“Understanding the importance of flexibility and realizing my coaches want to see my success was essential to my athletic accomplishments,” sophomore varsity soccer player Julianne Guarraia said.
Managing different relationships within the team’s own sideline can be just as critical to success as strategizing gameplay. Adapting to different leadership personalities who don’t always cater to the player can be difficult, but is essential to
making the most out of one’s athletic career.
“The communication piece is very important from the coach to the player, and from the player to the coach,” Phil Schneider,
girls’ lacrosse coach said. Schneider continued to say that the athlete needs to trust that the coach wants what’s best for their
players. Talking to a coach and recognizing their role can be a great way to move through any differences and help the athlete improve.
Coaching style tends to fall into one of three categories, all of which have resulted in successful teams at ELHS; democratic coaches valuing input/feedback and empathy, laissez-faire coaches using a laid-back approach with players taking on most of the initiative, and autocratic coaches who prefer to be more strict.
“When you’re coaching, your goal is to bring the best out of each individual, so the team can be successful,” Emily Murray, girls’ field hockey coach said. Coach Murray’s athletes describe her as democratic. In her first two years of coaching field hockey at ELHS, coach Murray grew the program exponentially.
“There’s some kids, if you criticize them… [they] can use it as motivation, and some can’t,” Rudy Bagos, football coach said. Coach Bagos describes his coaching style as both laid back and strict, depending on the athlete and situation. Being held to higher standards can feel overwhelming. In these situations, it’s important to remember that every quality coach wants to see their players succeed. “I wouldn’t call my coaching strict, I would call it high expectations,” Rachel Redding, seven-time ECC champion girls’ soccer coach said.
Recognizing the differences in coaching styles and what style works best for you as an athlete is important, but figuring out how to make those two ideas work together takes strategy.
“Don’t take things personally. Try and think about what’s being said and not how it’s being said. It’s meant to make that person better, whether it’s a bad day for the athlete or the coach,” Coach Murray said. Taking criticism is challenging, but understanding it’s meant to make you a better player is a gamechanger.
Realizing that there are different ways of leading a successful team, such as the methods exhibited by coach Redding, Murray, Bagos, and Schneider make flexibility essential for an athlete. Every coach has something to teach if the athlete is willing to learn.
“Be adaptable. Be coachable. Every coach has a different style,” Coach Redding said.
