How to Coach

A good coach can help an athlete rise to the top of their sport. Coaching requires a delicate balance of firm instruction and gentle guidance. Effective coaches know the ins, outs and perils of the sport they coach. It's equally important to learn what makes athletes tick. Combine the technical aspects of the sport with supportive encouragement to be a great coach for any team.

Instructions

1. Learn the rules and techniques of the sport you are coaching. Research plays, moves and strategies that successful teams and athletes employ. Become well-acquainted with the sport before you attempt to coach anyone.

2. Asses the players on your team. Try different people in different positions to build the most effective line-up. Know that there are occasions when athletes with a natural aptitude for a less glamorous position are going to protest their placement. Give them the opportunity to play other positions in practice to demonstrate how they can excel where you place them.

3. Get to know your athletes individually. Learn their strengths and weaknesses, goals and personalities. Finding out about them helps you determine the best way to coach them. Develop a rapport to increase trust between you and your athletes.

4. Stress skill development over winning. Be positive and encouraging, giving constructive criticism about form instead of yelling at athletes for failing. Emphasize becoming a better athlete and winning should naturally follow when the team is playing at its full potential.

5. Change your coaching technique until you find what's most effective in reaching your players. Coaching a team requires evolution, and what works with one set of athletes won't always work with another. Be open to trying new methods to help athletes achieve their goals.