For some, a coach’s success is measured in the number of checks he or she has in the win/loss column. For others, a coach’s success is measured in the number of happy smiles on his or her players’ faces. Before you can become a successful coach, you will first need to identify what being a “successful coach” means to you. As you think about what it means to you, consider the following 3 objectives for you as a coach:
- Teach your players respect for the rules of the game.
- Teach your players teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect.
- Encourage your players to try hard during both games and practices, but be sure they are also having fun while they play.
The greatest challenge for most coaches is undoubtedly objective #3. That is, how do you encourage your players to play hard, without putting so much pressure on them that they don’t have fun and relax? How do you strike “the perfect balance?” Of course, in the end there is no single “perfect” balance. But there are better balances for different populations of players. For example, older youth players, especially those of high school age, need to see priority placed on working hard during practice. By contrast, younger kids need to be reminded to have fun, and also learn the rules of the game and try hard. Then, too, it depends on the level of competition of your team. Ultimately, there is no substitute to common sense, flexibility, and above all listening to your players. Following the following 7 steps for successful coaching will get you off on the right start:
1. Always stay upbeat and enthusiastic! You are first and foremost a role model for your players. They will model your behavior. If you are having fun, the chances are your players will have fun, too. If you become pessimistic or negative, so will your team.
2. Teach respect for the rules of the game. Organized sport is an excellent opportunity for your kids to exercise their creativity and spontaneity. However, there will only be chaos until the rules of the game are fully understood and appreciated by all of your players. Sports should be fun and creative, but they must also incorporate discipline. Be reasonable. In baseball, there is no reason to teach an 8-year-old about the intricacies of the 45-foot rule. By the same token, however, no one is amused by a 12-year=old soccer player who doesn’t understand the off-sides rule.
3. Teach teamwork. Whatever the sport, lord knows it’s tempting to instruct your players to give the ball to the best player. In basketball, a single dominant player may make any given team the best. In baseball, a single dominant pitcher can really boost your win column. But a team sport is, most importantly, a TEAM sport. Don’t be the coach who gives the ball to the best player all the time. Remember, you’re teaching life skills to your players, as well as the sport.  Get all of your players involved. Your best player should lead the team by passing the ball, not scoring all of the time. You want to encourage your team to win, but it is more rewarding to everyone when it is AS A TEAM. This is a good time, too, for you as a coach to remember to not re-live your own childhood aspirations of winning through your team. Your coaching is about your team and your players – ALL of your players—so get them all involved and make sure they are all learning and playing together.
4. Always, always, always applaud a good effort. Some of the best moments in coaching come from a strong individual or team effort. Some of the greatest lessons and experiences in sport come when your team is hopelessly outmatched, but they still pull together a good courageous effort.
5. Encourage your kids to applaud each other. You must have zero tolerance for your players picking on or making fun of each other. Kids will be kids, of course, but they won’t make fun of each other on your watch. Don’t tolerate it, or turn the other way and pretend not to notice. Your kids will always look to you for guidance. Be a good role model and be pro-active in encouraging them to support one another. Your players don’t always have to be best friends (though it’s nice when they are), but they do have to respect each other both on and off the field.
6. You expect your players to support each other and you must demand no less from your players’ parents. Parents are one of the greatest challenges in coaching. They, too, will look to you as the coach for guidance. Remind your parents to encourage all of the children (not just their own). Encourage parents to come and root for their team, but remind parents that their comments must be always be encouraging. You will not tolerate negative remarks (even to their own kids).  Negative remarks are contagious and quickly breed a negative atmosphere in and around your team. Remind the parents, too, that kids talk, and what they say privately to their own children or to other parents has a way of making it quickly around to the entire team. As the coach, you must be diplomatic, but also firm on this vital issue. Even negative comments about the opposing team must be avoided. Seemingly benign comments about how an opposing team member is pushing or playing poorly can quickly escalate into the 6 o’clock news story: “Parents brawl at local kid’s game.” Don’t be the coach of one of those teams!
7. Find the right balance for your team between encouraging discipline and hard work, and making sure EVERYONE is having fun. The best advice that can be given for this objective is, again: Listen to your players. And remember that lazy players need more encouragement to work hard. But a hard working team sometimes needs to be reminded to have fun.
Coaching a youth sport team is one of the most demanding, but also rewarding experiences you will ever have. There are no perfect coaches, just like there are no perfect players or perfect teams. In the end, if you teach your players the rules of the game, encourage them to try hard, include all of your players in practices and games, and make sure everyone is having a good time, you can be certain of your worth as a coach. A final suggestion is to arrange for parents to take turns bringing snacks and drinks to the games. You might also encourage a parent to arrange for team parties. A team that has fun together is a team that will have greater cohesiveness, play better together, and enjoy themselves more on and off the field.
Grant Cooper, MD
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
The University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell
Related websites: http://www.positivecoach.org/
http://www.youth-sports.com/
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