Coach-centred

The coach-centred coach typically shows the following behaviours:

Coaching through drills

Practices tend to be very structured with use of progressive drills. These can be unopposed, semi-opposed or opposed. Sometimes the drills are practised without relation to the game.

Authoritarian/ instructional/ didactic

The coach provides lots of instruction and feedback. There is little opportunity for player input and often the coach has a specific technique or method in mind. This coach often rules with an ‘iron-rod’ and is a real disciplinarian.

Technique-driven

The coach sets up lots of practices to improve technique. These are typically repetitive and unopposed. The coach often references key factors very well.

Focus on performance and emphasis on winning

The coach is concerned more with the result than the development of individuals. This coach tends to have very short term goals and has little consideration for long term player development.

Coach makes all decisions and uses a structured approach

The coach has very specific session plans with direct interventions. The coach progresses the session at his/her pace rather than referencing the players’ readiness. This coach is not comfortable when there is chaos within practices.

Tell and show

The coach has a very formal structure for introducing practices or skills: ‘tell - show (demonstrate) - do’.

Explicit and formal approach

The coach designs and delivers sessions for a specific purpose. Sessions develop in a very structured and formalised way.