A coach plays a vital role in the development of a child in sport. A good coach is someone who provides the right amount of encouragement and criticism, works hard with the athletes, is not just winning oriented, is supportive and most of all patient.
Coaches play a big part in the life of young athletes who in turn, not only respect them but also look upon them as role models. In team sports, an important role of a coach is to have capabilities to build an effective team. A coach who is able to achieve this is usually successful in building a positive climate, help athletes achieve a sense of satisfactions and feel a sense of camaraderie towards the team as well as the team members. Thus the purpose of team building is not a better win/loss record, but to promote a valuable and enjoyable developmental experience for the athletes.
In most cases, a young athlete usually relies on the coach above and beyond the realm of sport. The coach becomes responsible for helping the athlete strike a right balance between sports, studies and socializing.
One of the key aspects of coaching from a sport psychology perspective is how to handle post match corrections and criticism with the athlete. The best approach that an effective coach takes to making corrections in young athletes is what is known as the “Sandwich approach”. As opposed to seasoned athletes, minds of young athletes are especially vulnerable to criticism as this could easily be perceived negatively. So any criticism/corrections (representing the center filling of the sandwich) has to be enveloped with a positive statement and a compliment (representing the 2 bread slices).
This positive psychology approach holds true not only for sports but in all walks of life and not only in children but for everyone.
Parent-coach relationship is also a very important aspect for the child to do well in sports. The approval received from parents and coaches keeps the young athlete rooted and enthusiastic towards the sport. Hence it is important that the parent and coach strike a good chemistry towards providing consistent appraisal to the child.
Parents who understand the sport, encourage and support their children are the best fit to work along with coaches, as both of them can make the sporting experience positive. Certain parents who are absent for their child’s sporting activities, who are never satisfied with their child’s performance and parents who are constantly making suggestions to their child, sometimes even contradicting the coaches’ instructions, are the difficult ones. Therefore coaches have to play a vital role in easing the doubts in such parents by helping them understand the sport and its requirements, thus also making it easier on the child.
The relationship between the coach-parent, parent-athlete and coach-athlete are all closely linked. Hence it is important that each understand the expectations of the other well, since a slight imbalance in one affects the others.
It is a well known fact that sport participation in general will not only help children lead a healthier life, but also build a positive attitude, be confident, have an ability to work hard, make wise decisions and have better group cohesion not only in the present but also in future. So in summary, a good coach is someone who aside from helping the child in the technicalities of the sport, has to make it an overall positive experience for him/her, since this positivity is something they will carry on to all aspects of their life.
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