The Roles of a Sports Coach Dr. paed. Prakash Pradhan

The Roles of a Sports Coach Dr. paed. Prakash Pradhan

The Role of the Coach Effective coaches tend to find new ways of improving existing practices or theories Effective coaches tend to find new ways of improving existing practices or theories Some adapt the way in which they practise, while others deal with how to play specific strategies in differing situations Some adapt the way in which they practise, while others deal with how to play specific strategies in differing situations Other coaches integrate new developments or technologies to improve performance Other coaches integrate new developments or technologies to improve performance

Who assesses the coach? During the course of a season various people make their own judgements of a coach Athletes/players Athletes/players Parents Parents Club members Club members Employers Employers Sponsor Sponsor Owners of clubs Owners of clubs Supporters Supporters

The coach needs to be able to: Assist athletes to prepare training programs Communicate effectively with athletes Assist athletes to develop new skills Use evaluation tests to monitor training progress and predict performance Therefore, you can see that it is a very difficult task and requires a very special person

Characteristics of “a good coach” More often than not, when someone enquires about a coach, one of the first questions is: “ Is he/she a good coach?” What characteristics describe “a good coach?” Patience Motivator Organised Good Communicator Good Social Skills Listener Sense of Humour Knowledgeable Experienced Interesting Innovative

Understanding the Coaching Role Coaching is not just about improving the physical performance of a player Coaching is not just about improving the physical performance of a player In taking on the role of the coach you must accept that the development of the player as a “whole” person is as important as the player’s success in sport In taking on the role of the coach you must accept that the development of the player as a “whole” person is as important as the player’s success in sport As a coach you can have considerable impact on the development and lives of your players As a coach you can have considerable impact on the development and lives of your players

The role of the coach is wide-ranging and varied. At times you may be asked to be a person of many parts! The role of the coach is wide-ranging and varied. At times you may be asked to be a person of many parts! Sports Coach Teacher Trainer Motivator Leader Fundraiser Friend Disciplinarian Manager Counsellor Go-between Taxi-driver!

The Roles of a Sports Coach Roles of an Effective Sports Coach Innovator Friend Manager Trainer Role Model Educator

Innovator Ability to think through problems – use knowledge and experience to come up with new ideas and approaches Makes training fun/effective Makes training fun/effective Maintains participants interest & involvement Maintains participants interest & involvement Effective coaches to be brave enough to try new things in order to get different results Effective coaches to be brave enough to try new things in order to get different results Access to and use of latest scientific and technical knowledge very important Access to and use of latest scientific and technical knowledge very important

Friend Coaches and performers share both positive and negative experiences Coach may need to be there if things go wrong Coach may need to be there if things go wrong Also needs to be there to keep feet on the ground ! Also needs to be there to keep feet on the ground ! Management of coaching environment important – friendly and respectful Management of coaching environment important – friendly and respectful

Manager Can relate to the management of a number of different aspects of coaching: Managing/organising team/teams of people Coaching sessions Training programmes Administrative tasks Team selections Introducing new players/ off-loading players Manager

Trainer Related to ensuring that athletes are able to meet the physical demands of sport Related to ensuring that athletes are able to meet the physical demands of sport Plan and run training programmes to develop physical and psychological capabilities of players Plan and run training programmes to develop physical and psychological capabilities of players Clear understanding of the components of fitness Clear understanding of the components of fitness

Educator Educator and Instructor The differences between the above is sometimes hard to identify Teaching implies a transfer of learning through:  Demonstration  Modelling  Instruction

Educator Coaches also teach emotional skills Young learners can be very impressionable Good coaches will be aware that people learn in different ways – process of adaptation

Role Model In almost all situations players will look at their coach as a source of inspiration and knowledge Children often imitate role models mannerisms Vital therefore that coaching is safe and responsible, and that coaches behaviour is considered good practice

Role Model The coach can influence player development in a number of ways: Social Sport offers codes of acceptable behaviour, teamwork, cooperation, fair play Personal Life skills – self-esteem, manage personal matters, the development of a value system

Role Model Psychological  Coaches can create environments that help performers control emotion and develop personal identities Health  Designing sessions to include sufficient physical exercise, good health and health habits can be established

Role Models - Perfect or Poor?

Summary In relation to sports, the role of the coach is to create the right conditions for learning to happen and to find ways of motivating the athletes In relation to sports, the role of the coach is to create the right conditions for learning to happen and to find ways of motivating the athletes Most athletes are highly motivated and therefore the task is to maintain that motivation and to generate excitement and enthusiasm Most athletes are highly motivated and therefore the task is to maintain that motivation and to generate excitement and enthusiasm

Summary A sports coach is someone who works with people to develop their understanding and ability in a sport and to help develop them as people A sports coach is someone who works with people to develop their understanding and ability in a sport and to help develop them as people A coach has many roles to play: educator, trainer manager, innovator, friend, role model A coach has many roles to play: educator, trainer manager, innovator, friend, role model These roles can vary according to who the coach is working with and what the aims, ability, experience and age of the participants are These roles can vary according to who the coach is working with and what the aims, ability, experience and age of the participants are