What Makes a Good Coach?

With Spring sport season upon us, athletes are trying out and gearing up all around the country and the college recruiting process is in full swing for high school upperclassmen. One thing that I discuss very often in my work with athletes of this age group is to be very mindful of what you're looking for in a coach-especially at the next level. While this is not a one-size-fit-all issue. The message is highly important in the long term success in both the athlete's respective sport; perhaps more importantly their lives beyond the field, track, or court. 

Below we'll examine some of the recent research and opinion on the aforementioned question. 

The importance of a good coach and their respective attributes is a frequent topic in my professional, athletic, and personal life (which is perhaps most important). Personally, I have been very fortunate to have run with a coach since late 2008 and recently gaining some advice for swimming, as I am entering the sport of Triathlon.

Both coaches are awesome guys; very knowledgeable and have somewhat different styles (as different sports obviously call for difference in approaches). And it is working for me so far. I think I'll continue to become a more physically and mentally tough athlete by experiencing multiple perspectives.

On the running side, I now have a few years experience and now know what kind of coach I work best with-open, innovative, and somebody I can collaborate with. In the water, however, I need that guidance, direction and being told "no" from time to time when I ask for more rest in between intervals. No pun intended, but I'm trying to be a "sponge" with what limited time I have in the water and learn as much as I can. I was once that 'sponge' when I received my first running schedule leading up to the 2009 Houston Marahon....

So, what makes a good coach? Definitely not a one-size-fits-all question. I’ll attempt here to unpack some of the tools I find helpful based on professional and personal experience; plus some principles from a recent article in the Journal of Sport Psychology in Action (2011).
So, what makes a good coach? Definitely not a one-size-fits-all question. I’ll attempt here to unpack some of the tools I find helpful based on professional and personal experience; plus some principles from a recent article in the Journal of Sport Psychology in Action (2011). When we think of a good coach, the following are often true of him or her….

·    Possesses leadership qualities. Perhaps the most obvious trait-a good coach can utilize both transformational (i.e. ability to motivate and inspire) and task/skill-focused leadership. Even better ones know when and where to use exercise these facets.

·    Fosters autonomy. Guides the athlete, but empowers them to think for themselves.

·    Knows his or her athletes. As a sport psychology consultant, I am always advocating for coaches to be as athlete-centered as possible. Depending on the size of the team or group, this aspect varies, but coaches who are most in tuned with who their working with and know their tendencies elicit the most consistent success.

·    Communicates clearly. Progress comes faster from those who best explain clearly the objectives at hand. 

·    Educates the athlete. I find it highly valuable when I know the purpose of the workout I'm doing. For head cases like me, knowing the purpose of why I'm running x:xx pace helps me keep things in perspective.

·    Knows when to push and when to dial an athlete back-and sticks to it (see communication). 

·    Brings out the best in their athletes. This is one of the biggest intangibles, but I can think of a handful I have worked with who fit that mold.

What are your experiences coaching either coaching or being coached? What are some of the qualities you look for? Sometimes it’s all about the ‘fit” in the athletes’ journey.

Source: Watson, J., Cannole, I., & Kadushin, P. (2011). Developing young athletes: A sport psychology based approach to coaching youth sports. Journal of Sport Psychology in Action, 2, 113-122.

Pressure: Causes, Effects, and Coping

So very often athletes come into my office telling me that they're feeling "pressure"-often it begins as this nebulous feeling where there is no distinctive origin. I usually spend some amount of time with the athlete to assist in determining exactly "who and where is it coming from?".  What I still find surprising is that they struggle to find origins of these negative feelings, at least at first. Typically, when an athlete seeks outside support, pressure to perform has been present for an extended period of time and regularly interferes with their performances and in some cases-their relationships and daily lives. 

The good news is, while there is some stress (often of more positive nature) associated with being an athlete, managing pressure feelings is a skill that can be learned. 

First, an athlete must search to identify what induces or 'triggers' feeling of pressure. Is it self-induced, from a coach, parent, significant other? Knowing the source is important. Sometimes the sources are multiple. Sometimes the pressure lies within the athlete themselves. It’s a tangled web, but it can be worked through one step at a time.

Next, what does being "under pressure" look and feel like? This response is different depending on who you ask. Does the athlete fret over mistakes? Are there exchanges of heightened or unrealistic expectations with others? Are the athlete or coach's standards unrealistic? How does the stress manifest: inhibited concentration, somatic (bodily), or in general enjoyment of the sport? How do the feelings of pressure affect mood? 

Also, what does the athlete say to themselves that perpetuates this negative cycle? "Don't mess up", "I don't know if I can do this", or "coach/mom/dad will be mad if I don't succeed" are common negative internalized messages that hinder performance.

