Communicating as a Coach

The term "coach" is used to indicate the director of the operation of a team in most US sports, although in baseball the term "manager" is used instead, particularly in the context of a team of adults, as opposed to youths or even college players. Outside the US, the term "manager" is most common, especially in association football (soccer), where a manager has overall responsibility for activities such as team selection and tactics and the term "coach" usually refers to a secondary official who has responsibility only for the players' physical conditioning and skills training.

The title "Coach" is also one of respect or affection, often replacing the first name much like "Doctor" to become "Coach Smith". Some former players will still address their instructor as "Coach", even if both the player and coach him/herself have long retired or graduated on.

Every member looks to specific signs in order to be sure that they are being the most effective in their game. One of the major signs that every player is going to look at is the coach. If you are a coach, you will want to make sure to use all of the signs that you can in order to make game time more effective and fun for those that are playing the game with you.

Coaching entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game or contest itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such actions as needed. Most coaches are former participants in the sports in which they are involved, and those who are not have usually had extensive training in the sport.

Communication as a coach is more than just telling the players what to do. It is also responding to the players at an individual level, something that needs to be done with and without words. One of the major ways that a coach can communicate with the players is by sending out non-verbal messages. For example, if you know that a player has done something right, but you can't run onto the field and tell them good job, then you can always let them know with your body language. You can do this same thing in order to communicate plays, how well individual members are playing, and to help motivate them when you can't be right by their side or lecturing them.

Many coaches, usually those of school-sponsored sports teams, also bear the responsibility of teaching the skills, rules and tactics involved in a particular sport to its players. This can be accomplished individually, by team, by division (ex. Defensive Coaching, Offensive Coaching, etc.) or by position (ex. receiver coach, quarterback coach, etc.) where applicable.

Under this system in which duties are divided, there is necessarily a head coach who oversees all other coaches as a supervisor.

Some groups focus on the training of coaches like the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). NAYS is the nation's leading youth sports educator and advocate with national programs that educate administrators, coaches, officials and parents about their roles and responsibilities in youth sports, in addition to offering youth development programs for children.

A coach, particularly in a major operation, is traditionally aided in his efforts by one or more assistant coaches known as the assistant coaching staff.

Many times, in major team sports the principal coach (usually referred to as the head coach) has little to do with the development of details such as techniques of play or placement of players on the playing surface, leaving this to assistants while concentrating on larger issues.

While you are communicating with your players, you will want to make sure that you keep everything in perspective. It is always best to combine the idea of character to win the game with other aspects of coaching. Even if you are working towards winning a game, you will want to make sure that you combine this with affection towards the efforts that the different members are making while they are playing. Sometimes showing affection and compassion towards everyone's efforts will be the best motivation to keep the players in the game.

A coach, particularly in a major operation, is traditionally aided in his efforts by one or more assistant coaches known as the assistant coaching staff.

Many times, in major team sports the principal coach (usually referred to as the head coach) has little to do with the development of details such as techniques of play or placement of players on the playing surface, leaving this to assistants while concentrating on larger issues.

More than coaching players on the next move that they need to make is being a coach that is open to the possibilities of knowing what the team needs. By expressing this through your character, you will have the ability to make sure that all of the players are able to respond by playing a better game, knowing that there is confidence and the right message sent from the coach.

Communicating as a Coach