It’s not uncommon for players to finish their professional playing career and move into coaching. It’s something which keeps them involved with the sport at the highest level. But does a good player always make a good coach?
Well, there does seem to be a pattern. The most successful nations in badminton seem to have coaches who were particularly decorated over their playing careers. The Chinese national team have the likes of Zhang Jun, Xia Xuanze on their coaching staff. And previously Zhang Ning and Li Yongbo. All very prominent players who have also yielded great results as coaches.
But there’s also so much more to being a coach than just having a shared experience on the court.
Teaching Vs Playing
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean that you can teach it. For example, if you can perform a drill perfectly, it only demonstrates you complete the exercise. It can be a lot harder to explain why you are doing it, how you are doing it, it’s strategic implications and convey all this in a way which is easily understood by the player. Not everyone has this ability to do this.
For example, I can tell you 2+2=4. But if you don’t understand basic maths, you only understand the result. Not how or why. In the same way, if a coach tells you do do something, but you don’t understand why because they can’t explain that part clearly, it will be difficult to commit yourself to that task.
Teaching really is a skill and just like any skill, it develops over time. Very few people have the ability to teach. Even if you just think of school, how many of your teachers were really able to engage you as opposed to simply reciting facts?
Coaching Experience vs Playing Experience
Players cannot simply walk into the role of coach. It requires managerial experience. Players during their career normally only receive coaching advice but do not provide it to others. So although they have first-hand experience from their own coaches, this advice is only received in relation to their own game. Often, you will see recently retired players, or even current players sitting beside a more senior coach on the coaching bench in order to develop their analytical skills, not only for their player but also their opponents.
Alongside this experience, being a manager requires study and relevant qualifications. So while they have the practical side of things developing, they might lack the theoretical knowledge. This could range from methods and techniques of sports management, modules in sports fitness and rehabilitation and also other aspects which you might not even have thought were involved such as risk management, legalities and business. Being a good coach at the highest level goes beyond the court.
Patience
Something a lot of people lack. Patience is probably one of the most important aspects of coaching. Lack of this will lead to friction between players and coaches and possibly even lack of respect between each other. Now, of course, everybody has their limits. It’s impossible to be patient with players who have a bad attitude or with coaches who don’t understand that the development of players can take months or even years. It’s not simply a case of the player being able to perform at the click of a finger. Any coach who thinks like this is not going to be popular with players.
Leadership
A good coach needs to stamp their authority on players. Particularly on young players. Young athletes can often become arrogant, develop bad attitudes and habits. At this stage in an athletes development, it’s important to ensure that coaches are able to guide them (almost in a parental way) as well as developing their abilities in the sport. There are some players I can think of in the past and even currently who come across as arrogant or with bad attitudes. This may not be the fault of the coach initially. But if they can’t control their players, there will be problems among the team. So a good coach will also know when to cut out these players, no matter how good they are, for the greater good of the team.
It’s also important to consider what leadership style should be used. Should a coach use a broad brush approach across all their players? Of course, it’s difficult. On the one hand, they should treat all players fairly, but one approach for all might not suit everybody. A good coach will be able to tailor their approach to each player (e.g a contingency approach). An authoritarian approach may be used for some players who need a little extra kick. Meanwhile, a more laisez-faire approach can be used for those players who’s coaches feel that they are mature enough to make their own decisions in their training. However, this doesn’t mean the coach is redundant! They will still need to provide adequate leadership so that their charge can continue to develop.
Ability To Communicate
The ability to communicate with players is absolutely imperative. This means being able to translate strategies, feelings, and points in a clear concise manner which is easily understood by the players so that they can implement these actions on court and in their training. Miscommunication can result in frustration, difficulties in the relationship and potentially stress and too much pressure on the player. It’s just like business, if you cannot communicate effectively with employees, they may feel less satisfied in their role, unappreciated and less involved. Good communication will help to keep morale up.
Good coaches will also encourage good communication between players and not just with the coaching staff. It’s important for coaches to create a positive environment among their players and to encourage them to help each other to develop as players. Team building is an important part of a coach’s role. This also encourages innovation within their training and allows the team to put forward suggestions to improve their own game and others.
Constant Analysis
No matter if you’re Lee Chong Wei or a beginner player, a good coach will be constantly analysing your game, pointing out flaws and guiding you on improvements, whether it’s technique, strategy or psychological. This will not be negative criticism but rather constructive and will always be in the best interest of the player. The coach would also encourage the player to analyse their own game. Telling them what they need to work on is good, however, if a player can honestly look at their own game and determine their own weaknesses, they will be able to determine the best way to tackle them.
Recognition
It’s not just pointing out the flaws of their players but also recognising when they achieve new things. Reinforcing this encourages players to do better and to be more productive in their training. Coaching is not just focusing on weaknesses but also recognising the strength in players that give them a competitive advantage over others. This really helps to encourage players and combined with the other factors above, such as communication and leadership, really creates an environment in which the player will be motivated to do their best.
Conclusion
A good coach doesn’t necessarily coach the best players. What they do is create an environment which encourages, motivates, disciplines and gives the opportunity for the player to be the best they can be. Also importantly a good coach will know their limits. For example, if a coach can see a lot of potential in a player, they will know the right time to let them go to another, perhaps more experienced coach who will be able to develop that player beyond what they might be capable of. But the most important thing for any player is to always remember that the coach usually knows what’s best for them.
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