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The Most Popular Traits of Any Great Coach

Being a great coach is asking more than just knowing the game inside out, more than having an eye for talent, skill and little ability. It also requires the expertise to take several individuals and to turn them into a powerful force, a team of players working as one. It takes a massive amount of people skills and the ability to bring out the best of each member to the benefit of the team. It takes some special skills and traits. Here are some of the characteristics which are vital for any coach from school levels up to professional coaching.

Communication

Communication on various levels is vital to express your vision, but also to help team members to communicate with each other successfully. When a coach reveals the idea for the team, it should be done in a manner where mutual respect is displayed, where it is clear that the team’s success depends on every single member of the team. Regardless of whether it is a pre-game speech or during training, the vision should be communicated with mutual respect. The coach is in many ways also a personal coach, sometimes needed to assist with a lack of communication skills between team members. Any great coach knows that conflict between team members divides the attention from the ultimate goal and vision.

Leadership

Whether it is on the court or off, the coach is the leader of the team, the respected person, who is leading the team and who has the abilities to lead with respect gained. The coach is also available for advice off the court. When team members are struggling with personal matters and the coach is sought for guidance and advice, then the respect gained is returned on the court. A great coach knows that anything that distracts a player’s attention from the game should be attended to realize the team vision.

Flexibility

Some days the team is up and sometimes there are down. As a coach, you are always working with the inconsistency of humanity. Being flexible and still bringing the best out of the day is an essential characteristic of any great coach. Changes are sometimes made, injuries happen, and the coach needs to not only adapt but also assist the rest of the team to adjust as well.

Magnificent Teachers

Great coaches never stop teaching. They teach life lessons, lessons of perseverance, of overcoming hardships, of performing the best in the game and of greatness in life. Coaches can only do this if they have a passion for what they do, loving the sport and the people playing the sport. Coaching is not something you do; it is who you are, the core of your being.

Hard work

Great coaches are always busy, working, performing, improving and inspiring. A great coach doesn’t get up and go to their job, their job is who they are, and they are never done working on improving it.

Coaching Staff of the NHL’s Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars didn’t have a horrible season during the 2018/19 NHL regular season. The team played a total of 82 games and won a total of 42 matches with only 32 losses in the Western Conference. You cannot deny that the National Hockey League is a harsh environment, not only for the players but the coaching staff as well. It’s for this very reason that we decided to take a closer look at the coaching staff behind the Dallas Stars hockey team to see who is calling the shots from behind the scenes.

Head Coach – Jim Montgomery

Jim Montgomery became the head coach of the Dallas Stars on 4 May 2018 and is regarded as the 23rd head coach in the history of the franchise and the 8th in the history of the Dallas Stars. Montgomery previously spent five years as the head coach for the men’s hockey team in the University of Denver. He impressed with a 125-57-26 record and was considered the second-winningest head coach during his time in college hockey.

Assistant Coach – Stu Barnes

Stu Barnes decided to re-join the Dallas Stars as an assistant coach during the 2017/18 season, staying in the same position he previously held with the Stars for three seasons from 2008 until 2011. He also spent 16 years as an NHL player, accumulating 597 points in 1,136 regular-season matches with Dallas, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Florida, and Winnipeg.

Assistant Coach – Rick Bowness

Rich Bowness decided to join the Dallas Stars as an assistant coach during the 2018/19 season, bringing with him more than 30 years of valuable coaching experience. Bowness has spent the last five years with Tampa Bay Lightning where he took the role of the associate coach for the team. During his time at Tampa Bay, the team impressed with a 238-135-37 record and appeared in the Stanley Cup playoffs four times.

Assistant Coach – Todd Nelson

Todd Nelson joined the Dallas Stars during the 2018/19 season. He previously spent three years with the Grand Rapids Griffins in the AHL where he was the head coach from 2015 until 2018.

Goaltending Coach – Jeff Reese

Jeff Reese will enter his 3rd season with the Dallas Stars as their goaltending coach. He initially joined the team during 2015 after he spent the last six seasons with the Philadelphia Flyers in the same role. Before he joined the Flyers, Reese spent a total of 10 seasons with the coaching staff of the Tamp Bay Lightning team where he was in control of the goaltenders. He was also an assistant when it came to amateur goaltenders in the Entry Draft of the NHL.

