Four ways to be the best coach you can be

Every great athlete was once a novice in his or her craft. Consistent, excellent performance does not show up overnight. The same goes for the elites in every profession. Everyone has to start somewhere, and the same goes for coaching.

When it comes to perfecting the art of coaching, it gets a little trickier than athleticism. There is a misconception that any great athlete can make a great coach. It’s true that most coaches begin their careers as athletes themselves, finding a passion for the craft somewhere along their athletic journeys. However, being a great athlete does not automatically equip you to be a great coach.

You probably remember your favorite coach or PE teacher growing up. Most athletes have a mentor like this that sticks out in their memories. You may even keep in touch with them still. We often see stories of high school and other small-town coaches who impact the lives of entire communities. What sets these coaches apart from the rest?

Here are four easy steps you can take to improve your coaching habits and start shaping you into the coach you want to be.

1. Start small

Like many first-time coaches, you are likely excited about finding your calling or settling into your passion. Unfortunately, this excitement causes many coaches to become too enthusiastic, and this could possibly overwhelm their players.

Veteran coach Dr. Colleen Hacker served on the coaching staff for six Olympic Games in three different sports. In her steps to adopt an Olympian mindset, she emphasizes the importance of first adopting a beginner’s mindset.

If athletes are overwhelmed or intimidated right off the bat, they will likely feel discouraged about their ability to succeed in your program. To avoid this, try outlining a curriculum plan for how you intend to teach lessons or go about practices. Try to draw out at least one or two months ahead to properly prepare for the skills you’ll focus on and the order you’ll teach them.

This plan gives you adequate headway to prepare and revise your objectives. It will also provide you new foresight as a leader. If there is a particular skill that needs more work or athletes needing more individual attention, you can gauge when in your schedule you have room during practice time to touch on these areas. This attention-to-detail will give your athletes a more comfortable environment to adjust to your coaching and ask for help when needed.

2. Do not take shortcuts

One downfall of sport participation is the want or expectation of rapidly increasing talent. Many beginners fail in their attempts to participate in organized sports because the emphasis is placed heavily on competition rather than “developing proper athleticism.”

This emphasis on competition drives young athletes to the conclusion that if they are not excellent in their craft right away, they cannot succeed in the sport. This discouragement is especially disheartening because it leads many children with great potential to give up or quit due to an unrealistic standard they couldn’t meet.

To avoid this, make sure to set realistic expectations for your players. Make these expectations measurable goals that your team can track together and on their own. And, most importantly, be sure to provide recognition and reward when those goals are met. This will keep your team motivated to continue working hard.

3. Always lead your team by example

In most scenarios, it is unfair to ask more of someone else than you are willing to give yourself. The same applies to the relationship between you and your athletes.

In a Harvard Business Review article, former New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, “You ask your players to be prepared mentally and physically, so you have to be prepared,” Girardi told HBR.

Girardi’s right. You will build the most credibility, respect and trust with your players when you lead by example. This shows unity and effort toward a common goal that includes the coach. Your humility will reflect on your players and create a humbled environment with a goal of improvement, not competition toward one another.

4. Each athlete is unique, and you must treat them as such

Coach Girardi led the Yankees to their 27th World Series championship title. He did so with a team of diverse athletes, each skilled with individual abilities. Girardi and Olympic gymnast coach Bela Karolyi both share the belief that you need to adapt to your players. Karolyi especially observed the character of each gymnast and tailored his coaching to their needs and personalities.

This is an important note to remember because no athlete is the same. Try to think about yourself as a young athlete and what areas you needed more specialized attention in. Would you have benefitted from a more understanding coach? Your answer is likely, yes.

We expect a lot out of our players, and they feel the pressures of it day in and day out. Focus on understanding each of your athletes’ individual strengths and weaknesses. Find ways to create personalized lessons with them to address those weaknesses. Giving your players the opportunity and freedom to showcase their skill sets without expectation will build trust with you and your team.

Go coach, go!

You are more than equipped for the job at hand. When in doubt, put yourself in younger-you’s shoes. What did you need out of your leader? Your athletes are lucky to have a coach like you; go make them proud!

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