|
Post by gameface on Aug 5, 2009 16:03:31 GMT -6
I just wanted to see what everyone thought was the best coaching style?
Is it best to be the in your face intense rah rah coach or the one that is keeps his emotions in check and only raising his voice when necessary to motivate or correct? Is there a better model out there I should follow? The reason I ask is I was passed over for a select team because I am not the Rah Rah type. It was clearly stated in a message to me and that my record speaks for its self 17-4 over the past two years, but I was informed they were going to go with the Rah Rah type with no HC experience at the youth level. Only assisted last year. I don't care about not getting the select team. The question I ask is am I taking the wrong approach to this in my Coaching style? Should I be more Rah Rah and in your face? Just want to know what the consensus was. I use to be the Rah Rah in coaching until I saw myself on video coaching my kid in wrestling. since then no more, in your face that is. Thanks for the advice in advance.
|
|
|
Post by davecisar on Aug 5, 2009 16:21:54 GMT -6
Coach,
Everyone has their own style, it makes no sense to force it IMHO
Im very low key, don't yell, cheer or even clap really. Our kids expect to play well etc we expect to score on every possession. When we play real well, it isnt the end all, we can always play better and in the grand scheme of things, our mission statement goes way beyond playing well, it is just a small part of the puzzle etc
I do raise my voice to call in a play or call out an adjustment
BUT we seem to always have an assistant or 2 that is more the rah rah type
I do get loud in practice and exhort loudly in practice, but not really in games Not sure how effective it really is IMO the games are won before you ever step on the field
|
|
|
Post by bigdog2003 on Aug 5, 2009 16:53:04 GMT -6
I am not a rah rah guy either. Last season was my first with school ball, and some of the other coaches ripped me a bit for being so low key. I told them, you don't have to be loud to be a good coach. I just did my job with the lines, taught them what they needed, and made adjustments. I didn't like the coaches that got in my face as a player and the ones that were always loud and yelling, so I guess that is the reason I am the type of coach I am.
I think that you have to be your own man. You got passed over for this HC position because they wanted something else, your time will come. Someone will be looking for a strong leader that isn't the rah rah type and will give you a shot. I keep getting pasted over in the local youth league for HC openings every year. I was an HC one year for the youngest age and went 9-0, then last year I was an assistant for the middle school and we went 7-0 giving up only 6 points the entire season. This year I am going to be back at the middle school. I had been asked about a position with the youth league, but they wanted me to be the OC for a guy that has never coached. I am helping a friend with his team, but that is only after the HC of their older age boys saw what I can do in person at camp two weeks ago. Now he wants me to install their offense for them.
|
|
|
Post by coachdoug on Aug 5, 2009 17:05:41 GMT -6
gameface - I'm probably pretty similar to you. When I first started coaching, I was very rah-rah with a lot of screaming & what-not on the sidelines. Then I saw myself on video and thought, "What an a$$." Now, I'm pretty reserved. I have a very loud voice, so I will yell to get instructions into the players over crowd noise & past their helmets, but I'm pretty quite now on game day with regard to rah-rah yelling - either criticism or cheering.
At practice, I used to be very loud also, but now I generally let the other coaches handle that part. I will raise my voice occassionally if I really need to get their attention - I've found that by picking my moments, it's a lot more effective. I just really focus on instruction and teaching now - the motivational rah-rah stuff only lasts for a short while, but lessons learned can last forever. JMHO.
In any event, I think it is a really stupid way to make decisions about hiring coaches - as long as you're getting results and meeting all of your objectives on and off the field, who really cares what style you use? If anything, I would think they would prefer to have a reserved class act over an emotional buffoon, but that's just me. LOL. Like others said, stay true to yourself and your day will come.
|
|
|
Post by touchdownmaker on Aug 5, 2009 18:02:44 GMT -6
The best style is one of a TEACHER.
The screamers are usually the guys who teach nothing. Pretty ineffective.
|
|
|
Post by los on Aug 5, 2009 19:33:11 GMT -6
Dave, that sounds very effective to me.....I agree with that method and tried to do the same....... but to answer the question = while "being yourself", is generally the best way to go.......if "yourself" is a screaming psycho....you may wanna work on that a little, before coaching kids?
|
|
|
Post by bobgoodman on Aug 6, 2009 0:11:32 GMT -6
I yelled in practice a lot, maybe too much, got canned supposedly for it. At games I was fairly quiet (actually muttering to myself a lot like Jack Mercer voicing Popeye), but shouted when I needed to get att'n.
|
|
|
Post by captainpp on Aug 6, 2009 5:04:44 GMT -6
Good Thread... I believe my style changed with time and education and now finally health... Looking back at it now it reminds me of Fatherhood... MY first son, I made alot of mistakes was to stern and was yelling to much... My second son seemed better but to tell the truth I became so involved with work and supporting that a void between us arised... This also seemed to carry over with coaching... I was there for the kids but because I was coaching 2 and sometimes 3 sport's and trying to run the whole show in some sport's, I became over extended which caused a communication breach... Now that I think things though better my communication with my boy's and teams seems better... I don't try to drill my way into them anymore ... I'll try to look at things from their viewpoint, hash some things out that need be and seek positive results... It mostly comes out to do things my way anyway as to sport's...
|
|
|
Post by speedcoach on Aug 6, 2009 18:50:19 GMT -6
Gameface, Fantastic post and question! I work as a speed and conditioning coach with an NFL team and also run an international mental profiling company for athletes. After having profiled a few thousand young athletes, we can statistically prove that players with coaches who yell and are negative put extreme external stress on players. In addition... we have also shown that young athletes have extremely limited skills in coping with stress related to their decision making ability. I believe your choice of coaching style to be the best choice when it comes to developing our youth! For more information on decision making patterns and the athlete mindset checkout www.innertactics.com. all the best, Jeremy boone www.athletebydesign.com
|
|
|
Post by justryn2 on Aug 7, 2009 6:59:27 GMT -6
My first year as a head coach I kept it low key and used a more instructional style. That was really natural for me. But then, for some reason, the last two years I've tried to be more "motivational." Year one my team went 8 - 3. The last two years combined my teams were 5 - 14. Now this is not entirely due to trying a different coaching style but, I'm sure it played a role.
