The Responsibility Of Being A Sports Coach

Whether we are talking about professional, sanctioned sports or organized youth sports makes no difference; coaching in sports is an awesome responsibility.

Some may ask, “What exactly is a coach?” Well, the World Wide Web offers the following definition; “In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes.

Coaching entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game or contest itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such actions as needed. Most coaches are former participants in the sports in which they are involved, and those who are not have had extensive training in the sport in question.”

Coaches not only have the responsibility of teaching the fundamentals of their chosen sport, but they are entrusted to guide the athletes as individuals, as well as offer an example of behavior for the team to follow. While different sports, as well as the different sports organizations that coaches work for, all have their own set of rules and regulations, there are a few fundamentals that all coaches are expected to follow.

For example, all coaches are expected to abide by the particular laws that govern their sport, and to make sure that the athletes do so as well. In sports, there also exist unwritten rules of sportsmanship and ethics that all coaches are expected to follow and enforce with their team. These ethical standards cover such things as fair play and the integrity of the team as well as the individual athletes.

Team Coaches must ensure that their players are safe and protected during games as well as during practices. They are expected to provide and maintain a drug free environment, act as a role model both on and off of the playing field, ensure respectful conduct among the players and so much more. Coaches are also expected to keep current on any new provisions that might come into being that relates to the sport they are coaching.

Since it takes so much to be a good, effective coach, there are now many institutes of higher learning that actually offer classes for coaches. Classes run the gamut from how to influence the players, how to motivate players, as well as how to build team spirit.

With the huge number of different sports, as well as the diversity of the players, many coaches find themselves in need of an education that will better equip them to handle a certain group of athletes. For example, with more and more women’s sports teams being formed, this presents a problem for the male coach who has never had to coach anything except a team of males. Being a coach in sports is not an easy job, but it does have the potential to be a rewarding one.



September 24, 2009
By Joe Goertz
You will find more from this author at: http://www.sports-articles.com

Coaching Basketball Is Not Always Fun And Games

I wound up volunteering to coach basketball, a game I new nearly nothing about. Shortly after I wound up with the job, a parent approached me and asked what sort of coaching style I was going to use. After I managed to clear up the blank look on my face and stammer out some lame answer, I drove quickly to the privacy of my own home to avoid any more questions, and thus, not let my inexperience be known, for I knew after that question that I was in way over my head.

At the time I was probably more suited to coach football, but basketball was what I was dealt. A buddy of mine who had played basketball in high school told me that his coach had used a hands-on coaching style. The coach played with the athletes, showing them the different techniques to use, and what situation to use them in, etc…However, he also pointed out that coaching basketball is more than just playing basketball with the kids like his basketball coach did, but coaching is also about teaching fundamental skills that the players will use for life, as well as team work.

Feeling even more hopeless and confused after this conversation I set out to do heavy research on the topic of coaching basketball. I immediately realized that a large list of references existed to help me, which gave me a great feeling of relief. I had never thought of such concepts as team play, sportsmanship and sharing in regards to coaching sports before, but from my reading I began to get familiar with the topics and ideas. I quickly learned that basketball was about more than just putting a ball through a hoop.

As part of my research I began reading articles that focused on building skills and confidence level in young athletes while coaching. I did my best to absorb everything, but still felt that I might be a little out of my element coaching a basketball team. I had to constantly reassure myself that I could do it. The whole experience ultimately taught me that before you can coach other people you must be able to coach yourself, but I’m getting ahead of myself.

I’ve been coaching for six weeks now. I feel I’ve done a fair job of helping my players build skills and confidence levels they can use on the court and in the real world. This experience has taught me much about myself and about coaching. In regards to coaching, I have learned that it is not all fun and games, but a huge responsibility; however, I think I’ve prepared myself for the challenge. After all, my team is 5 and 1.

While coaching a team might seem a very attractive job to many a sports fan, it is not easy. I only coach at the Junior High level and it’s exhausting and stressful. I can’t imagine what it is like at the professional level, and I don’t want to. If you are interested in being a coach, make sure and give it some serious thought.



July 21, 2009
By Joe Goertz
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