Video Coach – Kelly Forbes

Kelly Forbes will enter his 9th season with the Dallas Stars as video coach. Kelly works exceptionally closely with the players and coaching staff, breaking down film in post-game and in-game. He is also in charge of video scouting reports of other teams when it comes to game preparation.

The Coaching Staff of the Liverpool Football Club

While the captain of the Liverpool ship is undoubtedly Jurgen Klopp, there are loads of other noteworthy helpers on the boat to sail the Reds to glory. With the recent Champions League victory, and finishing second in the Premier League, we decided to take a look at all the coaching staff at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal. He has managed to build a phenomenal team to ensure that the playing squad remains prepared and focused for the upcoming season that starts in August 2019.

Assistant Manager – Peter Krawietz

Peter Krawietz decided to follow Jurgen Klopp to Liverpool in October 2015 from Borussia Dortmund. He initially worked with the Liverpool manager back in Mainz when Jurgen was the head coach, while he was the chief scout. The German, who is not considered a professional footballer by any means, was dubbed “The Eye” due to his phenomenal video analysis and scouting abilities.

Assistant Manager – Pep Lijnders

Jurgen Klopp didn’t think twice when he had the opportunity to bring back Pep Lijnders to Liverpool in June 2018, where he briefly left the club to return to his homeland where he was in control of NEC Nijmegen. Lijnders previously spent more than three years with Liverpool, first as a coach for the under-16’s and then the first-team development coach during 2015. Since Klopp arrived, Lijnders managed to climb even further where he is now a vital part of the team as an assistant coach.

Goalkeeping Coach – John Achterberg

Achterberg is another Dutchman in the coaching staff for Liverpool that joined in June 2009 after he spent more than a decade with Tranmere Rovers. He was initially a player with the team before he moved to a coaching position. Achterberg received his promotion to goalkeeping coach in 2011 and has coached Liverpool’s goalkeepers ever since.

Head of Conditioning and Fitness – Andreas Kornmayer

Kornmayer decided to join The Reds in July 2016 after he spent more than 15 years with the dominant Bayern Munich team. Given Liverpool’s reliance on energy, tremendous importance is placed on the ability and skill of Kornmayer, who much impressed Klopp during his time spent at Bayern Munich where he worked under Pep Guardiola, Jupp Heynckes, and Louis van Gaal.

Head of Medical Services – Dr Andrew Massey

Dr Massey was initially a professional football player in an Irish League before an injury forced him to enrol in a university where he studied physiotherapy. After his studies in medicine and sports physiotherapy, Dr Massey joined the ice hockey team, Belfast Giants, before he was promoted as team doctor. In 2013, he was appointed the academy doctor for Liverpool and was made permanent in 2015.

Performance and Rehabilitation Manager – Philipp Jacobsen

The newest recruit in the Liverpool coaching staff is Philipp Jacobsen that works closely with Dr Massey. Jacobsen was initially a senior physiotherapist in Qatar before he made his way to the Liverpool squad. He also worked with the national team of Qatar, where he gained most of his experience.

The Best Managers of All Time in Football

A world-renowned football magazine has recently published a list of the best football managers in the history of the sport. The criteria’s that were used to compile this list included trophies won during their coaching careers as well as how the coach influenced the competition and other managers. Below, you will find a list of the best football managers to ever coach the sport.

