The Responsibilities of Coaching
Scott Rosberg
406-223-2327
Park High School
scott.rosberg@livingston.k12.mt.us
Coach with Character
jsrosberg@gmail.com
Proactive Coaching
www.proactivecoaching.info
The Responsibilities of Coaching
Responsibility – ability to be reliable, dependable
Taking care of what needs to be taken care of
Kids’ Responsibilities – Easy for us as coaches to talk
about the responsibilities that our kids must live up to.
Coach’s Responsibilities – We must look in the mirror
and do a self-check on our own responsibilities and how
well we live up to them.
Various Responsibilities of Coaches
Coaches need to be responsible:
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for their own actions
to their players
to their players’ parents
to their staff of coaches
to the other coaches in the athletic program
to their administrations
to the school/league community
to their families
to their standards
to the profession of coaching
Responsibility for One’s Own Actions
Actions are far more important than words.
 Punctuality
 Preparation
 Poise
 Respect
 Work Ethic
 Team-first Attitude
 Sportsmanship
 Living the Team Standards
Responsibility to Your Players
We owe it to our kids to be responsible for our actions.
Role Models – live your life the way you want them to
live theirs.
Must strive to do OUR best so that they will strive to do
THEIR best. (effort, accountability, unselfishness)
Work to provide kids the best opportunity to have a
positive athletic experience.
Responsibility to Your Players
Take each element of the experience seriously (but don’t take
yourselves so seriously).
Balance the seriousness with FUN – (it’s the reason they play)
Preparation – extremely important
Specifics - X’s & O’s, technique/strategy
General – behavior, attitude, effort, team, standards
Be a Teacher-Coach (Character Counts article on John Wooden)
Level of Play – Youth, MS, HS, “C”, JV, V
Owe it to them to push them to their best – improvement.
Responsibility to the Players’ Parents
Often overlooked by coaches
Biggest responsibility is safety of the kids – facility,
equipment, techniques, predators.
Treat their kids with respect.
Do not abuse the role you have been given as a coach.
No belittling, demeaning, embarrassing, hurting.
Communicate with them.
Pre-Season Parent/Athlete Meeting, Policy Sheet, etc.
Listen to their concerns/questions – open line of
communication.
Responsibility to Other Coaches
Your Staff
Head Coach to Assistant & Assistant Coach to Head
Be a “Team-Player” – for the good of the team.
Other Coaches in the Athletic Program
You are part of the entire “team” of coaches.
Be a good teammate to all of them.
Your actions/decisions affect the other teams & programs.
Help them learn, develop, and grow.
Be a student of the game and of coaching in general.
Find/Be a “Mentor Coach.”
Watch, ask, listen, absorb all that you can.
Responsibility to Your Administration
Another overlooked group
Follow the Rules/Guidelines/Standards
Perform the job expected of you to the best of your
abilities.
Keep administration “in the loop.” (No blind-sides)
Be a positive leader.
You’re in the spotlight – SHINE!
Speak to other organizations, get involved in the community,
go to other school events, etc.
Responsibility to School/Community
Live up to the name “Coach.”
Appropriate/Inappropriate comments & actions
BB vs. Wrestling Scenario
Represent your team and your community well.
Sr. citizen homes, grade schools, clean-up days, etc.
Talk to players about behavior in school/community.
Perception of one becomes the reality for all.
Sport programs are often THE identity of a community.
Not only about winning either – DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!
Responsibility to Your Own Family
Your core team for life – keep them involved.
Unmarried
Married, no children
Married with children
When the season is over, make sure loved ones come
first (and second and third!).
Responsibility to Team Standards
Teach, Model and Emphasize good character for your team to
live by.
Live by those character elements yourself.
Establish Team Standards
Policy Sheet
Philosophy
Core Covenants (Bruce Brown)
Goals
Expectations
Discipline – Be disciplined and instill discipline
Hold yourself and your kids accountable to team standards and
expectations. You lose your team’s trust when you don’t.
Responsibility to the Profession
We all impact the profession of coaching by how we
handle ourselves and our teams.
Youth
middle school
high school
Instill good character traits and habits, so the rest of the
profession deals with kids who already have positives
instilled.
Unfortunately, the opposite of the above happens all
too often. (BB situation & Aussie Rules FB Player)
Sportsmanship
Blowouts
Blowouts
No cut & dried rule, but coaches MUST do
something about it.
Justification – “Opponent needs to get better.”
Nothing good comes out of major blowouts.
What is a blowout in your sport?
Have a plan - prepare your team for blowouts.
Great teaching moments on sportsmanship
Your Legacy
Develop young people, not just athletes and
victories.
“How will I be remembered by my players, their
parents, the fans, and the community?”
You have complete control over the answer.