Are you a speculative coach or an investment coach?
Which type would you prefer to become?
This article explores the concepts of “speculation” and “investment” as they apply to youth volleyball coaching. Please note that we assume all readers are involved in coaching roles.
What is Speculative Thinking?
When people hear “speculation,” they often think of financial markets. The general image of speculation might involve gambling or currency trading.
While I’m no financial expert, I would describe speculative thinking in coaching as follows:
Putting your resources (time, money, effort) into specific opportunities (spot-based) with the goal of achieving short-term results by focusing on those immediate opportunities.
There’s an important aspect of speculation: it operates as a zero-sum game. There’s no concept of creating new value in this approach.
What is Investment Thinking?
Investment thinking becomes clearer when compared to speculative thinking.
Investment thinking involves putting your resources (time, money, effort) into opportunities from a broad, long-term perspective, with the goal of achieving results through this comprehensive, long-term view.
The crucial point about investment is that it’s not a zero-sum game. Investment thinking is about creating new value.
Differences Between Speculative and Investment Coaching
Let me provide specific examples of what I consider speculative versus investment coaching, using elementary school volleyball as our setting.
Speculative Coaching Approach:
- Provides practice opportunities only to starting players while having substitute players collect balls
- Avoids practicing weak skills, focusing exclusively on strengthening existing abilities
- Assigns smaller players to passing practice and taller players to blocking and attacking
- Uses only repetitive drills to master specific techniques
- Prioritizes winning immediate games above all else
- Focuses primarily on volleyball practice, giving lower priority to other experiences
Investment Coaching Approach:
- Provides equal playing opportunities for all players, with everyone sharing ball collection duties
- Creates practice environments where players can experience all types of plays, regardless of strengths or weaknesses
- Provides opportunities for all types of play experiences regardless of physical maturity level
- Respects players’ trial-and-error learning opportunities without coaches taking them away
- Strives to win games with full effort but doesn’t treat only winning as the top priority
- Maximally respects opportunities for experiences beyond volleyball
This comparison shows that speculative and investment coaching approaches are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
Team Value and Overall Volleyball Community Value
Speculative coaching is undoubtedly effective for winning immediate games.
However, we need to pause and consider: Is this approach increasing the team’s value? Is it enhancing the value of the volleyball community as a whole?
Consider whether speculative coaching might be:
- Creating players who dislike volleyball
- Developing players who can only perform specific skills
- Instilling a “winning is everything” mentality in players
- Taking away players’ ability to think critically
- Depriving elementary school players of diverse developmental experiences
We must recognize the opportunities and value lost in exchange for short-term success in immediate games. Speculative coaching operates as a zero-sum game and potentially creates negative outcomes.
Let’s Become Investment Coaches
The question remains: Will you be a speculative coach or an investment coach?
Coaches who gain recognition from others within one or two years are undoubtedly speculative coaches.
However, it’s clear that external recognition isn’t what truly matters.
If you ask yourself why you’ve taken on the coaching role, the answer to this fundamental question should become naturally apparent.
The path forward lies in long-term youth volleyball player development, building comprehensive skills, fostering love for the sport, and creating positive experiences that extend far beyond immediate game results.
Keywords: youth volleyball coaching philosophy, long-term player development, speculative vs investment coaching, volleyball coaching methods, youth athlete development strategy, coaching mindset, player-centered coaching, volleyball training philosophy