Rinus Michels: Netherlands

  • Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA European Championship, 1 x European Cup, 1 x La Liga Championship, 4 x Eredivisie Championships.
  • Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Netherlands national team, FC Barcelona, Ajax
  • Years Active: 1960 – 1992

Sir Alex Ferguson

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x European Cup Winners Cup, 13 x Premier Leagues, 3 x Scottish Division Championships.
  • Win Percentage Overall: 58.1%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester United
  • Years Active: 1974 – 2013

Arrigo Sacchi: Italy

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 x Serie A Championship
  • Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Italy national soccer team, AC Milan
  • Years Active: 1985 – 2001

Johan Cruyff: Netherlands

  • Major Titles Claimed: 1 x UEFA Champions League, 4 x La Liga Championships
  • Win Percentage Overall: 61.3%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: FC Barcelona, Ajax
  • Years Active: 1985 – 2013

Pep Guardiola: Spain

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Premier Leagues, 3 x Bundesliga Championships, 3 x La Liga Championships.
  • Win Percentage Overall: 72.5%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester City, Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona
  • Years Active: 2008 – Present

Valeriy Lobanovskyi: Ukraine

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x EUFA Cup Winners Cups, 5 x Ukraine National League Championships, 8 x Soviet Top League Championships.
  • Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Dynamo Kyiv
  • Years Active: 1969 – 2001

Helenio Herrera: France/Argentina

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x EUFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Serie A Championships, 4 x La Liga Championships.
  • Win Percentage Overall: Unknown
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid
  • Years Active: 1944 – 1981

Carlo Ancelotti: Italy

  • Major Titles Claimed: 3 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 1 x Bundesliga Championship, 1 x Ligue 1 Championship, 1 x Premier League, 1 x Serie A Championship
  • Win Percentage Overall: 59%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus
  • Years Active: 1995 – Present

Ernst Happel: Austria

  • Major Titles Claimed: 2 x UEFA Champions Leagues, 2 x Austrian Championships, 2 x Bundesliga Championships, 1 x Eredivisie Championship.
  • Win Percentage Overall: 55%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Hamburg, Netherlands national team, Club Brugge.
  • Years Active: 1962 – 1992

Bill Shankly: Scotland

  • Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA Champions League, 2 x Premier League Titles.
  • Win Percentage Overall: 49.3%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Liverpool
  • Years Active: 1949 – 1974

Matt Busby: Scotland

  • Major Titles Claimed: 1 x EUFA Champions League, 5 x Premier League titles.
  • Win Percentage Overall: 50%
  • Elite Clubs Managed: Manchester United
  • Years Active: 1945 – 1971

What Do Assistant Coaches Do During an NBA Match?

We are here to take a glimpse at the wide variety of men in suits that sit on the bench and find out what they do during an NBA game. We will also take a look at the seating arrangements to understand who sits in the first and second row and the duties each of them has during an NBA match. There are tons of folks that sit on the bench, so without any further delays, let’s meet the men from the first and second row.

The First and Second Row

The front row primarily refers to the courtside bench. However, this hasn’t been an actual bench for a very long time now. The rules of the NBA stipulate that a head coach, athletic trainer, and a maximum of three assistant coaches are allowed on the courtside bench.

The second row is situated directly behind the first-row bench. It is usually occupied by a player development assistant and a fourth assistant. You will also find an assistant trainer, athletic performance staff members, an advance scout, a video coordinator, and even a security person for the team. If a superstar is playing on the court, you might also see his security in the second row too.

There are loads of people for every match. However, what do each of them do during a game? Each of their responsibilities will vary. The associate head coach or lead assistant coach usually sits between the head coach and athletic trainer. He can be seen as the consigliere for the head coach and is given loads of responsibility in terms of strategy, suggestions, and advice.

One of the coaches in the first row is responsible for a scouting report on the opponents for the evening. He would give suggestions and advice based on the advance report. In most cases, he would even provide defensive calls if he understands the play-calling signals of the opponent.

In every case, the full range of assistant coaches is tracking data. Some teams will allocate this to the assistants in the second row, but most organizations will follow this chart when it comes to assistant coaches and staff.

First row

  • Offensive actions/sets (points per possession, results, play calls, etc.)
  • Defensive non-contests/contests and missed coverages
  • Defensive efficiency (why, where, when, what, who, and how)
  • The athletic trainer is in charge of timeouts and fouls as well as the whiteboard for the head coach.

Second Row

  • Anecdotal observations and individual player notes
  • Defensive deflections
  • Play-by-play times that are needed by video staff for both in-game and halftime instruction.
  • Opposition offensive times and calls

All this phenomenal tracking of a match stretches back to the 1970s. As squads were adding coaching staff, it became more complicated when it came to tracking data. This allows the coaching staff to get their hands on immediate feedback and keeps each of the staff members focused on the smaller details of the game.

