How to be a Winning Coach

How to be a Winning Coach Dealing with Seemingly Un-coachable Players

Every ball player has a different personality. Some are "adult friendly," so to speak, where they come the first day of practice eager to listen and try everything the coach teaches. Other players are "adult leery," much more reserved with how much they are willing to devote to a coach's instruction. This latter type player is not a bad kid, but for whatever reason they have developed a resistance to adult-given advice.

Becoming a winning coach is more than what the win loss column says

It is important for coaches to win this resistant type player over because their resistance can inhibit the player's development, disrupt team chemistry, and drag down a coach's enthusiasm for coaching. When this situation persists, coaches often stop coaching this type player creating a lose/lose situation for all.

A winning coach

What coaches should do to help resistant players

1. Ignore the players outward attitude, not take it personally and accept the challenge of winning the player over
2. Continually show them you care about them by spending as much time instructing them as you do every player
3. Praise them when they do things correctly all kids like positive reinforcement whether they show it or not
4. Tell players parents of the things their child is improving at
5. Don't allow them to get away with doing it their own way or the incorrect way just to placate them

Persistent coaching of these players usually works to win over their trust. Turning seemingly "un-coachable" players into coach-able ones makes for a winning coach, whether the team wins games or not. Additionally, being the first adult that ball player ever trusted may just change their entire life. Of course, adults may not know the affect they have on these type players, but some day they may find out they were a winning coach for reaching the resistant player.