New Coaches: Importance of Finding a Mentor

“What drills should be done to fix this? How are angry parents dealt with? What paperwork is needed?”

Feeling overwhelmed yet?

As a new coach many difficult decisions are faced every single day. The best way to combat these diverse situations is finding a mentor coach, who can be there to give advice and help when needed. As noted by Bloom, Durand, Schinke and Salmela, mentors also set an example for new coaches to follow, and new coaches are able to imitate the coaching qualities they admire in their mentor.

Since mentors have a lot of prior knowledge and experience, their advice is priceless. As Dru Marshall states, their advice can only help a mentee. Whether it is something that has been successful for the coach or something that did not work for the coach, both types of guidance are beneficial in helping a new coach expand their knowledge base.

It is important to be proactive in searching for, and finding, the right mentor. As a new coach, there will come a time when someone is needed to answer questions that you have, or just to be a friend to listen when things get overwhelming. Finding the right mentor will help prevent many headaches and make your first year run a little smoother.