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Sports
scholars hold forth that the main role of a youth coach is to provide an
environment where athletes can develop with the aim of maximizing their potential.
By contrast, coaches have shifted their consideration from improving excellence
in players to focusing on immediate results only.
Coaches
who are developmentally-oriented often lose their best players to ‘winning
teams’ who guarantee scholarships. Such coaches play all their athletes and
even risk defeat in pursuit of teaching for the long-term gain.
It’s
important to note that excellence encompasses the whole process whereas winning
is about short term outcome. Excellence cultivates a growth mindset in athletes
that’s crucial in learning. In comparison, winning promotes outcome-focused and
a fixed brain that fears failure and defeat. Also, it trashes effort as part of
the development process.
Excellence
coaching gives room for learning and failures. Coaches who subscribe to the
excellence philosophy consider individual differences in growth as opposed to
results oriented counterparts who view players as a homogenous block.
Kenyan
coaches need to shift their philosophy from being results oriented to an
excellence approach. Research shows that coaches who execute a development
approach are met with setbacks from fans and sponsors. Therefore, there’s need
for collaboration and understanding between players, fans and sponsors.
Communicating the rationale behind your philosophy and decisions is paramount.
Do
youth coaches want their players to win all matches in their lifetime? So easy.
Play in a low tier league, play over-aged players in wrong age bracket
competitions and without doubt you will achieve your desire.But,there will be boredom,
little learning and challenges. To add, you will fail to teach them how to
handle defeat in sports and life in broader optics.
If
you’re an adult and your well-being and emotions are tied to the result of a
u-14 youth game, you shouldn’t be coaching kids
Through
my analysis, players should learn to compete against themselves, team mates and
opponents-it fosters motivation for players to train harder and constantly
drives them off the comfort zones. All players need feedback and know their
performance matters to themselves and team. Coaches should also consider
building relationships, teaching and having discussions with players as human
beings.
Kenya
needs better coaching and an excellence coaching philosophy in youth sports.
Coaches must teach basic skills prior. I am of the opinion that if athletes are
developed wholly, winning becomes an aftermath.
Are
you an excellence or result oriented youth coach?
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