Once some possible triggers and awareness have been identified and sorted out, the athlete can start to counter these negative thinking patterns. A simple exercise is to "check in" with their thought patterns during a game or practice with what their thinking of, and insert a positive message when they usually are   and negative.  Use of deep breathing and a few minutes of relaxation is also recommended, especially before competition and when the athlete begins to feel most stressed. 

Over time and with practice, these techniques can help a great deal with athlete perspective and creates a greater sense of control of a situation. 

Countering pressure is a process, but a process worth undertaking

The 2013 BCS Championship and "The Process" of Winning

"There's no mention of titles. Instead his message has been that the way to win a championship is to concentrate on what you're doing today, and build on that tomorrow."

"The scoreboard has nothing to do with the process. Each possession you look across at the opponent and commit yourself to dominate that person....If you can focus on the one possession and wipe out the distractions...then you will be satisfied with the result. "

It's January 8, 2013, and another BCS Football Champion has been crowned. It comes to little surprise to many that the team on top is the often-polarizing Alabama Crimson Tide. Love them or hate them (let's face it, there's little middle ground here), one things that stands out in comparison to other programs is Head Coach Nick Saban's constant emphasis on "The Process".

The above quotes illustrate what Saban means when he refers to "The Process". Championships are won one step at a time. Sport is often gritty, unpolished, and repetitive. In reality it is not the glamorous show that we see on national television.  Consistent success is usually not flashy. In between competitions, there are thousands of moments where an athlete works out, makes mistakes, takes lessons from mistakes, eats, sleeps, and so on. Not to mention the mental conditioning that happens in addition to the physical work involved. Consistent success comes not from perfection, but attention to detail and taking a here-and-(only)-now approach.

In an interesting article published late last year in Sports Illustrated, author Andy Staples presents an inside look at Nick Saban's famously brusque persona and his attention on working every detail in the process of becoming a champion. He brought in experts to help the program, such as nutritionists and a also mental training coach so his athletes could feed their bodies and minds. "They were to learn how to eat differently; they were taught how to think differently", according to Staples.  The importance of adding these aspects is that they are important on a day-day basis, not just on the big stage.

In my practice, I often have athletes I work with set process goals; often on a daily basis. When the focus is on the immediate and controllable, the results will take care of themselves. To be successful in sports and life, it really does come down to what you do on a daily basis. Are you focusing on the things that will make you successful that day? Again, regardless of the public's opinion of the program and the results of the game. The Crimson Tide football program provides a good model of what happens with a steady emphasis on the task at hand. May we all learn to attend to "The Process" a little more in our training and lives in general.

One thing an athlete can incorporate immediately is to begin to shift their focus from winning, and perhaps more importantly-what 'not to do', to a commitment on focusing on what 'to do'. It comes down to those thousands of moments in between competition where winning takes place. And it often isn't flashy-but the results can be.

About Adrienne Langelier, MA

Adrienne Langelier, M.A. is a Psychotherapist and Sport Psychology Consultant based in The Woodlands and Magnolia, TX; in addition, she is also a member of the Association for Applied Sports Psychology (AASP), USA Track and Field, USA Triathlon (USAT) and USA Swimming. She also serves part time as an adjunct professor at Sam Houston State University.

Services include Sport Psychology Consultation, general psychotherapy, various skills coaching for adults and students available both in-office and via web or telephone. Adrienne also regularly conducts workshops with athletes and coaches of all sports and levels; notably those at the collegiate, professional and international levels.  She also is a competitive distance runner and triathlete, regularly participating distances from  5000 meters to the Marathon. Athletic accomplishments include Chevron Houston Marathon Local Elite status, USAT Age Group Nationals,  and three-time qualifier for the Boston Marathon. 

 Contact: 830-237-4822; adrienne.langelier@gmail.com; Twitter @alangelier

Mental Training Meets Everyday Life

We'll begin with a post of a more basic variety. To help achieve success, an athlete is advised to create a " "performance environment". This can take many shapes, forms, and modalities. The only requirement is that the messages, themes, and cues evoke positive emotion. 

I'm a huge proponent of visual and environmental cues as a staple to any mental training program. By consistently attending to positive cues, we slowly program our subconscious mind. It's like filling a well with a steady rain-when you need "a drink" you will have plenty of positive energy to access. Numerous studies have shown the benefits of positive statements on mood. Not only can visual cues help your performance and self-belief, but they can help make you a more positive individual overall! 

I have shared a few snapshots of the cues I have all around my place. I often write down things that I say to myself during a good training session as well as quotes that resonate with me. Hope you enjoy and gain some ideas and inspiration....

One of my favorite Ernest Hemmingway literary themes.

Very beneficial to repeat while recovering from my last injury.

  

As you can see, anything pretty much goes in setting up your positive performance environment. The trick is to find what gets your attention and evokes a positive emotional response: whether that be words, images, articles, quotes and place in areas you frequent. Mirrors, doors, work spaces and gear bags are good places.

Be creative, be positive, and have fun.