Exploring A Coach's Effect On An Athlete

One in a Million They can come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors. They can give one confidence, trust, and motivation and can just as easily take them all away. They can uplift or demoralize. They can lead one to victory as well as defeat. They can be the friend one turns to in times of hardship or the stranger one would rather avoid. By definition, they are experienced and trusted advisors who inspire knowledge, skill, and self-confidence in an individual player or team (Definition of). A bad coach emotionally abuses his or her players by demeaning, belittling, and embarrassing them. Fear and humiliation are the primary tools used in this method of coaching, thinking somehow it should motivate the players when it actually does the

Each athlete has goals he or she sets at the beginning of the season that they work diligently on to accomplish. With encouragement from their coach, they can achieve them. The effect that a coach can have on an individual is enormous. They can be a determining factor in whether an athlete keeps playing or decides to quit. An athlete can gain confidence needed for success from a coach who believes in them. Unfortunately, an athlete can lose enough confidence in their skills to make them want to quit. The coach affects the attitude of players and their determination to work hard. A good coach pushes athletes to their limits without giving them more than they can handle, and as a result the athletes improve. Ara Parseghian, a past coach of the University of Notre Dame’s football team, says, “A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are” (Quotes About). Throughout the season, athletes develop their skills and gain more confidence in themselves because of good

A good coach will create an unbreakable bond within the team. Teammates have to learn how to work with one another and in a sense function like a family. Coaches will not tolerate fighting or drama, just like parents. The players are like siblings, they all have to work together to get a job done. There is a popular quote among athletes that says, “You are on a team. It’s a family, regardless if you like all of them or none of them. You can’t choose your family, just like you can’t choose your team. Even through all the drama your team will always be there for you and you should be there for them. You compete as one, not as individuals. Everyone should try harder every practice. Win or lose as a team. Rise or fall as a team” (Love my). A good coach will build a safe, trustworthy, and loving atmosphere within the team that will make the team feel more like a family. This will cause them to work better together. As this family-like bond gets stronger, confidence, respect, and trust in teammates gets stronger, too. As the coach creates this atmosphere within the team, players start trusting in one another and in the coach. They no longer play for themselves but for their teammates. The players show a different kind of love and passion for the game that they previously did not have, all because of a good