Mentors Play Important Role in Success of New Coaches

The first game of the season is finally here and the excitement on campus is palpable. The athletes are ready to take the field and the new head coach is brimming with excitement. The coach interviewed well and embraced the responsibilities that came with such proud school traditions, yet a voice still arose bringing forth doubts – did the coach really prepare the athletes well enough and what would be the true measure of success?

This type of scenario plays out whenever there is a new season with a new coach. School leaders will never be able to eliminate all doubts within personnel, but they can create systems that allow veteran coaches to share guidance tips and mentor new candidates.

With proper supervision and care, new coaches can flourish and achieve meaningful longevity, especially when mentors take the time to teach necessary school and safety procedures, take the time to get to know the person behind the coach, emphasize creating a fun learning atmosphere that fosters meaningful participation, and encourage a growth mindset that promotes networking and professional development.

Emphasize the Importance of Creating a Safe Environment
Whenever school leaders get the opportunity to pair new coaches with veteran leaders, schools can strengthen their programs and gain the mutual benefit of combining new energy and excitement with experienced practices. Mentors bring a variety of experiences that they can share with new personnel as they have experienced both success and challenge and can share their chosen paths with others.

It is important that school leaders emphasize to mentors that they can and should share their ideas and experiences – especially their ideas regarding safe environments. New coaches may have several ideas on how they want to improve, but not all new ideas may place safety above all other standards. Mentors should listen to the plans a new coach wants to implement, but also share possible negative outcomes of proposed changes so that the new coach can better align ideas with safety as a key point. It is in these conversations that mentors may recognize unsafe practices that could lead to criticism, athlete injury, and even potential employment termination depending on the situation.

By giving new coaches a sounding board, it allows them to better plan for positive outcomes. For example, a new coach may want to hold a post-practice team bonding session at a local restaurant. This could be a great opportunity for bonding, but it may also be an opportunity for students to engage in risky and possibly damaging behaviors if not properly supervised. Furthermore, if finances for some athletes are challenging, it may amplify inequity and do more to divide than unify. Veteran coaches can listen to such a plan and give advice so that the team experiences a successful, safe event.

Get to Know the Person Behind the Coach
Coach mentoring is dependent upon trust and open dialogue. Getting to know a coach personally builds collegiality and helps produce a collaborative environment. This can be extremely helpful when conversations arise that may be viewed as difficult. Mentors who demonstrate reflection in strategic conversations will allow coaches to practice self-reflection so that they can analyze their practices and create self-initiated growth goals.

How often have coaches been asked how they are doing with no reference being made to the work at hand? Simply stopping to take time to get to know coaches personally will enable school personnel to better support coaches consistently with all aspects of their programs.

Getting to know coaches can be part of the fabric of any athletic program. Many schools offer events for coaches with their families to build a family culture throughout. For example, some plan camping trips, retreats or visits to amusement parks. No matter what events are created, it is extremely critical to have consistent dialogue with coaches on an ongoing daily basis and provide new coaches access to site leaders when they seek guidance. This daily dialogue creates a strong foundation that builds capacity in a holistic approach of ongoing support.

Emphasize Creating Fun, Meaningful Participation
Far too often we hear stories of how the drive of a new coach can sometimes pull the excitement and fun from athletics. In the quest to prove they are a worthy hire, new coaches may overemphasize game outcomes over process; but if students win all their games and lose their passion for playing the game, has the coach truly won?

Veteran mentors can provide context and background so that new coaches are able to gain the valued student perspective; students want to work hard, but they also want to have fun and create meaningful bonds with their teammates. With a supportive mentoring environment for coaches, athletes are more likely to meaningfully participate, contribute to the team, have fun and be validated by the coach. Such values create fun for both the coach and the athlete and much of it is fostered by quality mentorship.

Be Available to Help and Encourage Networking
One of the most important factors with networking and professional development is to provide open access for a coach to dialogue with school personnel on-site and beyond. This is extremely important to their growth and development, personal confidence and their commitment to the institution.

Professional development opportunities are available to coaches for a variety of topics. Leaders need to support attendance at conferences and summits to assist coaches with personal growth on an ongoing basis. Providing opportunities for general coaching techniques, legal courses, sport-specific skills as well as child development education is extremely valuable to ensure coaches have the “tools” necessary to build quality programs.

With any professional development, it is also important to create consistent follow-up to show support and interest in what a coach has learned. Frequently, with professional development, transitions to new topics become a regular occurrence with no time to review. As a result, school leaders should have mentors work with new coaches to design a plan for professional development that builds upon previous opportunities and encourages the coach to share new discoveries with the entire department. In addition, the power of networking locally, regionally, statewide and nationally is very valuable and opens access to different levels of expertise and should be highly encouraged.

Final Thoughts
New coaches face a variety of opportunities and challenges throughout the start of their careers, but school leaders can create scaffolds with veteran mentors that allow them to experience success. When leaders pair up veterans and new coaches, they increase the chances students will achieve successful outcomes that transcend the final score on the scoreboard; students are then free to generate positive memories that serve them long after they finish their athletic careers and could even be a catalyst to propel them to be the next generation of coaches.