In his book,“ The Coach’ s Guide to Teaching,” Doug Lemov, American author, educator and expert on best practices for teaching and learning, states:“ In any learning environment, some people develop faster and some people develop slower. One major factor in the rates at which people learn is their ability to sustain concentration and focus.” Taking the time to plan training sessions helps coaches stay organized and keep their athletes focused. These session plans do not have to be ultra-techy or much more than just your own chicken-scratched ideas, but coaches should always have a written plan. And although nothing in youth sports ever goes as planned, an organized coach is normally a successful one. Review Track 1!
TRACK 4: MANAGING GAME DAY
Game day is exciting for everyone involved with the team, but it can be very stressful for coaches. It’ s important for coaches to prepare for games and have a plan for warm-ups, in-game coaching( including substitutions), halftime( if applicable) and post-game procedures. This also goes back to what was described in Track 1.
Another task that is oftentimes omitted is engaging athletes who are not in the game. This could include having them help keep track of game goals on a small whiteboard. At the very least coaches should be speaking to athletes and providing them with guided questions in order to help them stay focused on the game.
It is also a good idea to take notes during the game in order to compile comments for halftime or breaks. These notes should also be used for reflection and planning for training the following week. Coaches should spend less time stalking the sidelines and yelling at their athletes and / or officials and dedicate more time to taking notes and being more“ economic” with what they say during live play. In other words, yell less and write more!
TRACK 5: GIVING AND RECEIVING FEEDBACK
An often-neglected aspect of coaching is providing athletes with feedback. The coach should make a real effort to connect with each athlete in a meaningful way and frequently provide them with two or three“ glows and grows,” highlighting what they are doing well and giving specific information on how to improve. Connecting with every athlete and providing them with feedback can be difficult, but it is necessary for learning and development. It is also important to keep in mind that quick feedback is usually the most effective. Most coaches provide feedback in the middle or end of a season, but feedback should be provided as soon after events as possible, and it needs to be provided regularly over the course of a season.
The coach should also have methods in place for receiving feedback. This can easily be done through peer or director observations. Having a trusted peer or colleague provide feedback can be extremely powerful and have a dramatic impact on a coach’ s development. Choosing the right people to provide observations and feedback is critical. It is important to select people who will provide honest feedback. They should also be capable of providing suggestions on how to improve.
TRACK 6: REFLECTION
During a fast-paced season, taking the time to properly reflect on events and ultimately learn from them often gets lost amongst the other tasks that can pile up. Taking time to review what went well, what didn’ t go well and what you would do differently next time is extremely valuable for personal and team development. This does not need to take a lot of time. Taking 10-15 minutes after every event is a great place to start, and I encourage coaches to keep a journal of some kind, as the notes can help with planning for future events.
The best way to help with reflection is to film training sessions. This may not be possible due to time and resources, but the information gained from watching video of yourself and your team is the most effective way to learn from an event.
Regardless of your chosen method for reflection, taking time to do this is crucial to growth and development.
TRACK 7: ENJOYMENT
Despite all of the responsibilities and amount of work, coaching should be fun! If coaching feels more like a burden than something that brings joy to your life, then please don’ t agree to take a team. Coaching kids should be challenging and enjoyable. Always keep in mind your attitude and demeanor is contagious, and young athletes will feed off of the positive or negative vibes you put out.
It’ s also important to mention that coaches should never take themselves too seriously.
Unfortunately, this is oftentimes a problem in youth sports, and coaches should be setting the example for all others when it comes to treating everyone involved in our sports with kindness and respect. If coaches are getting in arguments and altercations with officials, adults or athletes, they should not be coaching. Full stop.
EPILOGUE
Clearly, coaching the right way is a serious commitment that requires a tremendous amount of time and effort. The rewards are endless, however. Having a positive impact on children’ s lives should never be underestimated. All of the work good coaches put into working with young people can ultimately create ripples that can last a lifetime. Coaches have the power to be positive guides on children’ s journeys to their dreams. This responsibility should never be taken lightly.
Coaching is a craft, not a science. The craft is different for everyone depending on their personality, skill set and appetite for continuing education. Good coaching comes in many forms, but in the end, good coaching will always embrace the seven aspects described in this article. Yes, coaches can be amazing in the performance environment, running training sessions and making in-game decisions that blow players’ and parents’ minds. But if they do not pay attention to the most important aspects of the coaching job, they will always fail their athletes. Their talent in the performance environment will only take them so far. n
Rob knows that great music sets the tone for a great session. Scan the QR code to check out his go-to warm-up tunes and get pumped for training!
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