The Impacting Power of Coaches

A coach is a lot of things. He should be a figurehead for the team, a leader, a friend, and a mentor. Unfortunately, some coaches really don’t think about all of that. Instead, they are only focused on winning. In reality, though, that’s selling the job short. Coaches should focus not just on building good, strong players but on building good, strong people in general and on teaching life lessons, such as responsibility and teamwork.

Coaches who go the extra mile for players and who seek to help better them all around will see

rewards for their efforts. Not only will they have the joy of watching their players learn and grow, but they should also see improvements on the ice. Athletes who feel their coaches care for them as people, and not just as athletes, will really go the extra mile for themselves and their coaches. They will try harder and put in more effort every time they hit the ice, making them more likely to be victorious.

There are lots of ways in which you can be a good, positive coach, but one of the most important is instituting an “open door” policy. Let your players know that you are always available to talk about any issue, sports related or not. Tell them they can come to you whenever they need a friendly, supportive ear.

Make sure you do more than just “talk,” however. Keep those promises by always being there for your players. If they’re having a problem or a concern, give them guidance and support. If the issue they come to talk to you about is something you don’t know how to handle, get help from parents, teachers, counselors, or other professionals. It doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as your player gets the needed help and support in the end. Your job, as a coach, is about so much more then barking orders and running drills. It’s about being that positive difference in a young person’s life.