Running Head: THE MOST EFFECTIVE COACHING STYLE
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Lucas Romick
Denison University
Coaching Methods
THE MOST EFFECTIVE COACHING STYLE
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When attempting to choose which coaching style I would like to model my work
by, I immediately jumped to the cooperative style method. It is the modern day method
where the Coach has a working relationship with the players themselves. If used
effectively, it can bring out the best in both the players on the team and the coach.
Through my own experiences with this coaching style and through research of legendary
basketball coach, Phil Jackson, I attempt to tailor the cooperative style to me.
In HS, my Track & Field coach, Stephen Poitinger, was my first experience with
a cooperative style Head Coach. Throughout the pre-season and conditioning sessions, he
made it clear that he was at the helm of where we were headed, but also allowed us to
have a say in how we got there. This brought out the best in some of us, me included. But
when others struggled with giving their input on what they wanted, Coach P (The
nickname we gave him) stepped in and worked individually with those people to get them
to reach their potential. Specifically, I remember during my senior year, Coach P laid out
three different workouts and laid out the results we would achieve dependent on what
workout we chose for that week. We trusted his judgment and chose the one that would
get us our fourth straight conference championship, and just like that, Four-Peat.
The thing that I want to draw from Coach P is the ability to provide a direction for
the group, but not a set path for every individual on how to reach that goal. That
understanding of being able to differentiate needs by specific individuals on my team
would contribute to a more successful individual and a more successful team. Techniques
used to achieve this would be holding weekly team meetings to layout out the
THE MOST EFFECTIVE COACHING STYLE
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groundwork for our season, but also require individual meetings to gain an insight on
their personalities and goals throughout the season. This will allow me to handle each
player the correct way and bring out the best in him or her.
