The Power of Positive Coaching

A large part of coaching is not all the Xs and Os that are involved, or your knowledge of the sports, but on how you handle situations and deal with kids. If you can motivate, inspire, and encourage kids then you can coach, any sport! The biggest part of coaching is your interaction with kids and how you handle situations and guide your players. If there is one aspect that should be universal is that you should remain positive and coach through this lens. Being positive, isn't just always saying nice things to kids and making things easy for them. Being positive is quite the opposite. Being positive is handling a situation in a positive way when your players are counting on you.

"Imagine you're coaching a big soccer game, against an undefeated team that has beaten you team in all your previous matches. Your 11-years-olds are playing well and are ahead. Then, in the closing minutes, the official makes a bad call that goes against you and, because of it, you lose. After the game, the parents of your players scream at the official. The kids are disappointed, looking up at you. What do you do?"

This is the opening passage of a great article "  The Power of Positive Coaching"  by David Bornstein of the New York Times. It is an older article, but one that I often look back at to remind us of the importance of positive influence in coaching. The article centers on the Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), which is an organization dedicated to the development and sponsorship of positive coaching. Here is a link to their website which contains great resources and a blog on positive elements in coaching. Their organization was started by Jim Thompson, a teacher and former director of the Public Management Program at Stanford Business School. He found too many negative approaches and attitudes in youth sports that were driving kids away instead of developing them. The PCA has grown into a large organization that is widely accepted amongst all levels and types of sports. The PCA includes notable coaches and athletes including Phil Jackson of the NBA, Steve Young of the NFL, and Julie Chu of USA Olympic Hockey Team. Doc Rivers, a PCA advisory member, of the Los Angeles Clippers, states that "the difference a coach can make in a youth's life is enormous, and PCA is showing high school and youth coaches how to teach life lessons while preparing their team to win on the scoreboard." Do take moments during to look at these resources to see what aspects you can take and add to your development as a player, coach, or parent.