Good coach, bad coach?

Sports has always been associated with competition. It is through sports that countries, communities, and schools develop goodwill, sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie with each other. Success in sports is also a source of pride for countries or schools as it is also a gauge on the level of development or standard that they have.

On the local front, sport competitions and tournaments among schools have been getting very competitive. Everybody gets so pressured especially the coaches who sometimes lose sight on the developmental aspect of sports and focus too much on winning the championship. But how far can a coach go just to put the icing on the cake?

When the team wins, coaches get all the praises and admiration. When the team loses, management blames the coach, sometimes even replacing them. Coaching is a stressful job. There is pressure to produce results especially if a big amount has been invested on the team.

Some of the winningest coaches in the big league are known to be tough, 'isog', and fearless coaches. And I have seen some coaches punching their own players.

Coaching young athletes is a big responsibility. Coaches are the athletes' advisor, leader, facilitator, instructor, mentor, supporter, friend and most importantly a role model.

Advisor - The coach advises the athletes regarding training, use of proper equipment and apparel, hydration and nutrition, which are important in sport development.

Leader - The coach should be a leader both during and outside of the competition. He formulates training schedules, strategies and game plans. He should lead by example. The coach's attitude towards his athletes, referees, and assistant coaches somehow affects the athletes too. 

Facilitator - The coach should identify suitable tournaments, practice games and competitions to join in order to develop and help achieve the team's goals in winning championships. And during off season, he should facilitate team building activities to create harmonious relationship among coaches and players.

Instructor - The coach should instruct athletes regarding the skills required of their sport especially on the roles each has to play during games. He should also have the ability to demonstrate what he instructed, because some kids find it easier to comprehend when the coach performs or demonstrates it.

Mentor - When athletes are in training, the coach is responsible to their parents and family. He has to monitor their progress, health, safety, and supports them if they encounter any problems or injuries.   

Supporter - Competition creates a lot of pressure on young athletes especially those ages 10-18 years old. The coach has to be there to give his support and understanding. 

Friend - In the course of providing coaching advices throughout the year or season, personal relationships may form between the coach and athletes. Discussing or sharing of confidential information should be avoided. Both the coach and athlete should not cross that line. This is to ensure that both maintain their respect for each other.            

Role Model - The way the coach acts, behaves or reacts in the presence of his athletes provides an example to the athletes as to how they themselves should also act, behave and react. For me, this is the most important role of a coach. 

Growing up, I had been an athlete myself.  I encountered countless ups and downs particularly in the sport of basketball. I had been cut number of times and benched even during a lopsided game, but I take everything as a challenge and never gave up.

Coaches always play favorites. They favor athletes who play hard, who give their 100 percent every practice and during games, and who know their roles on the team. Coaches want to win badly and it is their prerogative to give an athlete more playing time than the others. They are in the best position to determine as to the playing time of each athlete, based on skills, attitude, hard work and the desire to win.  Coaches also favor players who give the team the best chance to win.

'Winning isn't everything. It is the only thing'! But how far would a coach go to win? Winning a championship is just like an icing on the cake. Your team might be winning championships but if the coach is a bad role model, at the end of the day, the athletes will learn and follow the negative behaviors and acts of the coach, then I say that this somewhat defeats the purpose of being in sport which is building goodwill, sportsmanship, teamwork and camaraderie.

Just like in any other field of life, bullying is totally not acceptable in the sporting stage - be it the coach or the athlete. Having said that, schools or management should have clear-cut guidelines regarding the responsibilities of coaches and athletes. They should also have regular assessments and psychological testing of their coaches and athletes. In that manner, they can clearly draw the line that separates a good coach from a bad coach.

Next week: Readers will have the chance to meet Coach Santa Claus. Coach S.C. will give us a guide for his version of 12 days of Christmas and  'Surviving the Christmas Belly.'