Coaching a sports team takes a lot of work and effort. Coaches rarely perform better than the players they coach. In fact, many coaches these days were pretty average players when they played the game. They are responsible for preparing sports teams or individuals to compete and guiding them through their particular game or event successfully. Drills, practices, and scrimmages are conducted prior to the event to prepare the athlete or team for competition. To aid in victory as well, coaches usually have a playbook and make sure the team correctly executes plays on it. Some other duties that coaches have include recruiting players and some general manager responsibilities.

Great sports coaches inspire their teams to believe that they can win. Some well-known coaches who were known for sparking excitement and inspiration include former UCLA coach John Wooden, Penn State soccer coach Joe Paterno, Tennessee Vol coach Pat Summit, and gymnastics coach Bela Karolyi. To be a successful coach you must know that your players (or team) need to be mentally, physically and emotionally in tune. One coach who seems to master the balance of these elements within his team is Phil Jackson. Jackson realizes that his players must learn to expand, refine, and focus on all of these areas to truly excel and dominate their sport.

Now the question becomes why do some coaches constantly win and others seem to always lose? One element of a winning team is being fit. A good coach understands that this learns to motivate his players to stay fit, eat healthy and avoid drugs and other substances that are harmful to their body. Another element that good coaches use to ensure victories is to ensure that players are aware of playing time situations. We all remember 1993 when Chris Webber called for a timeout in the closing seconds of the game when the team didn’t have one. I don’t blame the coach for that loss, but that’s an example to show how vital it is to convey key information to his team. This turns into good coaches who put their athletes to the test mentally, which means that the winning teams are smart teams.

The last element that makes a good coach is making sure your team plays as one and within the spectrum of the rules. The best coaches mold teams into cooperative units that work as one. The coach instructs the great teams to play within the rules of the game. Also, if the team plays as a unit, they learn to win as a team and to lose as one. Teams that continually win are often coached by people who see sport as a way to lead a richer and more fulfilling life. They help their players prioritize sport in their daily lives rather than letting the sport consume it.

In conclusion, good coaches are good teachers. They work hard to develop skills, secure values, and guide their athletes to success. Winning coaches win because they have used the players’ skill, know the rule, understand the value of communication, and believe in commitment. The character of a coach and his ability to teach are the main winning elements. Good coaches tend to bond with their players long after they complete their athletic contests.