Freedom to Figure It Out
by Ryan Krzykowski
For years I’ve been telling students in class that math is an excellent tool for building many of the muscles we use over and over. In our lives, whether we’re talking about a career, family life, other relationships, or whatever else, we basically do some version of three things. We show up, figure stuff out, and then get things done. That idea in the middle, figuring it out, it seems more powerful the more I think about it. As we watch our 17-month-old grandson make his way around our house, opening cabinets, bumping into furniture, and climbing stairs, I realize with every new “adventure” he’s exploring his world and figuring things out. When our 18-year-old son is navigating a college campus for the first time, developing systems for being where he’s supposed to be, fueling his body so he’s ready for workouts, keeping track of his keys and wallet without the safety net of being at home, he’s also exploring his world and figuring things out.
Applying this idea to the practice field or video room, when an athlete is trying something new, working to implement something we’ve told/shown them, it’s not that different than the toddler or college freshman working to figure it out. A step here, an adjustment there, whatever it is, they are exploring their world and figuring things out. I can’t do it for them. I can tell them, show them, encourage them, correct them, and perhaps most importantly, give them the reps needed to get it right. It might happen in 5 minutes — it might take 5 months. But keeping in mind that something new isn’t usually going to take hold on the first try can help me avoid the frustration of feeling like they’re never going to get it right, or they’re not trying, or they’re ignoring me. (I’m not going to be ignored.) I can give this kid the freedom to figure it out. And when they get it right and it sticks, when they figure something out for themselves, that’s right up there with the most important life skills they can develop. The knowledge that they can face something challenging and figure it out is a game changer.
Let’s Coach With Purpose…
Great thoughts, figuring it all out! For me to figure stuff out, I usually have to admit that I was off course, missed the mark, errored in my judgment, and was challenged to change my way for a better way, even changing a light bulb in in my house took some thought, why would I change an LED for a Full spectrum lamp? Well it was worth it. 🙂
Love this Ryan. When talking to coaches about helping athletes grow, I like to remind those coaches about how toddlers learn to walk.
A toddler wobbles, falls, and gets back up. And everyone responds the same way…with a smile, with clapping, with a “you got it!” We celebrate effort. We celebrate tiny progress. We don’t yell or raise our voice. We never expect perfection or full-on runners. We just let them figure it out.
Somewhere between those first steps and youth sports, adults forget that learning still works the same way.
Kids learning a new sports skill are doing exactly what toddlers do: testing, trying, adjusting, falling, trying again. And they need the same things from us: optimism, patience, and encouragement for the small wins.
If coaches used that toddler model more often, kids would grow faster. They’d take more risks. They’d bounce back quicker. They’d trust themselves. They’d actually enjoy the process of figuring things out.
A toddler doesn’t learn to walk because we correct every fall. They learn because we make falling down a safe part of the learning process. Young athletes deserve that same freedom.