Cash Bundren wrote:
Some of the best coaching I did 10+ years ago was when I challenged an athlete who didn't want to be challenged at a particular moment, or held an athlete accountable when they wanted to be let off the hook. When I meet up with former athletes, that's often what they remember and appreciate and want to talk about.
But those days are gone. I'm all supportive all the time now, even when I suspect I'm doing the athlete a disservice. That's what the athletes, parents, and administrators all want. It's not the end of the world, and there are upsides to this coaching model. But it's foolish to imagine that nothing has been lost. And it's also foolish to assume that a "non-supportive" coach is the cause of a given athlete's mental health struggles.
Well said truth. There is a difference between being abusive and being a fair coach that challenges athletes to be what they are truly capable of being. But that difference has been erased and most are more concerned with feeling good and being told how great they are even when they aren't, than they are about actually being the best they can be. People can still improve in this way of thinking. However most won't improve much, many won't improve at all, and only athletes with a version of the older style that hold themselves accountable will truly have a chance to reach their full potential.
To be clear, I am not advocating abuse. I am advocating common sense and understanding the difference between being challenged and told the truth, and needing to be told only positive things all the time.