The Traits of a Good Coach

jenny@coachizer.com (Jenny Stalling) — Wed, 26 Apr 2006 16:03:04 GMT

by Jenny Stalling
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Being a coach is easy. But being a good coach is another matter entirely. This job requires showing a lot of certain psychological characteristics. If a coach is to succeed, he simply has to show the following traits:

1. Knows the discipline he's coaching

It's trivial, but the coach has to know ins and outs of the discipline the rules, the history, the tactics etc. Without it they won't be able to do their job properly and will probably quickly lose face when they start making mistakes.

2. Motivates the players
This is probably the single most important trait of a good coach. Without proper motivation, everything comes apart. Remember that a coach will need to lead a team of individuals, everyone with different personal goals. The coach's job is give the players enough motivation to make them start doing things as good as they are able to, and turn their attention from their private matters to the pitch.

3. Talks only when it gets results
A good coach will never speak without a good cause. If they talk too much, they will never actually be listened, so a coach is a person who should talk only when necessary this will give their words an extra weigh.

4. Is able to listen
Being calmer than usual means also that a coach should be a good listener. If they are to become a good coach, they need to become a surrogate father or mother for their team and listening is the single most important trait that can make it possible.

5. Knows their team
Another important matter is knowing one's team. And it is not only about matching their numbers with the names. A good coach knows everything both about professional and private life of their players.
6. Treats everyone individually
While (or because) a good coach should know everybody and do their best to hold the place together, it is necessary to treat every player individually. Yelling works only on some of them, the same story is with talking seriously. Using the same method to get everyone do what you say will surely end in breaking some of your players to pieces.

7. Leads by example
The last, but not least: a good coach do themselves everything he will ask others to do. They always set an example they are first on the trainings and perform every single exercise they order other to do.

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