pursue and persist in the journey towards a desired outcome.” The module also highlights the prevalence of extrinsic motivation in the current generation.

Module 6: Confidence: Highlights that confidence, “an individual’s belief that he or she has the necessary skills to produce a desired outcome,” is a critical psychological factor for success. It also introduces concepts like fixed vs. growth mindset and attribution theory. Athletes with a confident mindset take responsibility for what they can control (internal attribution) and don’t blame themselves for what they can’t (external attribution).

Module 8: Team Cohesion: Addresses the challenges of building team cohesion in a “me-centered” culture and provides strategies for fostering positive relationships within the team. The module also emphasizes that “A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skill of the others.”

Module 9: Goal Setting: Explains the three types of goals: outcome, performance, and process goals, and reminds coaches that “goals are not the same as purpose.” The module warns that “Goals have no moral compass… When goals are not governed by the third dimension issues of purpose and moral character, our outcome and performance goals will become our purpose and lead to unethical behavior and inappropriate risk taking.”

Module 10: Rethinking Competition: Encourages coaches to rethink their approach to competition, moving from “competing ‘against’ them” to “competing ‘with’ them” to maximize potential. It also highlights research suggesting that “sport, left to itself, erodes moral character.” Emphasizing the need for a “moral compass” to guide athletic pursuits.

Module 12: Identity: Coaches need to look at their sources of self-worth and how tied it is to coaching/performance. If tied too closely, it can lead from “I am worth something when I win”, to “I’m only worth something when I win/perform well.”

Module 13: Values & Significance: Emphasizes that all coaching flows from a set of values and that coaches should be intentional about identifying and transferring those values to their athletes. It stresses the importance of both “developmental values” and the coach’s “guiding values.” “All external expressions flow from inward realities.”

Module 14: Legacy: Prompts coaches to consider the legacy they want to leave and how they want to be remembered by their former players. The warm-up asks coaches to define the term “legacy.”

Module 15: Wisdom: Defines wisdom as “the ability to see the end result of present action” and encourages coaches to develop a “preferred vision of the future” to guide their actions. The module also emphasizes the importance of creating a “Foundational Purpose Statement” for coaching.

Module 17: Key Relationships: Emphasizes the importance of mentoring and accountability relationships for coaches, highlighting that “we cannot impart what we do not first possess.”

Module 18: Make it Happen: Encourages coaches to put their plans into action and believe that “3Dimensional Coaching can impact an entire community.”

Key Questions for Reflection:

Throughout the modules, coaches are encouraged to reflect on their coaching practices and beliefs through a series of open-ended questions, including:

What do you use as a moral compass for your life?

How does that govern your sport involvement?

What would your athletes say you value most?

How would you define the term “legacy”?

What/who are your greatest sources of wisdom?

How would you define accountability?

Do you believe that 3Dimensional Coaching can impact an entire community? Why or why not?

Core Takeaways:

Coaching is more than just skill development: It’s about shaping character and instilling values.

Purpose is paramount: Goals should be aligned with a larger sense of purpose and a strong moral compass.

Relationships matter: Building strong, positive relationships with athletes is crucial for their development.

Introspection is key: Coaches must be willing to examine their own values and beliefs and be accountable for their actions.

Influence: Coaches have tremendous influence and have an opportunity to impact the lives of young people in a positive manner.

“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”