Coach Coates is a yeller. He yells constantly during practices and games. He yells at his players and criticizes them when they do things wrong.
He even yells when they seem to be doing things right. His teams consistently have winning records, and as far as you can tell, the players seem to handle the yelling without getting down on themselves or each other.
• Is Coach Coates a good coach? Why or why not?
• Would you want your child to play for this coach?
• Does his winning record excuse his yelling?
• Would your answer change depending on the age of the athletes?
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Response by PCA Founder Jim Thompson
First, let me thank the many of you who read and thought deeply about "Old Yeller." Thanks also to those of you who e-mailed it to others or made copies to take to a youth sports game or practice. And a special thank you to the many of you who entered your thoughts on our blog. Lots of insight there!
Coaching is much more art than science, and certainly is not a cookbook activity. There is no single recipe that will work all the time. Great coaching requires a foundation of values that you are absolutely clear about, together with the presence of mind to respond flexibly to what is happening in the moment. Athletes are different, game situations are different, etc., so it can be a tough topic to be definitive about.
Nonetheless, let me offer some thoughts on "Old Yeller."
Yelling is a limited tool to be used in a limited fashion. Kids (people) tend to block out continuous noise, and a coach who yells all the time risks losing his/her players' attention. Then when something serious comes along that needs to be addressed in dramatic fashion, a coach raising his/her voice seems just like normal, and the import is lost.
Much of the time, yelling is a distraction. Athletes usually need to focus on what they are doing. Being yelled at by a coach can distract them from focusing on what they need to do to make a play.
Yelling can make lessons harder to learn. If I am embarrassed to be yelled at, I am less likely to take to heart the information being communicated that might help me improve. Criticism given in a more respectful way can be more easily taken to heart.
Some kids just can't take yelling. While the yelling coach may be able to motivate some kids, others will be turned off. A coach who yells all the time risks not being able to reach a (perhaps) big percentage of kids. And when athletes have choices, they tend to go towards coaches who build them up rather than yell. So yelling can be self-defeating in this respect.
I understand that some rare individuals are able to be successful with a yelling style of coaching. These individuals can somehow convey to their athletes that they care about them so the yelling isn't a problem for them. But most of the yellers I have seen are not able to do this and their athletes, and their record in terms of the scoreboard, suffer.
Great coaches have a big toolbox of motivational techniques. They don't rely on a single approach. As the saying goes, if all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. If you are accustomed to yelling, you are more likely to yell even when the problem requires a different approach.
In general, great coaches use yelling sparingly.
-- Jim Thompson, PCA Founder
Posted by David Jacobson at 04/28/2008 05:45:46 PM |
Yellers have no place coaching kids. I've never heard "positive" or "motivational" yelling. His athletes are probably motivated by fear.
I think a coach can inspire kids to win by being a positive teacher. Yelling is for lazy coaches who don't want to take the time to build the relationships with the players.
I don't think yelling is appropriate at any age, and I have moved my kids away from teams led by yellers. Coaches should think about how they like to be treated in the workplace. How motivated would an adult be if constantly yelled at by a supervisor?
Posted by: Trina ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 7:07 PM
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Yelling is not acceptable, especially on a seeming daily basis.
Posted by: Shirley Chesterfield-Stanton ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 7:10 PM
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It would depend on what he is yelling....
Posted by: andrew reinholz ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 7:28 PM
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Yelling? Does that mean raising his voice so the team can hear him? or expressing himself negatively... Sometimes you have to raise your voice above the other noise to connect with a player. You can engage a player very positively by yelling "3 seconds" when a play turns out in an unlucky way.
Posted by: Shelley Welch ( Email: | Visit ) at 4/30/2008 7:42 PM
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Good question - one of the key/crux questions about coaching vs. positive coaching. Coach Coates is NOT a good coach. Yelling as the only emotion is inappropriate and one sided. Do we only express joy in love and family relationships? Do we only express total devotion or total revulsion at our work? etc., etc.
Only the extreme and extremely shallow communicate in one vein. There are times as a coach that you probably need to yell or at least get loud and motivational in a positive and encouraging but challenging way. If all you ever do is yell who would really believe you when you really need to get loud?
Besides the one-dimensional aspect of constant yelling, this coach apparently excludes any positive reinforcement and support. What's the point of coaching if you're not there to give your heart to these players and sweat, bleed, laugh and cry with them?!
My child would not play for this coach. I've been fortunate with my own son having mostly very good coaches starting with kindergarten soccer and all the way through to his present situation as a high school football player. I think this tells me that there are more youth coaches like me and you out there that "get it" and are leaving old school behind - but we've got a lot to do still.
His winning record excuses nothing. An inappropriate yelling, berating, hurting, humiliating expression is inappropriate regardless of the score. Period.
If they're any younger than young adults in college, yelling should be reserved for motivational projecting, not negative degradation and humiliation which happens too much. Maybe only in extreme (bad behavior?) cases might yelling be appropriate to a degree – but only if the athlete moves forward as a result.
Maybe as Chairman Phil Jackson once guided us, maybe we should greatly reduce our yelling and increase our positive coaching at the professional level. Look at Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith as great examples of success through doing the right thing. Greatly reducing the yelling is especially valid in certain sports like football - which I coach - and we need to look deeper into the culture of football to get more "positive."
I've been a "positive double goal" youth football coach for 8 years - before I ever knew about PCA. Now I've added "a building men (and women) for others" coach to my moniker, ala the Rev. Coach Joe Ehrmann as explained in the great book "Season of Life" by Jeffrey Marx - read it now if you haven't.