The Coaching Staff for American Football

Nearly all American football teams contain more than one coach in the organization, including conditioning and strength coaches. A typical football team in the NFL will have around 15 assistant coaches, while a college football team will have around nine full-time assistant coaches along with two graduate assistant coaches. To give you an idea of the standard coaching staff you’ll find in an NFL team, we decided to list them below:

  • Head Coach

This is the guy that will receive all the praise for winning and all the blame when his team losses. Most head coaches boast with at least 20 years of playing and coaching experience and are all over 40 years of age.

  • Offensive Coordinator

This is the man that is in charge of the team’s attacking players, usually calling the plays while working directly with the team’s quarterback. He is primarily responsible for developing or creating the offensive game plan and works closely with the head coach to ensure the plays are showcased before matchday.

  • Defensive Coordinator

This is the guy that is in charge of the team’s defensive players. He often decides on the defensive schemes to use in both practices and matches. Similar to the offensive coordinator, he will meet with most of the coaching staff and players to prepare everyone for the upcoming game from a defensive point of view.

  • Special Teams Coach

This is the coach that will supervise the punt return team, field goal protection team, kick return team, punters, kickers, and so on. He is usually responsible for coaching the youngsters on the team as well and the reserve and backup players.

  • Quarterback Coach

This is an assistant coach that will monitor the mental and physical aspects of a quarterback and their game. He will improve the quarterback’s throwing motion, pass-drop technique, and footwork, ensuring he doesn’t fall into bad physical or mental habits.

  • Offensive Line Coach

This coach has an excellent understanding when it comes to the running game of the team and works closely with t5he offensive linemen. This coach will work hand-in-hand with the offensive coordinator to discuss running plays as well as the weaknesses and strengths of the unit.

  • Defensive Line Coach

This coach works exclusively with the team’s defensive linemen. He will work on pass rushing, gap control, run stopping and various stunts that the defensive coordinator requires from the football players.

  • Linebacker Coach

This coach will work closely with the linebackers in the team and, depending on the style of defence used by the team, will rank just below the team’s defensive coordinator. He works on pass coverage drops, pass-rushing, and tackling.

  • Strength Coach

This coach specializes in conditioning and weight training. He ensures that each player is in shape and reliable throughout the entire season and will usually coordinate training programs during the offseason. This coach will also work closely with team doctors to monitor and prepare rehabilitation exercises when a player gets injured.

Manchester City’s Coaching Staff

Pep Guardiola is going to take most of the credit when Manchester City takes its sixth league titles this year. However, there is more than one coach that guides the team to victory each season. It’s for this very reason that we decided to take a look at the other coaches that fall under the squad and to see what their roles contribute to the phenomenal success of the team in 2019.

Assistant Coach: Domenec Torrent

Domenic Torrent is undoubtedly the most trusted staff member for Pep Guardiola at the moment. This is because he has worked alongside the head coach for several years, including his managerial roles under Bayern Munich and Barcelona. He is someone that always sits next to Guardiola during a game and is one of four assistant coaches.

Performance Analysis Coach: Carles Planchart

Best known for his attention to detail, Carles Planchart, a Barcelona-native, has been on Pep Guardiola’s side since he started his coaching career in 2007 with the Barcelona B team. He analyses individual and collective tactical aspects to assist in making improvements on both the club and different players.

Fitness Coach: Lorenzo Buenaventura

Guardiola was joined by Buenaventura in 2008 during his time at Barcelona and decided the follow the head coach to Bayern Munich as well. He plays a vital role in assisting City to perform at their best, ensuring all players are always fit and healthy before the start of every match. He is also renowned for speeding up the process when an injured player needs to get back on the field for an important game.

Head of Player Support and Protocol: Manel Estiarte

Manel Estiarte is an Olympic Gold Medallist, representing Spain a total of 578 times with water polo while becoming the first player in the sport to represent Spain a total of 6 times at the Olympic Games. He initially started working for Pep at Bayern Munich and continues to provide a world of sports knowledge to the head coach of Manchester City.

