THE COACHES 9 C’S

I’ve been a NIS coach for nearly 10yrs and I have understood few things about coaching at the top. I’ve figured out 9 points, and I call them the 9 c’s of coaching. They are not fancy or complicated just clear, obvious qualities that a true qualified NIS coach should have. 

So here’s my C list: 

1)   Curiosity: 

A coach should show curiosity. He has to listen to people outside the “yes sir crowd”. He has read voraciously because the world is a complicated place. He has to understand the nature of different players and parents and for this the coach has to to be keen to learn things at his strides.

2)   Creative:

A coach has to be creative be willing to try something different. he should think outside the box. Coaching is all about managing changes – whether you are coaching a club or a country. Things change and you should be creative. You adapt.

3)   Communication:

A coach has to be a good communicator. I’m not talking about running off at the mouth or spouting sound bites. I’m talking about facing reality and telling the truth to the players and parents. Keep them informed. Communication has to start with telling the truth even when if it is painful.

4)   Character:

A coach has to be a person of character – knowing the difference between right and wrong and having the guts to do the right thing. As the saying goes “if you want to test a man’s character give him power”.

5)   Courage:

A coach should be courageous. Swaggering isn’t courage or tough talking. Courage in the 21st century doesn’t mean posturing and bravado. Courage is the commitment to sit down at the negotiating table and talk. If you are coach courage means taking up a position/stand even when you know that you may loose a player.

6)    Conviction:

A coach should have conviction – a fire in your belly. You’ve got to have passion for the game. You as a coach should really want to get the things done your way.

7)   Charisma:

A coach should carry with him the aura that pulls the players to him. Charisma is the quality that makes people follows you. It’s the ability to inspire some one. It’s the ability that makes the people follow him as they trust him.

8)    Competent:

A coach should know what he is doing, should be competent enough in his field. More important you should surround yourself with people who know what they are doing.

9)   Commonsense:

You can’t be a coach if you don’t have commonsense. A coach should know the depth of basic knowledge needed to convince people and take them in his stride. In total the coaching profession is not a joke which any tom/dick/harry can take it up. It’s a serious profession and only a qualified NIS coach can do justice to the job.