1. Use of Names

As the saying goes, “the most beautiful sound to any person is the sound of their own name.” Remembering and using players’ names is a subtle but powerful way to connect with them. It’s also practical, as a coach will need to address individuals directly when giving instructions on the court and continue to build rapport with players. Coaches should pay close attention during introductions and use players’ names quickly and frequently to commit them to memory.

Tips on remembering names:

• Repeat back to them in conversation.
• Use questions to draw out points of relatability, while at the same time making use of each person’s name.

2. Reading the Room

By initially asking questions and gathering information on a player’s goals, a coach should be able to assess why a given player or group has shown up for a lesson, clinic, or gathering. Players show up to a lesson for a wide variety of reasons which makes quickly determining what their reason is very important in order to provide what they are looking for. Several examples of what a player’s interests might be upon arrival:

• Social/family outing
• Learning rules and basics to begin playing with their friends
• Learning or refining a specific skill
• Playing competitive points in a fun environment
• Practicing with a specific partner or group of players

For all players to have a positive experience, it’s important to quickly determine what their purpose is for being there. A husband and wife showing up wanting to learn basic positioning to play at an adequate level with their friends, contains a very set of coaching needs than eight competitive players who simply want assisted high paced point play. Being able to pivot and accommodate many different types of players is what makes a coach versatile and able to perform in any environment.

3. Likability

Studies show that students are more likely to become return clients if they find their instructor likable rather than base their decision on how knowledgeable the coach is. While providing high-quality targeted information is important, creating a welcoming, positive, fun, environment is equally important to engage a student during their time on-court. While there are a broad range of styles that embody likability, some common traits of likable coaches include:

• Positivity
• Enthusiasm
• Professionalism
• Welcoming
• Upbeat
• Smiles often
• Injects humor appropriately
• Good communicator
• High energy
• Earnestness
• Keeps it fun