The combination of double goal positive coaching along with "building men/women for others" is the key to getting the negative macho influence out of football and replacing it with positive male image projection and role modeling. Bless Coach Yeller, Vince Lombardi, Bear Bryant and all the "greats" - but their day has come and gone and our kids and all our players deserve way better.
Posted by: Coach Dave ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 8:34 PM
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This depends on the type of yelling that is going on. If coach Yeller is yelling positive reinforcements to his players when they mess up and yelling finer points while his players are doing well, then I think he is a good coach that communicates loudly. I find that constructive critisism is usually given louder so that other players can learn from another player's mistakes.
Posted by: Mark ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 8:53 PM
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No one of any age wants to be yelled at on a constant basis. I practice the philosophy of raising my voice only in praise. There are many positive ways to get your message across.
This type of coach may be excellent in knowledge of the game, but because he clearly isn't a student in the art of positive coaching, it will all catch up to him some day. He probably has high turnover of players, and eventually good players will quit coming. I've seen it happen a few times.
Posted by: Rick Mills ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 9:05 PM
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Is he a good coach, not sure. I think it depends on what he is yelling. Is it positive? Is it tactical infomation? Would I want this coach for my kids? No, I don't think so. Winning record makes no difference. Age shold not be a factor here.
Posted by: patrick white ( Email: ) at 4/30/2008 9:37 PM
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Well, it depends upon what he is yelling. Focus on the message, not necessarily the medium. If you're coaching soccer, you definitely better have a yelling voice when coaching a team that can be spread out 50 yards wide and long.
You can be "yelling" positive, encouraging, and directive words. What you are yelling and your body language says a lot. Just because you are yelling, it's not necessarily bad.
Posted by: Coach Eric ( Email: | Visit ) at 4/30/2008 9:47 PM
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Is Coach Coates a good coach? Why or why not?
“Good” and “bad” are descriptions which are too simplistic for this coach or any coach. I don’t agree with his style, but many of us know coaches who refuse to learn different techniques other than yelling and screaming.
It would not surprise me if this coach demonstrated how much he cared about his players through his yelling and screaming. If his players trust that he cares about them, they may be willing to look past being yelled at, especially if they see results in their skill improvement and on the scoreboard.
But, determining the effectiveness of a coach should not be based upon the scoreboard only! So, this coach’s “good” or “bad” behavior might be more effectively evaluated as “effective” or “ineffective.”
Is he effective at winning? It appears, yes. Is he effective at demonstrating respect for his players? It appears....no. But, many of us probably know coaches who were yellers and screamers that we consider to be “good” coaches. The truth is, probably many of his players probably learn to tune out this behavior, so his message (whatever it may be) gets lost in the volume.
Would you want your child to play for this coach?
It depends on what other things he brings to the table. If he brings only yelling and screaming, I would not want my child to play for him. But if he also demonstrates caring, respect and personal regard, I would consider allowing my child to play for him.
Surprisingly, many former athletes relate stories about fond memories of their “best coach” who was a yeller and screamer. So, while I don’t like or support the style Coach Coates demonstrates, some athletes can learn how to manage this style of coaching. Experiencing being coached by this style might help his players in developing coping skills that they can apply later in life for this boorish behavior that might be demonstrated by others.
Does his winning record excuse his yelling?
No. In my mind, nothing excuses this yelling.
Would your answer change depending on the age of the athletes?
No-yet, some adolescents somehow develop an expectation that their coaches yell at them….so many teenagers develop some tolerance for yelling and screaming...in fact, some teenage athletes don’t think they are being coached unless their coach is yelling and screaming at them. Younger athletes do not (nor should they!) have the same tolerance developed for this type of behavior, and should not be subjected to this incivility.
Posted by: Mike ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 3:02 AM
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No, I don't think he is a good coach. Yelling out mistakes a player makes breaks concentration. Plus for me, it would make me think too much about what I did wrong and not how I can do better, which is what a coach should do.
I played volleyball in both middle school and high school and I remember always playing my best for the coaches that talked to me instead of yelling. I still remember coach Xavier dearly because he was so patient with all of us.
If there was something we needed to improve, he always did it in a way where none of us felt embarassed or hurt. Oh, he yelled at games but only to encourage us when we did something right and to tell us to forget whatever error we made at a game. He corrected without yelling and we never felt embarass. I learned so much from him. I miss him!
I wouldn't want any of my children to have a coach that yells out errors, in a game or at practice. Over the years at soccer games, I have seen parents and coaches do that to children and it is both embarassing and awful. My son often feels embarassed for the others as well.
How can you play your best after such a display of awful comments in front of so many? He always remembers those coaches that explain how to improve on his game and encourages him in a positive way to do better next time.
Winning is not everything. Understanding TEAM WORK, should be the priority at every game. Regardless of the score board, if they all work together you always walk away stronger. The age of the players does not change my answer. All coaches should work on improving the game at practices and getting their team to work together. Together Everyone Achieves More!
Posted by: Gisela ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 3:21 AM
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YOU DID NOT SPECIFY, IS HE YELLING AT INDIVIDUAL PLAYERS...PERSONAL CRITICISM, OR IS HE YELLING AT HIS TEAM AS A WHOLE? BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE THAT WOULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GOOD COACH AND BAD COACH.
