The Philosopher-as-Therapist: The Noble Coach and Self-Awareness
Now that I've tapped into this amazing database (ERIC), it's difficult to stop! This Quest article really hit home for me and felt compelled to share it. Reading it brings to mind the young athletes that have shared their wobbly self-images with me.
My first year coaching U-8 Soccer, one of my young athletes came up to me, making her fingers into an "L", saying "This is what I am". I remember discovering later that her Mom had been arrested and her dad shot himself. She was present, but she wasn't there. I became her "Sophist" that soccer season. I'm still not certain how it happened, but she slowly shifted to become a confident and skillfull player. I looked for small opportunities where she could experience success and become a winner and it seemed to work. Soccer was a place she could come and leave the sadness behind.
If you're a coach for any length of time, I bet you'll relate to my experience and this article:
ERIC #: EJ800368
Title: The Philosopher-as-Therapist: The Noble Coach and Self-Awareness
Author(s): Malloy, D. C.; Rossow-Kimball, B.
Source: Quest, v59 n3 p311-322 Aug 2007
Pub Date: 2007-08-00
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Descriptors: Teacher Role; Athletes; Task Analysis; Moral Development; Educational Philosophy; Athletic Coaches; Sport Psychology; Holistic Approach; Teacher Student Relationship; Self Determination; Teaching Methods; Physical Activities; Physical Education; Theories; Skill Development; Adults; Children; Athletics; Therapy
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to explore the relevance of Plato's "Sophist" in the context of coaching. The "Sophist" dialogue focuses upon the role of the philosopher as a therapist of the soul rather than simply a conveyer or wholesaler of knowledge. This article provides a rationale for the coach to be more than a technical conveyer of skill in which the athlete is perceived to be machine-like (i.e., homo mechanicus) in order to take on a more holistic role in the life of the athlete. Through the application of the noble sophist to the Ecological Task Analysis theory (ETA), we demonstrate how the fundamental perception of the role of the coach may be expanded and redefined to become more of a "midwife" for the birth of personal and moral development. (Contains 2 figures and 2 end notes.)
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Comments
No question we as coaches serve multiple roles. I had a player in tears yesterday after a double header talking about how burned out he is. I talked with him about taking care of himself and not letting himself get so burned out that he walks away from the game for good.
He views you as approachable and caring or he wouldn't have shared his emotions with you. Even though it can be unnerving at times, shared emotions are important in the coach/athlete bond. Awareness of the "whole" athlete helps us become better at our craft. Knowing when and when not to push is important. I parallel a good coach to being a good physician. A good physician considers what's going on with the person, not just the illness. I believe being a good coach requires addressing the athlete's mental/emotional state in addition to his/her skill set. When an athlete knows you care about them, the rest is much easier.
I agree 100%. I have a BS in psychology and a master's in social work. I can't tell you how helpful those degrees have been in my coaching career to this point.