It's important to stay 'focused' in front of the mike
COATESVILLE -- For all aspiring coaches out there, here's a crash course on what you will be expected to say when your team wins or loses.
There are also some helpful hints on what to say in specific situations. Being a coach is never easy, and there are many things to keep in mind when the media guys stick the mike in the coach's face.
All of these statements, by the way, are courtesy of Chester County-are coaches who made them during the past year.
Names of spokespeople, however, have not been included because many of these people are educators and I wouldn't want you thinking the people who teach your children say things like this.
First, always remember, "We play them one game at a time."
Now everyone knows a coach never thinks ahead to the next game or about the playoffs.
When your team plays, all that is important is to be "focused" on the game you are involved in.
It's important to emphasize focus -- a '90s kind of word.
Also, always remember how important the means to victory is.
In baseball, for example, try something like, "If you give us 20 Texas Leaguers a game, we'll beat any team around."
Of course, any team that gets 20 hits in one game would have a good shot at the '27 Yankees, but a quote like that looks unique in the paper, doesn't it?
By using termas like "Texas Leaguer," a coach can also portray his in depth knowledge of the game and its' intricate workings.
The most difficult thing to do as a coach is to find a way to make a loss not look any worse than it already does.
For these situations, on of these two cliches will often do the job: "We never said we could win them all" or "I hate losing, but someone has to."
This one deserves further explanation.
First, someone out there may still think all those Philadelphia coaches like to lose, and that person will think you will, too, so make sure you correct that inaccuracy.
Part two is that it proves the coach and his team are human, even if they don't look it.
When it comes to playoff time, the coach always wants his team to win, but he doesn't want to say that to the reporter.
A quote that could help in this situation might be, "We were district champs until this game was over." Or was that chumps?
For those important playoff losses, on that works well is, "There's only one team in the state that's going to win their last game."
Now that's profound.
Whatever happens, remember that your team is a "Family."
No one wants to hear the team doesn't hang out together, sleep together, etc.
What they really want to hear about is the special metamorphosis that the players go through during the first practice, when they become one with the universe and all that mumbo-jumbo.
They want to hear about the special ingredients that make the team's brand of playing so much better than an average team.
Well, I hope this was helpful, remember, I write them one column at a time.
I never said I could win them all.
Chris Six's column appears weekly in The Daily Record.
COATESVILLE -- For all aspiring coaches out there, here's a crash course on what you will be expected to say when your team wins or loses.
There are also some helpful hints on what to say in specific situations. Being a coach is never easy, and there are many things to keep in mind when the media guys stick the mike in the coach's face.
All of these statements, by the way, are courtesy of Chester County-are coaches who made them during the past year.
Names of spokespeople, however, have not been included because many of these people are educators and I wouldn't want you thinking the people who teach your children say things like this.
First, always remember, "We play them one game at a time."
Now everyone knows a coach never thinks ahead to the next game or about the playoffs.
When your team plays, all that is important is to be "focused" on the game you are involved in.
It's important to emphasize focus -- a '90s kind of word.
Also, always remember how important the means to victory is.
In baseball, for example, try something like, "If you give us 20 Texas Leaguers a game, we'll beat any team around."
Of course, any team that gets 20 hits in one game would have a good shot at the '27 Yankees, but a quote like that looks unique in the paper, doesn't it?
By using termas like "Texas Leaguer," a coach can also portray his in depth knowledge of the game and its' intricate workings.
The most difficult thing to do as a coach is to find a way to make a loss not look any worse than it already does.
For these situations, on of these two cliches will often do the job: "We never said we could win them all" or "I hate losing, but someone has to."
This one deserves further explanation.
First, someone out there may still think all those Philadelphia coaches like to lose, and that person will think you will, too, so make sure you correct that inaccuracy.
Part two is that it proves the coach and his team are human, even if they don't look it.
When it comes to playoff time, the coach always wants his team to win, but he doesn't want to say that to the reporter.
A quote that could help in this situation might be, "We were district champs until this game was over." Or was that chumps?
For those important playoff losses, on that works well is, "There's only one team in the state that's going to win their last game."
Now that's profound.
Whatever happens, remember that your team is a "Family."
No one wants to hear the team doesn't hang out together, sleep together, etc.
What they really want to hear about is the special metamorphosis that the players go through during the first practice, when they become one with the universe and all that mumbo-jumbo.
They want to hear about the special ingredients that make the team's brand of playing so much better than an average team.
Well, I hope this was helpful, remember, I write them one column at a time.
I never said I could win them all.
Chris Six's column appears weekly in The Daily Record.