Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / 3 Questions Every Athlete Should Ask the Coach

3 Questions Every Athlete Should Ask the Coach

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Oct 13, 2015

No Comments

terry-englanderjpg-41d9acfc47b4d885

Athletes who want to continually improve and be the best teammate possible should be proactive by building great relations with their coach.  One way to do this is to develop ongoing, healthy dialogue with the coach and take to heart the advice offered.  While the feedback might not always sound positive on the surface, coaches usually see more objectively than the athlete (or his or her parents), and can provide keen insights that are unique to the individual based on observable weaknesses.

There are countless questions athletes might ask their coach, but so not to be a burden I have identified three core questions that cover most of the bases:

  1. How can I improve?  Coaches love it when athletes take it upon themselves and solicit feedback for future improvement and receive the information without argument or dispute.  Asking about self-improvement should not be a thinly veiled way of questioning the coach’s player personnel decisions, but instead information that can be used to set future goals and increase the likelihood for ongoing athletic development and success.
  2. How can I better help the team?  This question will likely prompt different answers depending on your role on the team.  For example, if you are a starter the coach may talk directly about specific leadership skills he would like to see developed, like making better off-field decisions or brushing up on grades.  On the other hand, if you are a reserve the coach might focus her advice on being the best scout team player, or trying to keep a healthy, positive attitude even though you aren’t seeing a lot of playing time.
  3. What else can I do to help the program overall?  This catch-all question is designed to pick up on anything the first two questions didn’t quite cover, and might lead to some important advice.  Some coaches might see this question as an opportunity to talk about things like building better relations with underclassmen to continue winning traditions, encouraging the team to be more visible to the community by embarking on leadership endeavors, or starting a positive social media campaign to get more folks out to games.

cover225x225

Athletes are sometimes intimidated to speak to their coach 1-1 about these questions, but being proactive and soliciting credible feedback is one of the best methods for self-improvement.  Of course, time your questions tactfully and at a time that is convenient for the coach, and not immediately before, during, or after a game.  Take the feedback you receive to heart, and be sure to set future specific, measurable goals so that you can make use of the information you learned.  Oh, and thank the coach for his or her time!

www.drstankovich.com

 

athlete, coach, Leadership, psychology, sport, student

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • May 13, 2022 Resiliency and Successful Stress Coping are Key to Optimal Mental Health
  • May 10, 2022 Encourage Student Athletes to Ask for Help if they are Feeling Overwhelmed by Stress
  • May 5, 2022 Taking a Critical Examination of the ADHD Diagnosis
  • April 27, 2022 How Much Impact Does a Coach Have on Sports Team Success?
  • April 26, 2022 Examining the Effects of Prayer in Youth and Interscholastic Sports

Comments are closed.

PREVIOUS POST

NCAA College Football Coach Bonuses Surprising — and Confusing

NEXT POST

Why Sports May be the Best Teaching Tool Athletes Ever Experience in Life

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Athletic Director , Boys Sports , Coaching , College , Communicating with Coach , Girls Sports , League Operator , Mental Toughness , Parent Training , Performance Enhancement , Playing Time , Prep , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sports Administrators , Sports Parenting , Sports Performance Science , Sports Safety , Training and Development , Uncategorized , Youth and Interscholastic Sports , Youth Sports

Tags

athlete, coach, Leadership, psychology, sport, student

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Resiliency and Successful Stress Coping are Key to Optimal Mental Health
  • Encourage Student Athletes to Ask for Help if they are Feeling Overwhelmed by Stress
  • Taking a Critical Examination of the ADHD Diagnosis
  • How Much Impact Does a Coach Have on Sports Team Success?
  • Examining the Effects of Prayer in Youth and Interscholastic Sports
  • Overcome the Fear of Failure, Improve Mental Toughness, & Experience Success
  • 4 Important Team Building Tips to Help Coaches Succeed
  • Travel League or Recreation? How Parents Can Make (or Break) the Youth Sport Experience
  • Learn the Latest Research to See if Sport Specialization is Right for You
  • How Much Impact Does a Coach Have on Sports Team Success?
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2022 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