Talking Performance Episode 5 with Special Guest Crystal Kaua
May 21, 2020
auto_awesome
Crystal Kaua, a player turned professional rugby coach in Japan, shares her journey and core values. Topics include self-belief, creating a culture of accountability, exploring identity, and building a fun and bonded team culture.
Creating a culture of freedom and fearless play leads to athletes tapping into their full potential and achieving great results.
Building strong relationships with athletes and involving parents in a supportive role fosters a sense of value and motivation.
Embracing balance, enjoying small wins, and focusing on daily happiness are crucial for athletes to confidently pursue greatness and develop their identity.
Deep dives
Creating a Culture of Freedom and Fearlessness
The key to success is creating a culture where athletes feel free and fearless. By giving them permission to play without fear of failure and emphasizing the importance of emptying their tank and giving their best effort, athletes can tap into their full potential. The focus is not on the outcome or perfection, but on the process and being true to themselves. This approach has proven to be successful with the Hamilton Girls High rugby team, where players played with freedom and achieved great results.
Building Strong Relationships with Athletes and Parents
Building strong relationships with athletes and their parents is crucial. Crystal and her husband focused on connecting with the athletes individually and addressing any concerns or issues. They made athletes accountable by creating a culture where certain behaviors were not acceptable and implementing consequences such as singing or dancing if rules were not followed. By fostering a family-like environment and involving parents in a supportive role, athletes felt valued and motivated to perform.
Finding the Balance Between Hard Work and Enjoyment
Crystal emphasized the importance of hard work but also recognized the need for balance and enjoyment. She encouraged athletes to embrace the small wins, savor moments of success, and focus on daily happiness rather than solely pursuing perfection. By finding joy in the process and setting individualized goals, athletes can develop their identity and confidently pursue greatness. Taking care of oneself, being present, and celebrating the journey are essential components of this approach.
Creating a Culture of Connection and Fun
The coaches emphasize the importance of creating a culture of connection, fun, and laughter in their coaching approach. They believe that by creating a positive and enjoyable environment, athletes can perform better and develop self-belief. They engage in activities such as singing, dancing, and team bonding to help athletes relax and switch off before competitions. The coaches also highlight the significance of building strong relationships with athletes, including those who may not speak the same language, through language lessons and genuine efforts to connect.
Developing Self-Belief and Building Confidence
The coaches recognize the importance of cultivating self-belief and building confidence in athletes. They emphasize the need for athletes to have proof and evidence of their improvement to reinforce their self-belief. Strategies like collecting statistics and highlighting moments of perfection through videos are utilized to fill athletes' heads with self-belief and motivate them to perform at a higher level. Additionally, the coaches stress the importance of avoiding excuses, give-up talk, and seeking reassurance, as these behaviors erode self-belief. They encourage coaches and parents to create a language base that fosters confidence and self-belief in athletes.
Wow this one is amazing, Crystal is an inspiration that has so many gold nuggets. Crystal takes us on a journey from being a player to a youth coach to now coaching professional rugby in Japan, all while holding true to her core values. The audio is not always perfect so I apologise for that in advance but the content is great.
