The 5 Tool Player & The 5 Tool Coach
Coaching Different Types of Athletes
Athletes are sometimes graded by how versatile their skills are. The term for the athlete who possesses all the attributes that a coach would want in a player is more commonly referred to as the “5 Tool Athlete.” They can hit for average and power. They have speed, they can field, and they can throw at an exceptional level in comparison to their peers. The 5 Tool Athlete is rare, but obviously not unheard of. So what scale is used to test the abilities of coaches? Do our abilities as coaches simply boil down to wins vs. losses? Championships vs. losing seasons? If those are the only ways of defining our abilities as coaches, then most of us fall short, most of the time. If you’re a coach however, you know that coaching is about much more than wins and losses. Coaching entails an incredible responsibility to bring out the best in our athletes and help them grow as players and as people. A successful coach has mastered the art of maximizing each player’s potential and bringing together a group to work towards a common goal.
Lets use that same “5 Tool” label but use it to measure a coaches’ ability to coach different personalities effectively. The secret in the sauce of consistently successful coaches boils down to communication skills. Knowing the X’s and O’s of a sport is completely different than teaching it. Our words, actions, and message are what separate good from great. Gone are the days of authoritative style coaching where athletes jump because we said so. It’s also been proven through extensive research that positive coaching and communication is much more effective in increasing effort and performance in comparison to fear/intimidation based tactics (See PositiveCoach.org). If effort and performance increase, than positive results increase which in turn creates more success on the field. So if the goal is to max out potential ability in our athletes, then we must strive to expand our abilities in communication styles.
The question is, are you a 5 Tool Coach? Using the Big 5 Personality Theory developed by over 60 years of psychological research to categorize personality traits we can place each athlete we coach into categories.
Each category represents different personality traits; how they intake information and what motivates their actions. The more capable we are of communicating with each personality type, the more effective we are at teaching our athletes. Take a look at the chart below for definitions of each Big 5 personality type.
BIG 5 TRAITS MODEL (O.C.E.A.N)
In order to give these traits meaning, let’s relate them to behaviors displayed by athletes. Take a look at the definitions below and try to match some of your players to these categories. People tend to be a combination of more than one personality trait, with one being more dominate than the rest. Each definition is the extreme. Keep this in mind as you reflect on your current players.
Athlete Example
Openness: The athlete who is excited to learn anything and everything. Responds well to personable coaching that’s innovative rather than monotonous. Has difficulty in identifying personal strengths/weaknesses as a result of extreme openness to external information and stimulation. Enjoys process more than the test of competition.
Conscientiousness: Athlete who appreciates and works best in an environment of predictability. Does not particularly enjoy change or disruption. Responds well to coaching that is methodical and consistent. Low need for emotional support from coaches/teammates.
Extraversion: Often very vocal and outspoken both on and off the field with teammates. Enjoys new challenges and variation in daily tasks. Needs support/guidance from coaches to stay focused. Motivated by completing tasks and goals that are measurable.
Agreeableness: The athlete who takes on the “mom” role. Is highly concerned with keeping the environment harmonious for all involved. Does not respond well to criticism/authoritative coaching style. Motivated by others happiness and success and often shies away from positive or negative attention.
Neuroticism: Ability to laser focus when necessary. Often stubborn and prideful in regards to personal beliefs/approach. Works well with coaches who allow them to be a part of process in practice and game settings. Can be highly motivated by results.
With a better understanding of the players we coach, we can adjust our approach as necessary to better communicate. Utilizing strengths and working to develop weaknesses is exactly what we ask of our athletes. Coaches have been commonly referred to as “servant leaders.” This means our position as leaders is driven by the mission to uplift and empower our followers. If we truly wish to fulfill that role it’s our responsibility to continue developing as coaches and leaders. What are steps you can take to further develop your tools as a coach?
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