Assistant Coach: Rodolfo Borrell

The first coach for Lionel Messi at Barcelona was Borrell. He also played vital roles in the development stages for both Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas. He initially moved to England after being appointed Liverpool’s technical director. After that, he joined Manchester City’s academy in 2014 before moving to Pep’s team in 2016.

Head of Goalkeeping: Xabi Mancisidor

Xabi Mancisidor was a former goalkeeper for Mallorca, a Spanish football team before he decide3d to join Manchester City as their goalkeeping coach when Manuel Pellegrini still ran the club. Therefore, he was made the head of goalkeeping by Guardiola when he arrived in 2016.

Assistant Coach: Mikel Arteta

Arteta is a former midfielder for both Arsenal and Everton and joined Guardiola in early 2016 when he decided to retire from playing football. He is considered the first member of Pep’s team and is regarded as one of the most critical assistants at Manchester City.

The Formula 1 Coach That No One Knows About

Rob Wilson might not be a world-renowned racing driver, but he is certainly someone that most Formula 1 drivers are acquainted with when it comes to their careers. This is because Rob Wilson is the man who coaches most of the Formula 1 drivers. More than half the grid at the moment, at one time or another, have received lessons from Rob Wilson. He is regarded as the unsung hero within the motor racing world of F1.

What’s truly impressive about Rob Wilson is that he uses a Vauxhall Astra to make Formula 1 drivers go faster. To find out more, we made our way to the Leicestershire airfield to see how he can improve someone’s driving in just a day. However, we were not going to get behind the wheel of a sports car. Like everyone else, we had to drive a Vauxhall Astra. This is because the training was more focused around accuracy, style, and technique as opposed to ultimate lap times. Formula 1 drivers know how to drive fast. Therefore, they visit Rob Wilson to drive better, and a Vauxhall Astra is perfect for just that.

Rob Wilson feels that training to become a better driver needs to be done in a secure and safe car and should be comfortable enough to spend an entire day in. It should also have enough space for race engineers and manager that often join in by sitting in the back.

The Art of Driving

Once we got acquainted with Rob, who arrived in Britain during the 1970s and went on the compete in racing in Le Mans and America, we discussed technique. The masterclass offered by Rob Wilson places a focus on car control along with details that will help you transform from a good driver into a brilliant one. The slightest tweak of your steering wheel at 120mph can transfer more than half a ton of load from one tyre to the wrong one. The scientific and subtle style from Rob Wilson is purely focused on making you aware of this fact and assisting you in getting it right.

This is scientific and high-level stuff. A couple of years ago, Rob managed to coach Kimi Raikkonen, spending a total of 5 days on the same corner, repeatedly. Much like the swing of Andy Murray or the kicking ability of Johnny Wilkinson, Rob Wilson believes that practice does indeed give perfect results. Speed will unfortunately only get you so far. However, Rob will help you unlock the winning edge.

On the Racetrack with a Formula 1 Coach

Rob gives everyone a 1.4 turbo petrol Vauxhall Astra model to improve their driving. Rob takes the car around the track first, setting a lap time for you to match. His finesse, car control, and speed are phenomenal. We were initially 5 seconds slower than him, but he then goes to work. We immediately understood why everyone goes to Rob to improve their driving skills.

The Best Tennis Coaches of All Time

These tennis coaches are internationally recognised due to the fact that they have trained some of the most prestigious players in tennis. However, they are featured on this list because the players they decided to train weren’t originally at the top of their game. Not only do their tennis players rank as the best in the world, but each of them has also managed to maintain a humble demeanour in spite of their enormous success. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the best tennis coaches of all time.

Toni Nadal

There’s no doubt that Uncle Toni is considered the best tennis coach of the modern era. His player and nephew, Rafael Nadal has managed to win 16 Grand Slams during his tennis career. Rafael was only a child when he started training with Toni. The tennis coach taught Rafael to play with his left hand as it would make it more difficult for his opponents to play against. Although Rafael is actually right-handed, he stated that playing tennis left-handed came naturally to him and it provided an advantage over his opponents.

