Coaching Philosophy

Coaching is not easy; it demands time, energy, and effort. It requires the coach to be an

instructor, a disciplinarian, a role model, a counselor, and a trainer. Coaches should develop a

coaching philosophy to guarantee they are prepared for the task at hand. A well-developed

coaching philosophy aids in the development of a successful team by answering questions that

may arise before, during, and after the season. Additionally, it serves as a resource for parents

and student-athletes to understand what is expected of them.

My mission as a high school coach is to provide my student-athletes with a welcoming

environment where they have the opportunity to excel academically and physically in their sport

while developing their character, ethical standards, and, most importantly, having fun. To

accomplish this, my athletes must follow my three principles: respect, communication, and trust.

I will focus on meeting each unique athlete’s demands to ensure everyone participates and has

fun. There will always be a place on my team for any athlete to join. This will allow me to have

an athlete-centered environment where they can contribute to decision-making, resulting in

increased commitment to the sport and team.

As a coach, I want to ensure that all is fair. This means that I have to make judgments

regarding ethical issues. I believe that my athletes and I should play fair. It is not a good win if

we have to bend or twist the rules to win. I want my team to play ethically and fairly while

adhering to the spirit of the rules. To me, this is more important than ensuring our win. As

mentioned previously, my goal is to grow my athlete’s character and morals by respecting rules.

If I notice an athlete does not respect the rules, there will be consequences. I am not going to

punish them by making them run laps. That is counterproductive, making them consider running
as a punishment. I will have a one-on-one talk about their decision. I want to find their reason for

why they broke the rules and explain how it was a poor choice. I will relate it to how breaking

rules can affect their future. Additionally, I will have them sit out at a competition/race. This will

show that their actions have consequences.

Communication is a crucial component of a successful team. I expect my athletes to

communicate with me about how they feel emotionally and physically. Their emotions can affect

how well they perform. If there is trouble at home, school, with friends, etc., it can affect their

performance negatively. As their coach, I will be there to offer advice, console, or listen. If they

feel any physical pain, I expect them to notify me. Pushing through pain will not improve their

performance; it can hinder it. Since I expect communication from them, I will communicate with

them. I will make it clear how I am feeling about the team. I will provide praise and feedback

about the team and individual athletes. I will implement a team saying we will say before

practices and competitions. This helps with building trust.

A sports team runs on trust. I want my athletes to trust that I am preparing them for

competitions and life. To have my athletes trust me, I will respect and communicate with them,

as mentioned previously. This entails allowing my athletes to make decisions on their own. If

they choose not to compete in an event they usually run, I will respect their wishes, but I will ask

why. If they feel injured, I will assist with recovering. If they feel burnt out, they will have that

time to relax. I am there to support my athletes, which allows me to build respect,

communication, and trust. These principles lead to a successful team.

A successful team is not determined by their wins. It is determined by their participation

and community. I believe that winning is a crucial component of competition; however, it is not
everything. I want to focus on my athletes’ participation in practice and competition. Having fun

will instill a passion in the athlete toward the sport they are playing. They will be more

committed to improving their skills and themselves if they have that desire. It is essential that

they have fun while learning valuable lessons that will benefit them throughout their lives.

Deciding on the frequency and time devoted to practices and competitions can be

challenging. A coach can emphasize quantity or quality; I want to accentuate quality. My athletes

are students before players. I will provide them time to dedicate to their academics,

extracurriculars, and social activities. Furthermore, focusing on well-organized, efficient

practices helps the athletes master the skill faster through carefully developed drills rather than

on repetition. This helps to accomplish more in less time, preventing burnout. A competition

schedule should allow players to demonstrate improvement but not enough to cause overuse

injuries.

While a coaching philosophy tells the students what they should expect from me as their

coach, I want to check in on myself to ensure that I am following my philosophy. Am I ensuring

all athletes are involved? Are my athletes contributing to the decision-making? Am I obeying

and respecting the rules of the sport? Are my athletes obeying and respecting the rules of the

sport? Am I holding my athletes accountable for their actions? Am I encouraging and supporting

my athletes? Am I preparing my athletes to the best of my ability? Am I respecting my athletes’

time? Checking in with myself before, during, and after the season will help ensure that I am

coaching to the best of my ability.

Overall, I want my team to become a family. We will spend a lot of time together, so

there must be respect, communication, and trust. I will be there to support my athletes in any way
possible. For instance, provide positive feedback, have a team saying, and focus on participation

and quality practices. However, there will be consequences for athletes that do not obey these

principles. I do not anticipate enforcing my consequences since I know my team will be terrific

students, athletes, and citizens.