YOU CAN YELL, SCREAM, AND CRITICIZE, AS LONG AS YOU ARE YELLING AT THE ENTIRE TEAM AND YOUR CRITICIsM IS NEVER DIRECTED TOWARD THIS PLAYER, OR THAT PLAYER. BASEBALL IS A TEAM SPORT, WIN & LOSE AS A TEAM.
IT IS THE PERSONAL CRITICISM THAT I WOULD NOT PUT UP WITH, AND I DON'T CARE WHICH TONE OF VOICE HE IS USING. ESPECIALLY WHEN GOOD PLAYS ARE MADE BY INDIVIDUALS, AND THE COACH CANNOT QUIT PICKING ON THE KID, AND HE CONTINUES TO CRITICIZE, OR RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GAME, HE SAYS, "HEY, GREAT PLAY, BUT NEXT TIME DO THIS..."
I HAVE MANAGED MY SON'S TRAVEL BALL TEAM, AND HE HAS ALSO BEEN ON TEAMS WITH HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE COACHES, AND THE TONE OF THEIR VOICE WAS NOT THE ISSUE!
IF THIS COACH HAS A WINNING RECORD, HE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT, BUT I'M STILL NOT SURE IF I WOULD WANT MY SON TO PLAY FOR THIS COACH. I WOULD HAVE TO DO MY HOMEWORK.
HONEST AND FAIR CRITICISM CAN BE A HELPFUL TOOL TO A COACH, IF USED WISELY. LIKE MYSELF, TWO TOP QUALITIES I HAVE TO HAVE FROM A COACH, HE HAS TO BE AN HONEST PERSON, AND HE HAS TO BE A FAIR COACH. MY SON DESERVES THAT.
RECRUITING PLAYERS WHO ARE 100% COMMITTED, SELF-DISCIPLINED, WHO LOVE THE GAME, WHO HAVE A PASSION TO PLAY THE GAME, AND HAVE SUPPORTIVE PARENTS IS A MUST IF YOU PLAN ON COACHING A WINNING TEAM. IF HE FILLED HIS TEAM WITH THESE PLAYERS, I'M SURE COACH COATES' WINS WOULD BE MANY, NO MATTER HOW MUCH HE DID OR DIDN'T YELL AT HIS TEAM, AND NO MATTER WHAT AGE THEY ARE.
THE BASEBALL/PRACTICE FIELD IS A HUGE AREA, SOMETIMES YOU DEAL WITH OTHER DISTRACTIONS AND A LOT OF NOISE. YOU CAN YELL, AND STILL BE AN HONEST, FAIR, AND POSITIVE COACH.
AND REMEMBER COACHES, PLAYERS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES BEING SCOUTED. PARENTS, DO YOUR HOMEWORK! YOU WILL FIND THAT NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK OF A COACH. THEY DO EXIST, AND YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID.
CURIOUS, IS COACH COATES A SEASON BALL, TRAVEL BALL, HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE COACH, OR OTHER? I'M GOING TO TAKE A GUESS AND SAY, WHITE SOX MANAGER, OZZIE GUILLEN.
Posted by: COACHNMOM ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 3:58 AM
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No, I wouldn't let my son play for a coach like that even if he "won" all the time. I don't think yelling is good anytime young or old.
Yes, at times you have to get stern and take control of an unruly kid/team. But do it in a calm and stern way.
Furthermore yelling at games: I believe that games are for the players to show their stuff and for the coach to watch and learn. Training is for the two days a week that we practice and the games are for them to use what they have learned. The coach should sit back and cheer on his and the other team and observe what needs to be worked on in the following practices.
Posted by: Ed Brown ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 5:24 AM
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I think the key here is that this coach yells "at." As a soccer parent I don't mind coaches yelling, it is the tone of the yelling.
Yelling can be constructive, but in this instance I would say that it is unnecessary. I would not have my sons playing on a team, regardless of how good, where the coach yelled at players constantly, especially during games.
Yelling, when appropriate, is something that is reserved for practice. Sometimes my kid needs to get yelled at, but never during a game. Just my .02.
Posted by: Bill Zimmer ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 6:19 AM
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Parents who allow their children to work (not play) for this type of coach promote this behavior. I have personally seen coaches like this call his/her players losers or stupid with their kids in tears but the parents don't say anthything because this coach can get my daughter a soccer scholarship.
Parents pay thousands of dollars to select teams with the promise of a scholarship. They accept this behavior as proud parents to have their kid on his teams at the expense of their daughter's self esteem.
Coaches like this are control freaks & want all the attention, recognition and the trophies. These are not good lifetime teaching skills (except they teach you to stay away from this type of person).
Mistakes are teaching opportunities, not humiliation demonstrations. Coaches with a smile and a commitment to help each person improve, build confidence, self esteem and show why this behavior is the best way of life.
I judge a succesful coach based on the smiles from him & his players after a loss. This defines his commitment to help build life leaders we can be proud of.
It has nothing to do with the sport he/she is coaching but how he/she helps everyone. Coaches like this have love in their life.
Posted by: Bruce Wismann ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 6:50 AM
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As a league administrator and parent of a young athlete, Coach Coates is my worst nightmare. I certainly would not allow my child to continue playing for this coach or allow him to continue coaching in my league.
Of course, I would first discuss my concerns with him and provide an opportunity for remediation, but if his tune didn't change, he'd be off the field.
I hold firmly to a no tolerance policy for these types of behaviors, because as most parents and administrators understand, sporting events are a platform for learning many life skills, not just improving the technical aspects of a specific sport.
