10 Ways to Be a Better Assistant Track & Field Coach: Takeaways from Jason Saretsky’s Workshop, ‘Strategies for Coaches on the Rise’
Harvard University Director of Track & Field/XC, Jason Saretsky, recently led a workshop for Ascent Track called “Strategies for Coaches on the Rise,” which was focused on the ever-evolving landscape of coaching, the qualities of a great assistant coach, and the importance of adaptability in today's coaching world. If you’re an assistant coach and weren’t able to make it, here are 10 important takeaways you should know.
1. Have a team-first mentality and know your stuff
Being a great assistant coach is not about inflating your ego or seeking personal glory. It's about selflessly contributing to the success of the team and the development of the athletes, and helping your head coach/director carry out their vision for the program.
A great assistant coach is willing to look at the big picture – about what’s best for the program, not just themselves. But make no mistake, you need to have a sound understanding of your event group area and the ability to help athletes get to the next level.
Caring only about your event group, however, can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, and a lack of trust within the team and coaching staff. Understand that when tough decisions need to be made, they need to be made based on what’s best for the team, not what’s best for your group.
At the college level, if a team’s goal is to win a track and field championship, understand that a scholarship might be prioritized for the athlete able to compete in multiple events instead of the athlete who can only win the 10k.
Far too many assistant coaches believe their event group is competing against another event group, and that mindset only leads to conflict. Be inclusive in language and think about being part of ONE team, not the jumps squad or distance crew. Your role is collaborative – get rid of the ego!
2. Emphasize athlete well-being
Winning is undoubtedly a goal in sports, but it should not come at the expense of athlete well-being. Great assistant coaches prioritize the health, safety, and overall welfare of their athletes.
Pushing athletes beyond reasonable limits or neglecting their mental and physical health can lead to burnout and undermine long-term success. Far too often we see assistant coaches break the rules and take shortcuts for short-term success, and it’s never worth it!
According to Coach Saretsky, it’s critical to show empathy towards student-athletes and provide support wherever you can. Mental health has never been as big of an issue as it is today, and taking the wrong approach can mean derailing your coaching career, if not the whole program.
3. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning
The coaching landscape is ever-evolving, with new techniques, technologies, and research emerging regularly. Being a great assistant coach is not about reaching a point of complacency, but embracing a mindset of continuous learning.
Staying informed about advancements in coaching methodologies ensures the ability to provide the best possible guidance to athletes. Seek out mentors and people with different philosophies, listen and absorb knowledge like a sponge, and expand your skill set beyond just your event areas (you will be a better coach in your event areas if you do this, we promise!).
4. Learn to be an effective communicator and embrace cultural differences
Effective communication is paramount for an assistant coach, as it forms the foundation of successful teamwork, athlete development, and overall team performance. A great assistant coach takes responsibility for effective communication in all of their relationships, and that can include asking the head coach/director to clarify expectations if needed.
Effective communication allows the assistant coach to provide constructive feedback, address concerns, and cultivate a positive team culture. By maintaining open lines of communication, an assistant coach can build trust, rapport, and mutual respect with athletes, thereby maximizing their potential and contributing to the team's overall success.
A crucial piece of effective communication is cultural competence. A great assistant coach recognizes that communication styles vary across cultures, and strives to communicate in a way that is inclusive and respectful of cultural differences.
Find a way to educate yourself about different cultures and practices, and get comfortable being outside of the environment in which you were raised. Great coaches invest time in building rapport with athletes by respecting cultural backgrounds and fostering a supportive environment.
5. Never keep your bosses in the dark
While this goes hand-in-hand with takeaway #4, we want to emphasize this one! Great assistant coaches treat all coaches and athletes with respect – and part of that respect is continuous communication with their head coach/director. Never ever should a head coach be caught off-guard by something.
For example, if an athlete is injured at practice, the head coach should be told immediately. If a parent talks to an assistant coach at a meet (more than just small talk), whether it’s positive or negative, the head coach needs to know. Likewise, when you become a head coach, remember that your athletic director should never be kept in the dark either!
