Many different opinions exist about coaches being in the classroom. Some believe that coaches do not put their full effort in while teaching, and therefore should not be in the classroom. Others believe that coaches are the best teachers that they ever had. So what is the difference?
On any weekday, a coach begins around 7:00-7:30 a.m. (if they are lucky). They have morning practice, teach five or six classes, have maybe one conference period, and then have practice again after school. After practice they are dealing with athletes, injuries, questions, paperwork, film, etc. They will be lucky to leave the gym before 7:00 p.m. On a game night it will be even later, sometimes a coach will not end their day until well after 10:00 p.m. So when do they have time to grade papers, do lesson plans, and keep up with student’s missing work?1
Coaches are born teachers2; their job is to teach the athletes how to perfect the playing of their sport. This comes in handy in the classroom when coaches are used to adapting their teaching to reach all athletes. The most important step would be time management. A coach has to make time to do the lesson plans and get materials ready for the next day. Their conference period must be used to plan for their class and their class only. Since a majority of their time will be spent outside of the classroom, coaches must leave that title at the door of the classroom, and step in their room each day giving 110% as the teacher. With the diverse skills coaches have acquired, they should be some of the best teachers. With their will to push themselves and succeed, their success should be just as great as their success on the court/field.
1Sage, G. H. (1987). The Social World of High School Athletic Coaches: Multiple Role Demands and Their Consequences. Sociology of Sport Journal, 4(3).
2Drewe, S. B. (2000). An Examination of the Relationship Between Coaching and Teaching. Quest, 52.
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