What is coaching all about?

1. What is Coaching all About? It is common knowledge that golf coaches teach their students the fundamentals of the game, in terms of the golf swing and the rules and etiquette of the sport. But, a coach’s actions can teach young athletes much more than golf skills and rules of the game. Above all else, a coach is a model to young athletes.  Young athletes can be highly impressionable, and they hold their coach in high esteem. Consequently, a coach’s every action, on and off the playing field, sends messages to the young athletes he is coaching. One of the most important things a coach communicates by his actions is respect, or the lack of it. How a coach walks, approaches others, gestures and what he says and how he says it reveals the coach’s attitudes and character to the athletes. Coaches must be aware that young athletes are constantly observing and modeling their actions.

2. The single most important element when working with junior athletes is the coach’s credibility. His credibility is reflected in the trust athletes place in him as a coach. Young athletes will give their coach initial credibility because of the role he plays as coach. Coaches can maintain and build upon this trust, or lose it, by their actions. Once lost, it is nearly impossible to get back. Building and sustaining credibility requires a coach: • Be a balanced coach. • Know the game of golf, be willing to learn more, and be honest about what he doesn’t know. • Be reliable, consistent and fair. • Express empathy and acceptance of his young athletes and where they are in their lives. • Be positive.

4. Coaching is communication. No coaching responsibility is more important than learning how to communicate with athletes and understanding what motivates them to train and compete in golf. Hence, successful coaches are skillful communicators and motivators. As a coach you must be able to communicate effectively in countless situations, whether it’s teaching certain skills or talking to parents. Communication is more than a two-way process; it is multi-dimensional…it encompasses sending and receiving messages, verbal and nonverbal language and emotions and feelings. Coaches must be as skillful in receiving messages as they are in giving messages. Successful coaches need to be sharp, active listeners so they can understand their athletes.

5. Another important subtly of coaching is how to deal with winning. Many coaches face the issue of winning when developing their coaching objectives. A coach needs to honestly assess whether he, at times, overemphasizes winning, or whether he sometimes makes decisions that reflect more about winning the game than developing the athletes. Society clearly places great emphasis on winning. However, society also looks to golf as a means to help young athletes build character and develop leadership skills. The balance is in not evaluating his coaching skills or the athletes on the win-loss record, but by placing their athletes first at practice and at competition. Placing athletes first does not mean that winning is not important. Striving to win within the rules of golf and the competition is an important objective for both athlete and coach and is essential for an enjoyable competition. Athletes do not train to lose or perform poorly. The emphasis should not be on winning itself, but on the pursuit of victory. Finally and no less importantly, young athletes should enjoy the game of golf. Coaches need to allow the athletes to get enjoyment from playing the game. It is natural for athletes to play and joke around. If athletes behaved perfectly, they would not need a coach.

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