The Different Styles of Coaching

Introduction

Coaching is an essential aspect of sport in the world today because it ensures that individuals are able to work together with their coaches in order to achieve desired results. A consequence of such a situation is that the coach is considered the leader of the team and it is he or she that is held responsible for the successes and failures of the team. In many cases, coaches can either be fired or fired at a moment’s notice based on their performance; meaning that it is essential for these individuals to ensure that they promote the advancement of their teams through having the skills needed to help their players achieve their maximum potential (Bloom, Falcão & Caron, 2014). One should not underestimate the considerable influence that coaches at all levels tend to have on the lives of the individuals that they mentor. This is especially the case with those coaches who undertake the training of children, where they teach the latter how to learn and play a diverse number of games. These individuals are extremely important, because they seek to advance the development of children so that they can make better athletes while at the same time instilling in them the ability to exercise discipline while both on and off the field. Coaches at the beginner level of training are essential in the advancement of the interests of children because it ensures that they not only develop life skills, but also have an opportunity to bring about a positive effect in their growth and learning. In this paper, there will be a discussion of the development of coaching and how this role has developed in the contemporary world. There will also be an analysis of the role of coaches and the different styles adopted by these individuals in order to achieve their objectives. The role of different coaching styles in the lives of individuals that allow for the advancement of their skills will also be analyzed within the context of molding these individuals into responsible people in society.

Previous approaches

            Coaching began as early as sports and this has been documented since the ancient period, as seen from the Olympic Games held in Ancient Greece to the professional sporting events held in the contemporary world. Coaching began with older or retired athletes transmitting their knowledge to younger ones; ensuring a level of continuity in a considerable number of sports. Furthermore, it was in the interest of coaches to ensure that they pushed their protégés towards putting their best efforts towards the achievement of their goals (Jeanes, Magee & O’Connor, 2014). This meant that they had to make these individuals push the limits on their bodies in order to become successful. In the early days of coaching, the practice essentially involved teaching younger people what they knew. Therefore, the practice was not as professional as it is today because in the contemporary world, coaching has become a profession, with individuals putting in all of their efforts towards sports as their main activity. Participants in sports tended to seek to ensure that they became just like their coaches, because the latter were usually former participants in sports themselves. A consequence of this situation was that rather than having sports as the main activity in their lives, players more often considered it a pass time and did not take it on professionally. The act of participating in a game for the fun of it rather than to make money ensured that individuals appreciated these activities more. This is unlike in the contemporary world where sports have essentially become a means through which the participants see an opportunity to make a lot of money. Therefore, coaches in the contemporary world have the task of learning from the past and making sure that there is the advancement of a genuine appreciation of sports from the current generation. The lessons from the past are also essential in bringing about a level of discipline so that it leads to the reduction of interest in sports for the financial rewards they might bring to participating in them, such as having fun.

New findings

The role of coaching has evolved to such an extent that it has become an essential aspect of almost all, if not all sporting events. A consequence has been that it has allowed coaches to become among the highest paid individuals in the world. Some football coaches are paid tens of millions of dollars annually because of the work that they do and this is a sign of the considerable important that is put on their skills. Furthermore, while the art of coaching has evolved to become more professional, the activity itself is still for the most part conducted because of the individuals’ love for the game (Rynne, Mallett & Rabjohns, 2016). The coaches in the smallest leagues have the responsibility to ensure that they instill the love of sports in their team members from a young age so that as they grow, they participate in sport for the fun of it rather than for the aim of making money. A result of such instances is that it will have the potential of creating more genuine interest in sporting activities from individuals rather than seeking to simply join in the activities for monetary gain. It is essential for coaches to take the time to promote getting back to the basics of sports because this situation will ensure that advancement of the sporting activities while at the same time allow for the development of discipline, which is an essential attribute when it comes to the achievement of success both in an out of sport. It is the role of the coach to not only instill discipline in the team, but also sportsmanship and knowledge of the game. However, in order to achieve this goal, it is essential to consider coaching and the role that it plays in helping to advance the interests of athletes. Through this understanding, it will be possible to bring about an understanding of how coaches are able to accomplish their tasks.

