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Are You Building Up or Breaking Down?May 22, 2009 on 10:57 am | In Exercise Inspiration And Motivation, Muscle Building Articles, Strength Training | 6 CommentsCoaching and running a training program has been been packed with learning experiences for me. Unfortunately, I see too many coaches out there that break their kids down mentally and physically for no reason at all. Here is one of my reflections.
First, I’ll discuss the physcal breakdown. Coaches and trainers NEED to get the athletes to want to train. You can tout the benefits, the team aspect, their personal gain, character growth, etc. However I have seen some coaches drive their athletes into the ground for no real reason. Mental strength and fortitude is important, but coaches do not go about strengthening their players the right way. This isn’t the 50’s and you shouldn’t be yelling things like “water makes the body weak” when your athletes need a drink.
My biggest advice is to train and condition with a purpose. If someone asks you – why are we doing this – you should be able to answer quickly. Now, I’m not saying you have to defend or even answer that question, but you should know the answer. For the mental aspect, I’ll share a story. I saw a team of eigth graders being run into the ground while being berated by their coach. Phrases such as “You disguist me” “This whole team is soft,” and “You don’t want it enough!” Want what? The abuse to stop probably! Motivate, lead from the front, but seriously understand that the age group you are dealing with. To make a true difference and positive impact in an athletes life, and hopefully that’s your reason for coaching, then always being willing to learn and adapt. Be strong when it is time to be strong, and be reasonable when it is time to be reasonable. There is a difference between positive intensity and fear from your athletes.
When are those times to be strong or reasonable? Well, that’s what we are all striving to figure out, but make sure your goal is to build these athletes up with strong character and as powerful leaders, not beat them down. Do I yell occassionaly? Sure, but never out of anger towards athletes, and certainly not often. Be smart! Is this how you coach? **WARNING STRONG LANGUAGE** Did the coaches cause Taureen’s problems? Probably not, there is a ton more going on here. However, they certainly did not do much to foster character development. I will say, there are a few positives from this clip of Year of The Bull, speaking, attempts to build a team, but the way they went about it was touching on abuse. I believe most of the coaches are no longer on staff. Coaching (including training) is not easy! Are you building up athletes, or breaking them down? - Joe Hashey, CSCS - 6 Comments »RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI Leave a comment |
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Joe,
I think this is an excellent post. It reminded me of my junior high years. My 7th and 8th grade year we had the worst basketball coach I have ever seen. He best us into the ground physically and mentally. He once came into the locker room in the middle of the game and told us we should be ashamed of ourselves because we were the biggest embarrassment to ever happen to our school and our parents. I kid you not. We all looked at each other in amazement and one guy told him to kiss his a**.
Fast forward a year and one of our players, whose dad was a high school football coach, took over our team. It was like night and day. He was the best coach I ever had and taught us so much. It is amazing how one person cna make a difference like that.
When I coached midget league basketball, I was amazed at how some of the coaches would treat these kids who weer 11/12 years old. The game was supposed to be fun and you are supposed to be teaching them. Not treating them like we are playing for the NBA championship.
I just don’t udnerstand people sometimes. Teaching and coaching is a tough job, much like being a parent is. It is easier to scream at a child than it is to teach them something, maybe that is why people resort to this style so much.
There are some great ones out there. Myabe one day the great ones will out number the bad.
Josh
Comment by Josh — May 22, 2009 #
Hey Joe,
I’ve seen quite a few martial arts instructors who unleash their own personal issues onto their athletes under the guise of ‘tough training’.
Great post!
Comment by thefightgeek — May 22, 2009 #
Joe,
Coaching = teaching. Sometimes you need to be harsh, sometimes you don’t. However, what I saw in that video is not harsh. It is ridiculous. There is no excuse for the loss of control by the coaches.
Chest thumping and “dick waving” between players and coaches has no business in the game. Yet that seems to be what this coaching staff did best. They yelled, screamed, belittled and beat on this team, with no real consequences for the players who disrespected the coaches authority. (Can you blame the players for the disrespect, there was no reason for them to actually listen.)
Unfortunately, this type of coacing goes on and on and on. We recently had a hockey coach scream of “raping the opposition.” Unacceptable.
Coaching is about making athletes better. Better athletes and better humans. This type of coaching does neither.
Dave
Comment by Dave Clancy, CSCS*D, RKC — May 23, 2009 #
Another great article Joe. As a competitive athlete I saw the damages of coaches and parents who tried to push kids and break them. When I got a little older I realized that most of the people who act that way were not athletic and probably trying to live vicariously through their children. I pitied them. As a trainer, I’ve repeatedly observed that the children who experience long term success are usually the ones with parents who support them, but don’t push them.
Comment by Mike Halbfish — October 6, 2009 #
Joe,
I liked this post. In the video I think I heard the term “respect” in there about 10 times-unfortunately, I saw NO respect going on from the coaches or the players. I kill athletes with positive re-enforcement. There are very few moments when I have to get negative on my athletes, and I never have had an athlete talk back. If an athlete knows that you “really” do care-then you will earn that respect from them and they will give you the effort you are looking for. I coach just does not get repect-you need to earn it and when you do good things happen! Just my two cents!
Comment by Jerry Shreck — March 13, 2010 #
Excellent Jerry! I agree. Sounds like you are doing an excellent job of “‘building up” both their strength AND their self esteem. That’s an underrated aspect of coaching. Everyone is looking for the hottest drill or technique and sometimes overlook the basic interpersonal skills.
Joe
Comment by Admin: Joe Hashey, CSCS — March 13, 2010 #