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Tips on being a good Coach

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#2 · (Edited)
I've coached trap, archery, and baseball. My archery and trap teams have won multiple state championships. I continue to learn different coaching methods to this day. I like to have an assistant that has knowledge also. Sometimes having 2 different methods of teaching helps. The way someone explains it can make it "click", where the other coach said the same thing but didn't get through.
  • Expect more, get more, otherwise you are just settling for mediocracy
  • Run practice like a real tournament, but have some fun time built in too
  • People don't always have to use the proper technique to be good. What works for one doesn't work for the next one
  • Being able to prove your knowledge and skill goes a long way in earning their trust when making technique suggestions. Shoot with them to let them know you know how to do it
  • Listen and watch carefully before making suggestions
  • Not everyone achieves greatness. Some just want to have fun and be social. Separate the 2 groups for better results
  • Personalities are different. Some you can push, some you have to comfort
  • Don't over do it unless they want to do more. You will burn them out fast
  • With kids, keeping it fun and entertaining goes a long way
  • Set goals to meet and award them when they meet them
  • Keep extra PPE and shells on hand. Kids never have everything with them
  • Run fast the opposite direction when you see "that" parent headed your way
 
#4 ·
The first thing I do with new kids is to sit down and have a little talk. I tell them obviously you are here to learn and I’m here to help you but if at any time you don’t understand what, why, how or when all you got to do is ask the question. The art or ability to converse is slowly being lost. Especially with some of the younger generation.. I also have to explain to them that my way of explaining something or the way words come out of my mouth can often be hard to understand. I’ll admit my neck is very red. I’ve been told that I sometimes sound like Boomhauer from King of the Hill. I remember telling a young man one time after he hit his first target “tell y’wat man, talking about crushing that dang ole thing, you said pull, gun went boom, little pieces from one piece dang good shot”. He looked at me like “what the hell did you just say”? Communication is key followed by trust.
 
#5 ·
Velvet Ears said:
I've coached trap, archery, and baseball. My archery and trap teams have won multiple state championships. I continue to learn different coaching methods to this day. I like to have an assistant that has knowledge also. Sometimes having 2 different methods of teaching helps. The way someone explains it can make it "click", where the other coach said the same thing but didn't get through.
  • Expect more, get more, otherwise you are just settling for mediocracy
  • Run practice like a real tournament, but have some fun time built in too
  • People don't always have to use the proper technique to be good. What works for one doesn't work for the next one
  • Being able to prove your knowledge and skill goes a long way in earning their trust when making technique suggestions. Shoot with them to let them know you know how to do it
  • Listen and watch carefully before making suggestions
  • Not everyone achieves greatness. Some just want to have fun and be social. Separate the 2 groups for better results
  • Personalities are different. Some you can push, some you have to comfort
  • Don't over do it unless they want to do more. You will burn them out fast
  • With kids, keeping it fun and entertaining goes a long way
  • Set goals to meet and award them when they meet them
  • Keep extra PPE and shells on hand. Kids never have everything with them
  • Run fast the opposite direction when you see "that" parent headed your way
Click to expand...
I have been a 4H shotgun coach for 13 years. This is very good advice and well said. If you want to have a lot of fun and a challenge coach youth shooting sports. The kids are great the parents can be the problem.
 
#6 ·
Nice thread. Some great comments already.

Don't put all students in the same mold. I have 2 sons that shoot completely different than each other. Finding what they each needed was a key and I apply that to all that I work with, young and old. Find your recipe for whatever you do.
Many coaches tell kids to do the same thing. Example would be footwork. Some are told that their feet needed to be a set spot. Not in the best interest of every shooter.

I too, like Murph, will sit down with each student and discuss a variety of items with them. Purpose and Plan.

We are big into quality shooting over quantity. Some coaches will say just go shoot 50 or 100 this week. When a shooter gets frustrated and is not even half way done it becomes a huge disaster, especially mentally. Trying to pull them out of a major funk is tough.

Create a routine for each shooter. Most shooters have a style for practice and another for competitions. Then they wonder why they can do well at one but not the other. Merge both together as much as possible.

Kids love to do Annie Oakley shoots so do that at practice. If you want to see competitive then play that and watch how many will pull out another level of focus.
 
