Qualities of an Effective Coach
What makes a good coach? Whether you are coaching the little league or a professional team, you will find useful advice in this article.
Being a coach is easy. But being a good coach is another matter entirely. This job requires showing a lot of certain psychological characteristics. If a coach is to succeed, he simply has to show the following traits:
1. Knows the discipline he's coaching
It's trivial, but the coach has to know ins and outs of the discipline – the rules, the history, the tactics etc. Without it they won't be able to do their job properly and will probably quickly lose face when they start making mistakes.
2. Motivates the players
What makes a good coach? Whether you are coaching the little league or a professional team, you will find useful advice in this article.
Being a coach is easy. But being a good coach is another matter entirely. This job requires showing a lot of certain psychological characteristics. If a coach is to succeed, he simply has to show the following traits:
1. Knows the discipline he's coaching
It's trivial, but the coach has to know ins and outs of the discipline – the rules, the history, the tactics etc. Without it they won't be able to do their job properly and will probably quickly lose face when they start making mistakes.
2. Motivates the players
The successful coach is a motivator with a positive attitude and enthusiasm for the game and the players. The ability to motivate and inspire is part of the formula for success. Getting athletes to believe in themselves and achieve come far easier from some coaches than others. The coach who can motivate is able to generate the desire to excel in their athletes. Motivation may mean keeping the practice fun, fresh and challenging. When motivating a player, a good coach stresses trying to reach performance goals, not outcome goals. A coach should make sure that players understand that you can completely control your own effort and training, but can't control what your opponent does or the outcome of every match.
This is probably the single most important trait of a good coach. Without proper motivation, everything comes apart. Remember that a coach will need to lead a team of individuals, everyone with different personal goals. The coach's job is give the players enough motivation to make them start doing things as good as they are able to, and turn their attention from their private matters to the pitch.
3. Talks only when it gets results
A good coach will never speak without a good cause. If they talk too much, they will never actually be listened, so a coach is a person who should talk only when necessary – this will give their words an extra weigh.
4. Is able to listen
This is probably the single most important trait of a good coach. Without proper motivation, everything comes apart. Remember that a coach will need to lead a team of individuals, everyone with different personal goals. The coach's job is give the players enough motivation to make them start doing things as good as they are able to, and turn their attention from their private matters to the pitch.
3. Talks only when it gets results
A good coach will never speak without a good cause. If they talk too much, they will never actually be listened, so a coach is a person who should talk only when necessary – this will give their words an extra weigh.
4. Is able to listen
The effective coach is a coach who communicates well and exudes credibility, competence, respect and authority. A coach should be able to explain ideas clearly. Clear communication means setting defined goals, giving direct feedback and reinforcing the key messages. Acknowledging success is also essential for good communication through the act of Listening.Part of communicating effectively is listening. A coach should be a compassionate ear and should welcome the players comments, questions and input. The effective coach will seek out information from the players. Finally, the good coach will be flexible and will use player feedback to modify the training plan if necessary.
Being calmer than usual means also that a coach should be a good listener. If they are to become a good coach, they need to become a surrogate father or mother for their team and listening is the single most important trait that can make it possible.
5. Knows their team
Another important matter is knowing one's team. And it is not only about matching their numbers with the names. A good coach knows everything – both about professional and private life of their players. Knowing The Athletes, Being aware of individual differences in athletes is also an important ingredient in coaching excellence. Yelling, screaming, and other emotional displays may work for some athletes but could have a devastating effect on others. Individualizing communication and motivation to specific players is key to team success. Paying attention to the player’s emotions, strengths and weaknesses are the responsibility of a good coach.
Being calmer than usual means also that a coach should be a good listener. If they are to become a good coach, they need to become a surrogate father or mother for their team and listening is the single most important trait that can make it possible.
5. Knows their team
Another important matter is knowing one's team. And it is not only about matching their numbers with the names. A good coach knows everything – both about professional and private life of their players. Knowing The Athletes, Being aware of individual differences in athletes is also an important ingredient in coaching excellence. Yelling, screaming, and other emotional displays may work for some athletes but could have a devastating effect on others. Individualizing communication and motivation to specific players is key to team success. Paying attention to the player’s emotions, strengths and weaknesses are the responsibility of a good coach.
6. Knows the Sport
To be able to teach effectively the coach must have in-depth understanding of the sport from the fundamental skills to advanced tactics and strategy. Coaches may have experience playing, but not all former players make good coaches. Coaches must plan for the season, know the progressive nature of training adaptation, know the rules, and provide a simple, structured environment for athletes to succeed.
7. Treats everyone individually
While (or because) a good coach should know everybody and do their best to hold the place together, it is necessary to treat every player individually. Yelling works only on some of them, the same story is with talking seriously. Using the same method to get everyone do what you say will surely end in breaking some of your players to pieces.
7. Treats everyone individually
While (or because) a good coach should know everybody and do their best to hold the place together, it is necessary to treat every player individually. Yelling works only on some of them, the same story is with talking seriously. Using the same method to get everyone do what you say will surely end in breaking some of your players to pieces.
8. Seeks Out New Techniquies
While a good coach knows a great deal about a sport (s)he must continue to learn and develop new training techniques. Staying up to date of new research, training and rehab information, attending coaching clinics, camps, and seeking out tips from elite coaches and athletes is a sign of a great coach. Watching videos, reading books, studying periodicals can also be helpful. Attending university classes in sport psychology, nutrition and exercise physiology is a great idea and is readily accessible for any coach who wants to grow and improve.
9. Leads by example
The last, but not least: a good coach do themselves everything he will ask others to do. They always set an example – they are first on the trainings and perform every single exercise they order other to do.
While a good coach knows a great deal about a sport (s)he must continue to learn and develop new training techniques. Staying up to date of new research, training and rehab information, attending coaching clinics, camps, and seeking out tips from elite coaches and athletes is a sign of a great coach. Watching videos, reading books, studying periodicals can also be helpful. Attending university classes in sport psychology, nutrition and exercise physiology is a great idea and is readily accessible for any coach who wants to grow and improve.
9. Leads by example
The last, but not least: a good coach do themselves everything he will ask others to do. They always set an example – they are first on the trainings and perform every single exercise they order other to do.
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