As coaches we often talk about characteristics that make great coaches. There’s a lot of thoughts, ideas and formulas on what makes the best the best. While there isn’t a wrong answer, my favorite version has come from Fran Fraschilla. He’s shared his five characteristics of a great coach as follows:
Let’s break these down further.
Teaching Skills
The best coaches separate themselves by their ability to teach. I don’t mean just knowing your Xs and Os, but really teaching the points that make the Xs and Os successful. We often talk about teaching for understanding, but let’s flip it another way. Can you teach so clearly there’s no way there could be misunderstanding? This includes teaching directly to the different personalities and learning styles of your individual team members. The best coaches teach and demonstrate the importance of what is being taught, encourage and increase retention of the shared knowledge by the individual, and have the ability to answer questions to further understanding.
Communication Skills
One of, if not the most important skill in coaching and leadership, is the ability to communicate. Effective communication also relies on the ability to listen. The best coaches can adjust communication style based off the team member or members they are communicating with directly or indirectly. Transparently get your message across to your team.
Organizational Skills
The best coaches and leaders are organized, simply put. They embody their vision and are organized in a way to share that vision with the team. The best coaches are organized in every capacity the job entails, whether that’s during practice, during film study, during the game, or while dealing with off the court responsibility.
Motivational Skills
The best motivators understand how to motivate the unique individual members of the team. The coach must understand that what motivates them as a competitor, may not be the motivating factor for a player. So how do you find out what individual motivators are? You have to ask. The method I have found successful is to sit down in a one on one setting with each team member and asked them their top three motivators. Once you have verbal confirmation, the ability to motivate team members and hold them accountable now exists.
Under Pressure Skills
Every coach, leader and team separate themselves when the pressure is on. Think of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady or Serena Williams. Legacies are created under pressure. Practice putting yourself in situations you may encounter when the pressure is high. Preparation is the first step to defeating pressure.
I keep this list of coaching skills with me wherever I go. I design practices and game strategy based off these five principles. I work on these five skills during the season and during the offseason. What other skills have you found to relevant in your coaching and leadership endeavors? Share them with me on Twitter @coachnhartman or through email coachnhartman@gmail.com.
