Be Coachable

Posted On: 04-13-2026

If I know much at all it is that change is difficult no matter who you are or how you process things in your life.  Bottom line is we all hate change.  I see change in two ways, first we are forced to make a change based on our environment, social life, or physiological conditions.  Second, we change because we want to change.  Not just for the sake of change, but instead by choice because we know a change is needed. 

Take the example that we don’t change because we have always done this or that the same way.  Our habits might be that this is the way we get things done.  You always hear people say to work smart so to do that one has to be willing to change unless by some stroke of genius we always do the right thing. 

As I work with youth and adult shooters, I see the idea of change directly associated with a willingness to be coached.  Just because a coach says to do something, the recipient must be willing to accept what is said. 

Let’s start with footwork.  From day one all of us walked up to the line with little regard for what is right or wrong, we address the line mount our guns and call “Pull”.  Whatever happens, happens but regardless, it must not have had anything to do with our footwork.  Now enter the coach that says maybe you should try and square up your feet, set them at shoulder width, be open to the movement of targets and put you weight slightly on the balls of your feet. 

Here is where being coachable pays off.  Take that advice and execute the change.  I have discussed repeatedly the importance of trying new ways to shoot but I have also added in how difficult change can be and the chaos that occurs after change.  Because one typically falls into a rut of poor shooting after change the only cause must be the change.  First response is to revert to the old way of doing things and take your licks. 

This idea of being coachable is even more difficult after one has been shooting for a period with even limited success and those at an older age.  For coaches your challenge is to overcome the thought that a little success in the past may be forgone for some more success in the future.  As a coach you are challenged with moving youth shooters forward but at the same time asking them to not look back to those few moments of success in exchange for great future success. 

One last thought is to make subtle changes rather that whole rebuild changes and to limit the number of changes one implements.  If too many changes are provided it becomes hard for youth to be coachable if they don’t see or understand the changes made and the positive outcomes.  Great shooters are coachable or those professionals would not need a coach.  All the greats have been coached and their success often is attributed with total by-in to the coach. 

Look for youth that are coachable and for those that do not want to be coached just try harder!