Thousands of children look up to their coaches as role models, showing them the way and providing another ear to listen to them – so a good example must be set.
Grassroots coaches, by and large, are volunteers that have stepped up when no one else would. More often than not, they are the parent of one of the players in the team with no other ambition than to make sure their girl or boy has something to look forward to at the weekend.
Unfortunately, some coaches do not hold themselves to the same standards. Displays of improper conduct, either towards the opposition, match officials, or even their own players, set a bad example for how youngsters should behave.
Players must have a positive role model in their coach as they are shaping them both on and off the pitch.
Examples of Bad Role Models
Former Wales and Everton defender Ashley Williams has been caught up in controversy very recently, appearing to lash out while coaching an Under-12s side. Video footage appears to show the Welshman throwing punches and grabbing another coach in a headlock.
There are many examples of coaches setting poor examples on the touchline, which inevitably leads to players following in their footsteps. Where coaches set the example, children follow and that often leads to poor conduct in the direction of referees, causing many young officials to walk away from the game.
As well as poor conduct on the touchline, other examples include grassroots junior coaches that place more importance on winning than developing players. Young children left on the bench in favour of ‘stronger’ players to give the team the best opportunity to win a game at junior level – and then coaches don’t understand why those players do not develop.
Coaches have a responsibility to make sure that players in their care enjoy their sport and have the opportunity to develop just as much on the pitch as they do off it.
Good Coaches
Being a grassroots coach certainly isn’t an easy job, with many classing it as a thankless one…many of those being coaches themselves. You sacrifice more of your own time than you ever signed up for, you soon learn that you will never keep everyone happy and you do it all for free.
It’s not glamorous at all, and yet thousands of coaches live and breathe their hobby because it is a passion. They may not be the best tactically, or indeed the most inventive in training, but great grassroots coaches can connect with their players.
They build up their players’ confidence, regardless of result or performance, and show them how to conduct themselves. They do this by respecting their players, opposition and match officials.
Forget Results
Results do not matter in junior grassroots sport. They should always be seen as secondary to the memories that are being created – some of the best memories can be made against the backdrop of defeat.
In 20 years, scorelines will be forgotten but how a coach made that player feel will always be remembered.