Coaching styles

There are a number of coaching styles which are made use of in order to instill efficiency, discipline, and self-development in athletes. These styles are important in the development of responsible individuals in society because they help instill needed values that athletes have both inside and outside their sporting activities. There are three main coaching styles and these include the following; command, submissive, and cooperative coaching styles.

Command style

In this style, coaches make all the decisions and this is to such an extent that the role of the athlete remains to only respond to the commands of the coach (Marten, 2004, p.2). This is one of the most common coaching styles and it works on the premise that the coach knows what is best for the athletes. It often takes place in a situation where there is need to ensure that there is constant discipline in the coaching process, with the coach often undertaking to have a serious demeanor at all times to ensure that the athletes appreciate the seriousness of the situation. It also involves the coach not being pleasant with the athletes because to do so is considered to be a sign of weakness, which might end up shaking his authority. However, one of the most important aspects of the command style of coaching is that it often leads to considerably good results, especially in situations where the coach is a brilliant strategist and tactician, whose instructions lead to the success of the team. The downside is that it also involves a considerable number of athletes quitting the various sports programs because they feel that they have no say in any of the coaching activities that the coaches decide on. Therefore, in order for this coaching style to be acceptable and effective, it is essential for the coaches to ensure that they understand the boundaries of such coaching practices so that they do not become abusive of the athletes under their care.

Submissive style

The submissive style of coaching is an extremely relaxed one because the coach takes as small a role as possible in the process. It involves a situation where the coach does not take an active part in the decision making and leaves the athletes to make the decisions concerning what to do concerning their own coaching (Hassan & Lynch, 2014). The athletes have absolute freedom in the coaching process to such an extent that it leads to a situation where the coach only gets involved in situations where they feel that they have to step in. This coaching style allows athletes the ability to advance their own interests in the best way that they know how and helps them become more responsible for themselves. In addition, it helps them to ensure that they not only develop their own team spirit, but also helps them make the necessary choices for their teams. Despite these advantages, the coaches in this situation can end up having their careers become quite short because they do not impose their authority over the team. This is especially considering that they do not provide any direction, instruction, or discipline to the athletes; leading the latter towards a situation where they have the potential of getting out of control. Because the coach in this situation allows the athletes to dictate their coaching, it leads to the considerable reduction of the authority needed to make sure that the coaching practices are as efficient as they should be; resulting in the underperformance of both the coach and the team.

Cooperative style

The third coaching style that has been mentioned is the cooperative style. This involves the coach providing the athletes under his care a voice on how to handle affairs related to the coaching. However, despite providing such freedom, it is essential to note that the coach continues to retain full authority over the athletes and he is the final decision maker. This style is also important because it puts into consideration the different styles of learning that the athletes have and this is to such an extent that it ends up being tailored into the overall coaching practice. Therefore, the different learning styles are not only identified by the coach, but that are also accommodated in the instruction area (Aoyagi, et al, 2016). A result is that it is essentially collaboration between the coach and the athletes, and this ensures that while the former retains absolute control over the overall coaching, the latter feel more comfortable with the practice because they also have a say in it. Furthermore, the focus of the coach is essentially the maximization of the potential of the team and this ensures that the coach seeks to do what is best for the athletes by taking their input into consideration. In both practice and game situations, the importance of coaches and athletes working together is emphasized, meaning that the coach, with more experience, is able to guide the athletes towards the achievement of their goals in a more considerate manner than is the case in submissive coaching. However, in this coaching style, the coach has to ensure that he remains focused in his objectives because there are instances where they might end up leaning too much towards the interests of the athletes that they forget their main objective, which is to ensure that they turn these individuals into better participants in their respective sporting activities.

Conclusion

One of the most fundamental aspects of coaching and the styles that are adopted is that it has an effect on the social behavior of the athletes as well as having a focus on decision making. Therefore, it is essential for the coach to take time and reflect on their individual coaching styles so that the one that they adopt will be tailored to cater to the specific coaching context while also considering the interests of the athlete. In this way, while athletes seek mentorship and guidance, coaches are also able to ensure that they advance their own experience with every athlete that they mentor. Thus, coaches have to find ways of bettering their skills so that they can help mold the athlete of the future in the best way possible.