#8 ·
Be positive and organized, both with parents and the kids. Local coach, and his assistant, of local high school team are both great shots. But they expect these kids to be as good as them. They criticize rather than instruct. Half of them are not returning this year. I've watched them in action. Yes I have coached youth athlete's in a number of sports for many, many years. I've seen outstanding college athlete's fail at coaching high school sports because they expect kids to as good as they were. Doesn't always happen.
 
#10 ·
Just scream at them , when they do anything incorrectly! That always builds championships and character.
Make sure you publicly belittle the weakest one that doesn’t shoot the highest score.
Make sure to show them how to throw the gun on the ground after missing a shot.
Show them how to argue with the scorer to get a lost bird turned into a dead bird.
If you think I am not serious , I have witnessed all of these actions by so called coaches.
 
Discussion starter · #11 · (Edited)
Thanks everyone, great advice. We are entering in our 24 year for our team.
I have to agree each kid is different, no two kids are alike. One thing I have found is that you cannot over coach a kid. It just gets them frustrated and they don't know which way or what to do. Try to make it simple as possible and hope it sinks in. One thing I like to do is send out interesting videos that help in explaining things. Like gun mount and hold positions. Videos are worth a thousand words.
 
#12 ·
something I learned as a boy scout leader, the EDGE method, I thought it was just more corporate synergy /mumbo jumbo but after understanding it, it really is good,
E - explain - talk
D - display - show them
G - guide - help them
E - enable - let them do it themselves

people learn differently, some by reading, some by watching, some by doing
by using this method hopefully you will have helped everyone,
 
#13 ·
Patience, you have to learn that each kid learns at their own speed. I have been coaching High School Trap for 8 years and sometimes can not get through to a kid. Yet another of our coaches has no problem. Then he has trouble getting through to another and I have no problem. It is a learning experience for student and coach sometimes. I love the look on their face when they hit their first target. It makes it all worth it.
 
#15 ·
Great comments, great suggestions! Some main points are that each kid is different (and that goes for my own kids). I have found that kids these days are apt to "see" more from the technology that what the coaches say over and over. We use the Garmin at times and kid dependent but they will believe the follow up report rather than the coach on 1. you are shooting behind the bird 2. your timing is not consistent 3. you are lifting your head (we video this one).
Kids are kids whether trap shooting or playing baseball. I do love @Velvet Ears comment on " Run fast the opposite direction when you see "that" parent headed your way". So true, so true.
Good luck out there coaches and be safe!!!!
 
#16 ·
Every kid is different and you never know when they will flip that switch and shine. When the kids are on the line I try to keep all the comments positive and if additional instruction or just talking is needed, i wait till after the round to talk to them individually. Yes, watch out for "that parent"! i've had kids try and shoot 16yd with 1350's, cause that's was Dad or Grandpa wants. I'll let them try it, then I'll give them a box of 1090's or 1145's. When they realize I want them to have fun/get better and not punish themselves they seem to take tips/advise quicker.
 
#17 ·
Southern WI Trap Shooter said:
Every kid is different and you never know when they will flip that switch and shine. When the kids are on the line I try to keep all the comments positive and if additional instruction or just talking is needed, i wait till after the round to talk to them individually. Yes, watch out for "that parent"! i've had kids try and shoot 16yd with 1350's, cause that's was Dad or Grandpa wants. I'll let them try it, then I'll give them a box of 1090's or 1145's. When they realize I want them to have fun/get better and not punish themselves they seem to take tips/advise quicker.
Click to expand...
Southern WI Trap Shooter, very well said. Coaches can be as different as the students, it takes a special person to be a good coach. Thank you.
 
#20 ·
Southern WI Trap Shooter said:
Every kid is different and you never know when they will flip that switch and shine. When the kids are on the line I try to keep all the comments positive and if additional instruction or just talking is needed, i wait till after the round to talk to them individually. Yes, watch out for "that parent"! i've had kids try and shoot 16yd with 1350's, cause that's was Dad or Grandpa wants. I'll let them try it, then I'll give them a box of 1090's or 1145's. When they realize I want them to have fun/get better and not punish themselves they seem to take tips/advise quicker.
Click to expand...
It's not just Dad or Grandpa's, our high school team has 6 or more coaches, it's been around for about 10 years, and they buy 1230-1300's (or so), and these are not covid scrounging shells. None of the coaches that I'm aware of, recreationally shoot clays.
 
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