"90% of coaching is self-coaching," Seth Godin, author and marketing expert. I think Seth is spot-on here. Before you can lead others, you must be able to lead yourself. Before you can lead others, you must also be able to be led. 

This Saturday, I'll be speaking at the InHer Circle Pitching Retreat. Host Dani Spaulding has organized a tremendous line-up of speakers, and I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with them.

Amari Robinson came to Clemson with a purpose bigger than basketball. Sure, she's pretty good on the court. Last year, she was Second-Team All ACC and Academic All ACC. Currently, she's averaging 16.6 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. The reason she selected Clemson out of high school, however, extended beyond basketball. Amari's sister Kennedy was born with Down Syndrome. The Robinsons' experience with Kennedy led Amari to major in Special Education and work with the world-renowned ClemsonLIFE (Learning Is For Everyone) program. ClemsonLIFE enables students with intellectual disabilities to receive a collegiate experience, career exploration, and independent living.

All college athletes have rigorous schedules, but few can match Amari's. In addition to playing basketball, Amari is completing her student teaching in special education. Teaching middle school is exhausting, yet Amari does it with a smile. With NIL enabling college athletes to earn significant amounts of money through self-promotion, Amari uses it as means to advance the ClemsonLIFE program. Her hard work, discipline, and attention to detail enable her to manage everything on her plate. She clearly understands the importance of a consistent routine. Amari Robinson is more than a basketball player; she's a winner on and off the court.

I spend a fair amount of time sitting in the stands among the friends and family of my athletes and performers, which also means that I hear most of what they say to kids and coaches. While I won't relay everything I've heard, here are some representative examples:

Suffice it to say, coaching from the stands is neither effective nor helpful. First, there is a good chance that the only people hearing the CitS (Coach in the Stands) are those sitting around the CitS, and they don't want to hear it. Second, not only can a CitS be a distraction, they often provide conflicting information, leading to doubt and hesitation. Picture your workplace, but add tens, hundreds, or even thousands of people yelling different directions at you. You wouldn't know what to do, either. Third, it takes the fun out of the game . . . for everyone involved. Finally, no one is intentionally trying to screw up. They're doing the best that they know.

Finally, remember to coach with a smile and enthusiastic body language. If you do these things, you'll be a master CitS.

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