Unsolicited Advice Part 5 - Playing Time is Earned Before the Season Starts

Before you find yourself constantly questioning a coach’s acumen, remember one fundamental truth: playing time is not earned during the game.

It is a common misconception among parents and athletes alike that game day is the time to show a coach what you can do. But coaches are not using game minutes to give athletes a chance to prove themselves.

Your athlete must prove themselves in practice. And in order to perform and compete at a high level in practice, they must prepare in the off-season.

The Practice Floor is the Real Proving Ground

Game minutes are for execution, not evaluation. If an athlete is struggling to get on the court or field when the clock is running, the solution rarely starts during game time. It starts on Tuesday afternoon when nobody is in the stands.

Coaches reward consistency, trust, and preparation. When an athlete demonstrates that they know the schemes, control their effort, and outwork their peers during practice reps, game minutes naturally follow.

Shifting from Summer Work to Fall Preseason Prep

As the summer comes to a close, remind your athlete to stay in the gym, stay in shape, and keep refining their skills.

While summer training may be winding down, their gym time shouldn't. This critical window right now is the bridge between summer workouts and fall preseason preparation. There is still time left to earn the minutes they want, but that window requires intentionality.

The off-season is where dedicated players create real separation and close the gap on the competition.

Keep grinding!

Coch Miller