Use of Performance Enhancement Drugs

Introduction

Performance enhancing drugs are some of the most controversial aspects of the contemporary world and this is especially considering that it is in widely used to achieve a diverse number of goals. The users of this drug tend to have a positive aspect towards them because they are considered to be a means towards achieving their goals. This is especially the case where they are under considerable pressure to ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities. Some studies have shown that users of performance enhancing drugs are usually regular individuals who, because of the considerable pressure put on them, end up in a situation where they conclude that it would be best for them to use these drugs. In addition, while most of these drugs are readily available in pharmacies, they often require a prescription. A result is that even though they may be available, they are looked upon by most organizations, especially in sport, as promoting unfairness in diverse aspects of life, such as competitive sport. Because of this, there has been wide advocacy for their ban, especially among those individuals that participate in sport. However, there is also an opposing side that promotes the idea that in these drugs are made more widely available to ensure that there is the advancement of fairness in various activities. This paper seeks to demonstrate the circumstances leading to the use of performance enhancing drugs, the attitudes towards them in various countries, and the manner through which their effects have stirred considerable debate.

Attitudes to performance enhancing drugs

The greatest use of performance enhancing drugs takes place among university students. These individuals believe that it is a social norm to make use of drugs such as Ritalin to enhance their performance at the academic level. However, despite the use of these drugs by some students in universities, studies show that very few of them have actually made use of the drug named above (Pérez-Pazos, Collazos & Casas, 2015). The use of these drugs often takes place because of the considerable pressure that students have to undergo in order to ensure that they not only have good grades, but are also competitive in the job market once they complete their studies. A consequence of this situation is that a considerable number of students hold the belief that if they use performance enhancing drugs, they will be able to ensure that they are able to handle a diverse number of situations and challenges in their academics without having to endure the considerable pressure that comes with their studies. However, despite these efforts, the drugs that are used in an academic environment tend not to have the desired effect, especially in instances where students place too much faith in them rather and focusing on working hard towards the attainment of their academic goals. Therefore, while the use of performance enhancing drugs may be considered to be a social norm in institution of higher education, is does not serve to enhance academic performance because the individuals involved in it tend not to realize that these drugs are merely stimulants whose effects are not compatible with performance.

Performance enhancing drugs are not often used for medical reasons, and are instead gotten over the counter by those who desire to use them. A result is that in countries within the EU, there are a significant number of individuals, especially students, who opt to obtain these drugs without proper consultation with doctors. Individuals in this society have ended up in a situation where they take advantage of the ready availability of performance enhancing drugs to ensure that they acquire them for their personal use. The attitude towards these drugs show that the taboo concerning the unfairness of their use is increasingly being eroded and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a common practice. Individuals in the contemporary world seem to be taking a more relaxed attitude to performance enhancing drugs than their predecessors; a sign that attitudes are heading towards the legalization of these drugs in everyday use. Individuals in European countries such as the UK and Belgium have a positive attitude towards these drugs in comparison to Turkey, where the approval of such drugs is quite low. The cultural values of individuals in various countries seem to be extremely important in the development of attitudes towards performance enhancing drugs (Schermer, Bolt, de Jongh  & Olivier, 2009). Concepts concerning competitiveness seem to be the drivers behind the high approval ratings that are seen in the UK, while fairness is a determinant factor in the case of Turkey. The achievement of personal goals through the use of performance enhancing drugs is an essential factor in determining individuals’ attitude towards them, and this is irrespective of their country of origin.

