15 Things All Coaches Should Know

Have your equipment sorted; have some ideas for what you want to do and have the required information, such as medical conditions, physical readiness forms and contact details, in a secure folder. If you are the named first-aider, make sure you have a stocked first aid kit.

Whenever possible, get there early to set up. Sounds simple, but it’s amazing the difference it makes if you aren’t putting out equipment when they start to turn up.

As adults, we have the privileged position of being invited into their world, and we are custodians of their fun. If it’s children playing grass-roots sport, it should be mostly fun game-based activities. If it’s children on a talent programme, it should stretch and challenge them appropriately. As adult coaches working with children, we must remember playing sport should be enjoyable.

‘Can we play a match yet, coach?’ You will hear this many times as a new coach. Don’t fret, it’s not a reflection on you as a coach, because no matter how good your practice sessions are, everyone loves playing their sport above all else. While this may not be exactly 100% accurate all the time, it’s a pretty high probability that everyone would rather play 3v3 games than do a passing drill, have relay races with each other than do shuttle runs, play a round-robin tournament than hit 50 forehands from a ball machine. Embrace the fact that they love your sport, and fuel their passion, don’t squash it.

This advice is based on the Growth Mindset concept of Carol Dweck, where praising effort leads to them having a mindset that practice and hard work will improve performance. Whereas saying someone is talented leads to a closed mindset, ie ‘I’m already good so don’t need to try as hard.’ It also leads others to assume they aren’t talented and drop out. Avoid using false praise when it’s not deserved, and use clear feedback that promotes an attitude toward self-improvement.

‘If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, And blaming it on you,’ said Rudyard Kipling in his famous poem ‘If’. There will be times when passion boils over and otherwise responsible adults and well-behaved children will behave in a manner toward you that makes you question whether it’s all worth it. Well, it is. You just need to remember Kipling’s words and remain the rational one. Once you start responding in the same manner, your credibility in the eyes of everyone else will take a hit. So take a deep breath and exhale.

Without them, there is no sport to play. Without a strong opponent, there is no one to make your players and individuals compete at their best. And to test your abilities as a coach.

That is, take every opportunity to learn about coaching. Speak to experienced coaches, observe them, go on the Internet and find information, go to workshops. Buy a book – yes, they do still exist. Contact your sport’s governing body and find their entry level coaching course. If you’re not sure where to start, then the UK Coaching website is an ideal place to start.