The coachable athlete is eager to learn: approachable, attentive, curious, trusting, and confident. He lacks arrogance and defensiveness; rather, he is inquisitive by nature. Learning faster than his competition today is his top goal, because he knows this means more winning in the future. He does not view constructive criticism as an attack, but as a blessing. What could be better than someone else helping him achieve his goal of getting better fast? He listens with the intent to learn, not the intent to be right or smart. His body language communicates gratitude, not resentment. When something doesn't work, he searches for the reasons within himself rather than making the excuse of blaming others.

The coachable athlete is a team leader. She sits up and makes eye contact when the coach addresses the team. She nods her head when she hears a good idea and she is not afraid to try new things. She knows that not every new idea will work for her, but she tries the adjustment with optimism that once she gets a little comfort and familiarity with it, this will make her better. Her eagerness for improvement is contagious; her presence helps the attitude of both her teammates and his coaches. She knows that T.E.A.M.