Kids need encouragement, not constant criticism. Even the best players and good teams will begin to dread practices and games when they know they're about to walk into consistent negativity.
How about that "sandwich method" of good criticism? Unfortunatley, many "established" or well-intentioned adults who know a sport do not understand how to work with children/youth.
And no, a winning record does not excuse his yelling. Some kids care about the score...but all are concerned with who brought the snack. As administrators we need to take a more proactive approach to educating our adults, who we commission to teach our youth, how to handle stressful situations.
And no, my answer stands for youth of all ages. There is more power in positive encouragement and education than in impulsive, negative, loud mouth commands.
Posted by: julie ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 6:55 AM
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As a Collegiate Coach my experience is that yelling, except for rare occasions when it is needed to grab someone's attention quickly, is unnecessary and not for the good of the team.
To answer the question (in my opinion);
No, he is not a good coach. He uses fear as a motivator, and in the long run does nothing positive for the athlete.
My child would NOT play for this coach. I played for coaches like this, and one, even though he won, chased me out of playing basketball for 10 years because I hated it so much.
In no way does his winning record excuse his yelling. We are trying to instill positive values in the kids we coach and using intimidation and fear to win does little to do this, and in fact, in my opinion, teaches our athletes that mental manipulation and the use of fear is the right way.
Dug Barker
Bellarmine University Bowling Coach
Posted by: Dug Barker ( Email: | Visit ) at 5/1/2008 8:41 AM
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First of all, there are no perfect parents and there are no perfect coaches. I do not condone yelling in any form, whatever that encompasses. Ideally, you would want a coach that produces a winning record without the yelling.
The goal is to make Soccer fun! If the coach is constantly yelling at you, the fun factor diminishes. Currently there are several girls on my daughter's U16 Silver club team that have come from other club teams because of the coach's yelling.
If the coach was a yeller, I wouldn't have to make the decision not to play for this coach; being older (15 yrs.) my daughter would have been way ahead of me and would have made the decision herself.
Does a winning record excuse the coach's yelling? Sadly, in some club circles it does.
Does being older excuse the yelling? No, but it is more prevalent the older you get, especially with High School Sports - yelling by a coach seems more tolerated at this level.
I would rather my daughter have a fun experience, where she enjoys playing, likes her teammates and enjoys playing for her coach. If you like what you do, you'll be successful, even if your win record is not first place.
Posted by: Don Proper ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 9:28 AM
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Is there anything wrong with yelling? Is it yelling or is it being loud so the players can hear you? I do not think there is anything wrong with speaking loudly so the players can hear you clearly. It provided clarity and firmness and leadership.
Criticize. Yes I believe you must point out to your players what they are doing wrong. If you don't know what you are doing wrong how are you going to get better? If the players just keep making the same mistake over and over again, you keep showing them the right way to do it, over and over.
After showing them a few times and they start to do it correctly, if they go back to the same mistake you must point it out. Isn't the job of the Coach to make them better players? Yes you must praise them a lot more than criticize them, no doubt. I would say 2 maybe 3 times more praise than telling them they are wrong.
If the players can handle it and there is praise involved and they do not get down, I do not think you have a problem. As long as they are having fun and learning.
I think a good gauge of your team is if they are coming out to all practices and games. When I Coach, I want my players to be so excited to come out to play, that they think of practice all day long. It is the highlight of their day.
All day long players are having to deal with parents and teachers working them over. Their emotional tanks are empty when they get to you. Your job is to fill those tanks back up. They are at school and they cannot wait to come out there and play. For me, it should be the most fun of their day!
Is he a good Coach? If the players are having FUN, learning then Yes.
Yes I would want him to play with this Coach.
No winning record excuses being constantly put down. Praise must be there or it would not be fun.
Age does not matter.
One last point. Winning. Do you win at all costs? NO. But winning has a lot to do with it. Winning joins a team together. It is a sense of pride.
I have seen alot of Coaches go through the motions. Not teaching the kids, not working hard, not having fun. Everyone gets down on themselves and starts to blame the umpires or referees.
The players go through a season not learning much. It seems like a wasted season. Players want to do well. They want to win. It takes a lot of hard work and practice by both players and Coaches.
I have seen players I have Coached become great players, sometimes rising to the best on the team. The next season I see them playing under different Coaches and they have fallen apart. Truly very sad.
Summary. A lot of Praise, explaining what players are doing wrong, teaching them what is right, hard work, practice and having alot of FUN are the keys to success.
Posted by: Chris ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 9:43 AM
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The story about old yeller isn't specific enough for me to be able to evaluate the coach and the effect his yelling has on all parties involved.
How does he communicate with parents and players off the field and away from the game?
Is it rec. league or a competitive format?
Are the athletes learning the game and how to play together as a team?
Is he yelling out of anger or is he standing in the dugout, sidelines, etc... yelling out instructions to the players on the field of play?
Is he yelling at or arguing judgment calls made by the officials?
Are his critics instructive or is he name calling?
If he is being positive and/or negative and no name calling is going on, great. We all need to learn to accept both positive and negative criticism. This is a life lesson that seems to have been lost somewhere in this sugar coated world we live in today.
According to the last line of the story, the athletes seem to be doing fine and playing well together. Would I allow my child to be involved with this coach? Depends on the answers to the questions I have presented.
