ONSIDE DIGITAL LEARNING

What do we actually mean by 'a good coach'?  Do we mean a coach who is successful and wins lots of trophies?  Do we mean someone who looks after the interests of their players?  Do we mean someone tactically astute and with all of the latest training methods at their fingertips?

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What if we have a coach who has a great winning record but is extremely difficult to work for - do we define them as a good coach?  What about the opposite scenario, whereby we have a coach who works well in developing players and is popular but who has a poor win record - are they a good coach?

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The answers to these questions come down to opinion.  If we look at modern professional football we can see media debates about coaches all of the time.  For example, when Jose Mourinho returned to manage Chelsea he won the Premier League in his second season back at the club but was sacked the following year with claims that he had lost the confidence of some senior players and results going against him.  When Pep Guardiola moved to Manchester City many people claimed his first season was a disappointment.  Was that actually the case? 

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It is very important therefore to define what we see personally as success.  As a coach what do we want to achieve?  Do we place an emphasis on winning over everything else?  Is success developing players and improving them?  Do all of these things have to be mutually exclusive to one another?  These decisions are yours as an individual and it is important that you decide what you want to prioritise.  In the next segment of the course we will be watching a presentation given by basketball coach John Wooden.  As you watch the video try to consider what you think were Wooden's priorities as a coach.