Behaviour Management in Coaching
Behaviour management styles are often ill interpreted as ‘how to punish players’, however behaviour management actually refers to how the coach deals with all kinds of behaviour within the session, whether this be negative aspects, or positive. So not only must we consider discipline, but also praise, and how to best manage each individual and the group as a whole.
Through my experience in studying coaching and teaching, I have learnt various styles and methods of behaviour management in great depth, with many aspects considered in high levels of detail. However, my experiences in coaching and teaching tell me different to what a lot of research and texts say. This topic, like many in coaching, can be analysed in as much or as little detailed as required, so rather than over complicating things, let’s make things as simple as possible.
Behaviour management styles are often ill interpreted as ‘how to punish players’, however behaviour management actually refers to how the coach deals with all kinds of behaviour within the session, whether this be negative aspects, or positive. So not only must we consider discipline, but also praise, and how to best manage each individual and the group as a whole.
Through my experience in studying coaching and teaching, I have learnt various styles and methods of behaviour management in great depth, with many aspects considered in high levels of detail. However, my experiences in coaching and teaching tell me different to what a lot of research and texts say. This topic, like many in coaching, can be analysed in as much or as little detailed as required, so rather than over complicating things, let’s make things as simple as possible.
The examples below use mini-soccer age grassroots coaching, and coaching KS1 and KS2 after-school football clubs.
If we desire to look at this topic simply, we can relatively easily divide coaches into two categories, those who resort to shouting at their players to command respect, and those who do not. The example I’m about to use may seem bizarre and a little distant from the coaching world, but just go with it...
Let’s take a well trained dog; a well trained dog has respect for it’s owner, and this respect is often mutual. The owner takes care of the dog, but the dog does it’s asked, and told, because this is what has learnt to do over time, and recognises that the owner treats it well, and in return, the dog follows it’s commands.
Alternatively, we could look at a well loved, but untrained dog. Who, most of the time, behaves ‘okay’ but pushes it’s luck relatively often. It barks at the television, it barks at the door, it demands to be taken for walks as and when it wants. The owners grin and bare it, and leave the dog to do as it pleases for as long as they can, until they get fed up, at which point the shout back at the dog, yelling instructions such as ‘shutup’ ‘get out’ or ‘will somebody sort the dog out’. Coincidently, this is a dog, not a human, and unfortunately doesn’t understand the human language, therefore this ends up in an alpha-male style clash of attitudes and a ‘who can shout the loudest’ battle, until eventually the resolution is to shut the dog out in the garden. Not much of a resolution is it?
If we desire to look at this topic simply, we can relatively easily divide coaches into two categories, those who resort to shouting at their players to command respect, and those who do not. The example I’m about to use may seem bizarre and a little distant from the coaching world, but just go with it...
Let’s take a well trained dog; a well trained dog has respect for it’s owner, and this respect is often mutual. The owner takes care of the dog, but the dog does it’s asked, and told, because this is what has learnt to do over time, and recognises that the owner treats it well, and in return, the dog follows it’s commands.
Alternatively, we could look at a well loved, but untrained dog. Who, most of the time, behaves ‘okay’ but pushes it’s luck relatively often. It barks at the television, it barks at the door, it demands to be taken for walks as and when it wants. The owners grin and bare it, and leave the dog to do as it pleases for as long as they can, until they get fed up, at which point the shout back at the dog, yelling instructions such as ‘shutup’ ‘get out’ or ‘will somebody sort the dog out’. Coincidently, this is a dog, not a human, and unfortunately doesn’t understand the human language, therefore this ends up in an alpha-male style clash of attitudes and a ‘who can shout the loudest’ battle, until eventually the resolution is to shut the dog out in the garden. Not much of a resolution is it?
Hopefully you’ve started to notice the relevance of the slightly outrageous analogy; if a coach can develop a level of mutual respect with their players, then it is much less likely that problems will arise, resulting in a smooth relationship between the pair. Of course, this level of mutual respect is one that all strive for, but very few reach, due to the size of the challenge and the extreme patience required for the task.
To summarise; be as patient as you can be, give your players ownership of their development and the sessions they participate in, make them believe in themselves, show your players respect and avoid any 'I'm in charge' scenarios.
Coaches and players are on a reciprocal path of development, and both parties need the other in order to succeed, one party cannot enjoy progress without the others' efforts.
To summarise; be as patient as you can be, give your players ownership of their development and the sessions they participate in, make them believe in themselves, show your players respect and avoid any 'I'm in charge' scenarios.
Coaches and players are on a reciprocal path of development, and both parties need the other in order to succeed, one party cannot enjoy progress without the others' efforts.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DuaV6UKtP0s
Please watch the video via the link above. Mutual respect? Player enjoyment? Behaving because of fear? How long until they quit?
It's time to think, Think Coaching.
Please watch the video via the link above. Mutual respect? Player enjoyment? Behaving because of fear? How long until they quit?
It's time to think, Think Coaching.