Posted by: Coach K ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 11:07 AM
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One of the best (college) coaches I ever knew yelled a lot during games; his players learned to deal with this, mainly because he was such a good coach, especially at preparing his team for games. Yelling was just part of his personality. Other coaches never yell, and are successful. I think players need to learn to deal with this - as a part of life, but not before high school, preferably.
Posted by: Mark Samuel Tuttle ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 11:59 AM
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I have a loud voice and I use it. I love the children that participate on my teams; all are excellent.
I am very positive, yet expect concentration. Too much fluff creates an environment for failure. Positive reinforcement is the only way to bolster a child athlete to correction but that has to be laid on the foundation of excellence. Building is a fantastic way to find success but the athletes have to know the boundaries while participating in any activity.
Communicate and expect excellence and you will discover the players will find the fun and enjoyment of the sport itself and therefore find success.
There are venues for recreational sport where the standard is come as you are, and regardless of your commitment, you will be rewarded, but the competitive leagues are set to a different standard. The enjoyment of the higher leagues is measured in personal performance to the benefit of the team versus "did I, alone, have a good time?"
Having a good time has its place, no doubt, but there are venues where the standard is a bit different. Communicate your expectations to your players. Be positive. Look for and find them right. But don't let that drop your level of expectation.
Measure your team realistically. If your real result is lower than a championship then that is where it is. The athletes need to know they are your number one priority. If it is not a championship year then set the team standard. You are the boss, do your job.
If you can't develop it this season, then make the most of it. Enjoy the successes you have and enjoy the losses. It will make you a better coach and a better person.
Posted by: Robert Herr ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 7:33 PM
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Yelling is a medium for communication. 99.9% (not a scientific number :) it's the result of a negative situation, and the hallmark of a person with too little self control.
Generally, without personal interaction with him, I would say he's not a good coach, and likely has a scoreboard orientation. Kids will "stick it out" for the love of the game, if they have a bad coach. (I know, my daughter is playing for a caustic coach right now, and despite our encouragement to perhaps find another outlet for her talent, she refuses to leave the team.)
Generally, I would try to avoid a coach like this.
The scenario isn't detailed enough to make fully-qualified decisions from, but in general, I would say that he's a bad coach, and my kids wouldn't play for him. Neither would I. Nor would I work for him. Yelling rarely connotes interest in one's situation, thoughts, feelings, etc. - and you know what they say, "kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."
I would expect that a good deal of his success is related to good recruiting, rather than lifting kids up and developing their talents.
Posted by: Coach K ( Email: ) at 5/1/2008 10:20 PM
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A winning record alone does not make you a good coach. Coaching is about developing the individuals and giving them the skills and tools to come together as a team.
There are times when a coach may raise his or her voice. This should not be a consistent way of coaching. I would have second thoughts of my child playing for this coach - no matter what their record was. Again, yelling should not be a way of coaching, yet for some older athletes, being more firm will help get the point across.
Posted by: don carter ( Email: ) at 5/2/2008 8:52 AM
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I once witnessed a coach grab his athlete by the helmet guard and YELL at him in front of his teammates and the crowd. We all heard him tell the kid he is worthless and because of him the team will lose the game. The kid was 7 years of age.
The next play he scored a touch down and help win the game. That coach and coach Coates are not "COACHES" they are in it for themselves. A true coach wins without yelling and the team or individual he/she coaches wins due to their commitment to the sport and the coaches' ability to commit to them.
Posted by: gene ( Email: | Visit ) at 5/3/2008 4:34 PM
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My personal opinion is that Coach Coates is not a good coach. A coach that yells at his players all the time does more harm than good. When I first began coaching I tended to yell more than I should have.
Thank God, I had a wife who helped me see the potential harm I was doing to any kid wihthin ear-shot. Now that our two older kids are in college, we are starting over with our youngest and have a total 180 in coaching philosophy. Each kid on our teams gets a great deal of consistent playing time and praise from us.
I would not want my kid playing for a coach that yells all the time. Kids need a balance of discipline and praise to become better and more confident at any task or skill. I have seen my kids play for a few coaches who were yellers and not very positive. That is why I try to coach my kids in every sport possible, to make sure they are getting the positive reinforcement and life skills they need to become productive individuals.
Because a coach has a winning record does not excuse his behavior. Our society is more forgiving of a coach who does have a winning program, even if his/her coaching techniques are not the most positive.
We place a higher value on winning than we do development and good sportsmanship. What good is a winning record if the season is a struggle from the beginning? Parents being unhappy, kids not feeling worthy and the possibility that kids will not return to the sport they love next year. Winning is a good thing, if coaches teach players to win with respect for the other team and for love of the game.
Age will play a factor on how a young athlete adapts to a coach who yells. As a young child grows to adolescence he/she becomes more aware of what is actually being conveyed by a coach who yells and tend to not take it to heart as much as a 7, 8 or 9 year old may. I am not condoning this type of coaching behavior, just pointing out that teenagers will deal with it much differently than a younger child.
Posted by: Brian Keeney ( Email: ) at 5/3/2008 11:21 PM
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My son just finished two seasons of Varsity Soccer and came out CIF champions. At what cost though? His coach used negative reinforcement constantly and consistently with the entire team. If they made one error on the field they were taken off immediately. He yelled at them and made cutting remarks.
I told my son that I thought it strange that he was respecting his coach but his coach was not respecting him and that is a life lesson. Do you teach people how to treat you? I am not sure if my son will ever play competitive sports with a coach like that again in his life.
