Managing Players and Relationships

By the end of this session you will be able to: Recognise what is required when managing players and relationships: including working with parents Describe how to manage players in a manner that promotes the player’s personal responsibility/self reliance Explain what is meant by empowerment Determine the complexities of managing a team of players during a competition Implement standard best practice Guidelines on Child Protection 2

Developing a positive learning environment Positive and supportive social relationships have the potential to impact on an individuals motivation 3

Task 1 In pairs, identify the people involved in the coaching process Support team Peers Parents Athletes ~ players NGB administrative and support staff 4

Coach and athlete relationships The way in which coaches interact with their athletes can have a significant impact on the athletes: motivation self esteem perception of their ability participation in the sport 5

Relationships The nature of the working relationship that exists between coach and athlete will have a crucial impact upon athlete motivation Of particular importance is the way that the coach connects with his/her athletes 6

Interactions between coach and player Positive interactions where the coach uses praise, encouragement and provides regular feedback Negative interactions Players feel valued Have high self esteem Confident Enthusiastic Hostility between coach and athletes Players lack confidence in their own ability Players drop out 7

Task 2 Working in pairs, consider the way in which you work with your athletes: Produce a list of examples of good practice in the way that you interact with players Produce a list of things you could improve in the way you interact with players 8

Parents Parents play a very important role They have the potential to reinforce but also compromise what coaches do Get parents on board Let them know what is expected of them Highlight the important role they have to play in developing their child’s sporting potential Give them responsibility ~ even at an elite level Make sure that they are positive not negative Provide them with training about how to cope as a parent in a sporting environment 9

Interactions between players Coaches have a responsibility to provide an environment in which all players have an equal opportunity to progress, prosper and achieve their potential. Coaches need to consider the individual needs of players of different: Gender Ability Age Ethnicity Class Sexuality 10

Interactions between players Coaches must provide an inclusive environment in which players are expected to: Support each other both on and off the court Positively encourage and respect each other Include all members of the group Provide positive and not negative comments about each others performance 11

What sort of coach are you?

What sort of coach are you? Does this describe your coaching practice? Traditional leadership style has given coaches a licence to exploit their power by taking the choice and control away from the athlete 13

Or do you empower your athletes?

What sort of coach are you? Does your coaching have ….. an emphasis on an athlete-centred approach which promotes a sense of belonging, as well as giving athletes a role in decision making and a shared approach to learning 15

Empowerment Empowerment coaching builds a committed partnership between coach, athlete and team. Goals become mutual and the coach enables the athlete to exceed his/her current limits by nurturing autonomy in the athletes learning 16

Does your coaching…. Develop a team culture and vision Establish clear targets and expectations with your athletes Promote athletes self confidence and independence Increase levels of motivation Allow athletes to have ownership of and take responsibility for their own learning as players 17

Does your coaching….. Recognising the differing needs of individual players Include opportunities to work with individuals Include opportunities to develop a team ethos for specific competitions Give athletes their own time and space Promote open and honest communication Value the input of your players Include use of different strategies to establish on and off court goals and targets with your athletes 18

Managing the team in competition Prepare well and set clear targets and expectations with your athletes Put processes in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly, for example, issues to do with being away from home Encourage players to take responsibility for their own actions both on and off the court Establish rules and regulations in relation to, for example: communication with, and access to, family and friends use of mobile phones free time dealing with the media Do all of this with your athletes not for them!! 19

Safeguarding Children Task – Outline the elements of best practice in safeguarding children 20