Coaching: On and Off the Floor

What is a coach? Are they teachers? Could they be mentors? What about role models?

Coaches are all the above. They wear several hats when they go into work every day.  Some days they might be teaching the game of basketball and the next they are teaching life lessons to kid that just can’t seem to stay out of trouble in the classroom.  It’s clear that the role of the coach entails more than teaching individuals how to shoot correctly or how to dribble a ball around cones.1 Mentoring is considered a valuable piece coaching.  Mentoring not only takes place in the sports setting, but also takes place in the class room.

Classroom

Students should be committed to gaining the necessary skills and values from the teacher.2  While this statement remains true, it’s also the teacher’s job to dedicate their time and efforts to teach those values that the kids need.  Mentoring typically occurs when there a trusting relationship between the mentor and the student.1 When the kid feels like he or she can connect with the teacher they are more likely to listen.  As a mentor you don’t have to be perfect.  It’s only important that you teach basic skill and knowledge, and it’s important that you teach character.  Skills are typically taught intentionally and character is really what the child catches you doing.3

Sports

As stated in the classroom section, it’s important that there is a trusting relationship between the coach and the athlete.  It is also important that you establish a boundary between coach and friend.  So often the line between the two are blurred because coaches try so hard to be liked that they come off as being the athlete’s friend.  Once that line is crossed it’s hard to gain the respect from the athletes.  Once those boundaries are made your athlete’s respect you then the real mentoring begins.  Coaches mentor their athletes at different stages of their development.  Coaches work with athletes on a daily basis and are involved in all aspects of their lives.1  Although most athletes do not view their coaches as mentors at the time, it’s clear that coaches are instrumental in helping them reach the pinnacle of their sport.

What is a coach you ask? A coach is your teacher, mentor, and role model all wrapped up into one.

1 Bloom, G. A., Durand-Bush, N., Schinke, R. J., & Salmela, J. H. (1998). The importance of mentoring in the development of coaches and athletes. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 29, 267-281.

2 Chu, D. (1984). Teacher/coach orientation and role socialization: A description and explanation. Journal of Teaching in Physical Education, 3(2), 3-8.

3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dD2VCsPrsg