Bridging The Gap Between Young and Old Coaches

One subject that I wanted to talk about today is bridging the gab between young and old coaches. Not only their approach with working together, but an overall attitude in working in the industry. Many times it is hard for older coaches to relate to younger ones and vice versa. I think it has to do with the fact that at most levels of basketball there is a sense of territorial thinking and paranoia about sense of worth on a staff or overall standing in the coaching profession.

When I speak to younger coaches their biggest complaint is that older coaches is that they have lost their pulse on the game. They think older coaches still think back twenty years ago and don’t embrace no only the nuances of the game today, but also how to interact with younger players today. On staffs that use technology it is also a common complaint that coaches that are older never embrace using a computer for email, video, or playmaking software.

There also is a respect factor s well. When my young coaching clients talk to me about this issue another big complaint that they have is the lack of respect that older coaches show them. They are dismissive with their ideas and blow of any suggestions that they make without giving them any thought. There is a general frustration from younger coaches when dealing with coaches from older generations in some situations.

The first thing that I tell my clients is these are things that they should be voicing to the coach in question. Lack of communication when dealing with differences between coaches is what tears them apart. I tell them that in most cases its best to sit down with anyone that they are having a disagreement with and hash it out rather than letting it linger. Young coaches certainly can learn from their piers. They have been places and done things that they haven’t and can be. Life experience is such a big thing in any walk of life, but especially in basketball.

Experience is something that you can never have enough of. It is always good to speak to coaches that have gone through the countless wars that this game has. Young coaches for the most part think that they know everything that there is to know because of the clinics they attended or tapes that they watch. Yes it is good to be proactive in learning the X’s and O’s of the game, but that can never take the place of actual basketball coaching experience. Take the time to learn form your elders in the game. Not everything that they have gone through can help, but there are always little things that they can give you to help you in your career not only on but also off the court.

Coaches that have moved up the ladder have always dealt with coaches that were older. We’ve all been through those talks that we’re not old enough to be ready and to wait our turns. No one likes to be told that, but when you do get older you understand what is said. It is frustrating to be not taken seriously because of our youth and lack of experience. The one thing that I can tell you is to take advantage of the developmental time in your coaching career. Take advantage of any opportunity that you get to spend time with older and more experienced coaches. They can be a wealth of knowledge for you and be a great building block to your success.

Older coaches have the same types of frustrations when dealing with younger coaches on a staff. They feel as though young people try to move too fast as well as thinking that they know everything. Older coaches feel as that every year it is harder and harder to get through to younger people to educate them. Many older coaching clients that I have as well as others that I interact with reject technology and refuse to use it as well.

Relating to players is something that my older coaching clients struggle with. In may cases they feel as though it is much harder now than it was in other generations to relate to kids. They feel as though as they get older there is lesser and lesser respect for them from not only younger coaching colleagues, but with young players as well.

Just like with my talks with younger coaches, older coaches can’t just dismiss people because they are young and inexperienced. The first solution to this is to don’t quickly judge young people and take the time to get to know them. I tell them to remember back to the time when they were young and how having a place at the table was important. Young people just want to be taken seriously and want to be respected. I do agree with my frustrated older clients for the most part that younger coaches today want to skip steps to move up and are less respectful of their elders. I tell them to take things in stride and to be patient with young people.

For young coaches what I can give you advice is simple. Don’t be in such a rush to move to the top. With older coaches for the most part they have been where you are right now as well as where you want to go. Respect the time they put into the game. Older coaches made it possible for you to be in great positions because of the way they changed and shaped the game. Older coaches never had some of the opportunities and tools at your disposal. Technology and the networks that you have used for most of your life is like a foreign language to them. Take the time to know people and keep an open mind with them. Older people may not have the energy and drive that you have, but can be a very invaluable resource to your development as a coach and a person.

For older coaches you have to take the time to get to know people and don’t come to judgement so fast. Remember that you were a young pup once as well and you wanted to move up and be respected. Young people need to be educated as they aren’t as patient as you may have been when you were their age.

Some things like technology and new methods may not be what you are used to doing, but need to be embraced. No one expects you to be a computer wizard, but take things slowly. Be open to taking classes or having people show you at your own pace. Don’t be so quick to dismiss. You may not like the game changing or the people in it getting younger, but its either move with it or basically get left behind. Your knowledge and life experience is invaluable to basketball,but don’t force it on people just be there for them to use it..

Basketball is a great game , but also has so many moving parts. There are a lot of great “characters” that you come in touch with that can you can learn a lot from. People are very different some are good some aren’t. Regardless of their age you need to take the time to get to know them and embrace their beliefs. Some you may be able to use some you won’t. Remember the phrase that you’ve heard a million times. Dont EVER judge a book by its cover. That person that you don’t like for one reason or another can be your biggest allie and resource that you ever met. But you will never know if you don’t give them a chance.

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