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    What makes a good coach?

    Been thinking about what makes a good coach. Why do some coaches with talented players struggle to get them to perform, while others can get similar players to succeed? Just wondering what makes a coach a great coach. What role do they play in developing a great team?

    #2
    Been thinking about what makes a good coach. Why do some coaches with talented players struggle to get them to perform, while others can get similar players to succeed? Just wondering what makes a coach a great coach. What role do they play in developing a great team?


    For kids---

    Knows the game, first off. Models good behavior - does not expect players to be on time and then show up late or fail to respond when response is required.

    Then, Best coach gets best from kids, and knows how to deal with each player, based on each player - no one approach works best with everyone. Strict but human. Not punishing when it comes to mistakes - every player makes them. Does not compare players within a team to highlight one players deficiencies or if done, does not do so in a way that belittles. Watches out for poor sports behavior - hazing etc - and ends it before it takes hold.

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      #3
      Pass a psych evaluation prior to hire. All should seriously at least be run through some general child development coursework as they (as detailed above) can mold these children during late formative years given how early u-littles are starting these days.

      Comment


        #4
        Above are good responses. I would add a good coach admits when he/she is wrong and works quickly to correct mistakes. They should hold themselves to an even higher standard than they expect from their players. If a coach disrespects the officials, opponents, etc., guess what? So will the players. Players should get ongoing (minor) feedback and a larger overall review preferably twice/year

        In this day and age you have to also talk about how coaches manage parents - set very clear expectations up front for both players AND parents and then follow your rules. One of the better coaches one of my kids had made it a rule he wouldn't discuss anything right after a game - ok to come shake his hand and say congrats but that was it. Usually within 24 hours he'd send out his game evaluation to all, never singling out any specific players for above/below standard performance. Parents stopped trying to schmooze and they all got the same information. If parents wanted a private discussion about their kid he was available for that later.

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          #5
          I am glad someone added the piece about managing the parents. That can often be harder to do and coaches are often less inclined to focus on this and it creates issues. Everything else seems spot on as well

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            #6
            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
            I am glad someone added the piece about managing the parents. That can often be harder to do and coaches are often less inclined to focus on this and it creates issues. Everything else seems spot on as well
            Parents can definitely f**k a good team up (and their own kids) with their insanity

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
              Above are good responses. I would add a good coach admits when he/she is wrong and works quickly to correct mistakes. They should hold themselves to an even higher standard than they expect from their players. If a coach disrespects the officials, opponents, etc., guess what? So will the players. Players should get ongoing (minor) feedback and a larger overall review preferably twice/year

              In this day and age you have to also talk about how coaches manage parents - set very clear expectations up front for both players AND parents and then follow your rules. One of the better coaches one of my kids had made it a rule he wouldn't discuss anything right after a game - ok to come shake his hand and say congrats but that was it. Usually within 24 hours he'd send out his game evaluation to all, never singling out any specific players for above/below standard performance. Parents stopped trying to schmooze and they all got the same information. If parents wanted a private discussion about their kid he was available for that later.
              Don't know about your particular club, but I will assume it is populated with younger, non-parental coaches, as are most clubs. Of course, "dad/mom" coaches are frowned upon who may have experience with parenting, so we place the responsibilty of managing tough parents on young men and women, many of whom have no experience in these situations. everyone on this site will call out the "old hacks", but it is their wisdom and experience that has taught them how to be a good coach. How old are your clubs' u10-12 coaches?
              And game evaluations are nothing more than pablum spoon-fed to please the crowd. "We played well, unlucky with our chances, need to defend better, will work on moving into space, ref calls didn't go our way, blah, blah blah." Total crap. You were at the game, you watch training sessions- do you not know what went well and vice-versa?
              Game evaluations should tell the truth: Johnny sucked at defending, suzie can't shoot, Martin is scared to win the ball, Eric is a brat, all the great players are with the Stars etc...
              But "you can't handle the truth" so we write niceties.
              That's how the great ones manage parents...

