What To Look For When Hiring A Coach
Coach Chuck had Ron practicing baseball hitting drills each day. Ron was lucky to have a coach who was so interested in baseball instruction. In fact, Coach Chuck spent a great many hours helping Ron and his teammates develop their skills. The boys on the team loved Coach Chuck. He possessed so many of the character qualities necessary to be a top-notch coach. There are five things that every great instructor has in common.
1. Patience. Working with players requires a lot of patience. The most thorough teaching is often very repetitive. A player may need to be told and/or shown on multiple occasions what they need to be working on. Additionally, a coach is often asked to balance the temperaments of his players. While some players can be easy to manage, very teachable and disciplined, others will present problems. When a player consistently plays for self, or is convinced his way is the best, it is the coach’s job to patiently redirect him. A coach is also called to patiently supervise players relationships with one another. At times, teammates can squabble with each other. A coach must carefully observe all players and understand the needs each one has.
2. Organization. A coach does a lot more than teach skills. A coach is called upon to see that all his players are ready to play at game time. A coach is responsible for knowing his upcoming schedule, setting a lineup, delegating duties to assistant coaches, and making sure his team has all necessary equipment for play.
3. Leadership. The best coach is the one players can look to for leadership. A good manager guides by example and inspires with his words. A good leader encourages others to bring out the best in themselves. A good leader provides a structured environment for growth. A coach can provide leadership for all facets of life. He can teach his players right from wrong, whether that be the right way to win on the field, or in the classroom. He can teach those on his team to be good players during the game and exceptional individuals during the course of life.
4. Time. The business of coaching is very all encompassing. When coaching a team, one is making the commitment to put in all the necessary practice, both scheduled and as needed, to get players ready for games. Apart from practice sessions, the manager studies data, not only on his players, but on opposing players and teams as well. A coach will probably go to opponents’ games. Coaches have also been known to help players with academic difficulties, volunteer at school fundraisers, and take players to and from physical therapy or doctor’s appointments.
5. Love of the Sport. When a coach loves what he’s doing it shows. Coaching is more than just a job, it is also a calling. Look at most coaches salaries and one can see it is not a job one does for the paycheck. Coaches who love what they do, are beloved in their community. They show everyone how much they care by their intensity, their involvement, and their commitment.
