However, good communication is much more than just talking. The way you deal with people, how you listen, how you ask questions, your tone of voice and your body language all sends messages to your players. Many squash coaches tend to be good at sending messages, but need to improve their skills in receiving messages.
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Communicating effectively with your players
- Greet your players warmly by their name
- Wear appropriate dress
- Speak clearly
- Listen carefully
- Give and receive feedback:
- Be positive and encouraging
- Be specific so the player is clear about what you expect
- Focus on behaviour or actions that can be changed
- Use words the players can understand - keep it simple for beginners
- Encourage your players to give you feedback about how their performance “felt”
- Ask questions to show that their contribution is important
- Ask open-ended questions that make your players think, take responsibility and become self aware.
- Be aware of your body language.
Communicating across cutures
Be aware of cultural differences in communicating with your players.
If you are unsure about how to communicate with an player from a different culture, ask somebody for advice.
Communicating with others Parents, caregivers and others can have a big impact on how players feel about squash. It is important to establish a positive relationship with supporters right from the start of the season. A good way to start is to hold a meeting to:
- Introduce yourself
- Discuss the season ahead
- Set expectations
- Thank them for support
- Allocate roles if required
- Establish your expectations of supporters’ behaviour while watching a competition or game.
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