The Measure That Matters Most đź“Ź
We often measure things.
Measurement is a beneficial thing. When you measure, you can see if there has been growth.
We have a spot in our house where we’ve been measuring my daughter’s height each year. It’s a simple visual, but it tells a story.
It shows where you’ve been and sometimes hints at where you’re going.
But it also makes you think more deeply about what you’re measuring and why.
I was reminded of this recently.
As a coach, it can be easy to measure all the things that, in the end, don’t leave a lasting impact. Things that are short-lived and fleeting. Wins and losses. Goals scored or conceded. Stats on a sheet.
It’s important to note that these factors are significant. Winning matters. Progress toward goals matters. This isn’t an everyone gets a trophy post.
What it is is a reminder to take stock of what we are actually measuring.
I recently got a text from some players. It was just them out on the field, messing around, laughing, enjoying each other. Nothing formal. Nothing structured. Just joy.
And it reminded me that no matter the level you play or coach, there’s a deeper measurement that matters more than most others. Is your love for the game growing or shrinking?
For me, that has become my primary measure as a coach. Do they love the game more every time they step on the field?
In my own journey, I’ve had coaches who did both for me. Some made me fall deeper in love with the game. Others, honestly, made me want to walk away from it.
They say a true mark of leadership is what you do when no one is looking, and I think the same is true for joy. The real test isn’t whether athletes perform when the lights are on or when someone is keeping score. It’s whether they still choose the game when nobody is asking them to. When they grab a ball and head to the field just because they want to. When they still watch it, talk about it, and find themselves drawn back to it over and over again.
For me, that is the true mark of a good coach or leader. You create an experience that grows someone’s love for the game so deeply that it lives beyond your practices, your speeches, your season, or even your presence. They aren’t doing it because anyone is watching. They’re doing it because joy took root somewhere along the way.
Note: To my fellow parents this is also what we should be measuring. As a reminder .01% of kids end up making it to the pros but 11% of parents believe their kids will go pro.
Happy Mothers Day!!
Steve