The acceptability of using performance enhancing drugs is a feature of what can be termed as changing social norms. A majority of studies, which have been conducted in the United States, show that the number of individuals that approve of the use of performance enhancing drugs is steadily increasing, and this is especially considering that that a considerable number of people have admitted to using them once or several times in their lives (Ponnet, Wouters, Walrave, et al., 2015). Among the most significant considerations when it comes to the use of these drugs is that they not only serve to enhance the performance of the users, but they also play a role in increasing the confidence of users. In American institutions of higher learning, the use of these drugs was considered the norm, with many of those that promoted its use stating that it is an essential means of ensuring that their academic performance was advanced. Therefore, unlike in other countries that were studied, especially in the EU, the United States showed a higher number of people that approve of the use of performance enhancing drugs and consider it to be a social norm. The emergence of the use of these drugs from the periphery into the mainstream is a sign that the taboos that governed their use is gradually being eroded away, and society is gradually accepting these drugs as an essential aspect of their lives. Under such circumstance, it is likely to be difficult to ensure that the argument concerning the use of performance enhancing drugs leads to unfairness because it is the same environment that has fostered competitiveness that has also led to the advancement of means through which individuals are increasingly feeling under pressure to increase their performance.

A study on performance enhancement drugs shows that it is often determine by alcohol use. Alcohol use is an influential factor when it comes to the use of performance enhancement drugs, especially among young people. This is especially considering that these individuals are more impressionable at this stage in their lives and feel that they can be better able to overcome their deficiencies through the use of these drugs (Boardley, Grix & Dewar, 2014). In addition, alcohol use makes it easier for individuals to want to try out new substances, meaning that it is a critical factor when it comes to the advancement of performance enhancing drug use. In most cases studied, young people are more susceptible to the use of these drugs because of the new pressures that have developed in their lives. There is often a failure to consider that piling pressure on these individuals might have the negative effect of making them to seek alternatives to keep up with the prevailing circumstances. It therefore becomes essential for these individuals to seek out ways to ensure that they are able to cope with the various pressures in their lives through the use of performance enhancing drugs. The use of these drugs is not only prevalent in the academic arena, but also in the workplace, where individuals are often under constant pressure to perform to the satisfaction of their superiors. A consequence is that many of these individuals end up adopting the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to cope with the pressure and long hours that they have to undergo in their work environment. This situation is a cause for concern in most countries assessed because it shows that individuals are increasingly becoming reliant on performance enhancing drugs in order to undertake everyday activities as well as to cope with the pressures of the contemporary world.

Another aspect of performance enhancing drug use is that despite their being considered a social norm, not many people have actually made use of them. Therefore, the perceptions concerning their use is not consistent with reality because while a considerable number of people feel that it is justifiable to make use of these drugs, in reality, their use is       quite limited. Social media as well as other means of rapid circulation of information has made it possible for a positive attitude towards performance enhancing drug use to develop (Brennan, Kanayama & Pope, 2013). In addition, it has led to the creation of an environment where individuals have become more ready to make use of these drugs whenever they feel that they have to attain their goals as quickly as possible. These circumstances are a matter of serious concern because they show that individuals in the contemporary world, because of the prevailing misinformation concerning performance enhancing drugs, even though they may not be active users, have developed an attitude that fosters its use. Consequently, it is important that initiatives to bring about an end to such misinformation and to counter it is essential in making sure that society as a whole is protected against the use of drugs that might be harmful to the health of individuals without necessarily providing any tangible benefits. Creating awareness that the use of performance enhancing drugs should not be considered a social norm and should instead only be used on recommendation from competent medical practitioners is important in helping to promote the interests of all individuals in society. This is especially the case where most of these drugs are readily available over the counter; meaning that many individuals take them without necessarily having knowledge concerning their potential effect on them. By creating awareness concerning performance enhancing drugs, it becomes possible for individuals to question whether they should be making use of these drugs themselves.

