May/June 2019 - 23

that they can and will be successful. Credible coaches
have a special knack for making people feel good about
themselves, capable of achieving almost anything they
set their minds to. They are demanding and set high
standards, yet they are patient enough to help athletes
develop and improve. When athletes do fall short, as
all of them sometimes do, credible coaches use a good
balance of being challenging and supportive to help them
get back on track.
6
Communicator. Credible coaches are excellent
communicators.
They are open, honest,
and direct when
communicating with
individuals and the
team. They continually
remind and refocus
people on what they need
to do to be successful. Credible coaches seek to involve
their athletes as much as possible and value the input
they receive from them. They have a remarkable ability
to truly listen to their athletes. They take the time to
understand where people are coming from and are able
to make decisions accordingly. Because of their ability
to listen, credible coaches are often aware of concerns
and conflicts and proactively address them before they
become major problems or distractions.
Consistent. Credible coaches develop a sound
philosophy of coaching. This philosophy remains
stable over time, but they are flexible enough to adapt to
7
Credible coaches bring a consistent mood to
practices and games, regardless of whether their
team is winning or losing.
changing situations or personnel. Credible coaches bring
a consistent mood to practices and games, regardless of
whether their team is winning or losing. They control
their emotions in the heat of battle and convey a sense of
consistency to their athletes by not letting the highs get too
high or the lows get too low. They maintain a consistent
approach to the rules and standards of the team. They
tend to have few rules, but they are consistent in how
they apply them whether a player is a starter or reserve.
Credible coaches tend to be highly organized people who
take their practice and
game preparation very
seriously.
As you can see, these
seven secrets are what
make these coaches so
special. Invest the time
to rate yourself on each
of the seven secrets of successful coaches, and if you are
courageous, ask your athletes and athletic administrators
how they would rate you. Athletic directors should
evaluate their coaches on these seven qualities regularly
and use them when hiring new coaches.
Coaches who are deficient in these critical leadership
areas will have little credibility with their followers. For
coaches who have them all, their athletes will run through
walls for them and likely perform at a high level.
For more info on helping your team win championships,
visit www.JanssenSportsLeadership.com.
WINNINGHOOPS.COM 23
http://www.JanssenSportsLeadership.com http://www.WINNINGHOOPS.COM
May/June 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May/June 2019