Posted by: Kelly ( Email: ) at 5/4/2008 8:23 AM
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I am a basketball coach from The Netherlands (Europe) and I think that you can not say if someone is a good or bad coach only because he is yelling.
Here in Europe I see some coaches who are yelling, but without any message in the yelling. Then is my opinion he's a bad coach.
This year I work for the first time with very young girls (11/12/13 years old). Before I worked at the top of women's basketball here. So I know what players do need in the top. One of the aspects is the strength of mentallity. Therefore I choose to make my players, besides all specific parts, mentally stronger.
Mentally strong players survive in difficult situations and that is what we need (also in life). Sometimes is that compared with yelling at them, but always with information where they can do something with.
ALWAYS AFTER A NEGATIVE WORD, I'LL BE POSITIVE A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER. I think if my players can handle the yelling, that they get stronger mentally. Untill now I have succeeded with this. We made a major progress this season, not only with basketball related things but also mentally. Besides that, we only lost 1 game with 2 points and became champion of our league.
After a game or practice I am always a very friendly person with great respect for my players. And my players all are staying next year, because they liked it very much.
So yelling does not always mean to be a bad coach.
That's my story.
Posted by: Robin van de Bilt ( Email: ) at 5/5/2008 3:59 AM
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It would seem to me that the basis for this issue is simple. What are we trying to accomplish here? Are we attempting to program robots or teach children? If it's the former then, I suppose, anything goes, but if its the latter I think we need to find a way to shut Mr. Coates up.
One does one's coaching at practice and one does one's observing during games. Issues that occur during games can easily be resolved at the next practice calmly and at a resonable decible level.
We constantly hear that the game of soccer is a thinking person's game. How much of your own thinking as a youth player are you going to do when you are receiving instruction from the touchline constantly while you are trying to play the game?
It's a GAME being played by CHILDREN! This bully (Let's call him what he is) should not be permitted to ruin what should be a positive experience for developing young minds and bodies.
PS I'm a coach and a yeller too. When one of the players on my team errs or succeeds I find a way to yell some form of encouragement instantly. Catch 'em doing right and encourage them. It goes much further than catching them making errors and correcting them. Trust them!!! It'll pay off. I promise!
Posted by: Kim Beson ( Email: ) at 5/7/2008 10:13 AM
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Interesting my internal response to the one person who's word processor apparently only sends in capital letters. (In text messaging or emailing that is considered "yelling"!)
The individual raises good points and carries the discussion forward in a rational and calm manner. But I felt like I was being "yelled" at. And, although I agreed with COACHNMOM, emotionally I didn't really want to.
I wonder if THAT is how kids respond with FAIRLY CONSTANT, FAIRLY LOUD, USUALLY CORRECTIVE (MOSTLY NEGATIVE?), OR EVEN POSITIVE comments from coaches? I think the medium does matter. Turned up real loud, even chamber music hurts one's eardrums.
Yes, on a noisy field, you may have to get the info to the outfielder or the far right wing. But most of the time that shouting is likely wasted. Either the kid already knew it, or couldn't understand you now. OR, if he does get it NOW in front of the crowd, he is embarrassed and/or she resents you for it. Better to have a series of "secret signals" to indicate shifts or strategies.
I used to yell. A lot. I thought I was helping them play better. Even my daughter tolerated me yelling at her--much more than she would at home. I thought that was THE way to inspire. (I was also an "energetic" parent on the sidelines, sigh.) But do we want our kids "tolerating" our loud voices?
I have switched to explaining things to small groups on the sidelines while my assistant coaches watch the game--especially, I talk to the replacements that will go in next. Then, when the others come off the field, I can explain it to the first string what I wanted to see. (It also has the advantage of not telling the opposing coach what adjustments I am having them make!)
Let the kids play! If they know the rules and the basic techniques, they will figure a great deal of the game out on their own.
Positive coaching works. For more than just winning.
Posted by: David Mork ( Email: ) at 5/8/2008 2:48 PM
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I too believe that not all yelling is negative. I am a track coach and sometimes we must yell across the field to get a message to our athletes, but never, never anything negative!
Never do I yell at my athletes because they might have made a poor judgement in something. But I will always discuss it with them later in private without embarrassing them.
No I would not like my child to ever have to deal with a coach who uses this approach. I dont believe it does any good, even when they are winning. The kids never know when theyre doing anything right.
Everything we teach our kids out there are life's lessons, and we must teach them respect, as well. To learn respect you must first show it. I always show my kids respect simply for who they are, a human being.
If a young athlete still produces highly under that sort of condition it makes you wonder is it out of respect for their coach, or simply out of fear so one does not get another negative, degrading tongue lashing. And if so that athlete is not really winning for their self but to keep that screaming coach quiet. But unfortunately they did not enjoy nor feel accomplishment for their self!
But I do yell, only for a minute. I yell at practice before a meet, so what are we going to do tomorrow? We are going to take it to your PR. You are all going to do the best you can tomorrow and have fun doing it. And then I want them to yell back at me what they are going to do. That's my yelling, always positive encouragement, always!
Posted by: Ava Goldhaber ( Email: ) at 5/8/2008 9:15 PM
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There is a huge difference between a coach 'yelling' at their team and a coach 'coaching' their team.
I'm a firm believer that players will respect and follow a good leader, not a good yeller.
