A few years ago I attended a tournament and saw big yellow letters on a blue coat–COACH–like FBI or CIA—-I am only going to say this once-having been a good player does not mean you are a good coach. Having been a great player with a solid forehand and backhand featuring great mechanics definitely makes me take notice! But here is what I look at-having many players from bottom to top at many levels who improve dramatically and have mechanics that make them injury-free-is the best and does mean you are a great coach.
Here is another tip for becoming a great coach. If everyone calls you coach, you are a coach. I recently heard from an athlete that so and so was making them address them as Coach! That same coach signs all their emails calling themselves coach. However, that misses the point of respect; which is what the term coach implies!
I know certain players who will never call me coach and they don’t want to. That’s okay, I get it, I am not their coach and have not earned being called by that title. But most athletes, (even the ones I coach against, with the coach who makes them address them as coach), call me coach.
Here is another hint: for aspiring coaches; rather than focusing on your athlete winning, focus on your athlete! Their development off the court as well as on the court is more important than their play and winning will happen and you will have a happier athlete!
So when I get an email, if they address me as coach, I sign it Coach Winterton. If they address me as Jim, I sign it Jim Winterton or JW. Then it becomes a challenge to me if I work with that athlete. I want to win the honor to be called coach. I do not want to tell anyone to call me coach unless they feel comfortable doing that. To me being a coach is a very high honor and I want to earn that title, not order someone to call me that!