7 Traits of A Successful Coach

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Coaching a competitive youth sports team can be both rewarding and frustrating – both within a single practice actually. Extrapolate that over a season, or a career like myself, and you pick up a few things along the way that help lean it more towards rewards and less frustration. Let’s walk through what I believe to be the 7 most important pillars a coach can put into practice to ensure the best possible chance at a successful season.

Be an energy giver, not a taker. 

Energy is contagious. You ever notice how when you make it to practice with no stress and you’re excited about what you get to teach that things inherently go well? That’s because your athletes are feeding off your positive energy. Use that to your advantage, and be intentional bringing that type of energy to every team function. Good energy or bad energy, both are contagious.

Handle all athletes the same way. 

Strong leadership is rooted in consistency. The easiest way to get your athletes to buy into your teachings is to ensure that they know that no matter what, all athletes will be treated fairly and consistently every time. No matter an athlete’s role, talent, or attitude – a coach must be consistent in their delivery to build the needed trust to deliver correction in a way that promotes development.

It’s always better to be respected than to be popular. 

I started my career in coaching with the idea that if players liked me, they would work hard and want to get better. Yeah no. Your role as coach requires of you to successfully lead your athletes to development and growth – with an emphasis on lead. They need a mentor, not a buddy. Mentors are experienced and trusted. Respected coaches build relationships as such. Trust equals respect, and respect equals coaches who have followers who want to be led.

Solve conflicts fast (preferably in the moment). 

Whatever you do, no matter how you make it happen, don’t let conflict simmer on your team. If there is an issue, address it immediately (or as soon as possible if it’s something that needs to happen privately). The longer you wait, the more likely the issue is to continue to gain momentum and cause a blow up. Trust me on this. Be diligent because conflict doesn’t just go away.   

All athletes are important in the team’s success. 

I knew a coach who would put kids on their team with no intention of playing them in a game. More importantly, not in high leverage situations where development happens easiest. Don’t be that coach! If you can’t carve out a role for each player to have some success on a successful team, then don’t have them on the team.

Give players clear rules and instructions to follow. 

Outside of knowledge (super important), being able to communicate to your players clearly and effectively is more importanter. Effective communication separates good coaches from bad coaches. When you are explaining drills, game plans, plays – try your best to give clear unmistakable direction to your athletes. They have to know what to do, or what’s expected of them. Do not leave it up to them to figure out, that’s your job.

Be yourself, sounds simple. 

As a coach, you’ll have multiple mentors that help formulate your coaching style. It will be easy to emulate those coaches. I caution you not too. Sure you’ll want to pick out successful systems, processes, and strategy – but never lose what makes you great at coaching. You. A coach should be the same person off the field as they are on the field instructing athletes. Which leads us back to consistency.

If you’re here to get the coaching roadmap to success, I promise you not all roads are the same and not all roads lead to the same place. But hopefully I’ve laid out some coaching philosophy pillars that help you take the guessing out of success. I’ll end with some encouragement. Thank you for wanting to help young athletes be better versions of themselves. They will be better sons, daughters, spouses, employees, and community members because of it.