Find the Right Coach for You – The Key to Success!
In this article we will go over something that we at Athleticademix believe is incredibly important: finding the right coach for you! And the impact a good coach can have on your college adventure.
Find the Right Coach for You – The Key to Success!
It cannot be underestimated how important it is to find a coaching staff that fits exactly what you need.
Many factors will come into play when you eventually have to choose which of all the offers to accept. The size of the scholarship will be a significant factor, as will the athletic and academic level.
But this article will go over something that we at Athleticademix believe is incredibly important: finding the right coach for you! And the impact a good coach can have on your college adventure.
A Strong Bond is Key
As with getting to know any new people, the first impression is crucial! Every coach you will talk to will subconsciously evaluate you when you speak for the first time. You should also do the same when speaking to coaches! Coaches work in different ways; some are very outgoing and lead the conversation, while others may be more reserved and prefer to hear you talk more than they speak themselves. Neither approach is better than the other, but it’s essential to find out what type of leader you like.
It’s very important that you feel a strong bond with the coach or coaching staff early on. By coaching staff, we mean both the head coach and their assistant coaches. If you feel comfortable with your coaches, your final decision will feel much easier. After all, these are people you will spend A LOT of time with during your college experience.
More Than Just a Coach
During your college process, your coach will have many more roles than just being your coach. To begin with, they are recruiters/salespeople when they try to convince you to choose their university and program. Once you’re there, their job is to develop you as an athlete so that their sports program improves. In addition, it is their job to ensure that you have all the tools you need to excel in the classroom.
The coaches’ roles are evaluated by winning matches, titles, but also how many of their athletes actually graduate. Therefore, it’s important for them to help you in every aspect of your college adventure.
Aside from their professional roles, your coach will also serve as a mentor for you during this time. They will be the person you turn to when you feel homesick or go through a tough period. A good coach can sense when things are not right even before you talk to them. The coach is there to help you!
At some universities, the coach is also a teacher and lecturer for specific courses. Depending on the courses you take, your coach might even be one of your professors. In that case, it’s more important than ever to maintain a good relationship so you can work your way to an A in the course. 😉
What Coaching Style Do You Prefer?
We’ve all had different types of coaches throughout our athletic careers. Your coach might have been someone’s parent (maybe your own), a coach in an NIU program, or a coach in your club team. One thing is certain: you’ve had coaches you liked and those you didn’t. Sit down and think about what made you feel this way, and try to apply that when you go through your college process.
In a recruitment process, you are only relying on what the coach says. Therefore, it can be difficult to get to know the ”true” coaching style of your coaching staff, which is why it’s important to get an inside look. See tips below!
If you’re an athlete who doesn’t perform well under a coach who is very strict, you need to take that into consideration when making your decision. It could also be the opposite—if you prefer a more authoritarian style, then perhaps a more relaxed and personal coach isn’t for you.
Tip! A coaching staff typically consists of a head coach and 1-4 assistant coaches. Make sure to speak to everyone on the staff before making your decision. You need to have a good feeling about the coaching staff as a whole.
Get an Inside Opinion – Ask Current Players!
In addition to speaking with the coaches multiple times, you should ask the coach for contact details of players on the team. If possible, ask for contact information for different types of athletes on the team. For example, talk to someone entering their final year, someone who has just started, and so on.
Speaking with an international athlete can sometimes be very helpful. After all, that person has gone through a similar journey to the one you are about to embark on, so getting insight into their experience is incredibly valuable.
Summary
In the end, there are many factors you should consider when choosing a coach. If there’s one thing we can relate to from the success of happy athletes, it’s that they play for a coach they like and get playing time. These are far more important factors than geography, cities, and the size of the campus. If you find a coach who believes in you, and you trust them, knowing that you will compete for the school and get playing time, then finding the right coach for you is our key to success!