Qualities of a Good Assistant Coach

Being a good assistant coach is about more than just knowing your X’s and O’s. Just because someone is knowledgeable about the game does not mean that they can be successful in coaching . There are several qualities that make a successful assistant coach. Today we will look at some of those qualities and what they mean, specifically in relation to a basketball staff.

1. Initiative -  A head coach is not looking for someone who they must constantly tell exactly what to do. It is the assistant’s job to take as much work and stress off the head coach as possible. This means taking care of various small issues early and without being told. This frees up the head coach to work on bigger issues that he or she would like to focus on.

2. Good Communicator - A good assistant will also have the ability to communicate well. This means they must be able to quickly and clearly explain information in ways that everyone can understand.1 Listening is another important part of communicating. You must be able to quickly comprehend what fellow staff members or students are trying to tell you. If the head coach is constantly having to re-explain things to you, it could make for a long year.Whether it is explaining a scouting report to the players or communicating with other coaches, time is valuable. This means you must not waste it.

3. Adaptable - In the coaching world, things are constantly changing. It is important that you are able to change with them.2 New rules, legislation, strategies, and schemes are constantly appearing and changing and if you become stuck in your ways you are most likely to be left behind. This does not mean you have to change coaching philosophies every month. You just have to be open-minded to new things and ways of thinking.

Assistant coaches exist to make the lives of head coaches easier, not difficult. Although they may not receive as much recognition they can be an essential part of a successful program. Most good assistants possess, in some way or another, these three qualities along with many others. I will expand on those in the following weeks.

References

1Cole, B. (n.d.). The Top 15 Characteristics Of Excellent Coaches. Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.mentalgamecoach.com/articles/CoachingQualities.html

2Thoughts on what makes a good Assistant Coach. (2010). Retrieved March 28, 2016, from http://www.layups.com/thoughts-on-what-makes-a-good-assistant-coach/