1. The Roles of a Sports Coach 1

2. Sports Coaching
Sports coaches are vital to the success of a number of programmes across a range of sports
They are at the heart of participation and performer development 2

3. Sports Coach Definition
“ A sports coach is someone who assists the learning and development of another person or team of people in order to improve their performance in a sport, and who supports the personal development of individuals using sport as a vehicle for change and development”

4. Coaching – Art or Science?
To support the coach there is a wealth of scientific information based on research conducted with athletes
Information is available to support the coach and athlete in all areas of training and development including:
Nutrition
Physiology
Medicine
Biomechanics
Psychology

5. Coaching – Art or Science?
The art of coaching comes when the coach has to:
Convert it into
This analysis process relies heavily on the coach's experience and knowledge of the event/sport and the athlete concerned
Analyse the
scientific data
Coaching and training
programs to help
develop the athlete

6. Coaching – Art or Science?
By understanding the science, which is the foundation of training, a well designed training program can be developed that will help an athlete reach their full potential
The art is understanding the science and then applying it

7. The Role of the Coach
Effective coaches tend to find new ways of improving existing practices or theories
Some adapt the way in which they practise, while others deal with how to play specific strategies in differing situations
Other coaches integrate new developments or technologies to improve performance 7

8. Who assesses the coach?
During the course of a season various people make their own judgements of a coach
Athletes/players
Parents
Club members
Employers
Sponsors
Board of directors
Owners of clubs
Supporters 8

9. tests to monitor training
The coach needs to be able to:
Assist athletes to
prepare training
programs
Use evaluation
tests to monitor training
progress and predict
performance
Communicate
effectively
with athletes
Assist athletes to
develop new skills
Therefore, you can see that it is a very
difficult task and requires a very special person .

10. Characteristics of “a good coach”
More often than not, when someone enquires about a coach, one of the first questions is: “Is he/she a good coach?”
What characteristics describe “a good coach?”
Patience
Organised
Knowledgeable
Experienced
Sense of Humour
Good
Communicator
Motivator
Innovative
Listener
Good Social
Skills
Interesting

11. Understanding the Coaching Role
Coaching is not just about improving the physical performance of a player
In taking on the role of the coach you must accept that the development of the player as a “whole” person is as important as the player’s success in sport
As a coach you can have considerable impact on the development and lives of your players

12. The role of the coach is wide-ranging and varied
The role of the coach is wide-ranging and varied. At times you may be asked to be a person of many parts!
Taxi-driver!
Counsellor
Go-between
Manager
Disciplinarian
Motivator
Friend
Trainer
Fundraiser
Teacher
Leader
Sports Coach

13. The Roles of a Sports Coach
Innovator
Role Model
Roles of
an Effective
Sports Coach
Friend
Educator
Manager
Trainer

14. Innovator
Ability to think through problems – use knowledge and experience to come up with new ideas and approaches
Makes training fun/effective
Maintains participants interest & involvement
Effective coaches to be brave enough to try new things in order to get different results
Access to and use of latest scientific and technical knowledge very important 14

15. Friend
Coaches and performers share both positive and negative experiences
Coach may need to be there if things go wrong
Also needs to be there to keep feet on the ground!
Management of coaching environment important – friendly and respectful 15

16. Manager
Can relate to the management of a number of different aspects of coaching:
Introducing
new players/
off-loading players
Team
selections
Administrative
tasks
Manager
Training
programmes
Managing/organising
team/teams of people
Coaching
sessions

17. Trainer
Related to ensuring that athletes are able to meet the physical demands of sport
Plan and run training programmes to develop physical and psychological capabilities of players
Clear understanding of the components of fitness

18. Educator and Instructor
The differences between the above is sometimes hard to identify
Teaching implies a transfer of learning through:
Demonstration
Modelling
Instruction 18

19. Educator Coaches also teach emotional skills
Young learners can be very impressionable
Good coaches will be aware that people learn in different ways – process of adaptation

20. Role Model
In almost all situations players will look at their coach as a source of inspiration and knowledge
Children often imitate role models mannerisms
Vital therefore that coaching is safe and responsible, and that coaches behaviour is considered good practice 20

21. Role Model
The coach can influence player development in a number of ways:
Social
Sport offers codes of acceptable behaviour, teamwork, cooperation, fair play
Personal
Life skills – self-esteem, manage personal matters, the development of a value system 21

22. Role Model Psychological Health www.playingforthefuture.co.uk
Coaches can create environments that help performers control emotion and develop personal identities
Health
Designing sessions to include sufficient physical exercise, good health and health habits can be established

23. Role Models - Perfect or Poor?

24. Summary
In relation to sports, the role of the coach is to create the right conditions for learning to happen and to find ways of motivating the athletes
Most athletes are highly motivated and therefore the task is to maintain that motivation and to generate excitement and enthusiasm

25. Summary
A sports coach is someone who works with people to develop their understanding and ability in a sport and to help develop them as people
A coach has many roles to play: educator, trainer manager, innovator, friend, role model
These roles can vary according to who the coach is working with and what the aims, ability, experience and age of the participants are