This is my first year as a head coach, and I have loved (almost) every minute of it. While I tried hard to make this a positive experience for all the kids and to help them improve, I know I could do better. How should I go about getting feedback from my assistant coaches, players, and parents on their experiences, as well as my performance? Should it be anonymous? Should my organization have a process for obtaining feedback for all of the coaches?
-- Michael Cross, Pittsford, NY
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Posted by David Jacobson at 06/30/2009 08:18:22 AM |
Hi Michael,
Its great you enjoy coaching. I think you could use a number of evaluation tools. I think a self-evaluation would be a very good place to start. Find those things that you got the most satisfaction and reward from, and reflect on them. Talk to other coaches to see if those things where they get the most reward are similar to your experiences. For those moments that were not quite enjoyable, explore other options or ways of dealing with them where you know, although they still might not be enjoyable, you would know that at least you are firm and fair, with the interests of the team as the priority.
If you have a superior, I would sit down and chat with that person to discuss their observations as the season went on. Approach it with the fact that you are a new coach, and any constructive criticism will make you a better coach. I think you could get a feel from parents and players in the community on an informal basis what their thoughts were about how the season went. Keep an open mind about the opinions of parents and players. Some parents will only say that you are an effective coach if you won x number of games. Find the right kind of parent to listen to - one that "sees the big picture" in the grand scheme of things, like yourself. In your post, you say that you want to make a positive experience for all the kids and to help them improve. I get the impression you are doing an excellent job, and the kind of coach I'd like my kid to be playing for. Remember that experience is the best teacher. As a coach for a number of years, I can recall a number of times I thought I was an idiot, but don't second guess yourself till after the season when you have time to sit back and reflect. Keep at it - no matter how many years you have been coaching, the next year you should always strive to be better. Like I tell my athletes: You never really reach your potential, because when you do for one day, that potential just gets higher the next day. Good Luck
Posted by: Tim Thomas ( Email: ) at 7/1/2009 4:23 PM
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Hello!
We have a program here call High Five and it has a complete evaluation process for coaches working with children between the ages of 6-12. It works really well to reinforce the different components of positive coaching.
Find more info at highfive.org.
Posted by: Lorraine Currie ( Email: | Visit ) at 7/3/2009 3:52 PM
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Michael,
Tim (previous post)posted some very good areas to look at. One key factor that you going for you is that you are conscious of being better. Always keep that in mind. Answers to your questions...research getting feedback from many technical sources. Talk with other coaches and research successful programs that on how they became successful. You will have to customise what you find to fit the goals and personality of you and your team. there are many coaching clinics available to take advantage of but do not limit yourself to your sport or the age group you coach. These are just some additional ideas. i am sure there will be many more that will be posted to address you question. Being a member of PCA gets you links for more help.
Posted by: Rod Puentes ( Email: ) at 7/5/2009 9:03 PM
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Hi Michael, I will try to answer you questions 1.How should I go about getting feedback from my assistant coaches, players, and parents on their experiences, as well as my performance?
This should be done by a survey that is sent out by your organization.Usually the coaches that want feedback are doing a fine job and get high marks, It's the ones that look at surveys in a negative way that you have to worry about. Attached is a copy of my organizations survey that we send out to all parents to fill out. It is anonymous.
https://www.cnsf.org/cgi-bin/surveys?STATUS=PRINT&SURVEYS=2009_Spr20090701131724_live
Should it be anonymous?
Yes, because only then will the parents say what they truly are feeling. Very, very few parents will communicate their frustrations for all to see worrying that there will be negative reprucussions next season for their child.
Should my organization have a process for obtaining feedback for all of the coaches?
Yes after every season the surveys go out for parents to fill out. One thing we have done in addition to sending out these surveys is initiate a annual "golden whistle award" for the coaches that exemplify what we are looking for. This is a tribute to our best double goal coaches. It is given out at our openeing day ceremonies for baseball in front of 500 people.
Please feel free to e mail me for more info.
Thanks
Posted by: RICH DELLANNO ( Email: ) at 7/16/2009 12:26 PM
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I agree that a self-evaluation is a good place to start. Any problems you had, refer to either the board in charge of the organization, or an experienced coach whom you admire. I wouldn't put too much emphasis on what parents say. Their opinions may be clouded by the performance of their child or the team.
Posted by: Sharon Wall ( Email: ) at 7/20/2009 9:21 PM
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not all coaches are fair, their kids come first even if they are not good and miss practices. i don't think a parent should coach their own kids. get a different team. and don't intemadate the other coaches to play your kids. i was told the rule is for each child to play 5/6 plays. well thats all well and good but that means in and out within a minute. while others play all night. not a good thing for the kids to experience. so get a time schedule for all the kids to be able to play. i feel bad for the kids that don't get to play and their parents pay the saME AMOUNT that others pay. so where is the fairness.
Posted by: a. dimola ( Email: ) at 9/1/2009 12:58 PM
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At this time I am a very frustrated Parent. We are heading into our 2nd game of the Mitey Mite Football Season. Our Coaches have a core group of Players that "Play" offense and defense in the game. The rest of of the Players and there are about 12 - 15 of them sit on the sidelines waiting for their chance to play in the Game. My child is 8 yrs. old and to me this seems mighty unfair to watch him asking the Coaches when he gets to go in the game. Practices are just as frustrating since that same core group Practices the skills that are needed to Win the Game. The other kids sit on the sidelines again waiting for their chance to go in and getting yelled at by the Coaches for not paying attention. They are 8 and 9 years old for crying out loud. Their busy pushing and shoving each others shoulder pads and just picking up grass and squirting water on each other. If Coaches want more out these kids perhaps they should stop and take a look at how their coaching and think up ways to make skillful players out of all the kids not just the lucky ones. I speak from experience, my husband coached last year and I was team Mom and on the field for every Practice and helping out in the Games. My son has great potential he did very well last year as a Tiny Mite but, as a Mitey Mite the Coaches are not meeting his needs nor do they seem capable or have the desire to Coach the entire team. Thanks for reading my rant it felt really good to blow off a little steam after a very frustrating Practice.
Posted by: Carol ( Email: ) at 9/11/2009 6:16 PM
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