This year I'm going back to a more instructional style. I signed up to be a coach not a cheerleader. If the competition alone is not enough to motivate the players then they may be in the wrong sport.
|
|
|
Post by joboo59 on Aug 7, 2009 13:22:13 GMT -6
I agree with what you all are saying...be a teacher. I took over a MS program last season and began inserting new plays to be more like the HS (coached HS for 10 years prior). This required a lot of teaching, however, I was easily frustrated when the 8th graders continually screwed up the smallest, easiest things and would yell and scream at them. Being kids of these days, the totally collapsed and the suckfest was on!
In the off-season I realized they did not know this stuff from the beginning. They had not had quality coaching of any kind in the past, just dads filling the voids. My expectations were not reasonable for these players.
Needless to say, this year things are going to be different. I will keep my head but rule with a strong hand and teaching style. Even last night when the new 7th graders could not run their one play correctly, I continued to remind my self that they are young and this is new and difficult. With simple teaching, not in the face, but hand on the shoulder, they began to pick it up and ran a couple really nice traps!
|
|
|
Post by speedcoach on Aug 7, 2009 13:34:26 GMT -6
Joboo, Great example of what everyone here is talking about! This morning at practice for the NFL Carolina Panthers, I was talking to some of our guys (lineman) about this very issue. One of the D-linemen mentioned how much he loves the new D-LIne coach this year. Although very vocal (never negative by the way), he always encourages and teaches, even when he is frustrated. In fact, he got me so pumped up just watching them go through drills I was ready to go out there against them! (although at 200lbs I would have been killed) This was compared to what the player (can't say his name) experience at his previous team where his former D-line coach was a barker, negative, and everything was F*** this and that. He said that the players just ignored him! It will be exciting to see how the line this year responds to the new coach! Jeremy www.innertactics.comwww.athletebydesign.com
|
|
|
Post by jacketcoach on Aug 7, 2009 15:41:07 GMT -6
I like the style that is emotional, but if you get to emotional you will send off a vibe of panic.
|
|
|
Post by davecisar on Aug 7, 2009 15:59:13 GMT -6
Be careful with emotion it can cut both ways, the highs are real high, the lows real low. I prefer to stay on the same keel no matter what.
I read the post of a youth coach on another forum, an emotional coach. This guy would go to a park before every game and cry, yes I kid you not, cry his eyes out to get the emotion out so he could function in a game. I promise you, this is a true story, I wont name the forum or coach.
If you are that emotional, may be time to either get some counseling or find a new hobby LOL. In the greater scheme of things a youth football game isnt really that big a deal to get all hot and bothered about IMO.
On game day the "hay is in the barn", just time to have fun and let the kids show what theyve learned. No sense fretting about it. In the games I coached 80-90% of them were won or lost on the practice field, not based on playcalling or emotion on game days.
|
|
|
Post by joboo59 on Aug 8, 2009 5:57:38 GMT -6
I agree, when all is said and done it is just a game and we all live another day.
One thing I think is very important is for even the most even keeled coach to be passionate (not emotional) about coaching this great game. This passion is easily read by kiddos and, IMO, they will feed off of it once they understand their assignments. The passion shows the importance better than emotion does!
|
|
|
Post by coacht16 on Aug 8, 2009 9:17:13 GMT -6
Passion vs. Emotion. GREAT post. Passion is the key to succes, be it coaching football or succeeding at any other wothwhile endeavor.
|
|
|
Post by speedcoach on Aug 8, 2009 11:03:55 GMT -6
There is definitely a difference between Passion and Emotion. A coach can lead with Passion yet still be rational in his decision making. HOWEVER...
Leading with Emotion is risky when it comes to making clear decisions whether it be for a game plan, teaching, or even communicating to your players.
Jeremy
|
|
|
Post by eickst on Aug 10, 2009 14:06:33 GMT -6
I feel that I am pretty cool headed about most things, but when I see players with no hustle or just plain not paying attention then I get pretty vocal about it.
But missing a block/tackle, dropping a pass, etc, don't really set me off. Do I want them to happen? Of course not but even pros do those things so how can you get mad at a kid when it happens to them. But watching some puppy 300 yards away and slowing my drill down because you were next in line and not ready to go? You're gonna pay....
|
|
|
Post by coachmsl on Aug 10, 2009 16:00:26 GMT -6
As a relatively new coach, i would say that i am slowly learning how to box up the emotions on gameday. I would not be telling you the truth if i failed to mention that, though i did not cry before games, I know the exact feeling Dave is discribing in his story. I played growing up and in college, but i get pretty anxious before games now. I am 100% calm on the outside and NEVER speak down or yell at an official or opponent, etc. However, the emotion inside is intense and often i am exhausted after games. If this means i need to get a new hobby i would be bummed out. lol.
|
|