Coaching Strategies

From Nestor giving advice to his son on how to win a chariot race, to Pat Summitt strongly encouraging her team to play with more effort, coaches have always been seen as essential figures in terms of motivating athletes and developing and achieving both individual and team success in sports. Due to the important role coaches play, it is thus an interesting question to examine; how do the coaching strategies/philosophies and attitudes towards career planning in the modern world compare with those in the ancient one? Are similar strategies and ideas found across time? Several coaching methods, such as those of recruitment, altering training methods based on players’ individual differences, and the utilization of specific skills/traits in athletes

For instance, going to a promising pupil’s house and examining his physical capabilities as well as more specifically how old his or her parents were when the child was born is something that many coaches would do in the ancient world (Philostratus, Gymnasticus p. 8). This was done because according to Philostratus, the offspring of parents of advanced age “are not suitable for any kind of athletic contest” (Philostratus, Gymnasticus p. 9). This example illustrates the strategies used by coaches in ancient times. Coaches needed to make sure that they found the best athletes they could, to increase their chances of achieving honor and glory. They did this by examining their bodies and going after the most physically sound players. Recruiting the best players was important in both eras, as strategies like this are still seen today. In his book, Call Me Coach, John Wooden states that “90 percent, or more, of our time was spent evaluating youngsters” (185). This again shows an example of a coach going out and attempting to find and evaluate the best players he can. He and his team are dedicating the majority of their time evaluating the top young prospects and seeing which ones are the best, just as ancient coaches did. Both are actively using recruitment as a tool to better their chances of

The ability to build success around specific traits in athletes is consistently seen in coaches. When Glaucus of Carystus was losing to his opponent in a boxing match, his trainer told him to strike him with his right hand, due to that hand’s significant strength. Glaucus used his right hand and ended up winning the match (Philostratus Gymnasticus, p.6). This shows us how the trainer knew the strength the athlete had and wanted to utilize it for his advantage. He knew of the specific prowess Glaucus had and tried to build success around it. Bo Schembechler used this strategy as well when coaching football. He recognized the determination and passion exhibited by Donnie Walker and inserted him into the starting lineup (Shembechler & Bacon, Bo’s Lasting Lessons, p.148). Both coaches were able to build successful strategies based on the specific strengths of players. Glaucus’s trainer built success around a specific athletic strength, while Schembechler did so through a specific player’s personality. Donnie Walker exemplified key traits, such as hustle, and tenacity. They were seen in Schembechler and he built the success of the team around these strengths. Both instances show how coaches were incredibly effective in bringing out the best in who they