One of Mark Barnard’s trademarks as a volleyball coach is his ability to break down the game for players and staff in a way that is clear and easily understandable. And he does it on two continents: here in the U.S. as the head coach of the Oregon State women’s team, and in his native land Down Under as the head coach of the Australian women’s national team.
As part of our ongoing series, here are 10 things Mark has learned in his coaching career:
- Surround yourself with the right people, players and staff.
- Never act in a way that makes someone you interact with doubt you care.
- Teams win and coaches lose.
- Work smart and hard.
- One of the cornerstones of success is competing. Focus on it, practice it, recruit it. Find a way to put it at the center and make it grow.
- You need to master the fundamentals to conquer the opponents.
- Be a visionary. Chart the path for your team and lead them there.
- As soon as you are sure you have found “The Way,” turn around and look back to find the place you went off the road. Go there and decide what’s next.
- Have a basic foundation of teaching/coaching principles.
- The impact of technology has only begun. Use it, understand it, find out how to use it in a way no one else has.
More “10 things I’ve learned” here from: