Coaching 101. When you coach team racquetball, you have to work with the athletes you have. Not all athletes are easy to work with. These are some huge mistakes rookie coaches make.
1. Being in total control never works when coaching a huge talent. Since the international teams are stocked with talent, and most of that talent competes on their own all year, trying to control their performances never works.
2. Berating a team group for something one or two players are guilty of does not work. This is a waste of time for most of the team because they are not guilty of the infractions you are berating them about!
3. Not listening to parents, supporters or people who know your athlete’s games. This is a huge mistake. When a coach becomes the sole authority, everyone resents it and the athlete’s performances will suffer.
4. Not thinking in the future. This is a biggie and I was shocked when one of my competitors told me they always stayed in the moment. I never do. I am thinking ahead of next point, next serve, next match, next tournament etc., Great coaches think ahead. Good coaches stay in the moment. Poor coaches dwell on what just happened.
5. Not what you say but how you say it. Never start sentences with “You need to, or You have to, or I need you to or don’t do…etc”. Do start sentences with “What do you think about….” or “How about this serve.?”
6. Remember the match is not about you, it is about the team first and athlete second and you last. Too many rookies get it all twisted around so the match becomes about the coach. “See my cool signals and how smart I am?” instead of the athlete. A great coach becomes invisible during the match.
7. Following on number 6, a great coach should stay invisible after the match too. Taking too much credit for your athlete’s success makes you over-bearing and pretentious. Making your athlete say your name after every win is noticed and does not make for great advertising,
8. Letting your emotions get the best of you is a huge mistake. Yes, you want your athlete to win, but life does not always hand you victories. Deal with it.
9. Speaking of dealing with it, be gracious in defeat and even more gracious in victory. The “Yeah, in your face, demonstration is very tacky.!
10. Be professional, not amateur. A professional is inclusive and non-judgmental. An amateur, not so much.