“I know,” he said.
The words were quiet.
I kept my voice even. “Then build a system that makes it harder to miss. Don’t rely on remembering in the moment. That’s not working.”
“I’m trying.”
“I believe you.”
His eyes came back to mine, sharp and unsettled.
I went on before either of us could sit too long in that. “Trying is not the same as having a plan. Starting today, after practice, you take the next day’s sheet, put it in your notebook, and put the old one in recycling before you leave the building. Not in your bag. Not in your car. Done here. Clear?”
He swallowed. “Clear.”
“If media is on your schedule, you confirm with Tessa before noon. Not with an emoji at midnight. Words.”
A faint wince. “Yeah.”
“And if something changes, you ask. You do not guess.”
His jaw worked once. “Got it.”
I let the silence sit for a beat, then lowered the pressure. “This doesn’t need to be a big problem.”
“It feels like one.”
That was too honest. It landed between us with more weight than a wrong drill sheet deserved.
I studied him carefully. “Because I corrected you?”
His eyes moved away. “Because I hate giving people more proof.”
“Proof of what?”
He let out a humorless breath. “Pick a file. I’m sure there are options.”
There it was. The old staff in the room with us. Every lazy note, every public callout, every time talent had been treated like it canceled out effort or made struggle unacceptable.
I could have reassured him. Told him one mistake didn’t define him. Maybe another coach would have.
Instead, I gave him something useful.
“Then don’t give them proof. Give them a pattern they can’t ignore.”
His gaze came back to me.
“Today, you fix it,” I said. “Right now. Get the correct sheet. Be ready for the first drill. Media at one-fifteen. Confirm with Tessa before noon. Tomorrow’s sheet goes in your notebook before you leave.”
He breathed in through his nose, slow enough that I knew it took effort. “Okay.”
“Say it back.”
His eyebrows drew together.
I waited.
He looked annoyed. He also looked steadier when he said, “Correct sheet now. Ready for first drill. Confirm media with Tessa before noon using actual words. Tomorrow’s sheet in notebook before I leave.”