6. Have clear boundaries and expectations
Clear boundaries are essential for maintaining a professional coaching environment. A great coach cannot make decisions based on the desire to be popular. Well-defined boundaries help prevent conflicts and when athletes have clear expectations of the coach and their roles, it instills trust and confidence in the coaching staff, creating a positive and stable environment for athlete development.
Athletes are not peers – an assistant coach is an authority figure and a mentor, and must always keep in mind how impressionable an athlete can be. Consider the coach who doesn’t say anything the first 5 times that an athlete is late for practice – is it fair for the coach to be the least bit upset when they are late the 6th time? The coach has practically given the OK for the athlete to be tardy for practice by not holding them accountable the first time it happened.
7. Embrace adaptability
Great coaching is not synonymous with authoritarian rule. While structure and discipline are essential, dictatorial coaching styles can stifle creativity and hinder athlete growth.
Instead, effective communication, collaboration, and mutual respect should be at the forefront of coaching methodologies.
Do not think that you are expected to know it all – you aren’t and you don’t! You have to adapt with the times and understand that each situation is different. Do not try to be the great coach who may have coached you – be yourself!
8. Develop your own leadership style and be true to yourself
The athletes you coach are more aware than you think, and they’ll call you out if they see that you’re imitating someone else’s coaching style.
Recently we had a conversation with a director of a program who was having some issues with a young assistant coach who was barking orders at the athletes and not maintaining their composure. The assistant coach had not built a rapport with the athletes, and therefore the athletes met his barking with a “why should we listen to you?” look on their faces.
By developing your own style (which is hopefully filled with empathy and kindness), you’ll be able to authentically connect with athletes and the rest of the coaching staff.
A word of caution here: we’ve heard the “fake it til you make it” statement used with positivity, but we promise you, do not fake it when it comes to answering questions that you don’t know the answer to – it will hurt your credibility and the athletes will always find out.
Example: If you don’t know the answer to a complex training question, simply say “ That’s a great question. Let me do some thinking and some more research on that and I’ll get back to you.” The athletes will respect honesty a lot more than you if you give them an answer that makes them question your competence.
9. Embrace the hard work
With demanding schedules and high expectations, assistant coaches must demonstrate dedication, diligence, and commitment to their responsibilities. A strong work ethic not only sets a positive example for athletes, but also fosters trust and reliability within the coaching staff.
Part of being a hard worker is making sure to get the details right. You can’t win a championship the week of a meet, but you can certainly lose it if you haven’t done your job working out basic details essential for athlete support (such as meals, transportation, and lodging). Your efforts contribute to the team's overall success, demonstrating passion for the sport and unwavering commitment to helping the team achieve its goals… but…
10. Don’t let selflessness go too far
Coaches must educate themselves on well-being and what it takes to maintain mental and emotional health. Coaching is a demanding and high-pressure profession, and prioritizing yourself is essential to prevent burnout.
A coach will not be able to be mentally sharp and emotionally present if they are not getting adequate sleep. Coaches should have a healthy personal life outside of coaching responsibilities, and maintaining a healthy balance is essential for our well-being. Passion for coaching is a driving force, but it will diminish without self-care, and taking the time to rejuvenate will help a coach sustain their passion and enthusiasm for the sport.
Learn more at an upcoming Ascent Track Workshop
Being a great assistant track and field coach is a multifaceted role that goes beyond surface-level achievements. It's about selflessness, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to the well-being and development of athletes. Perhaps above all else, it’s about being on the same page as the head coach and making sure that you are helping carry out the head coach’s vision for the program.
Want to learn more about improving as an assistant coach at the high school and collegiate level? Coach Saretsky is leading another workshop this summer, where he’ll unveil common coaching mistakes, offer tips on effective communication, and share the expectations of hiring managers along with ways to move up in the coaching world. Learn more about this August’s “Strategies for Coaches on The Rise” workshop here.
