Coaching is not an easy job. You are responsible for a team of people, and most of them look up to you as a leader. The profession doesn’t just rely on expertise and training, either. Having a good coaching philosophy is also essential. Coaches have to adorn themselves with multiple hats – of mentors, advisors, or even friends to their players. As a coach, you are expected to guide your team, inspiring them to become better at what they do. Winning is important, of course, but your training’s core focus must be on the development of your athletes. Coaches must grow along with their team, applying the best coaching strategies possible to succeed.
There are various coaching styles, including democratic, autocratic, and holistic coaching. The strategy you choose depends on your knowledge and training, supported by your coaching philosophy.
What is a coaching philosophy, and why is it so important? It is a set of principles based on your personal values and your objectives as a coach. On top of that, your philosophy must include how you decide to approach team development and success.
Here are a few reasons why you need a philosophy for coaching:
1. It serves as a guide for how you behave as a coach.
Your philosophy outlines your objectives, approach, values, and principles as a coach. When you make these components clear, you can look back on them as you train your team. Coaching is a tedious job that requires much physical and mental concentration, so it’s good to have a guide to refer to when things become overwhelming.
2. It helps you maintain consistency.
Coaches are expected to be consistent with their work, especially during training and competitions. If you tend to give in to external pressures, a clear philosophy can help you stand your ground. It can also help you determine the importance you give to the development of your players, and of course, in winning the game.
3. It helps you make ethical decisions.
As a coach, you’ll need to make ethical and informed decisions regarding the state of your players. You might be faced with problems concerning team rules, substitutions, injuries, and even punishments. A coaching philosophy can help you make the right decisions in your team’s best interests.
About the Author:
Author: Richard Sharp
“Nothing ever becomes real till it is experienced” John Keats
This quote continues to inspire my pursuit of delivering authentic, long-term online learning opportunities for K-12 students and educators. As a former classroom teacher, senior faculty member and current district school board member, I take great pride in sharing my education insights towards technology enhanced learning in the student leadership and future skills of the workforce curricular areas.
