Coaches can significantly impact athletes’ lives and how they feel about their sport, causing them to think about what makes a good coach. Many athletes have more than one coach in their sports career, and each coach has features that stand out.
“I have had more than one coach ruin a sport for me,” said senior Mccayla Kelly. “I think coaches need to realize it’s just a game.”
Coaches should create a safe environment for their athletes, helping them grow not only in their sport but in almost every aspect of their development, balancing patience and understanding with firmness and discipline. Many coaches have a positive impact on kids’ lives but some coaches can ruin the love of sports for athletes by being biased or not putting the best interest of the athletes first. Athletes spend a lot of time with their coaches in practices and games, so coaches should strive to greatly influence their players.
So what are the good and bad characteristics athletes have seen in coaches?
“Good coaches should treat all players equally without favorites,” said freshman Layla Thomas.
Favoritism can be seen in so many coaches without coaches even realizing it. People see favoritism on teams, and it can cause athletes to lose playing time or confidence, hurting athletes in the long run. Putting your top players first can let other players see what the coaches’ expectations are of the team, but it can also cause players to second-guess themselves and their abilities. There can be a fine line between favoritism and playing talent to win, and coaches should try their best to find that line and not cross it.
“A bad coach doesn’t care about the team as much as they do themselves and the money that they make,” said junior Deshaun Berman.
Coaches will take positions on teams not worried about the sport and only thinking of the pay grade and the title they get when they take the job. These coaches hurt players who are out practicing and playing because they have a real passion for the game. Players can get set back by coaches because they have no coaching mechanisms or knowledge of the game. Coaches should strive to care for players and help them improve their athletic ability and sportsmanship not just having a winning record.
“A good coach should give you inspiration and make the game fun,” said sophomore AJ Thomas.
Good coaches can still be stern but should never make sports miserable for athletes. Athletes choose to play sports, so if coaches are not keeping the team in a positive environment, athletes will not want to continue playing. Coaches need to make practices and games fun but also make sure players are taking their sport seriously, which can be hard to do, especially with younger athletes.
“The best thing you can do as a coach is establish respect and care for your players, then you can move into the more personal things.” said women’s basketball Coach Kevin Holland.
