1. CHARACTERISTICS OF A SUCCESSFUL SPORTS
COACH
Sport Coaching Pedagogy
Ryan Grogan 3020993

2. DEFINITIONS
 Characteristic - a distinguishing
trait, quality, or property
 Successful - gaining or having gained
success

4. THE TOP FIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF
SUCCESSFUL COACHES
 quality of practices
 communicating with athletes
 motivating athletes
 developing athletes’ sports skills
 possessing strong knowledge of the sport

5. QUALITY OF PRACTICE
 includes requisite skills, transferring knowledge, and
undertaking conditioning
 Frequency and length of practice session
 continually seek ways to improve the content of practices,
incorporating new information in the practice plans
 The use of game replicating drills

6. COMMUNICATING WITH ATHLETES
 transfer knowledge effectively
 two-way street
 feedback can result in subtle or drastic adjustments, or none at all
 coaches and players who want to achieve established goals must talk
and listen to each other
 when and where a message can best be delivered
 appropriate communication tailored to the player

7. MOTIVATING ATHLETES
 motivating athletes is a tool of the trade among successful
coaches, who use it to help athletes play to their full
potential
 a sense of how to overcome weaknesses and build on
strengths by motivating
 may not be acquired through education

8. DEVELOPING ATHLETES’ SPORTS SKILLS
 performance depends on fundamental skills
 Successful coaches know the order in which fundamental
skills may be taught most effectively
 make the proper recommendations to help players improve
 a coach evaluating athletes’ progress must take into account
a number of factors

9. POSESSING KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPORT
 knowledge of the sport is the most important factor in overall coaching success
 coaching knowledge encompasses a broad range of information
 a coach who lacks knowledge in a given area can develop it by educating
himself or herself
 education is only part of the approach to strengthening coaching knowledge.
 experience is a great substitute if education opportunities are not readily
available

10. CONCLUSION
 the characteristics examined are all important for
coaching success
 interaction appears to exist between characteristics
 success is not guaranteed if the coach does not
feel a need to improve

11. REFERENCES
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Athletic Director, 64(6), 86.
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 Mahoe, S. (2007). Five ways to improve communication with your players. Coach and Athletic
Director. 76(7), 44
 McCloskey, M. J. (1999). Successful sports coaching: Guidelines for adults in children’s
recreational activities. Childhood Education, 75(5), 308–310.
 Merriam-Webster’s collegiate dictionary (11th ed.). (2003). Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster.
 Oakland, D. (2001, August). Coaches and injured athletes. Journal of Physical Education,
Recreation and Dance, 76(9), 12.
 Pavlovic, S. (2007). Ten qualities of a successful coach. Coach and Athletic Director, 76(9), 58–
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 Pugh, S., Wolff, R., Defrancesco, C., Gilley, W., & Heitman, R. (2000). A case study of elite male
youth baseball athletes’ perception of the youth sports experience. Education, 120(4), 773–783.
 Splete, H. (2002). Developmental stages of sports readiness can’t be rushed. Family Practice
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