Many coaches coach in the manner by which they were coached, and few have received training on what a coach should be and what a coach should do. The standard dictionary definition of a coach is: COACH�ONE WHO TRAINS ATHLETES OR ATHLETIC TEAMS. What one does and how to go about being effective for the student, the team, the school and community covers all areas of personality and human development. We will touch on a few of the issues.

What should a school level coach or recreation team coach do? This special person is one who:

1. Teaches.
2. Guides.
3. Develops the person

Why do many of our coaches fail to do what is expected of them? Some of our coaches are appointed after technically qualified persons refuse the position. After all, there is usually little incentive to put up with the many practice hours, the frustrations, the pressure and harassment from parents, students and faculty. But many personal feelings of accomplishment can also result, if coaching is done well.

The appointed coaches are not always trained in interpersonal skills, but rather are knowledgeable only in the technical skills of the game. Shouldn't teachers know of these interpersonal skills and how to deal with students? Some, unfortunately, remember the "a" characteristic of what they are to do, but forget their "b" and "c" responsibilities. So why do so many of these coaches fail? Consider the following:

1. The selected individual doesn't know what the role of a coach should be. Too many believe that the coach is to be a "critic." Constructive criticism has its place, but most often the yelling and screaming results in destructive criticism of the student. Positive reinforcement of skills learned brings about improved play.
2. Coaches often don't know their persons and thereby treat all the same or ignore individual personalities. There is considerable effort required to know your people, but unless you do, the best of each cannot be accentuated for the improvement of the team.
3. Coaches don't know what they want and hence fail to establish clear personal and team objectives. Unless the goal is established and in everyone's eye, the path to reach it is unseen and circuitous. Establish the desired outcome in specific terms that each member of the team can understand and each knows what contribution they must make.
4. They fail to model what they want. Our student-athletes require role models and persons they can look to, to emulate acceptable behavior. The coach who used foul language, displays favoritism, demonstrates ignorance, and encourages poor sportsmanship and cheating, is contributing to the ills of our society. A team member wants and needs to be proud of the coach and will respect him/her as a consequence.
5. Fail to plan for results. Identify areas of needs and areas for improvement for the team and person. Then develop a plan on how to reach the desired performance and provide the necessary positive feedback. Good performance just doesn't occur by chance even with the most talented players.

A coach is like a manager of persons and in order to get the goals accomplished with and through all members of the team, he/she must be responsible for ensuring that he/she has provided for each person:

1. Necessary equipment, information and reference materials - the "tools."
2. Critical performance skills and associated training - the technical aspects.
3. Environment and motivation for improvement, and incentives to succeed - the desire.

Positive performance and game-success results when each player knows what he/she is to do and how it is to be done; has been trained and becomes proficient at that skill, and when the coach displays competent leadership of the team.

Characteristics of successful coaches include the ability (and desire) to:

1. Enhance the self-esteem, self-image, and positive self-worth of the student. This is incredibly important. Our teenagers need reassurance of their usefulness. They require positive motivation and encouragement. Always finding fault accelerates discouragement.
2. Provide feedback to the student on what to do to improve. Guiding the student on steps to take to improve his/her game play, at all levels, is a must for any coach.
3. Reinforce (reward) desired performance (no matter how small the improvement) and correct that which is not desired.

Reward of improper behavior and failure to follow-up "threats" are poor coaching techniques. This results in disrespect, failure to abide by "rules" and leads to further disobedience with resulting loss of integrity, as well as long term consequences for society and the individual.

Particularly demoralizing is the promise that if one works hard at practice, they will get to play in the next game; and unless that promise is kept for all students, the coach loses his/her respect, and the student's self-worth is again seriously eroded for trying.

Many coaches will deny their behavior and be defensive when considering the above. Others will fail to recognize their weaknesses. However, our perceptive youth easily recognize poor coaching techniques and inconsistencies of word and deed. Common sense, yes, but how often is the practice of interpersonal relations forgotten in the heat of the game, when coaches tend to think only of themselves and not our youth.

Few of our student-athletes will play at the college level, and only a handful will become professionals. Our youth will, however, become full-fledged members of society, and the training and sportsmanship they receive at the hands of our coaches will endure for a lifetime. Good coaching is essential. A coach must be true in word and deed and must lead and manage the team in order to be a winner.

So, what are you getting out of coaching? Self-gratification, ego inflation? Or are you thrilled to know that you are contributing to the long-range growth and development of our student-athletes and that you have a tremendous impact on their lives?

Our sidelines should hear the words that build the team and the person. Words of encouragement, building up the self-esteem and self-worth of all team members. Being supportive and contributing to the long-term development of our future, our youth. That is coaching - the teaching, guiding and development of persons.