The Negative Behaviors of Coaches: “Don’t Be This Guy!”

Authors

  • Craig Stewart

Abstract

Introduction: Kickoff is 11:00 am and all the players are on the pitch being warmed up by a parent—all the players except one, of course, and her father, the coach. Sure, it is only an under-8 recreational match, but don’t all players deserve a responsible coach? When he finally wanders in from the parking lot, he is in his cutoffs and flip flops, his appearance reflecting the attitudes and mutterings of many of the parents: “He is probably hung over again.”

This article is 10 years of athletes’ and former athletes’ perceptions and memories that characterize their worst coaches. Students in introduction to coaching classes were asked to recall their worst coach and list up to 10 characteristics of that individual. The students were instructed not to reveal names, but rather they were told to provide the gender of the coach along with specific demographic information about their own playing careers. The qualitative analysis of the responses allowed the author to summarize those behaviors that, in the memories of the students, characterized “my worst coach.” The objective was to use those memories in the coach education curriculum to exemplify what behaviors future coaches should avoid.

Downloads

Published

2013-01-15

Issue

Section

Articles