In the sports world, particularly in female sports, society often normalizes the thought that intense and upfront coaching is harming athletes, believing that athletes being exposed to this kind of coaching is causing severe anxiety and depression, leading them to lose love for the sport. A coach that is blunt can be intimidating, but this can be the case for any coach before you have the opportunity to get to know their coaching style and intentions. A coach that raises their voice intensely in many cases has intent behind the tone and is not intending to be hurtful. For many coaches, when they begin to feel frustration and take it out on a player, they want what is best for that athlete, and know they can perform at a higher level. They believe that athlete has the ability to succeed and wants them to bring their absolute best for the team. I have been lucky enough to experience one of these coaches and believe the exact opposite of what is being told by society. Some may say straightforward coaching is harmful and causes mental health for athletes to worsen but honestly it’s implementing discipline among athletes.. Any coach can say their program promotes discipline, but I believe the true form of discipline is holding athletes accountable, which is what intense coaching promotes. You may have a coach that chooses to be more observant, emitting a presence that will critique in a way that is passive rather than a passion to make you a better athlete. In this way a coach that seemed to be more approachable turns into the coach you are intimidated to confront.
Mental health is a huge part of an athlete’s life. Losing confidence in yourself, doubting your skill, and trying to convince someone to believe in you is one of the hardest things to endure as an athlete. In today’s day in age society loves to point fingers at the coaches who are more harsh on their athletes. Rather than believing this is the issue, maybe consider the truth behind a strict coach. This type of coach is someone that challenges an athlete to be the best they can be and encourages them in a way that will push them out of belief. Feeling as if someone doubts you can be a horrible feeling, and I consider the coach that gives little feedback and is more easy going a proponent to the rhetoric society is promoting about intense coaching.The harsh environment that is promoted as mental draining holds passion. This passion delivered in this way by a coach may seem excessive; however, I believe it is the strongest form of support: knowing a coach believes in you, pushes you to be the best version of yourself, and holds you accountable is implementing a coaching aspect that many coaches lack. A person’s tone may be intense in the moment; however, if it comes from a heart that genuinely believes in your success, isn’t it worth it? At the end of the day I would take a coach that chooses the blunt path of coaching rather than beating around the bush. As a society we need to realize the coach who cares more for your success is the one who pushes an athlete to be their best, because they truly believe in you. Many will say they lost love for a sport by being critiqued harshly but I personally believe the feedback is necessary to be a top tier coach.
