| Author |
Message |
Terri Covey (Coveyte)
Senior Member
Username: Coveyte
Post Number: 8
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 27, 2005 - 12:23 pm: |       |
This is a very interesting article, "What Kids Want in a Coach." Please take a few minutes to read it.
Then provide feedback, arguments, and/or suggestions on any of the following areas: What is most important to you as a coach? Should there be any importance at all placed on winning? How do you provide a balance (considering what kids want) to maintain a challenge to improvement? How and why do you consider yourself to be, or others consider you to be, a good coach? |
Paula Summit (Summit5)
Moderator
Username: Summit5
Post Number: 37
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Wednesday, September 28, 2005 - 11:39 am: | |
Interesting article and website. Thanks Terri! |
Carrie Casoni
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Thursday, September 29, 2005 - 3:27 pm: | |
I thought the article was interesting. I think it all depends on the level you are coaching how much importance you place on winning. This summer I worked with a 12 and under softball team, and we went undefeated for the entire season. It seemed like winning was important to the kids. In order to win, the girls played the same positions all year, and some of the girls who were stuck in the outfield wanted to play elsewhere for at least a few innings. Our main pitcher threw the majority of the innings and few batters were even able to hit the ball off of her. Our back up pitcher is less experienced and threw around only five innings. To the head coach, winning was very important, but at times it appeared the girls seemed to get bored with playing the same position. I think that there were times positions should have been switched just to give everyone experience at different places. Also, if our second pitcher would have thrown more the girls would have gained more fielding experience.
I think that in order to give the kids what they want as far as playing time or experiencing play at a different position, a coach can find certain times during the season for this. For example, if your team is winning by a lot or losing by a lot you can move the players around or give players who get less time in the field more playing time. Give the starters a break.
I think there should be an emphasis placed on each player doing their best to create a good team effort and always go into a game wanting to win, but winning should not be the only important thing in youth sports. There are other factors, such as teamwork, skill acquisition, and having fun that also come into play.
Although I have very little coaching experience (and hope to gain more), I hope people think I am a good coach because I am knowledgeable and experienced with the game. If I coach a youth team, I want my young athletes to learn as much as possible and have fun.
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dave drake (Coachdrake)
New member
Username: Coachdrake
Post Number: 1
Registered: 9-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 9:37 am: | |
Being a coach for the past 14 years has been a rewarding experience for me. I have coached four different sports with male & female athletes ranging in age from 5 to 25. The most important thing I have learned is: to be able to talk down or up to the level of athletes that you are dealing with. You simply cannot explain, correct, react, and encourage a 7 year-old athlete in the same manner as a 17 year-old. While this sounds obvious, take a moment to reflect on all of the youth coaches that you have seen or played for. How emotional, loud, and aggressive did they sound and act? While almost every coach says they are concerned and care about their athletes, do they ever stop to think about their athlete's emotions, feelings, and well-being?
Kids want a friend, a mentor, a motivator, a sounding board, and a teacher. All of these aspects are what being a "coach" is. The question now is: "Are you what a child wants in a coach?" |
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