So you don’t want to be just another average children’s coach? You want to be the type of coach kids look up to, trust and believe in? Here are some attributes shared by outstanding coaches and what they care about most.
- Winning isn’t everything… No coach sets out to lose, and it’s always fun to enjoy the sweet taste of victory, but great coaches know that team morale is far more important than racking up wins. These coaches put winning into perspective by teaching their players that losing is just another part of the game. Great life lesson too, eh?
- Knowing how to motivate players … Great coaches have a talent for growing their players’ confidence. To accomplish this, coaches must understand the unique personalities and abilities of the individuals on their team. Excellent coaches talk with their players and ask them what their goals are for the season. They lay out a plan for success and make sure they view each child as a person with hopes, dreams and fears — and not just an athlete.
- Being tough but fair … Great coaches find ways to be realistic and honest about what an individual player can achieve — even when it’s hard to give a child the hard facts. They find ways to inform a child that even if he or she won’t be the star player, the child can still play an important role on the team. Great coaches give kids feedback about what they can do to improve and make sure they provide a lot of encouragement with very little yelling.
These are just a few of the attributes of great coaches laid out in this article. Check out the rest!