Appendix - Athlete Self-Evaluation

The self-evaluation tool on the following page is designed to be something that you can distribute to your athletes at the beginning of your season (the first day of practice is a great time), as you introduce them to the study and pursuit of the discipline of a teachable spirit.

Before you distribute the information to your athletes, you’ll need to understand the categories of “Disciple Athlete”, “Apprentice Athlete”, and “Servant-Leader Athlete”.  The following information is not necessarily     intended to be read directly to you athletes, but to give you an understanding of the categories as they relate to athletes at different levels of maturity and    development.  You can then decide how you want to present the information to your athletes; usually it’s easiest and most effective to divide athletes by grade levels (freshmen, sophomore/juniors, seniors). 

The first level is the Disciple Athlete; he needs to be taught the fundamentals, and his development requires a lot of oversight.  Repetition of basic habits is critical at this stage; this athlete’s focus is on training.  The second level is the Apprentice Athlete; he is committed to and actively working on improving.  His faithfulness to the task can be trusted, so he needs less oversight; this athlete’s focus is on practice.  The third level is the Servant-Leader Athlete; his habits and example have elevated him to a leadership position, and he understands that leadership is defined by a responsibility to serve others.  He does things with care, and he gives oversight to others.  His sees the “big picture” of team and is motivated by helping others to learn and grow; this athlete’s focus is on maintaining the health and success of the team.

These different levels are often closely associated with age.  You might identify freshmen as Disciples, sophomores and juniors as Apprentices, and seniors as Servant-Leaders — and that’s an alright starting point.  However, keep in mind that you will have older athletes who are less mature (and not ready to lead), and you will have younger athletes who are more mature (and capable of more demanding challenges).  Treat each athlete as an individual; don’t assume that an athlete of a certain age should be “lumped in” with others his age, when using these challenges to encourage and guide him in his submission to discipline throughout the season.

Encourage your athletes to read over the appropriate category (based on their grade level); then ask each athlete to evaluate whether each characteristic or behavior is a strength or a weakness of his, and to identify one particular way in which he would like to grow or improve this year.  (This can be done privately, or you can allow time for athletes to voluntarily share with one another, if you’d like.

At the end of the season, ask your athletes to use the “teachable athlete” list (which you will compile throughout the season) to evaluate their submission to and growth in the discipline of teachability. You can also have all athletes (except seniors) look forward to the set of “sport applications” of teachability for the next level, and to identify goals for growth for the year ahead.

“Sport Applications” of a Teachable Spirit

Athlete Self-Evaluation

How does a Disciple Athlete train in a teachable spirit?

· Evaluate how well you listen when the coach speaks to the whole group.  A teachable athlete  refuses to allow himself to think, “I know all this.”

· Evaluate how well you listen when the coach speaks to you individually.  A teachable athlete will remember the conversation for a long time; he believes that a coach’s words are always applicable and important, and he invests time and energy in considering and applying their intent.

· Evaluate how well you observe when another person (coach or teammate) is demonstrating a drill or technique.  A teachable athlete carefully focuses on  the intricate details that comprise the skill; he refuses to be distracted or to grow annoyed at the task of paying attention.  He listens to, values, and trusts the coach’s  instructions, and he is able to learn (even if     gradually) to translate those instructions into action.

How does an Apprentice Athlete practice a teachable spirit?

· Be on time to practice and pre-game; value the time to prepare.

· Pay attention when the coach speaks, and do not be a distraction to others. 

· Pay attention to the drill you are doing, and when you are not involved in any drill, keep your mind engaged in the drills going on around you.

· Indicate by your actions, at all times, that you are serious about learning.  Even during “down times” in practice, stay focused on the next task at hand; or use the time to do extra work, or to encourage, challenge, or   discuss skills and learning with others.

How does a Servant-Leader Athlete maintain a teachable spirit?

· Be with Disciples when the coaches are talking.  Your presence will    encourage their attention.

· Quiz others to see if they understood what the coach was saying.  Do this even when you think things are crystal-clear.

· Consciously seek out instruction from your coaches.

· Set goals for your personal achievement in practices and games; then   review those goals afterward, to see how you did (and to help you set new goals).