Attendees at any sporting event often see coaches pacing up and down the field (or court), giving encouragement to the players on the field. However, coaching is demanding work and requires more than a passion for the sport. Here are three strategies effective coaches use:
1. Start with the basics. When teaching the fundamentals, coaches should break up large segments of information into smaller parts. In this way, players grasp individual skills, and then go on to combine those skills into more complex skills or strategies.
2. Explain why. When teaching new concepts, make sure to explain why they have to practice certain techniques or drill. While it might seem redundant to explain skills to players who might already possess a certain degree of athleticism, knowing how or why a particular skill can improve their game can motivate them while they perform tasks that might otherwise seem tedious, boring, or unnecessary.
3. Be positive. Although a large component of coaching is correcting errors in form or strategy, it is important not to focus too much on the negative. Taking the time to tell athletes what they are doing correctly or praising their work ethic can motivate them to make game winning shots when it counts.