EVERY COACH WHO wishes to become a successful assistant coach and eventually a head coach must possess certain qualities and observe certain principles. The following characteristics serve as a guideline for putting you on the path toward coaching success.
Loyalty. The most important quality in an assistant coach is loyalty. If you’re loyal to the head coach, then all the other qualities will fall into place. Loyalty, however, doesn’t mean that you must be a “yes” man. A solid assistant expresses his own ideas and opinions and disagrees with the head coach whenever he feels that he’s right. But it’s critical that he does this behind closed doors and not in public view. Once the head coach decides on a course of action, the assistant must abide by his decision and never openly disagree with it. It’s easy to be loyal when your team is 10-0, but the true the test of loyalty comes during the 0-10 season.
Self Improvement. You must have a burning desire to improve yourself and to become a better coach. The only way to achieve such goals is through hard work both during the season and throughout the rest of the year.
Once the season is over, you should move directly into your normal post-season activities such as attending clinics, caring for equipment, setting up a conditioning program, recruiting and preparing for the next season. Communicate with coaches who have more experience and knowledge as they can help you acquire different ideas.
Patience, Sacrifice. Without a great deal of patience and sacrifice, a potentially outstanding coach may wind up jobless. If you’re primarily concerned with monetary rewards for coaching, then you are in the wrong profession. Be willing to trade wealth for the satisfaction of coaching and working with young people.You must realize that during the season you basically belong to the head coach and the rest of the team. Even during the off-season you must spend a great deal of your time on improving both the team and yourself.
Your family must be very understanding, as they are called upon to make even greater sacrifices than you. They live four months with a part-time husband/father, and they must share you with 100 or more boys whose name they hardly know. Let your family know that they’re the most important people in your life and that without them success would be impossible and meaningless. Make arrangements for them to attend all of your games and take steps to make them a part of your coaching life.
Be A Teacher. The qualities necessary to become a good assistant coach are similar to those of a good teacher. When most schools hire a coach, they first look at the coach’s teaching qualifications. An assistant coach with a poor classroom record will find it difficult to become a head coach.
Set A Good Example. Assistant coaches are actually closer to the players than the head coach and they will look to that person for guidance and leadership. You must always be a gentleman in both action and appearance. Learn to control your emotions. Attend as many school functions as possible and let everyone know that you’re an active member of the school community, not just a sport buff. Never miss a team function. Whenever you stay away from one, the importance of the activity will diminish in the players’ eyes.
Talk about the sport whenever you run into a team member during the off-season. This lets the players know that you’re a year-round coach and encourages them to think about the sport year-round, too.
Keep A Sense Of Humor, Enthusiasm. There are times when it’s wise to exhibit a sense of humor on and off the field. Practice can become drudgery and an occasional joke or two can make it more pleasant. Dispatch all your duties with enthusiasm. If you work with enthusiasm, your players will do the same.
Love Your Job, Do It With Pride. If you do not love coaching, you won’t give it the time necessary to succeed. If your job is work rather than enjoyment, you’d better start looking for another field of enjoyment.
Never present an idea to the head coach, the team or the public without having thought it completely through. Neatness, accuracy and efficiency should be the guidelines for all your written reports to the head coach and the staff.