Difference Between Coaching Guys & Girls in Sports

Coaching is a difficult job because there is never one set way to do things as a coach. Many experienced coaches recognize that they have to maintain different strategies when coaching boys than when coaching girls because of the different emotional and physical needs of each group. Of course, each individual team is going to have unique traits that might not fit with the following generalizations.

  1. Motivation

    • According to an article in Raising Arizona Kids, male and female athletes respond to different types of motivation. Girls tend to be motivated by being a part of a team and working together as a part of a cohesive unit. They often don't need as much motivation as their male counterparts because it is something that they feel instinctively. Boys usually need to be motivated in a different way. Coaches who are working with boys should focus more on each individual boy and making them feel like an irreplaceable part of the team.

    Emotion

    • A study conducted at Montana State University found that girls preferred coaches who put strong emotional feelings into their coaching styles. When coaching female athletes, then, it is important that coaches remember that they must make emotional connections with their players and help them build feelings of trust, support and a family atmosphere. Many girls are very emotional and have a strong desire to relate to their coach and please them, so finding a way to find emotional common ground is extremely important.

    Knowledge

    • According to a study conducted at Montana State University, male athletes valued coaches who knew a lot about the sport and could share their expertise more than female athletes did. Therefore, in general, coaches of boys should focus much more on demonstrating how much they know about the sport. Talking about past sports experiences, current sports news and the latest and greatest techniques are all excellent ways to prove to your male players that you know what you are talking about and can't wait to share it with them.

    Team

    • The team environment will vary greatly depending on whether you are coaching girls or guys. If you are coaching girls, you will probably notice that they act a lot like sisters and really bond over the fact that they are teammates. This bond can sometimes cause drama and tensions to run high because the girls tend to get very comfortable with one another. Boys, on the other hand, have a strong sense of team but are more focused on their own individual contributions.