Coaches: Keepers of Potential

"Coaches are the keepers of young people’s potential."– Tommy Hawkins

It’s easy to get caught up in the scoreboard. The wins. The losses. The rankings.

But long after the season ends, the most important thing we protect as coaches isn’t the record — it’s the potential of the people we lead.

You Hold More Than a Clipboard

When a young athlete walks into your gym, they carry more than just a backpack. They carry dreams, doubts, insecurities, and hope.

They’re looking for someone to believe in them — even before they believe in themselves.

That’s you.

A coach doesn’t just run drills. You:

• Shape self-belief

• Set standards they’ll carry into life

• Model how to lead under pressure

• Influence how they view hard conversations, failure, and success

You're not just coaching their game. You're protecting — and activating — their future.

Potential Doesn’t Develop Without Intentional Leadership

We often think of potential as something that naturally unfolds. But the truth is, it needs structure… pressure… guidance… and space to grow.

A great coach:

• Stretches players beyond their comfort zone

• Balances challenge with encouragement

• Leads with clarity and compassion

• Sees who a player can become — even when they don’t see it yet

Potential is fragile. Mishandled, it becomes frustration. But with the right coach? It becomes belief — and then performance.

A Final Word to Coaches

The truth is, players will forget most of your plays.But they’ll never forget how you made them feel about themselves.That confidence, that clarity, that purpose you helped shape — that’s the real win.

So the next time you’re drawing up a set or planning a practice, pause and remember:

You are the keeper of their potential.

Guard it well. Grow it intentionally.

They’re not just counting on you to coach the game — they’re counting on you to shape the person.