Responsibility coaches, as their name suggests, put more responsibility on student athletes, and they give them more say in the way the team is run. For instance, if a team member is chronically late, a responsibility coach might ask other team members how to handle the situation. A responsibility coach might also ask athletes for suggestions on new stretches to add to the warm-up routine. In general, a responsibility coach runs his or her team in a more relaxed, laid-back way, and it will probably be easier to maintain open communication with this type of coach, particularly in the face of an injury.
Obedience coaches, on the other hand, run their teams with themselves in charge. They make the rules, and they expect their athletes to follow them. To develop a productive, working relationship with an obedience coach, you will have to show him or her a great deal of respect and demonstrate that you have confi dence in his or her skills and authority. If you get injured, an obedience coach will still want to do things his or her way, whether that means respecting your doctor’s orders or urging you to play through pain.
You should approach both types of coaches—responsibility coaches and obedience coaches—with a similar level of respect and openness. Both styles of coaches will respond best if you work hard, listen to their advice, and approach them with problems—injuries included— as soon as they arise.
Keep in mind that no matter what kind of coach you have, you may—regularly or occasionally—bump heads with him or her. The nature of the coach/athlete relationship sometimes leads to disagreements over the amount of playtime or favoritism toward or bias against certain players. Some coaches focus on winning at the
expense of striving to improve, which makes athletes feel pressured to win and underappreciated when they show personal improvements despite losing on the fi eld or court.
If at any point during the course of your injury you don’t agree with your coach’s treatment or guidance, talk to him or her about it right away. Request that you and your coach set a time to sit down and talk. (Trying to talk to a coach when he or she is in the middle of a game or rushing before practice won’t yield the best results.) Once you have the coach alone, clearly ask about the reasons behind the plans for you. Keep in mind that your coach may not have realized the severity of your injury or condition or your doctor’s insistence that
you take a break. If this is the case, reiterate this information clearly and be ready to present any documentation from your doctor.
If after talking with your coach you feel that you are still not being heard, or if you are hesitant to talk with him or her about an injury or physical limitation (or any other problem you are having, for that matter), consider talking to your team captain fi rst. One of the team captain’s jobs is to act as a middleman between athletes and the coach.
If all else fails and your coach continues to drive you to the point that you fear you will worsen an existing injury, reinjure a past injury, or put yourself in danger of any sort, tell your parents what is going on; they will be able to set up a meeting with the coach’s supervisor— your school’s principal or athletic director. Or discuss these concerns with your physician—he or she can get involved if necessary.
Once you’ve healed, look to your coach for advice on how to avoid a subsequent injury. Most coaches have been trained in how to prevent injuries, and they can guide you on how to stay healthy and injury-free by way of proper warm-up, and supportive measures such as bandages, tape, and wraps.
Read More : Dealing With Different Types Of Coaches
