This fall, someone in your league, conference, section, and state, will be crowned a championship. There will be a few others who will have very unsuccessful seasons. However, the remaining vast majority of teams will be idle in mediocrity. 

There are very few Urban Meyer’s, Bill Belichick’s, or Nick Saban’s in the coaching world. Are you one of them? If not, what is it going to take to achieve the consistent success you are looking for? Furthermore, what steps are you taking to build up your athletes for success in life outside the football bubble? 

Although there are myriad of different things you can implement to improve your results on and off the field, I am surprised every time I have this conversation with a coach that no one ever considers the value of bringing a woman’s perspective and point of view into the program to help their performance. 

Yes, bringing women into the program can help positively change your results. Now, I am not talking about cheerleaders, team Mom’s, nurses, or any other role women often are offered in a football program, but rather as advisors, consultants, leaders, community voices, and coaches. 

Related: Katie Sowers continues her coaching journey with 49ers

This year, instead of doing the same thing and expecting different results, try something very few coaches have attempted, bring a woman on board to help. Here are a couple ways to get a women involved: 

1.  Have a woman either from your school staff, or better yet, someone from within the community come to a practice each week and speak to your players. Consider having your guest speak on topics related to the performance on the field as well as important life skills off the field. 

For example, the conversation around respecting women is something all coaches should be open to discussing with their players. Now imagine the impact this could have on the players when they also hear it from a valued woman at the school, or in the community. 

Your players live in a male dominate football bubble; something they will have to quickly grow out of once their career ends. Why wait? Show them how a woman leader can find common ground with them and have open and honest conversations around real life experiences. 

2.  Have a woman come out to evaluate practice. Arm her with your team goals so she has some context and have her watch your team practice. There is a good chance she will pick up on certain nuances about the team, your staff, or how your practice is run. 

Ask her to evaluate your coaching style, and your practice. What would she improve or eliminate? Are you being efficient with your time management? 

This fresh set of eyes may provide insight you have long overlooked. 

During the following week, have her deliver some of her findings to the entire team. Hearing the truth from someone outside the program can validate your coaching efforts. 

Social proof is phenomenon where people assume the actions of others in an attempt to reflect correct behavior. If you are asking for your players to respect women you need to teach by example. 

As an important influencer in your players lives, your actions and opinions often matter more than what their parents say and believe. By seeing you respect, honor, and include women into your program, you are creating what scientists call “the butterfly effect,” where small causes can have large effects. 

This small influence can have a large effect on the respect, feelings, and actions your players have towards women for the rest of their lives. 

Besides, having women as part of your program isn’t just an important example you are setting, it is a wise football decision.

Related: NFL Women’s Careers in Football Forum leads to coaching job for Phoebe Schecter

As founder of The Recovering Athlete™, Cletus Coffey teaches and trains coaches, teams, athletes and professionals how to take skills and success learned on the field and apply it to life off the field. As a former defensive back/receiver in the CFL and Arena Football League, and as a first team all- conference football player and a college decathlete at Lewis & Clark College, he faced even bigger challenges once his athletic career was over. By combining his success as a professional athlete and a business/industry expert, he now helps others win at the game of life, not just sports. To connect with Cletus Coffey, email him  info@cletuscoffey.com and listen to his podcast here.