Athletic Coaches Are Some Of Our Best Educators

At some point in our lives we all have had interactions with coaches. Some of us are familiar with the coach that seemed to not care about the classes that they had to teach, but was serious about athletics. The other end of that spectrum were coaches that took their content classes as serious as their athletic classes. When you think about it, coaches really are some of our best educators.

If you’ve spent time observing coaches, there are elements of athletic practice that directly relate to classroom instruction. Look closely at the progression of a team from the beginning of a season to its conclusion. The improvement that is seen is not an accident, it is the direct result of a cycle of instruction, feedback, and practice.

The same way that teachers provide direct instruction in a classroom, coaches provide direct instruction on the field, court, or pitch. After that instruction students have an opportunity to practice, much the same way that an athlete practices what they have been instructed to do. During the practice, coaches are continuously providing feedback. The same should be happening in a classroom. As students practice what they are learning, teachers should provide feedback to help students progress towards mastery.

Teachers make adjustments to instruction to meet students at their level of achievement. Coaches make adjustments to accommodate a student athletes skill level and ability to perform. These adjustments help to achieve the desired outcome, which is student achievement.

Every educator should be working to ensure that students receive a quality education. Students will rise or fall to the level of expectation of their teachers. We must do our due diligence to make sure that we give students the chance to make the most of everyday that they are in our care. What say you? Will you approach teaching your content area like a coach?