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                Don't know about your particular club, but I will assume it is populated with younger, non-parental coaches, as are most clubs. Of course, "dad/mom" coaches are frowned upon who may have experience with parenting, so we place the responsibilty of managing tough parents on young men and women, many of whom have no experience in these situations. everyone on this site will call out the "old hacks", but it is their wisdom and experience that has taught them how to be a good coach. How old are your clubs' u10-12 coaches?
                And game evaluations are nothing more than pablum spoon-fed to please the crowd. "We played well, unlucky with our chances, need to defend better, will work on moving into space, ref calls didn't go our way, blah, blah blah." Total crap. You were at the game, you watch training sessions- do you not know what went well and vice-versa?
                Game evaluations should tell the truth: Johnny sucked at defending, suzie can't shoot, Martin is scared to win the ball, Eric is a brat, all the great players are with the Stars etc...
                But "you can't handle the truth" so we write niceties.
                That's how the great ones manage parents...
                The point of the thread is what makes a good coach, not "let's crap on coaches"

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                  Don't know about your particular club, but I will assume it is populated with younger, non-parental coaches, as are most clubs. Of course, "dad/mom" coaches are frowned upon who may have experience with parenting, so we place the responsibilty of managing tough parents on young men and women, many of whom have no experience in these situations. everyone on this site will call out the "old hacks", but it is their wisdom and experience that has taught them how to be a good coach. How old are your clubs' u10-12 coaches?
                  And game evaluations are nothing more than pablum spoon-fed to please the crowd. "We played well, unlucky with our chances, need to defend better, will work on moving into space, ref calls didn't go our way, blah, blah blah." Total crap. You were at the game, you watch training sessions- do you not know what went well and vice-versa?
                  Game evaluations should tell the truth: Johnny sucked at defending, suzie can't shoot, Martin is scared to win the ball, Eric is a brat, all the great players are with the Stars etc...
                  But "you can't handle the truth" so we write niceties.
                  That's how the great ones manage parents...
                  Obviously you are a troll... but I have to say that my son's coach is excellent with his evaluations after the game. They are very helpful... Oftentimes, he'll explain how at practices we worked on this particular concept and the boys were able to put that into play, etc... It's helpful for me as a parent to understand that sometimes when I'm watching something on the field and am wondering why they are doing something in particular... it makes sense when the coach points it out as a concept they were working on at practices that week.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                    Obviously you are a troll... but I have to say that my son's coach is excellent with his evaluations after the game. They are very helpful... Oftentimes, he'll explain how at practices we worked on this particular concept and the boys were able to put that into play, etc... It's helpful for me as a parent to understand that sometimes when I'm watching something on the field and am wondering why they are doing something in particular... it makes sense when the coach points it out as a concept they were working on at practices that week.
                    Does the basketball coach explain plays to you?
                    How about youth football? Head coach handing out the playbook?
                    Learning the signals at baseball?
                    Why is a soccer coach expected to share?

                    Comment


                      #11
                      A good coach will except xtra $$$

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                        Does the basketball coach explain plays to you?
                        How about youth football? Head coach handing out the playbook?
                        Learning the signals at baseball?
                        Why is a soccer coach expected to share?
                        I said that I appreciate my son's coach's game recaps... I don't expect them. It's been an added bonus. And to answer your question... Yes, coaches in other sports do the exact same thing. I've rec'd game recaps, information about what they will be working on, etc from coaches in others sports.. So, not sure what your point is there? And for the record, my son is u11... I can't say that I would feel the same about game recaps for a u15 team. For the younger age groups, I think it is very helpful if done right.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          GU16 team with some talented players who have found limited success so far. Coach does same thing every game over and over and over again, hoping for a different result each time. Hello?! Silence from side lines. Even at this age, the kids need some help/guidance from the coach during games. Do coaches ever look in the mirror and ask what they could be doing better? Ask if any of the poor results are their fault?

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                            I said that I appreciate my son's coach's game recaps... I don't expect them. It's been an added bonus. And to answer your question... Yes, coaches in other sports do the exact same thing. I've rec'd game recaps, information about what they will be working on, etc from coaches in others sports.. So, not sure what your point is there? And for the record, my son is u11... I can't say that I would feel the same about game recaps for a u15 team. For the younger age groups, I think it is very helpful if done right.
                            You're right. Baseball coach tells you they'll be working on fielding grounders today, so look for that in the game. Basketball dad informs you they'll be passing the ball to the big kid under the basket, so look for that.
                            Soccer coach says we'll be working on trick corners, tactical setups on free kicks, 1st and 2nd defenders, shadow play, phases of play and you understand it all on Sunday.
                            Wealth of experience there with a u11.
                            But go ahead and proselytize.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by Unregistered View Post
                              GU16 team with some talented players who have found limited success so far. Coach does same thing every game over and over and over again, hoping for a different result each time. Hello?! Silence from side lines. Even at this age, the kids need some help/guidance from the coach during games. Do coaches ever look in the mirror and ask what they could be doing better? Ask if any of the poor results are their fault?
                              Every day we ask, 'why did we take these kids at tryouts?'

                              Comment

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