This
is a topic that I have thought a lot about lately. I cannot claim to be a coach
at any level really, and as such, I cannot claim to have any sort of
thorough knowledge on this topic. I am only drawing from the resources of
learning and experience that I have had these last few years.
Now granted, this doesn’t apply
entirely perfectly to every single sport. Some sports are very different in
many ways, and should be treated as such.
As it is usually easier to put
organized thoughts in a list first, that is where I will start. Perhaps by calling
it:
The Thirteen Thoughts For Coaches:
1. First, you must know exactly what your ultimate goals are and what you
are really trying to accomplish. For example: know if your coaching philosophy
is going to focus more on winning tournaments, or on developing the athletes,
or perhaps on just giving everyone equal time to play.
2. Always stay updated on the current happenings and
possible changes in your sport. That is extremely important in building that
confidence that your athletes will have in you. It is your responsibility. You
should always be more knowledgeable in your sport than all of your athletes,
don’t just act like you are. That is your homework, and you should do it all
the time. Your athletes are relying on you for that.3. Stay in shape as much as is possible. When your athletes workout, workout with them as much as you can. If they really do bomb a very important tournament and you feel that a run would be a good thing to do, do it with them. That is extremely motivational and helpful to your athletes.
4. Never put all
the blame for a loss on your athletes, or take all the glory for a success
either. This teaches them that they can never do good enough, and that nobody
actually cares how well they might do either. You are in this together, and you
should act like it. Always. Understand your part in the game.
5. Don’t yell at
them all the time, especially during tournaments. This builds a cautious,
careful, and, usually, scared athlete. And in sports, that is something you
just simply cannot have. Never motivate an athlete with fear. Motivate them
with desire and love for the sport. Never degrade them, just build them up.
Just because they are younger, doesn’t mean that they are stupid or anything.
Coach Schleg once said: “Encourage them, help them to do a good job.
Don’t ever put them down. Who do you think you are? You don’t
have that right.”
6. Don't be afraid
to be hard on them if they need that. Sometimes punishments do have to be dealt
out. That is part of learning and growing. Know how to use it, and where to go
from there though. Punishment in and of itself doesn't teach anything. The teaching
before and after is what will really make the difference. Be hard on them if
you need to be, but don't do it all the time or it will lose its effect. If
they already understand what they did wrong, and they have the desire to make
it right,
don't keep punishing
them.
7. Don’t be overly
praising, but don’t be afraid to give them plenty. Athletes need to know that
you are really watching and really care when they work hard and do something
right. Sometimes coaches won’t let an athlete know when they finally got
something right like they wanted, and then the athlete is unsure and will
sometimes to go back to doing it wrong because they weren’t sure that they got
it right. As someone once told me, “Instead of just watching for things
for them to fix, also be watching to catch them in the act of doing something
right.” Be sincere in your praise though. Remember, Be a little faster
to praise than to criticize, and your athletes will work harder for it too.
8. With that
though, don’t be afraid to give them the criticism that they need as well.
Athletes need to feel like you’re really watching and want them to get better,
but don’t constantly pour it on. That will make them start to question
everything that they do. Then they won’t have the confidence as much to try new
things, or the fire to want to work to get everything just right. Keep them
humble, but also keep them hungry. Push them, but be sure they are allowed to
feel good when they are really working hard, even when progress is not
immediately seen. And remember, athletes need more than to be told that they
did something wrong; They usually already know they did something wrong. What
they need is specific information about how to do it
right.
9. Don’t do
anything that might damage the trust between you and your athletes. It is not
easily repairable. Athletes will trust you right from the start just because
you are a coach, a position of authority. Don’t do anything that might hurt
that trust, at all. Have high standards, don’t make promises you don’t intend
to keep, and make sure you always live a life of honor. Be the
example of what you want your athletes to become. And never talk
bad about any of your athletes, managers, etc… behind their back. Ever. Or they
will start to wonder all the time if you are talking bad about them. Kids will
trust their coaches until their coach proves they are not trustworthy. You
don’t have to earn their trust, you just have to keep it. Also remember,
respect will never come if demanded. It only comes when earned.
10. You must be the example. Sometimes you
will be the only good mentor or hero that the kid has in their life. Don’t let
them down. Remember, you need to hold yourself to as high of standards as your
athlete. Or even higher standards than them. Be their example. Remember, they
are still learning. You need to demonstrate the highest ideals. It is not
enough to be a good Teacher. You must also be a good Person. The coach should
be just as humble as they expect their athletes to be, but still with an
understanding of their position of authority and leadership.
11. Make sure
every single one of them knows just how valued they are. Take the time to
listen, help, care, and advise. Take the time to be there when
they need you. On and off the field. And if they ever need to talk, don’t just
schedule them in a time, and don’t be preoccupied with other things when they
need to talk. Drop everything right then if you can, and give them your full
attention. Sometimes they just need someone to listen. And sometimes they just
need that on a regular basis for a little while until they can get back on
their feet. But after repeatedly failing to get you to listen to them, they
will just stop talking to you, and then are not as likely to listen to you
either.
12. You must coach
girls and guys differently. They have totally different emotional structures.
Girls and guys receive learning, criticism, correction, and praise very
differently. You’ve got to understand and figure that out. They train and learn
differently. Don’t yell at girls like you do to guys. Don’t spoil them, but
don’t treat them in a way that will hurt them either. Girls are strong too, but
they can’t always take yelling like guys can. Treat them the way they need to
be treated. Understand their limits, and what really motivates them. Girls
would run around the world for you if you asked them to. Just like guys would.
But you’ve got to understand how to tell them to.
13. Be open and
honest in your communication. Be reliable, fair, and consistent. Follow through
on what you say you’ll do. Keeping your word is a form of consistency that will
enhance your credibility. How you communicate something can make a huge
difference. Control yourself. The things you say to others can hurt a lot.
Especially in your position of authority. Make sure you have realistic goals
for your athletes. Do not set too high of expectations for them, and be sure to
give them the help they need to accomplish those goals that you each have set
for them. Also remember that communication is 70% nonverbal. Your every action
in and out of the playing arena is seen and known. Impressionable athletes who
hold you in high esteem are influenced by everything you do.
******************************************'
Again, these are just my
thoughts, and I definitely wouldn’t call myself a certified source of any sort.
It is just something that I have really seen both sides of lately, and
something that has kindof been on my mind a bit recently.
A famous quote I know
goes like this:
“A poor coach yells.
A good coach explains.
A superior coach demonstrates.
But the great coach inspires.”
The first line of that
was actually added in by a coach that I took a class from. The rest of that
quote is well-known though.''
Coaching is a hard job,
and it is one that your whole heart must be into for it to ever be any good.
You must love it, and love the sport, and love the opportunity to be able to
help kids and athletes, and to help make them better. When that is your
ultimate goal, you will be able to see and understand them better. When you're
just in it for the job or the money or the business aspect of it, you will get
nowhere. Coaches are raising the world, and it is often in their hand that the
next generation lies. Care about your athletes more than you care about yourself.
As always, I
would love any thoughts or feedback you might have.
Tara J. Howard
Copyright 2014
Copyright 2014
