When you’re under pressure as a manager or coach, the easy way out is to shut yourself away and not listen to criticism. However, you can’t do this if you hope to succeed. At grass-roots level, you might not want to hear what parents, colleagues or players have to say, but listen to them anyway. They might have good ideas and, at the very least, you’ve shown willingness to take on board alternative solutions.
The pressure of criticism can really affect your moods as a coach or a manager, but you need to rise above that in front of your players and not let it change your coaching style. While shouting might seem an effective method for dealing with some players, others will require an arm around their shoulder to motivate them – so be strong, but fair, with how you treat your players. Losing your temper rarely works.
Believing in the job that you are doing is important for rising above criticism. Self belief and a degree of stubbornness is key for any coach because it can be a lonely job at times. Winning is fantastic, but from the very top level of the game to the bottom, there are only a small percentage of coaches who achieve what they want to. You will have to deal with pressured times when things don’t go your way.
At grass-roots level, the focus should be on fun and enjoyment, so don’t take the pressures of your job home with you.
To cope with the criticism, always learn what works for you. To anyone getting involved in coaching, I would say that, although there will inevitably be times when you are under pressure, you have to find your own methods of dealing with the pressures so you can still get enjoyment from your role.
