Some observations from Coach:
Note to any and all young coaches who think they want to coach-here are a few rules and a few thoughts on getting started.
First: I wish they would not start you at the top! That is a terrible way to learn. I wish there was an apprentice program that governing bodies would use. So you must learn your craft! A good player does not mean you are a good coach. You can be for sure-but coaching is not the same as playing, Coaching is transferring information in many different ways to different people and helping them progress. Playing is competing to win.
1. When you start, you will have no track record., so your athletes need to win or improve their games as fast as possible. (If you are or have been a great player you will have a reputation that helps bring athletes in, but you had better help them become better to keep them!)
2. I suggest working for nothing and learning your craft. That is what i did for years. (exception: again, big name players can charge-they have earned the rep on the court but see#1 after you charge!)
3. Find an experienced coach, believe in them, learn, mentor under them, and improve at what you do.
4. Get to know your athletes-no, I mean really know them. What makes them compete, what is their moral compass, how much do they want to win? What lengths are they willing to go to win?
5. Learn for yourself. I have a theory. I see many coaches who as players never really put it all out there. They never sacrificed it all. They took shortcuts based on their playing abilities but did not go all in. This comes back to bite you. I will never forget telling my coach back in the day how unfair it was that I had to work so hard just to compete while my nemesis just played. My coach told me what I was doing would carry me a long way and in ways I did not comprehend. Now I get it! I know what it is like to pay the price. I know the pain of working hard and losing and continuing to work hard to win. So, if you are competing, go for it!
6. Be humble. It is an honor to play this game at any level. Do not judge people by levels of play. Know people for who they are rather than their level of play!
7. Do all of the above and opportunity will come your way and oh, by the way, I am always looking for good young coaches to mentor and help.
8. Oh, one last thing-if you are doing it for money you may not succeed. If you are coaching because of your love of our sport and inspiring others, you will succeed!