Nick Bollettieri

Nick Bollettieri, who is currently 80 years old, is regarded as one of the most popular tennis coaches in the world due to his enormous success as a tennis coach. Even today, Bollettieri still rises with the sun at the tennis academy in Florida to practice on the courts. His admiration and love for tennis have produced tons of success for a wide range of players that managed to reach the number 1 spot in the world. Some of the most popular players include Jelena Jankovic, Maria Sharapova, Venus Williams, Marcelo Rios, Martina Hingis, Agassi, Courier, Monica Seles, and Boris Becker.

Marian Vajda

Novak Djokovic is considered the star of Marian Vajda who is currently ranked as the best tennis player in the world. He managed to take Djokovic from the number 40 position to the number 5 position in only 12 months. The tennis coach from Slovakia has also managed to take Djokovic to a total of 12 Grand Slam titles. Marian Vajda is regarded as the primary reason why Novak Djokovic is the champion of the world. However, Vajda is far too humble to take the credit.

Ivan Lendl

Ivan Lendl was one a formidable tennis player back in the day. However, when he retired, he decided to become a tennis coach and took on Andy Murray. Before Andy Murray found Lendl, he managed to take himself to several Grand Slam tournaments but suffered horrible defeats in the process. Thereafter, he decided to get a tennis coach and there was no one better than Ivan Lendl who managed to completely transform the demeanour of Murray on the court. This made Murray mentally fierce, ballsy, and more skilful than ever before. Although Ivan Lendl was never capable of winning Wimbledon during his career, he managed to make it as a coach when Murray claimed victory for him.

Ranking the Best Managers in the MLB

The MLB season is well underway, and head coaches across the league are devouring stat sheets and scouting reports, screaming for sacrifice bunts, watching pitch counts, and creating double switches to claim victories. The role of MLB managers is a significant one and its for this very reason that we decided to list the best MLB managers that are currently in the league.

Chicago Cubs – Joe Maddon

Joe Maddon utilises the out-of-the-box approach when it comes to his job and uses the talent he has in a very creative way to increase the overall performance of his team. This strategy has assisted him in transforming the Tampa Bay Rays from a devastating expansion franchise into a phenomenal contender within the American League. Since he joined the Chicago Cubs, he has assisted the team in winning more games than ever before, allowing him to claim the Manager of the Year award in the process.

San Francisco Giants – Bruce Bochy

Bruce Bochy is undoubtedly a Hall of Famer when he eventually decides to retire. He boasts with more World Series titles than any other baseball manager that is currently on the pitch, and he has also been with San Francisco for a little over a decade now. Before he decided to join the San Francisco Giants, this incredible manager managed to win 3 West titles in only 12 years. Bochy’s strategy has always been to do more with less even though he has loads of talent at his disposal.

Cleveland Indians – Terry Francona

When Francona was the manager of the Phillies between 1997 and 2000, he endured four losing seasons. However, he managed to earn a reputation as the best manager in baseball when it came to the Red Sox. During his first season with the Red Sox, he managed to break one of the most extended standing curses of the franchise when he led the team to the World Series since 1918. He also managed to lead Cleveland to their first playoff appearance and winning season in 6 years.

Baltimore Orioles – Buck Showalter

Showalter has managed to create success in every stop he has made as a manager, allowing him to earn the Manager of the Year award with three different MLB clubs while winning 100 games in 1999 with the Diamondbacks. During his time in Baltimore, he assisted the team in breaking a 14 season losing streak with an incredible 93-victory campaign during 2012 along with a postseason trip. The team hasn’t experienced a losing season since that occurred.

Pittsburgh Pirates – Clint Hurdle

Hurdle is considered an old-school baseball manager at heart and has changed more over the last couple of years than any other baseball manager. Since he joined the Pirates, he has allowed the team to make three successive trips to the playoffs. Hurdle is considered one of the top 5 managers due to his enormous success with Colorado and Pittsburgh combined with his strong presence at each of the clubs he has joined over the years.