This article by Bruce E. Brown of Proactive Coaching, from the Intentional Coaching #2 collection, is an excerpt from the booklet Youth Coaching, 4 Keys to a Successful Season on being a competent and credible coach. It describes the coach's role in four parts — be professional, be an educator, be a motivator, and be a leader — and lists the roadblocks that undermine a coach's credibility.
Introduction
Role of Coach: Be Competent and Credible
This article is an excerpt from the Proactive Coaching booklet, Youth Coaching, 4 Keys to a Successful Season available on our site.
Be Professional
If you are going to coach, do your best to be as good as possible. Be prepared, punctual, ethical, and honest, demonstrate class - honesty and fairness are the foundation for success - communicate effectively with parents and students – develop a philosophy and expectations in writing – attend clinics and workshops consistently with the idea of improvement – see the big picture and realize they are part of total program – the league, the community - consistently communicate and enforce league policies/rules and standards to parents and players - fulfill league requirements in a timely fashion, before, during and after games - stay current with first aid and safety practices so you are providing a safe environment for athletes and coaches