Seven Deadly Sins of Coaching

Seven Deadly Sins of Coaching

Coaching is a noble pursuit. Everyone who takes up the role is offering help. That offer should be welcomed, recognised and celebrated.


Yet everyone who ends up with the role of Coach is doing it for different reasons. They may want to help their sons and daughters progress in a sport they love, they may want to give back to a sport that offered them so much or they simply be generous and want to volunteer for a great cause.

Some, we have seen, do it for themselves. It's about rewarding themselves or being seen in a certain light or emulating people they believe are role models.

So as we all come to the role of coach for different reasons, we can all fall for the obvious traps when circumstances allow. We can't avoid them altogether, we're only human. However, we can be more aware of them and try to swerve them when possible.

Mainly as a prompt for myself but also for anyone else reading, here are the Seven Deadly Sins of Coaching.

Lust

Most see lust as just a sexual thing but it isn't. It can be described as an overwhelming desire. Whether that's for Power or Fame or whatever, it begins to engulf us.

Who are these coaches? You know the guy, the one that's there simply to rule over the team he's involved with. He'll be trying to control everything the players do, their every move, how they train, how they dress and how they behave.

He'll also be the one fighting for his power back when his serfs step out of line. Expect Sergeant Major like bellowing and lots of drilling. Players with their heads down and minimal social interaction.

Most important though will be his lack of respect for any outside suggestions. Unless of course he already agrees with them.

If it's not Power he's lusting after it could be Fame. Watch him muscle his way into any photo opportunity and rush to write his match report for the press unless he lost!

What's the solution? Well for sexual lust it's Chastity, but here simple humility is what's required. A realisation that we are serving them and not the other way around.

Gluttony

This isn't simply overeating, it's the over consumption of anything. In a way, it's about selfishness.

You'll spot him. He's the one demanding more of everybody. More off the club, "sort these pitches out", more of the League, "can't you squeeze me in a friendly when I've got that free date?" more of the parents, "who wants to pay for training tops? can you get your lads down to train three times a week?" and most importantly more from the players.

It doesn't matter if they're 6 or 26. He'll want it all. Can you defend? good. Now, can you attack?

How about a Maradona turn, then a Cryuff and a twenty yard worldy to finish it off.

Don't be surprised if you overhear snippets of Total Football being discussed with his Under NInes!

This guy needs some Temperance, just a little bit of self - restraint. No player can offer you everything you want so back off, maybe ask them what they want to work on?

Greed

Similar to Gluttony but I see this as hoarding. This guy wants everything for himself.

Picture this.

Parent: Hi Coach its Jimmy's Dad, I'm really sorry but Jimmy can't train tonight it's his grandma's 80th Birthday party.

Coach: Wow, that's not very good. I only get them once a week and we have a big match on Saturday. He's important for my session. How am I ever going to teach him about communicating with his team mates if he's not here?

Parent: Yes I know, it's really unfortunate.

Coach: What time is the Party? Can't it be delayed a bit? How old is she? Will she even miss him? I mean communication is really important.

Parent: Nah, he's going to have to miss I'm afraid.

Coach: Oh Ok, Well I can't guarantee to play him on Saturday. Try and help him work on his communication.

Phone goes dead...

Greed can only be overcome by Generosity and Charity. We give our time and guard it ferociously but what else are we giving? How about a bit of kindness or understanding or flexibility?

Sloth

Are we always prepared? Have we always put in the effort before our sessions? Have we done what we can to create the best environment we can?

It's easy to see Sloth as being just a bit lazy but its much more than that. It's about not using our talents and gifts.

This guy knows what he should be doing but for some reason, he just doesn't bother. Maybe he did bother but he doesn't now. Time has jaded him and taken all his enthusiasm.

He runs his sessions, they work quite well but they could be so much better. You see, he's actually very talented. He used to throw himself into it but now, for whatever reason he's just not as bothered anymore.

Diligence is required here. A plan and a promise to see that plan through. Make it happen!

Wrath

You can find this guy every single week on a pitch near you.

My advice is to stay away.

Remember Jimmy? He went to his Grandma's birthday party and saw her face light up but the Coach isn't finished yet. He wants payback. He's going to have a word with Jimmy, Jimmy's parent's and Jimmy's Gran if he can find her.

Everything seems to make them angry. The ref, the weather, a passing flock of birds, everything.

He's impatient and takes offense at even well meant comments.

His players fear him. They play within themselves to make sure they don't upset him. But no matter how hard they try there will always be something.

Solution? Stay away. He needs to find some patience and a self reliance that he can call upon when things vary from his plan.

Envy

This is very similar to greed except with the added bonus that he's seen something he wants and will not stop until he's got it.

This is the guy secretly tapping up that 10 year old who he thinks will be a great centre half!

Also, its the guy who's watched Barcelona and wants what they have. He'll insist on his youngsters playing Tika Taka. Everyone must pass it. Everyone except for his son who he's anointed as the next Messi. He can dribble but everyone else must be passing it. Not once, not for a reason but just pass it.

Watch out if you've got a good one. Hell be speaking to their parents at full time in the car park.

Pride  

Apparently , the deadliest off all the sins and one we are all guilty of.

You've met this guy. He's the one writing blogs and posting them on Twitter. He is 100% sure that his system works and nothing else possibly could. He'll tell you this and defend his position to the death.

In the end, its not the system he's defending but himself. He's defending the fact that he believes he has it sussed and is better than everyone else.

It's usually accompanied by a playing career that's tragically cut short as medical science wasn't what it is now.

As you meet for the Respect handshake he'll already be telling you how many trophies he's won and what club he's moving to next year.

It's just me, me, me.

A quiet Pride is always good but we should aim it away from ourselves not suck it towards us like a hurricane.

Humility is required here. Let's not seek to put our fellow coaches down, even when we disagree. Let's help raise them up so we can all feel good about the amazing role we undertake.

You can't avoid the Seven Deadly Sins altogether but keep a look out and you may just swerve a few!