Coaching Styles

1,2,3,4 united state marine corps. now that is style.

I teach and correct, probably only holler once a weeK.

i am definitely laid back. i'm more of an explainer/analyzer, take the kid aside-type than a yeller. when i do yell, the kids know something is wrong and they need to get refocused.

a coach i worked for once told me to keep the kids guessing. one day be calm, patient, and understanding, but then the next day make 'em think you're psycho.

Different kids repond differently to different stimuli. Some kids will shut down if you get in their face and yell, still others, it seems, that is all that they will respond to. I dont think that you can effectively coach every kid the exact same. After all, the kids are all certainly different. I just try an find what motivates that particular player and coach that way.

I am still waiting for a group hug type coaching philosophy.. there has to be at least one guy out there.

our school psychologist( a fromer hippie) tells me we need more group hugs on the football gridiron.
men need to explore their female side. become understanding. she also believes football should be a nonviolent game.

i think your philosophy depends on your school. a private school vs a public school makes a big difference.

I think the key is to be yourself...if you try to be something that you aren't, the kids will see through it and you will lose credibility.

Credibility, I believe, is the #1 trait that successful coaches have. Coaches who are credible have kids who will work hard and play for them. Coaches who aren't credible don't have those kids.

As a player, I had coaches who were very credible. No matter how much they chewed my butt, I knew that deep down they were doing it because they knew I could be better than I was. As a coach, I have seen the other side. Right now, I'm in a situation where there is a credibility problem with the staff. The kids don't trust some of our coaches and the results are not good.

I agree with the credibility aspect, if you arent credible, and this is with all aspects of life, not just out there on the field, then you will quickly lose respect and trust of those around you, not just your players, but your staff, community and heck maybe even yourself!!

i coached at a place where the coaches were expected to follow the athletic code. the head coach felt it lended credibilty. coaches could not drink, smoke or chew during season.

the head coach believe in, never ask some one to do some thing you would not be willing to do yourself.

so everyone on the team signed the contract, coaches included.

As for type of coach, I am like many above. I want to teach first and foremost. I want a player to know why he is doing a technique and why it will improve him as a player. I yell and say things I shouldn't from time to time but only to get the players attention or get more out of a player that is not living up to his ablity. (knock on wood) I have never been called out for yelling at a player. I find just like what was mentioned above is earning respect with players first allows you to get on the same player later. Just like stated above each guy is different, I find it nearly useless to yell at many of my DB's but much more effective with the DL. The one think that has changed for me is I realized that yelling will not accomplish as much as teaching and showing how to improve. Kids want the chance to get better and will do nearly what ever it takes as long as someone is guiding them.

I am with you. Need to have a weekly Coaches Meeting after practice at the local tavern, to talk shop. Just wouldn't be the same with out a cold one.

well he believed coaches should lead the way, set the example. tabacco use, alcohol use, swearing by coach or players was banned. swearing cost every one 20 up downs.

he once let a coach go for having a extra matrial affare.

would you cuss at a h.s. student in your class room?

would you tell dirty jokes to a h.s. student in your class room?

I have seen coaches do these things. if you treat the field as a extension of the class room, then you are a successful coach.

also, would you allow your player to tell dirty jokes in your class room, talk poorly about woman, swear, punch, kick or treat underclassman poorly?

The best answer is to always “be yourself” in terms of style. I try to put teaching first. I try to have a systematic and logical way for me to communicate the appropriate knowledge at the appropriate time. I try to make sure the kids understand the WHY and not just the HOW.

As for “yelling” vs. “non-yelling,” I think each has its place. I never really thought about it much, but mostly I yell when we are addressing a group and everyone needs to hear what is being said OR if we are correcting an individual and it is a lesson that will benefit others that may not otherwise be paying attention. I think it’s not a matter of yelling, but a matter of HOW you yell. When I yell, it’s very rarely emotional. It’s instructional and well-spoken, it’s just said with volume. If I’m upset with a player 99% of the time, it’s a quiet private conversation. But, the player has NO DOUBT that I’m upset. I’ll tell him like it is. For me, the volume of my voice has very little to do with how I am driving a message. For me, it’s usually just a matter of “can everyone who needs to hear me actually hear me??”

Not to say that it doesn’t happen. I may get angry once or twice in a season where I let my emotions get the better of me and I throw a bit of a nutty. But, it’s effective for three reasons:

1. It’s real. I’m not playing it up just to get a reaction. I’m actually genuinely disappointed or upset and the kids see that. There’s a message in what I’m saying.

2. It’s rare. If I freak out about something, the kids are all like “woah…coach must really be pissed because he usually doesn’t flip like that.” It usually has an immediate and desired reaction from the team.

3. I make sure the kids understand that I am upset because I care about them having fun and being as successful as possible. It goes back to that “trust” issue that has been discussed out here.

Football is a very difficult combination of controlled discipline and raw emotion. You need both to be effective as a player. I think the same is true of coaches. If you can balance the two and apply them appropriately, you will be successful.

Bottom line: have a clear purpose for everything you do.

Lets not pretend that teaching Algebra is the same as teaching blocking and tackling.

I agree, yelling is not teaching, but it sure can be motivating.