Hinshaw, Emily

HHP 324-Buchanan
4/11/16
Coaching Philosophy
Throughout this course, we have explored a variety of ideas
related to coaching technique and philosophy, each of which have had
a major influence on the way that I view coaching. Whether it is
related to coaching identity, the technical, physical, and moral aspects
of coaching, or moral responsibilities of coaches, I have absorbed a
great deal of information that has assisted in solidifying my own
coaching philosophy and helped me evaluate my strengths and
limitations related to coaching. Since my current plan is to pursue
coaching as a career, all of the knowledge that I have obtained through
this course has been incredibly relevant and constructive. Many of my
opinions regarding leading a successful team have been altered both
through personal experience and acquired knowledge. With all of this
being said, I feel that there is a great deal that I still have to learn, and
my coaching philosophy will most likely be altered some with gained
experience, but following this course, I feel that I have a solid
understanding of who I want to be as a coach and the necessary tools
to begin the journey.
This semester, I was fortunate enough to be given the
opportunity to fulfill the role as head coach for the first time in my
sports career. For as long as I can remember, sports have been ones of
the most significant and influential aspects of my life, and for the first
time, I was able to see things from a different perspective. It was

incredibly challenging at times, and there were some instances where I

felt that I was doing everything wrong, but overall, it was one of the
greatest challenges that I have ever experienced. One of the major
ideas that I gained from my involvement is my opinion on coaching
identity. Going into the job, I thought I was clear on the type of coach
that I wanted to be, based on the different types of coaches I had
played for, but I was wrong.
Although the technical and skill-based side of coaching is
important for success, I feel that the most important aspect is
character growth and development, and that is what I want to reflect
most strongly in my coaching identity. I feel that in order to gain trust
and respect from athletes, one must make a conscious effort to relate
to players outside of the sport and take interest in athletes on a
personal level. In other words, I want to be the type of coach that
players respect and want to listen to because they trust that my
actions are always in their best interest. Another aspect that is very
important to me is attitude on the court (or on the field), which I feel
translates into effort in play. For example, I feel that when athletes
come to practices and matches with a positive attitude about the
game, then they are more likely to work hard towards improvement
and absorb the constructive advice that is given to them. On that
note, I feel that player attitudes rely heavily on the attitude of the
coach, so one of my major personal goals is to create a positive
learning atmosphere for my athletes. I know that I personally have

played for coaches who constantly brought negative energy into the
gym, and that had a significant negative effect on team chemistry,
which, in turn had a negative impact on overall success. Another
challenge that I faced during my first coaching experience was the
realization that you cant please everyone. I coached a group of fifteen
and sixteen-year-olds, and it was far from boring. On top of dealing
with athletes who couldnt care less some days and volleyball being
the most important thing in the world to them on others, I had to deal
with a few parents who thought that their children needed more
individual attention than others and constantly criticized the way that I
ran practices. Although it made me want to pull my hair out at times, I
am grateful for the patience and openness that I gained through the
process.
When reflecting on my coaching philosophy, I do feel that it
strongly reflects the statement that sport provides coaches the
opportunity to realize a range of [1] technical, [2] physical and [3]
moral excellences (Hardman & Jones, p. 72). Obviously, a big part of
sport is the technical side and improving physically in order to achieve
success. For example, it is necessary to spend the majority of time in
practice focusing on specific skill sets and fitness in order to improve.
Through the technical and physical improvements and excellences,
however, many moral advancements can be achieved with the proper
guidance. Personally, I do feel that winning is important, but I do not
think that it is everything. I believe that technical and physical

improvement paired with an emphasis on good values is the key to

running a successful program, and in turn, preparing athletes for life
after sports. In reality, things are not always going to go according to
planned and life is not always going to be easy, but the biggest and
one of the most important lessons that I have learned through sports is
how to deal with adversity with grace and poise, and that is something
that I hope to instill on the athletes that I will work with in the future.
Lastly, when referring to the coach, as a central cog in the
sports environment, has moral responsibilities reaching far beyond the
purely technical and tactical (Jones et al. 2004; Jones 2007 as cited in
Hardman & Jones, p. 72), I believe that the statement couldnt be
anymore accurate. It is the responsibility of the coach to set a positive
moral example for athletes and hold each to a high standard.
Consistency is key, especially when coaching young athletes, when
developing players from both a moral and technical standpoint. It can
be very hard to punish your players at times, but it is so important for
them to be able to distinguish between right and wrong. As a coach, I
feel that one of the most important qualities to possess includes not
only always setting a positive example, but also practicing what you
preach.
Two of the secrets of successful coaches had a major influence
on my philosophy on coaching. The first states that Because credible
coaches are genuine and inspiring in their approach, they create an
environment where athletes feel valued, appreciated, challenged, and

competent. In doing so they build their athletes confidence and guide

them to their goals (Janssen & Dale, p. 18). As discussed earlier in the
essay, I want to be the type of coach that athletes want to work hard
for, and this tip strongly reflects that idea. The next secret that
greatly impacted me states, Credible coaches have attitudes worth
catching because they have a passion for their sport and coaching.
They love what they do and seem to be totally invested in what they
are doing (Janssen & Dale, p 108-109). This speaks a lot to me
because I do not see coaching as a job. My love for playing the sport
of volleyball has transferred into the desire to coach and share my
passion with others.
My first coaching experience gave me the unique opportunity to
really evaluate my strengths and limitations in the field. As far as
strengths, I feel that I do a good job of taking interest and earning the
respect of my athletes. I also work very hard to set a positive example
for my girls both on and off the court. My current situation is very cool
in the fact that, because I am still playing at the collegiate level, the
girls that Im coaching are able to observe me in both the coaching role
and as a player. As far as limitations, I have a bad problem of striving
for perfection within the sport, and I do not like to make mistakes, one
of the biggest lessons that I am in the process of learning is that it is
okay to make mistakes, and that each will make me a better coach in
the long run. I also struggle sometimes with the fact that I am young
because there are times that I think the girls lose sight of the fact that I

am in a position of authority. It was sometimes hard to punish my girls

when they went to far because I did feel so close to them, but in the
end, it only made the player-coach relationship stronger.
Although Im sure that my coaching philosophy will change as I
gain more experience, I feel that Ive had a solid start and good
understanding of the kind of coach that I want to be. This course and
its materials have helped to shape my opinions a great deal, and I am
excited to see how they continue to reflect in both my coaching
technique and in my play as I enter my senior season. I could not be
more excited about pursing the career field, and I am grateful for all
that Ive learned thus far and all that is yet to come.

Works Cited
Hardman, A., & Jones, C. R. (2011). The ethics of sports coaching.
Milton Park,
Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
Janssen, J., & Dale, G. A. (2002). The seven secrets of successful
coaches: How
to unlock and unleash your team's full potential. Cary, NC:
Winning The Mental Game.