Being a Coach is like being a musician. Your philosophy, your style comes a lot from your influences and how those influences are interpreted. Some might believe players, especially younger players, should not be coached, but allowed to develop by themselves; other coaches might believe players should be nurtured carefully from an early age to avoid the development of bad habits and particular weaknesses. 

A coach's view (or personal philosophy) is based on how he/she learned to play the game, on his/her present knowledge and his/her future expectations. A coaching philosophy is affected by the coach's beliefs, attitudes, and motives. These factors influence the reasons for someone wanting to coach and provide the perennial, moral, and ethical principles that guide his/her coaching. 

With that, to again the respect of players (and parents) and take reasonable care of them, coaches need to prepare and organize themselves thoroughly in order to organize their teams effectively and safely. 

Therefore the role of a coach with the Boys & Girls Clubs - Alaska goes well beyond that of a skilled and knowledgeable technician of the sport who is seeking to help players learn and improve in the game. Coaches might be called upon to as a fitness trainer, a social worker, a motivator, a disciplinarian, a friend, a parent figure, a journalist, a mentor, a manager, a fundraiser, and an administrator as well as many other roles. 

For some of these roles, it is important to know the Boys & Girls Clubs - Alaska Athletics Staff is a valuable resource when seeking more expert support for yourself and your players e.g. when evidence of physical abuse is disclosed to you or where a player might be experiencing financial hardship.

Coaches are also usually held in high esteem by players (and parents) and are important role models for children. The Boys & Girls Clubs - Alaska Athletics Department expects its coaches to display high personal standards of appearance, behavior, and organization. Most importantly, coaches should accept responsibility for the conduct of their players and encourage positive, nondiscriminatory behavior consistent with our Athletics Codes of Conduct. 

Regardless of whether a Coach is naturally lively and enthusiastic, or quiet and shy, there are particular personal qualities required by all Coaches for them to be effective and successful. These qualities need to be harnessed with coaching skills to help players achieve their potential and enjoy the sport they are playing. Additionally, these qualities are evident in a Coach's behavior towards others and in how he/she expects people to behave toward him/her. 

The Qualities of Successful Coaching include:

• Respecting the needs of the individuals and treating all players fairly
• Developing independence by encouraging players and other coaches to accept responsibility for their own behavior and actions
• The development of individuals as people as well as players
• The development of mutual trust, respect, and commitment
• Positive acknowledgement of progress and achievement
• Communication with players,  coaches, parents, and other helpers or support agencies e.g. schools, medical practitioners, etc.
• Promoting fair play within the Rules of the game, and respecting the dignity of opponents and officials
• Accepting responsibility for the conduct of players (and to a certain extent parents) and encouraging positive social and moral behaviors
• Maintaining confidentiality of information when appropriate to do so
• Displaying high personal standards of behavior, dress, and communication
• Ensuring as far as possible the safety and health of players
• Developing personal competence as a coach

Based on the scUK Code of Conduct for Sports Coaches 

These Qualities should help Coaches identify the skills and qualities needed to help players develop as people as well as players.