Posted by: Bequi Livingston ( Email: ) at 5/10/2008 10:52 PM
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I think it is important for a coach to have different "voices", and the most important one is used for keeping players safe. If I am a constant yeller, my team may not be able to discriminate between voices and react appropriately. My very loud, very "angry, aggressive" yell is saved for situations requiring immediate attention and corrective action. Keeping kids from chasing balls into the street and from swinging bats close to unhelmeted heads are two examples when I've had to use this voice.
A voice with some anger in it and at lower volume might be used to communicate with a referee the need to stop potentially injurious play...if I don't get the right result I do the unthinkable in a soccer match: I call a timeout and talk to the referee. They will stop and talk. If the dangerous play continues, I pull my team. But I never go to the very angry, very loud "safety" voice.
I may also use the above voice at a slightly lower volume for my players who are demonstrating unacceptable behaviors: striking other players, inciting fights, intentionally dangerous play...believe it or not, I've had to use this voice with my kindergarten boys soccer team.
The other situation where I find it necessary to use a voice to change a negative situation is when I'm coaching a team that is being overwhelmed by yelling from the opposing coach or fans. Yelling by the opposition can sometimes frighten and "freeze" my players. I haven't approached referees for help with this so if anyone has suggestions please offer them up. My voice during this situation is very loud with mostly positive comments. I try to tell my players either before I do this or when I need to do this so they're not confused.
My last thought on this for now is that, as a coach, I need to help my players learn how to continually "split their attention" and perform many tasks simultaneously. It's like driving a car...initially difficult to just keep the car on the road and from hitting someone but with practice I can stay safe even while adjusting the radio or air conditioning or talking on my cell phone...well, maybe not talking on the phone; this learning process requires lots of practice but is made very difficult when the player is getting screamed at.
Even positive comments, despite their wonderful attributes, can draw the player's attention away from the tasks at hand. During games, most of my positive yelling is done to reinforce something an individual has done well or tried hard at that we've been working on or I'll yell to help a player or the team forget a mistake.
Getting back to the car metaphor: put a screaming baby in the car and I don't care how well I've learned how to split my attention, it's very difficult to just stay safe.
Simply put, if we want our players to learn and perform, just like we want them to excel at mathematics, stop yelling (most of the time). The playing field is a classroom, and I don't think many of our teachers would remain gainfully employed if they yelled incessantly at our kids during a math test. Even with positive comments, try not to interfere with their play. After all, it is their game not ours.
Posted by: Phil ( Email: ) at 5/11/2008 6:08 AM
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I have always felt that yelling is just a characteristic of a person. Some people yell, some don't. As long as a child is not belittled, demeaned or of the like AND they themselves have a positive experience with their coach, I have no issue.
We have a coach in our league who belittles, yells and demeans his 11/12 year old players on a daily basis. My husband and I have made a personal stance to NOT allow any of our children to play for him in any sport. Why he is allowed to coach is beyond me. I dont even understand how he passed a background check.
The team's record is redundant. My child happens to be an excellent athlete who does not perform well with this type of guidance.
Posted by: lisa ( Email: ) at 5/14/2008 10:00 AM
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It would be an interesting comparison to see if the team would succeed without a yelling idiot. This coach may have aggression issues from his own childhood, totally unacceptable behavior to teach children.
Posted by: Konrad Lindner ( Email: ) at 5/15/2008 7:54 PM
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If I had not had 2 daughters involved in sports over a 10 year period, I would have answered "No, No, No, No".
However, my daughters have played softball, basketball, soccer...and now we have one daughter in competitive tennis. We've had many types of coaches, including "old yellers" and I can't really give a "black and white" answer.
As the mother, I am not competitive, played no sports as a teen, and am non-confrontational.
My husband (the father) is very competitive, STILL plays sports after 45 years, and is generally non-confrontational but gets very emotionally involved in sports.
Our girls are great "team before self" players. The oldest just wants everyone to do their best and if they do, she is satisfied. The younger is more competitive, wants to win, and is VERY tough on herself.
I would not want my girls to play for a coach that criticized THEM in public. A specific critique of how they played ("Next time, throw the ball to second when we're on the last out"*) is fine; however, a criticism of them ("Aren't you smart enough to know what to do when we're on the last out!?") would not be acceptable.
If the winning record was due to the positive WAY he yells, then I would excuse the volume. If the winning record was due to fear of reproach - then NO, it would not be excusable.
Age does make a difference and the athlete's goals make a difference too. When the girls were younger and played community sports, I felt the goal for playing was to learn. Now that our youngest is older and competing/hoping to play for a NCAA Division 1 college, she is mature enough to handle when her coaches and/or parents have to get tough. But, it's still about how she is playing, not about who she is.
I can also tell you that my husband would answer this COMPLETELY differently ;-)
Posted by: Jana Baker ( Email: ) at 5/16/2008 5:58 PM
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We are going through this exact scenario on my daughter's youth lacrosse team (7th grade girls). Yelling to get a player's attention or constructive criticsim is one thing but not when it is done in such a way that is demeaning.
No coach has the right to make a player/team feel unworthy. A coach's JOB is to teach the game, DISPLAY GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP and to bring out the potential of athletes so that they can excel. What life lesson are we teaching our kids by allowing a coach to display such behavior that is unacceptable? Being a coach is no different than being a boss. Would you be a productive employee if your boss was yelling at you all the time, making you feel stupid? I think not, you would quit and find a better job.
Posted by: Lori ( Email: ) at 5/22/2008 6:04 AM
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Unforunately, what recourse is there if a coach demeans a player??? So many leagues keep these coaches for whatever reasons. Again, I am speaking of coaches that belittle and demean openly. NOT just an OLD YELLER who is loud.
