- March 08, 2025
- 5 min read
Survival Time: First Week for First-Time Coaches
You’ve landed the gig. Whether it’s middle school basketball, high school track, or club volleyball, you’re now Coach. There’s the whistle around your neck, a roster in your hand, and a thousand questions racing through your head. Now what?
Your first week is a whirlwind—and how you handle it will echo through your season (and possibly your reputation). The good news? You don’t have to wing it. Here’s your crash course—part battle plan, part pep talk—on how to survive, thrive, and actually enjoy your opening week as a first-time coach.
Trust is your currency right now. Athletes, parents, even your assistant coaches—they’re all watching. And guess what? They can smell hesitation like a bloodhound in cleats.
You don’t need to be a drill sergeant, but you do need to radiate structure. Show up with a plan (more on that in a sec). Make eye contact. Speak with clarity. Learn names fast. Nothing builds trust like remembering a kid’s name and using it when you correct their form or shout praise.
If you're panicking about planning every detail, good news: you're not alone—and you're not without help. Tools like the ProCoach Institute AI Lesson Planner can be a total lifesaver. With just a few inputs, it spits out a structured, smart practice plan tailored to your sport, time window, and age group. Think of it like a cheat code for looking polished.
But practice planning is just part of it. The other half of your job? Culture-building. From day one, set the tone. Talk about effort, attitude, and how you define success. Be the adult in the room who gets it—not just wins and losses, but teaching kids how to be accountable, how to lead, how to listen.
Oh, and your assistant coaches? Onboard them like you would a new player. Meet before your first practice. Assign roles. Make sure they know the plan and feel included. A confused assistant coach is like an off-rhythm drummer—it throws the whole band off. Same goes for your parents. Day one, communicate expectations clearly: attendance, communication, playing time philosophy, the works. You don’t want to fight that war in the group chat at 10pm on a Friday night.
Great coaches aren’t born—they’re built through preparation, clarity, and a willingness to listen from day one.
Louis Crawford
Veteran High School Coach
DOs for Your First Week
- Lay out your expectations from Day One—clarity is kindness.
- Memorize every athlete's name by the second practice. Use them often.
- Use the AI Lesson Planner to structure practices without the stress spiral.
- Meet with your assistants early. Give them purpose and direction.
- Send a parent welcome email with logistics and philosophy.
- Stay positive, present, and persistent.
DONTs for Your First Week
- Don’t pretend to know everything. Ask for help. Use your network.
- Don’t overpromise or exaggerate goals. Be real with your athletes.
- Don’t ignore your assistants. Unused talent breeds disengagement.
- Don’t be vague about playing time—if it’s earned, define how it’s earned.
- Don’t wing your practices. “Just play pickup” is not a strategy.
The first week is a proving ground. You’re building a culture—brick by brick, whistle by whistle. Use your tools. Lean on the people around you. Trust your gut, but check your ego. If you keep your eyes open, stay humble, and lead with intention, you’ll not only survive—you’ll build something special.
At the end of the day, the best first-week advice is simple: show up, care deeply, and don’t try to do it all alone. ProCoach Institute is here to lighten the load—from the AI Lesson Planner to templates for parent emails, team rules, and assistant onboarding checklists. You’ve got more help than you think.
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