Mentoring for Sports Coaches: Performance Partnerships with a Particular Purpose.

Published by Wayne Goldsmith on November 14, 2024

Mentoring is a great way to learn, grow and develop as a coach. Coaching is above all a people game and mentoring is about bringing people together to learn, share, grow, develop and ultimately perform more effectively: it is Performance Partnership – a performance partnership with particular purpose.

What makes mentoring different from having a coffee with a coaching colleague is the concept of purpose: coaches seek out quality mentors to help them

Finding the right mentor – at the right time is the challenge.

General rules about mentoring of sports coaches:

First of all, identify a mentor who compliments your coaching philosphy. One of the most fundamental mistakes most coaches make when selecting a mentor is to find someone who thinks like, coaches like them.

Secondly, look for someone who will be honest, forthright and direct. Mentoring is about growth, development, change and improvement. If you want a popularity competition, go to the local pub and start buying beers for everyone. If you want to accelerate your learning and development as a coach, find a mentor who will tell you straight.

The Big Three Mentors:

1. Mentor Number One – the older statesman. Find someone within your sport who knows the sport, knows the people, understand the politics, knows the personalities and understands the specific technical, tactical, strategic and cultural nuances of your sport.
2. Mentor Number Two – the successful coach in another sport. Identify a successful coach in another sport knows coaching, knows sport and understands performance but whose opinions and views are not clouded by the personality, political, historical and cultural issues of your sport.
3. Mentor Number Three – the successful person in another field of endeavour. And search out someone who understands performance, someone who understands winning and someone who can talk with you about performance without the limitations and baggage of the sporting industry.

Wayne Goldsmith