What Makes a Great Coach?

So what makes a great coach? Think back to your youth days and playing sports on a team. At iSport360, we ask our customers, employees and friends what makes a great coach. Here are 5 qualities that come up over and over again.

And not only did we want to list out the top 5 qualities, we also want to help our fellow coaches with how they can deploy these qualities into what they do every day.

What makes a great coach?

1. Caring
2. Enthusiasm or Energy
3. Knowledgeable 
4. Strong Communicator
5. Make The Sport Fun

Why are these the 5 top qualities?

1. Creates well rounded teams
2. It produces a positive team culture
3. It creates an inclusive environment for players and families
4. And it leads to a winning team both on and off the field, court, pitch and more.

Caring

Caring coaches are present “in” the moment. They go out of their way to provide feedback to the team and to the individual players. These coaches know their players and not just on the field but know what is happening when they are off the field. These coaches make EVERYONE feel like they are part of the team from the bench players to the 1st one’s into the starters – everyone has 1 mission. The coach’s ability to care about everyone, brings out hte best in the group.

How to show you care:

Look players in the eye, give them feedback, tell them something kind like “nice new cleats” or “I like how you did X”. This shows that you took the time to think of them and only them.

Enthusiasm or Energy

Everyone wants a coach that wants to be coaching and who wants to be coaching at that moment in time. These coaches bring a level of energy to practice and the game. This energy is usually contagious and the players want to do their best. This also leads to having a fun environment but make not mistake, these coaches have the will to win and want to instill that into their players. 

How to show enthusiasm:

Do you cheer with your team and celebrate the small wins on and off the field? Start by doing that. Act like you want to be there, your players will feed off of your energy.

Clear Communicator & Connector

Knows what to say, how to say it and when to say it. While not all personalities are the same, we love coaches that are up front, provide feedback and keep people in the loop. Players want coaches that connect with them. And not all coaches need to say something all of the time. Good coaches are observant and don’t need to speak at every moment, they know when silence could be better. 

How to show you are good communicator:

Do not be afraid to over communicate or just sit in silence, allowing your players to think on their own. Players and parents should know the basics – who is playing, where, when and what you need to work on. Drop a note of appreciation, feedback or tips. This will go a long way.

Knowledgable 

Well this pretty much speaks for itself. As a coach, you need to know your sport. That’s pretty much it. But do NOT get into a rut where you aren’t learning and growing. Sports change all of the time and you need to keep up with the latest. 

How to show you are knowledgeable:

Just coach, tell your players not what to do but also why they are doing this. It shows you are knowledgeable but also shares with them why something works for their team. 

Make the Sport Fun

This is why players play, they play because it is fun. If you love the sport as a coach, it will show. Make it fun, this doesn’t mean to just do goofy drills or games, it means to literally show a passion. Smile at practice, your players want to work hard for you. It is ok to joke but also take things seriously and work hard.

How to make your sport fun:

Connecting with your players during breaks is a great way to make things fun. Do an icebreaker or team bonding activity like what is your favorite food or favorite movie. I like to ask my players what they are streaming right now (it also gives me good ideas of new shows to watch ;-). 

Coaching is a continuous process and you need to be a continuous learner. Have fun and always put your players first, the parents and others will follow. Have fun! For more about building a positive culture on the team, click here. And some more ways to have fun, click on this list.