5 Must Haves for Coach Development Programs
Research shows that Coaches who consistently achieve success, have key skills in common.
Does your Coach Development Program cover the skills that matter the most?
1. Quality Relationships are what makes the best, the best.
As legendary coach Joe Gibbs said, “You don’t win with X’s and O’s. What you win with is people.”
This isn’t feel-good talk. It reflects the latest research presented at the 2015 World Class Performance Conference in London which found there are considerable differences between the super-elite and high-performing athletes. The most significant difference was the quality of the Coach–athlete relationships.
At the other end of the sporting spectrum, this research is consistent with studies on why children quit sport, where the quality of the Coach-athlete relationship plays a big part.
The best Coaches, at any level, develop quality relationships. The best Coach Development Programs prioritize this in their curriculum too.
2. A clearly defined Coaching Philosophy
“When you have clarity about who you are and what you want, decisions and what actions to take become clear and are consistent.” – Bo Hanson
Coaches are constantly told that having a well-defined Coaching Philosophy is a critical component of a successful career. But, it can be a challenge to develop on their own and it takes time to evolve. This is another must-have of the best Coach Development Programs.
3. Know how to grow leaders
Leadership underpins every great sporting success story and leaves a gaping hole when it’s lacking. Consider all the best teams you know, and you’ll find that strong leadership is always used to describe their winning edge.
A big gap still exists when we look at the research. A coaching study found that 98% of Coaches believe an effective team captain positively impacts the win-loss record, yet only 27% of Coaches do any form of formal leadership development.
Leadership development is a consistent ingredient of the top teams, no exceptions. Helping Coaches teach leadership is another consistent ingredient of the top Coach Development Programs.
4. Ability to master team dynamics
The ultimate differentiator among the top teams is their Coach’s ability to know how to bring out the team’s best with their unique combination of athletes. These Coaches acutely respect that developing a winning team culture is a process requiring deliberate planning and focused execution.
Often Coach Development Programs have a strong focus on the technical and physical aspects of the sport, at the expense of this vital component. But as legendary Coach Lou Holtz said,
“I’d say handling the people is the most important thing you can do as a Coach.”
The very best Coach Development Programs include this critical content.
5. Prioritize coach wellbeing
To perform at your best, you must be at your best. The cornerstone of being your best is self-awareness, encompassing knowledge of your strengths, limitations and how your behaviors create your results.
Self-awareness is also a prerequisite for developing stronger emotional intelligence, effective communication, interpersonal relationships, and developing empathy and understanding for others.
Every top Coach Development Program starts with self-awareness.
There’s a reason top Olympic, National, Pro and College teams rely on Athlete Assessments.
Sign up on the form below to receive your FREE
Coach Development Resource Pack now.
At Athlete Assessments, we’re here to provide you with excellence in service and to help you be your best. If there is anything we can assist you with, please Contact Us.
You may also be interested in...
DISC in Sport Workbook
The DISC in Sport Workbook is a handy, easily accessible resource for learning the key principles of DISC Profiling for sport.
The DISC Card Game
The DISC Card Game is versatile and will be your go-to development tool. Put the ‘fun’ into better functioning teams!
More Resources and Materials
In pursuit of keeping at the forefront of performance, we are constantly developing useful resources and materials.
Learn more about Athlete Assessments
DISC Profiling
Learn how to master the people side of sport using DISC Profiling...
What We Do
We specialize in helping our clients create and sustain winning results...
Resources
Stay at the forefront with access to our resources, articles and videos