Come on, coaches
I was training a client this weekend who is going to be trying out for her high school’s soccer team this year. She starting in a new school district as a freshman, new to high school. I asked her what she thinks is going to be the most challenging part out of all this new-ness.
She is scared about making a mistake on the soccer field because she has been yelled at and singled out before by a coach.
Alright, maybe that coach was having an off day (still not an excuse). So, I decided to give the coach the benefit of the doubt and I dug a little deeper.
I found out that she has this fear because her coach does this often, and to other players as well.
…Come on, coaches. We can do better.
One of the best books I read this summer was InsideOut Coaching by Joe Ehrmann (click here for a list of 9 other books I read this summer). Coach Ehrmann discusses the many different types of coaches he had growing up as a football player all the way from high school to professional. Some of his coaches were what he defines as transactional coaches, which it sounds like this player’s coach was. Other coaches were transformational coaches, who made a huge positive impact on his life and who is today.
Stop and think about the coaches who made an impact on your life. Was it a positive or negative impact?
“Whether transactional or transformational, coaches will make an impact on the lives of their athletes.”
If you want to be a transformational coach, a good starting point is InsideOut Coaching (click for link to the book). I do not want to give too much of the book away, but starting questions Coach Ehrmann asks include why you coach and what do you think it feels like to be coached by you.
If you want to be a transactional coach, my only hope is that you plant a seed in an athlete or two that shows them what not to do, and the seed grows into them becoming an amazing transformational coach.
If you live in Central New Jersey, and are interested in better coaching for your youth athlete, please use the form below to get in touch with me.
If you do not believe in Central New Jersey, and are interested in better remote coaching for your youth athlete, please use the form below to get in touch with me.
