I think it would a safe assumption to make that anyone who has spent any significant amount of time leading a group of athletes has had to deal with malcontents. This is not unique to sport but prevalent in any group environment where people of different backgrounds, expectations, personalities are thrown to together to work towards a set of common objectives.
Specifically to sport, this is even more frustrating when these malcontents are athletes with talent or at the very least significant potential. As a coach, you want to be the one to unlock their potential and help them perform at the level you feel strongly they can. When an athlete doesn't have the required skill set to deal with the competitive demands, the decision to cut ties is easy, but what happens when the real negative aspect is their attitude. It is not uncommon for competitive level coaches to see really talented athletes but choose not to make the effort to work with them, because these athletes can’t seem to get out of their own way. More times than not, those prospects lose out on the incredible opportunity to perform to their true potential, and in my specific coaching role, enjoy all the experiences that come with being student-athletes. So how as a coach, can we deal with malcontents? You know the type: They complain about practices, coaches, dugouts, uniforms, playing surfaces, weather conditions, opponents, game officials, you name it. These malcontents are that way for a reason — they have always been allowed to be that way with no consequences. Either through their own stubbornness or over-lenient parents, relatives, friends and coaches, they have learned that being a grouch is the only way they can get attention or get their way. And a lifetime of acting that way has turned into a habitual personality trait — a bad one. In defense or out of frustration, someone on the team may make a snide remark or snaps back in anger, but that usually only creates more tension. Then, after things settle down, the malcontent’s bad behavior comes back with a vengeance. Some people see the problem, want to help, but the seemingly never ending cycle of eventually discourages them from intervening. In the end, if not corrected, these athletes are abandoned and left to deal with stuff on their own. It doesn’t have to be that way. Some suggestions how to deal with them.......
It is important for coaches to always remember that coaching is about inspiring and motivating all your athletes, not just those you get along with or think are worth coaching. If a player is really not contributing to the group, then sometimes you have to cut ties, regardless of how good they are or how much potential you think they might have. I believe in approaching coaching with an optimistic point of view, that every athlete can be coached, every problem can be solved. I've been coaching long enough that I think I am very familiar with how sport teams work, what makes them tick, and what they need to do in order to win. It would be an understatement to say that it’s a complex undertaking. Doesn't mean I always make the right decisions, but I consider myself able to properly read a group. You have a team of individuals, which need to be work as one toward a common goal. Sure, it takes talent and hard work, but those will only take you so far. Arguably, the most important ingredient for success is motivation. It’s easy to keep your team inspired when they are winning, but if they are losing, you need to help them handle the pressure and the expectations, so they are still able to remain confident and to make the most out of their abilities. In every sport, success begins before the game, with your team putting in endless hours of practice. But, as pointed out before, hard work will only take you so far, because they will not always give their best if you haven’t created the right environment for them to thrive in. The right environment can be anything from having a decent court and equipment, good communication between you and your players, to demonstrating a passion for the sport and hoping the players follow suit. One of the problems of coaching a team is that everyone is so focused on teamwork, that they neglect the individual aspect. After all, each team is made up of individuals, and even though they are a part of the same team, their individual actions can make a difference between a win and a loss. This is especially true in basketball, where just one point, one ball possession, and one second can change the outcome of the game. Make sure your players realize that every time they hustle for the ball as an individual, it has a significant impact on the rest of the team. Sometimes a huge goal, like making the playoffs or winning a league title, can serve as a source of motivation. But, it can also cause your players to cave under the pressure of such monumental expectations. It’s up to you as a coach to break down that massive goal into smaller ones which are easier to handle both on an individual and team level. Examples include, lifting more weight, running a few seconds faster, or increasing team shooting percentage. Every major goal should consist of smaller success metrics, which help your team focus on what needs to be done here and now to reach the big goal. Once they start making significant progress, you can concentrate more on the big picture. Inside your team, each player will have different strengths and weaknesses, and furthermore handle criticism and encouragement differently. Each individual member is a separate piece of the team dynamic and needs to be nurtured differently. Some players give their best when they pushed harder, or shown some “tough love”, while others tend to perform better when they are encouraged to take on more responsibility. While you shouldn’t change your coaching style, you should make small tweaks when working with each player, so that you get the best out of them, which will ultimately benefit the whole team. Practice is essential to your team’s progress. Not only will practice allow them to learn what will happen during a game, but in a controlled environment they will also be less prone to injury. In addition, practice provides a structured setting to improve conditioning. Players don’t usually take it upon themselves to build their cardio, as a coach it is your job to ensure the team is in game condition. The best place to achieve this is practice. Being in game shape helps individuals feel more confident in their skills. Fatigue causes sloppy performance. After every practice session, your team should walk away as better players than they were when they woke up first thing in the morning. Those who practice hard will fight even harder during the game, because they’ll know how much effort they have invested in it, and they will not let victory slip through their fingers as easily. As a coach is you have to maintain a belief in your team and the ability of every single player. You words, actions and body language how to reflect a level of confidence that you know the team can succeed. Competitive level , experienced coaches are more confident, so they don’t need as much empowerment, but if you are coaching younger players, it may be just the thing they need in order to make significant progress. I want to finish they post with a quote from Ted Kennedy's biography " The Compass" that my former athletic director shared with me a number of years ago during a rough patch in my coaching. “This is the greatest lesson a child can learn. It is the greatest lesson anyone can learn. It has been the greatest lesson I have learned: if you persevere, stick w/it, work at it, you have a real opportunity to achieve something. Sure, there will be storms along the way. And you might not reach your goal right away. But if you do your best and keep a true compass, you'll get there.”
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AuthorAfter many years of coaching at various levels and with different teams, I thought I would share some of my experiences and thoughts about coaching. Archives
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