5 Key Moves to Level Up as an Assistant Coach: No Nudging Required
Embracing these responsibilities not only elevates your role within the team but also solidifies the foundation of trust and respect with your head coach.
Hey Coach,
Regardless if you are a veteran coach or a highly ambitious, upcoming coach, the role of an assistant coach is different than that of a head coach.
Assistant coaches are like the trusty Swiss Army knife in the team’s toolbox. The Head Coach may be the hammer and drive all the key points home, but your role and versatility are the real game-changer.
Here’s my playbook on five responsibilities you should grab by the horns – no waiting for a nod from the head needed.
1. Master of Logistics: The Scheduler Extraordinaire
Imagine your team’s schedule as a complex dance routine.
As the assistant coach, step into the role of orchestrating this dance – manage practice times, game schedules, and travel logistics – this will make the whole performance smoother.
It's like being the backstage crew that ensures the show goes on flawlessly.
Why It Helps: It frees up the head coach to focus more on strategy and coaching, knowing the operational side is in capable hands. Plus, it shows you're a proactive thinker.
2. The Athlete Whisperer: Individual Check-Ins
You're on the ground, closer to the pulse of the team.
Take the initiative to have one-on-one check-ins with your athletes. This not only builds trust but can unearth valuable insights about team morale and individual concerns.
Think of yourself as the team’s detective, uncovering clues to keep the ship sailing smoothly.
Why It Helps: These insights can be golden for tailoring coaching strategies, improving player performance, and overall team harmony. It makes you the head coach’s eyes and ears, spotting what the head coach might miss.
3. Drill Sergeant and Cheerleader: Leading Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs
No, you don’t need to don a uniform or wield pompoms, but taking charge of the team’s warm-ups and cool-downs is crucial.
It’s your stage to reinforce technique, prevent injuries, and boost morale. You're the pre-show and the after-party, setting the tone and wrapping things up neatly. More often than not, the head coach may be concerned with other things during this time, especially during game day.
This doesn’t make the warm-up or cool-down any less important, so when you take ownership of this, the head coach notices and it makes a huge difference.
Why It Helps: It signals to the head coach that you’re invested in the team’s well-being and performance. Plus, it’s your laboratory to experiment with new drills and feedback, honing your coaching prowess.
4. The Strategy Scribe: Keeping Track of Plays and Opponent Tactics
While the head coach is busy plotting the next move, be the one jotting down the plays, noting what works, and what doesn’t.
It’s like being the team’s cartographer, mapping out the terrain of wins and losses to find the path to victory. Track what plays you have run in the last couple of games. How effective have they been? What is your most effective defensive scheme?
Are there any tendencies that better indicate performances that should be measured?
Why It Helps: This documentation becomes invaluable for post-game analyses and planning future strategies. It showcases your analytical side and commitment to continuous improvement.
5. The Feedback Funnel: Filtering and Communicating Feedback
You're the sieve that filters feedback from various sources – be it from players, parents, or the head coach themselves.
Channeling this feedback constructively and diplomatically strengthens the team's fabric. You're like the translator, ensuring the message is received in the spirit it was intended.
You are also the filter, delivering messages that are relevant and discarding or dealing with the rest.
Why It Helps: It helps maintain a positive team environment and aids the head coach in addressing issues before they escalate. Your role as the communicator reinforces the trust within the team dynamic.
An Invaluable Cog in the Machine
Embracing these responsibilities not only elevates your role within the team but also solidifies the foundation of trust and respect with your head coach.
It’s about being the unsung hero, the reliable cog in the machine that keeps the wheels turning smoothly. So, take the initiative, and watch as your coaching journey unfolds into a saga of growth, learning, and, ultimately, leadership.