The importance of a coach
“A good coach sees in you what you can’t see in yourself.” Pep Guardiola. That’s the secret which separates a great coach from a good coach. Each player we idolise today has been moulded by their coaches to reach the level they are today. A coach is not someone who just makes a player technically sound, but also advises, guides, motivates, and most importantly disciplines him/her to strive towards achieving greatness.
Growing up, we always feared our coaches as they were hard on us, it was only later in our lives we realised they did it because they knew our potential, and what we could become. Granted it may not have been the efficient way to get the best out of someone, but the fear of not being shouted at afterwards made us perform better. Having said that, that is not who a coach is supposed to be, instilling fear on to others to achieve results. The most important quality a coach should possess is empathy. Being a coach, I realised that once you empathize with your students, you will not only understand them better but also build their belief and confidence to make them perform better.
Parents need to understand that a coach is merely someone who helps a child unlock their potential. He/she gives your child the confidence, as well as impart technical knowledge to make your child a better player. Over the last couple of years, there has been a significant rise in the level of football coaching in India. As Indians, we were always under the impression that a former player who has played at the highest level will make a great coach. Sorry to burst your bubble, that is entirely untrue. As I mentioned earlier, a coach is someone who not only has good technical knowledge but is also able to communicate and transfer his/her knowledge to students effectively.
A coach must possess the following qualities:
- Knowledgeable
- Supportive
- Motivator
- Patience
- Advisor
- Communicator
- Teacher
- Technically and tactically skilled
At the end of the day, a student preaches what you teach. As we rightly stand by our name “G.O.A.L” – Giving Opportunities for Athletes to Learn, we have ensured that all our coaches not only have the necessary pre-requisites but also possess effective communication skills to deliver best-in-class coaching. As an academy, our ethos has always been on strengthening grassroots and developing youth. Keeping that in mind, we have not only hired coaches but have also developed training plans that resonate with our mission and vision.
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