As a coach, maintaining behavior and discipline is absolutely essential if you want to have a successful team. This discipline will transfer over from practice into games. You will win more games if you run disciplined practices. I guarantee it!How do you get discipline? You make rules. Every team I have ever coached has recieved a list of rules from me. I like to call them “expectations,” but you bet the players know they are rules. The purpose of this is to have your expectations clearly stated which your players will like. The other reason is you can hold your players accountable for the things that they do. If they have seen your list, than they have no excuse. Discipline will transfer over from practice into games. you will win more games if you run disciplined practices. I guarantee it!
Unacceptable behavior
At every club and high school I have coached at, my goal is to instill good sportsmanship at an early age. Therefore, you must correct any inappropriate behavior immediately. Here is a list that includes inappropriate behavior that should not be tolerated:
- Engaging in anything other than watching and cheering when players are on the bench
- Distracting a player that is attempting to play a ball
- Shouting or swearing in anger (even at their own play)
- Questioning or criticizing an official’s call
- Throwing or kicking the ball in anger
- Talking to the officials (this is reserved for the captains and coaches)
- Negative cheers
- Blaming teammates
- Pouting after a missed play
One of the best things you can do as a coach is to be a leader and someone the players can look up. Be a positive influence on them and act as you want them to act. Remember, your team will be a reflection of you, their coach.
Encourage good behavior
- Help teammates off the floor
- Compliment teammates and opponents on great plays
- Roll the ball under the net
- Run to get an errant ball and return to the server or official
- Cheering at the end of each point (win or lose the point)
- Cheering from the sidelines (“Jenny’s on fire, Ooh, Ah”, “Keep it up Sara, keep it up”, “Here we go Red, here we go”)
- Encouraging player that makes a mistake (“Don’t worry, you’ll get it next time”)
Make rules and live by them. Make these rules clear, keep them in mind and all times and you will succeed. You will succeed as a coach and people will notice.
Thanks for reading. Check out more rules at www.evolleyballrules.com.
