10 Challenges Coaches Don’t Talk About (And How to Tackle Them)

Coaching is one of the most rewarding roles in sports, but let’s be honest—it comes with its fair share of challenges. From late-night planning sessions to inspiring players to push beyond their limits, coaches juggle a lot behind the scenes. Here are 10 challenges that coaches face but often don’t talk about—and how you can overcome them to become the coach every player remembers.
 

Make 2025 Your Best Coaching Season Yet

 

Being a great coach means overcoming challenges, growing with your players, and leaving a lasting impact. Whether it’s late-night planning, motivating players, or creating unforgettable moments, CoachThem is here to support you every step of the way.
 

1. Late-Night Practice Planning: Every coach knows the feeling: it’s 11 p.m., and you’re still tweaking your practice plans. Finding drills that align with your team’s needs can be exhausting. Solution: Use the CoachThem Platform to streamline planning. Access pre-made drills from professional players and associations to save time while delivering high-quality sessions.
2. Addressing Individual Player Struggles: It’s tough to see a player consistently struggle, whether it’s their positioning on the ice, their touch on the ball, or their stick skills on the field. Solution: Create tailored drills to address these challenges and share them with players to practice during downtime. Use CoachThem’s Marketplace to pull drills directly from the pros and help players overcome their hurdles.
3. Balancing Fundamentals with Fun: Keeping practices engaging while focusing on fundamentals can feel like a constant tug-of-war. Solution: Incorporate dynamic, fast-paced drills that mix skill-building with game-like scenarios. Rotate your drill library regularly to keep players excited.
4. Managing Parent Expectations: Parents want the best for their kids, but their feedback or expectations can sometimes add pressure. Solution: Share your plans transparently.
5. Creating a Unified Team: Developing team chemistry is one of the hardest yet most essential parts of coaching. Solution: Design drills that emphasize communication, trust, and teamwork. Encourage players to work together off the ice, field, or pitch to build connections.
6. Finding Time for Your Own Development: Coaching isn’t just about teaching—it’s about learning, too. But with a packed schedule, how can you find time to grow? Solution: Tap into CoachThem’s Resources for inspiration. Explore drills within our Marketplace and save them under your Personal Folder
7. Inspiring Players to Push Themselves: Sometimes, players need extra motivation to go the extra mile. Solution: Share stories from professional players and showcase drills used by the best in the game. Knowing their heroes practice the same moves can inspire players to push harder.
8. Planning for Unexpected Game Situations: You’ve planned for everything—except that mid-game situation you didn’t see coming. Solution: Use the CoachThem App (FAQ) to view and schedule practice anytime, anywhere
9. Balancing Strategy and Skill-Building: Striking a balance between teaching technical skills and building strategies is a constant challenge. Solution: Alternate practice days between skill-focused drills and strategic play. Use the calendar feature on the CoachThem iOS app to plan and balance these sessions effectively.
10. Becoming the Coach They Remember: The ultimate goal: to be the coach your players talk about for years. The one who inspired them not just in the game but in life. Solution: Be present, stay consistent, and show your passion. Utilize a platform like CoachThem to deliver memorable practices, share impactful drills, and lead with confidence.

 

The Tools to Overcome These Challenges

 

Coaching is never easy, but with the right resources, you can tackle these challenges head-on. The CoachThem iOS App and platform provide everything you need to:

• Plan practices efficiently.
• Share drills and strategies with your players.
• Gain insights and inspiration from professional players and associations.
• Keep your players engaged and motivated.

Join the thousands of coaches already transforming their teams with the CoachThem platform. Plan practices, share strategies, and access professional resources all in one place. Take your coaching experience even further with the CoachThem iOS App—your on-the-go extension to streamline planning and enhance player development.

 

 

 

January 2, 2025

 

Written by CoachThem Team 

 

 

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