Something I’ve learnt over my 25-year journey as a tennis coach is that coaching is a delicate balance of science and art. When I successfully combine knowledge and technique – the science, with intuition, creativity and communication – the art, that’s when I can get the most out of my athletes and out of myself.
The Science
The science of coaching is all about the knowledge of the game and the physical and mental demands of the athletes. It involves understanding the technical aspects of the sport, the tactics, and the training methods required to improve performance.
Within the science of coaching, we need to recognise the importance of:
- Technique and theory.
- The tools used in the sport.
- The latest technology available.
- Statistics around the game and athlete performance.
- The latest science around improving mental and physical performance.
Basically, anything that helps us to control, predict and generate peak performance and to plan, organize and evaluate our training programs. The science of coaching is based on research and evidence-based practice. It’s all about the tangible measures. The proof. The idea that if we can measure it, we can improve it.
The Art
On the other hand, the art of coaching, is all about the ability to connect with the athletes, to understand their needs and to motivate them to reach their potential.
This is where the intangibles such as creativity and intuition are valued and nurtured. It’s where we accept and embrace the reality that coaches and players are human, and sport is complex. When we think in this way, we focus on relationships, and a deep, authentic understanding of an individual.
"I've always tried to treat everybody individually and let them become their own player, with their own skill set, their own mindets, their own personality."
Within the art of coaching, we need to recognize the importance of:
- How we provide feedback.
- Our relationships, not only with our athletes, but those people who are important to our athletes.
- How our athletes learn best.
- Cultural and environmental factors.
- What motivates our athletes.
The art of coaching is about being able to read our athletes, to understand their strengths and weaknesses, and to adapt their training programs according not only to what they can or should be doing, but also to how they feel at a particular time. The art of coaching is about being able to inspire and motivate, to create a positive and supportive environment, and to help athletes achieve their goals.
The balance
Like most things in life, the magic happens when we get the balance right.
If we focus too much on the science, we can forget that success in sport doesn’t rely solely on a black and white formula or a set of right and wrong answers.
Focus too much on the art and we can find ourselves guessing too often or making emotional decisions.
The top coaches in the world, don’t just talk about the tactics, the physical demands of the game and technique. They also talk about communication, motivation and building a team. This is because they recognise that players aren’t robots who can be programmed purely with know-how, but are also people who need to be nurtured, listened to, and motivated to perform at their best.
In short, get the balance between the science and the art of coaching right, and you have the best chance of becoming a successful coach in today’s competitive world. You’ll probably find the journey a lot more rewarding too.
By Marc Sophoulis
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