“Your athletes are much more likely to become what you are than what you want them to be.” Martens, R. (2004) Successful Coaching 3rd ed. Human Kinetics: Illinois
A coaching philosophy is based on our core beliefs, our values and our experience (actions). Whether we realise it or not, we always turn to them when making decisions and during sport is no exception. Many of our values are derived from our upbringing and of course the authority figures (that we look up to/ in our lives). In the case of sport, it is the sole figure of the coach who determines what type of athlete they develop.
Coaching style plays an important part in a coach’s philosophy for many reasons. From my experience, it clearly demonstrates how the coach views themselves…show more content… In spite of this, it is incumbent upon them to be aware of their players as individuals with different needs, goals and styles. This is strongly associated with the values of flexibility and loyalty. In order to achieve the highest rate of performance from their boxer, a coach must value both the physical and psychological strain the sport can have on them. Boxing relies heavily on the mental toughness of the athlete. One must be able to take physical and emotional abuse and to put their body on the line in a much more significant way than many sports. If an athlete does not feel that their coach has confidence in them, it is unlikely that they will feel confident walking into that ring. If an athlete feels that their coach doubts their strength or their agility, it is extremely difficult to work up the self-esteem in order to counteract this disbelief. Without this courage, the probability of loss and even injury are much more substantial.
Let’s take another perspective, say that the coach isn’t fully confident in their athlete’s competency; is it morally right to enter them into the competition in the first place? Is this to be considered as a learning experience in which the athlete will rise to the occasion or is the coach being reckless and mistreating their power? Evidently the coach does not value the safety of the athlete. They are too entrenched in their competitive nature that they do not use their
