What does it take to be a winning youth coach? Listen in as Cameron Gish shares stories and discusses his journey to becoming a successful youth band director.





Cameron Gish is the band director at Hillsboro School. He is in his fourth year leading the band and teaching at Hillsboro. He has started the band from the ground up, and in just their 3rd year they received accolades in parades and competitions - including being awarded grand champion in their first year at the Franklin Rodeo Parade.  Cameron attended Murray State University, where he was a three-year drum major for the 250-member Racer Band, and was named the Outstanding Senior Man of Murray State and gave the valediction at his commencement ceremony.  Cameron's passion for the kids and vision for creating excellence makes him a rare leader that coaches can learn a great deal from.




 
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Coaching/Leadership Quote
Whenever you encounter some adversity, your character will be revealed with how you respond
My Cringe & ‘Ah-Ha’ Moments

Focus more on the process than the final product

Teaching Children & Keeping it Fun

You have to figure out the motivation for the age group you are coaching (it's different than what motivates adults)
One important skill to develop in children is for them to understand deadlines and how to get things done
Motivator idea: Cameron created a competition - a band Olympics - with multiple rewards and competitions

HUGE IDEA #1

The 'Music Video Game' - Cameron utilizes a program for the kids to use at home that scores their performance while practicing at home - this fuels competition for the kids to want to beat their own score - and they will keep practicing until they can get their score up to a 100.  Practice doesn't make perfect - Perfect practice makes perfect

Mental Peak Performance

'The more I practice, the less nervous I get' - You will have game-day jitters out of excitement, but eliminate the jitters that come from not having practiced
The game/performance is just your showcase to have fun and shows off the hard work you have been putting in

Discipline/Rewards/Teambuilding

Harness their enthusiasm - A positive energy and a little bit of chatter is OK
A good strategy is to start pretty tough and then back off slowly
Cameron handles discipline offline and one-on-one
Praise often and catch them doing something right
Kids often act-out to get attention - so give the attention to kids doing it right instead of the on the ones mis-behaving
Cameron tries to set up a big year-end fun trip and other offsite activities to just allow the kids to build relationships with each other and with you as the coach

Connecting with Kids
HUGE IDEA #2

The Sunshine File - Cameron keeps a file of positive emails he gets from kids/parents - he then can open and read these when he's having a bad day

Challenge and Free Giveaway - Shoot me a note complimenting Cameron on this interview - I will forward on to him, and send you a free copy of the Audio Highlights from the First 25 WYC Interviews (a $17 value) - Send email to: craig@winningyouthcoaching.com
Winning

Trophies are what happens after you do something great.  Prepare to do something great, then don't worry about the results and just enjoy yourself.

The One that got away

'Whenever you encounter some adversity, your character will be revealed with how you respond.'

Best Stolen idea

David Aydelott - Taught Cameron a model around creating a vision

Parting Advice

It's all about the relationship above everything else

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