This article by Bruce E. Brown, from the Proactive Coaching Intentional Coaching collection, challenges coaches to become the kind of coach they would have wanted to play for. It outlines five commitments: being professional, being a master teacher, being an example, being a confidence builder, and being a team builder.
Be Professional
When you make the commitment to coach, be the best you can be. Develop a foundational philosophy on which you base all your decisions and choices. Know why you are coaching - for the love of the game and the love of the athletes. Choose athletes above winning. Build trust by being an expert with the use of your words in this public, emotional competitive arena. Constantly work to improve your knowledge and ability to teach the game and motivate players. Go watch and learn from the best people in this profession.
Be a Master Teacher
Teaching ability gives you credibility. Understand the game, the athletes and how to teach both. When working with beginning players, teach them to love the game first and then teach them how to play it. The best coaches at every level are organized and prepared. Instructions are simple, clear and cannot be misunderstood. Activity and attention are high. They understand and use proper practice organization concepts and the rules of motor learning (how to teach physical skills). They can motivate using both praise and confrontation. Your success with athletes will be in direct proportion to your ability to plan, organize, teach and motivate.