I looked into doing something about "our" demeaning yeller. I was told of a parent who complained to the local board. The board did nothing about it furthermore, they told them not to go to the district admin as he stands by the local league. So....now so many kids are subjected to this coach as parents feel the league allows it. Also, parents are afraid their children will be "refused" the following year because they spoke up.
Posted by: lisa ( Email: ) at 5/22/2008 8:46 AM
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Yelling is one thing. Being negative is quite a bit different. Negative coaches are not good. Loud, authoritive, get your point across coaches can be good as long as they reinforce in a positive nature.
If you are motivating your 'team' and are loud in doing so - ok. But there is no need to yell and scream. Coach Coates is not a good coach in that regard. As to would I allow my kids to play for him, if he drafted them I would have no choice but given the choice it would depend on his other attributes i.e., does he back it up with positive reinforcement and is he teaching them how to play? Otherwise I would not join his travel team.
Posted by: Charlie Slack ( Email: | Visit ) at 5/24/2008 1:24 PM
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I find your case study in this instance quite troubling in that you frame the hypothetical to elicit the response you deem acceptable. "Coach yells 'all the time'; he yells and criticizes when they do things wrong. He even yells when they 'seem' to do things right. What parent would ever prefer that their kid play for a coach like this?
What we don't know is what does the coach yell when the kids 'seem' to do things right? "Great block, Johnny! You see that boys, how he got his head playside and finished the block?" or "Jeez, Johnny, a little more effort and we had a touchdown"? We are left to draw our own conclusions.
Coaching in a loud, authoritative manner can instill confidence in the kids. They know you are watching, looking for positives. Some sports demand a greater vocal presence than others.
With all due respect to Coach Jackson, sitting with your legs crossed when your team mails it in in the fourth quarter is not positive coaching either. Coaching is an art, not a science. My prep school used to scrimmage a public school w/ a famous coach who would blister his team after mistakes. Faculty members would often make snide comments out of earshot. What they wouldn't see was this coach's total devotion to his players, his throwing his arm around a young qb after practice and telling him that he has 100% confidence in him and "I yell because I care."
Nobody likes an overly critical coach, but a sarcastic whisper can do as much damage to a young psyche as a booming "Run it again!" Your hypothetical is as realistic as "would you want your kid playing for a coach with a severe speech impediment?" As a stand alone, it is hard to answer. Yelling, in and of itself, is not evil. And there is no coach who yells all the time.
Posted by: KCS ( Email: ) at 7/1/2008 1:16 PM
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I agree with those that have expressed that it's not the yelling, but the content of the expression that is the issue. I coached soccer for several years, and a loud voice was an asset! Yelling is often perceived as negative, but there's a big difference between yelling "what do you think you're doing?" and "watch out!" or "good job!"
Posted by: Dave Smith ( Email: | Visit ) at 8/11/2008 2:29 PM
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We in the soccer community like refering to our game as "A thinking person's game" and I would assume most other sports share this concept. I, then, would only ask one question. How do my players learn to think for themselves when I, as their coach am doing all the thinking for them then broadcasting those thoughts to them at mega decibels(usually a few seconds after any chance for a positive effect has passed)?
As ref at various levels, let me add, out there in the middle of the field what we're hearing is pretty much just noise. Keep in mind that an "Old Yeller" coach oft times is all the encouragement needed to produce a healthy(?) share of touchline "assistant coaches" (Parents) who are usually more than willing to add their opinion and coaching tips to the fray.
Do your coaching at practice based on the observations you made at your last game. The game is a good time to observe how effective your last practice was and make a few plans on what you can do at your next one based on the kids performance during the game. Finally, check out one of those top level professional games in the sport of your choice. Are those coaches/managers acting like you do? Hummm?
Posted by: Kim ( Email: | Visit ) at 8/22/2008 7:36 AM
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For the ref, if on the field, all you hear is noise, what exactly is wrong with that? Sports is a release, kids, coaches and parents are supposed to get excited about it, and it is OK to be loud. Why do you care if parents or spectators join in the cheering? Your job is to ref the game, period.
One of my pet peeves as a youth coach is when a ref takes one of my kids aside and attempts to instruct him during the game. That is not your job, it's mine. As long as the player is playing within the rules, showing good sportsmanship, and keeping his mouth shut, no ref should be giving advice on batting stances, shot selection, or who was open on a certain play. It really is a 2-way street.
Posted by: KCS ( Email: ) at 8/25/2008 12:33 PM
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First of all if he was yelling positive stuff then it would not even have been posted.
I do think it depends on the sport to a point. First let's take baseball: This is my sport and as boring as it can be, the last thing someone needs is someone yelling about a mistake instead of taking them aside and teaching and helping the player shake it off.
Football is an inherently dicipline sport. I think you can coach with using yelling sparingly when it comes to a repeated mistake that can cause an injury to the player or other players.
As for the other sports I know very little about coaching them but I know if my boss yelled at me constantly, I would look for a positive place to work.
Posted by: Daron ( Email: ) at 9/15/2008 2:39 PM
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I'm sick and tired of the coaches yelling at the kid, who are ranging from 5-7 years old. They are threating the kids with constant punishment and forcing them to go beyond their capabilities, they are too young to be treated with such disrespect. It's beyond child abuse, and if it doesn't stop I'm taking them and Pop Warner to court.
Posted by: Fred Conners ( Email: ) at 9/26/2008 1:05 PM
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