Performance enhancing drugs in sports

In sport, the use of performance enhancing drugs is a serious problem, especially when it comes to competitive sports. This is because in the contemporary world, winning competitions comes with considerable benefits, including cash rewards and sponsorship deals. The result is that some sportsmen are often willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they attain the edge that they need over their competition in order to win. The use of performance enhancing drugs, or doping, in sports has led to a situation where it has raised a lot of concern, especially within the public concerning whether it is ethical (Brand, Heck & Ziegler, 2014). Organizations have been set up to ensure that such practices are put to a stop, with many sportsmen and women that have been found to have made use of these drugs being handed severe punishments. Among the most severe punishments that have been meted out have been striping athletes of their medals and also banning them from competitions for certain periods of time. The stricter rules that have been put in place concerning the use of performance enhancing drugs has led to some individuals in sports going to extreme lengths to ensure that they hide the fact that they make use of these drugs (Hodge, Hargreaves, Gerrard & Lonsdale, 2013). However, despite the strict guidelines that have been set up concerning them, performance enhancing drugs seem to continue haunting sports. Scandals associated with the use of these drugs have become more common in recent years than was previously the case and this has been associated with more advanced methods of detecting the presence of these substances in the body. One of the most noteworthy scandals that have come about in recent years has been the Russian doping scandal, which has revealed that the Russian government has been behind the advancement of the performance of its athletes through the promotion of an extensive doping program (Duval, 2017). While the role of the Russian government has been revealed, it is likely that a number of other governments across the world run similar programs in order to enhance the performance of their athletes.

Despite the presence of better methods of detecting illegal substances in sports, there are instances where individuals might make use of these substances unknowingly. The ready availability of over the counter drugs that may contain banned substances in sport has the potential of leading to the unfair victimization of some athletes. The latter might innocently make use of drugs with performance enhancement qualities which, if detected, can lead to a situation where they are led into a situation where they are punished for offenses that they have not intentionally committed (Chan, Lentillon-Kaestner, Dimmock, et al., 2015). The development of awareness concerning the substances that are banned in sport is an important means of making sure that there is a reduction of incidents of the use of performance enhancing drugs. In addition, there are instances where it is essential for governments to place strict regulations on those substances that enhance the performance of individuals. The easy availability of these substances over the counter should be discontinued because it is a means through which to ensure that there is little chance of use of these drugs in sport without the approval of medical practitioners. The achievement of this goal would make sure that there is the advancement of means through which individuals in sport are not only protected against the use of these drugs, but also from unfair competition from those individuals that are likely to intentionally use performance enhancing drugs to gain an advantage. By restricting the availability of performance enhancing drugs, especially to individuals participating in physically demanding and competitive sports, it becomes possible to reduce instances of scandals in sports while at the same time increasing the profile of various sporting activities. The pressure that is encountered by athletes in competitive sports has the potential of leading them towards the seeking to make use of performance enhancing drugs. It is therefore essential to ensure that there is the promotion of awareness concerning the need for fairness in sports in order for the use of these drugs to be significantly reduced.

Prevalence of performance enhancing drug use

The prevalence of performance enhancing drug use is dependent on the prevailing factors in the environments within which individuals live. Studies on various countries, including universities in the UK, Belgium, and Turkey, show that a considerable number of individuals have not made use of these drugs, and those that have are more likely in high pressure environments. The latter is especially the case in universities where students in such faculties as medicine or related ones tend to report higher incidents of substance use in order to enhance their performance. Using these circumstances is believed by individuals to ensure that they are able to cope with courses that are particularly demanding (Helmer, Pischke, Van Hal, et al., 2016). Moreover, an increasing number of individuals in society feel the need to ensure that they succeed in their endeavors meaning that they are willing to do what they believe will help them achieve their goals. The use of performance enhancing drugs is believed to be a means of ensuring that they are able to cope with the stress that is prevalent when dealing with the stress of everyday life. There are also instances where individuals feel that those that are more successful, either in the workplace or in academics, make use of performance enhancing drugs. This belief is based on the highly competitive nature of life in the contemporary world and the different ways through which individuals have adopted to cope with the stress. A result is that individuals have come to suspect one another without any proof that their fellows actually use performance enhancing drugs.

Conclusion

 The findings of the studies reviewed above show that the use of performance enhancing drugs is an increasingly worrying issue. This is especially considering that there is a widespread belief that most individuals make use of these drugs on a daily basis. While this belief is not based on reality, it might have an influence on an increasing trend in the use of these substances in society. Pressures found in the lives of individuals in both academic and work environments, among others, has led to the belief that it is a social norm for performance enhancement drugs to be used in various circumstances. However, the use of these drugs is not as widespread as it seems, and in fact, very few individuals actually make use of them.