How do you know if you have a toxic coach?

When practices and games are more like work than fun, there may be a problem with training. Watch for these signs. Imagine a child who is not only being harassed, but the adult figures in his life unknowingly support that bullying. Next, imagine how devastating it can be.

Repetitive verbal abuse, exploitation, insults, physical intimidation, and other bad behaviors that repeatedly degrade players are not only rude and wrong, but will eventually severely affect them. The verbal humiliations of a coach, in front of others, are a clear form of verbal abuse. For example, a bullying coach may humiliate your child in front of other people. The coach can also constantly yell, curse, or shout, as well as make offensive jokes at your child's expense.

Some coaches are even dedicated to gas lighting. Gossip destroys trust and undermines team cohesion and unity. One of the most important strengths of great teams is their ability to isolate themselves from negativity. The only way for teams to protect themselves from outside influences is to reach out and rely on each other during the inevitable ups and downs of a season.

This “closing” process becomes difficult when players gossip about their teammates or about the coach's decisions. If a player has problems with another player or is not sure about their role in the team, the most mature way to handle these types of questions is to talk directly to the coach. Once the coach is involved, everyone can come to an agreement and find a solution. Gossip is the cowardly way of handling difficult situations, and gossip destroys the team's chemistry.

One of the signs of great leaders is their ability to celebrate the team's success despite their individual performance. Of course, it's easy to be happy about a win when you score a lot of points, get a lot of rebounds, or give several assists. But the real test of great leadership is the ability to be genuinely excited about the team's achievements when you haven't had your best game. Toxic leadership can start in the locker room after a big win, when a player starts pouting due to poor individual performance.

This type of pout sends the message that MY performance on the court is what really matters and the team's success is secondary. The coach shouts at the players, instead of at them. They are not said and simply forgotten. They accumulate until the player no longer has his own voice.

The player only hears the coach's words. Those are the echoes they hear. Negative words will prohibit performance and destroy the engine in the long term.