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First-year Coaches: A Guide to a Successful Season
By Kristen Mundahl
Head Varsity Dance Team Coach
Rosemount High School
September 3, 2005
Coaching – regardless of the age group, sport, or level of
competition – remains a very difficult task. The most important
aspect for coaches to keep in mind throughout their first year and
beyond is the reasons one has chosen to coach to begin with. Coaches
will undoubtedly encounter very difficult and trying times within
their first year; however, reminding one’s self of the wonders
of the role they have selected will allow for a smoother year all
around.
Personally, I decided to coach dance team for a few reasons. Firstly,
I maintain a passion for both the art and sport of dance. In addition,
I feel blessed to witness the progress an individual, but more importantly
a team is able to experience within a mere season or two. Lastly,
dance team promotes unity both on and off the floor. A team cannot
experience success performing or competing if solid relationships
fail to exist naturally on a day to day basis. I believe that many
coaches choose to take part in this experience for at least one
of the reasons mentioned above.
Change is a difficult and often uncomfortable encounter for several
people. Therefore, coaches as well as team members need to remain
flexible and open-minded about and throughout their upcoming year.
Progress derives from change and dance team continuously advances
in its level of difficulty, creativity, and performance. As a result,
change remains an imperative piece to success and enduring competitiveness
within a team’s given region.
No two coaches ever approach their role in the same manner because
every coach teaches in a distinctly unique fashion. Each coach will
approach technique, instruction, issues, roles, and concerns very
differently. What every team member needs to understand is that
change can and usually is a wonderful experience and must take place
to experience success with that particular coach. Equally, a new
coach needs to understand that they are entering a previously established
team and must not make changes too quickly or drastically. As a
coach, make changes where you deem necessary, yet try to continue
with the things that were working well for your team as well. Your
dancers will appreciate this immensely and will respect you more
as a result.
Although, your role and expectations as a coach remain very clear,
your dancers often strive to fill their uncertain role as a team
member. Each individual yearns to feel a significant part of the
team and as though the team needs them at all times. Provide little
opportunities for individual dancers such as leading stretches,
creating a poster, or selecting a quotation to read to the team.
These small, yet considerable opportunities will unite your team
in ways you never expected. Let each member know that the team can
only function as such. Help them to recognize and appreciate the
commitment they have made by choosing to be a member of your team
because it truly is a choice. If even one member fails to uphold
their role through dedication, desire, and hard-work, then the team
will not succeed.
The final words I would like to leave with new coaches are that
although much success can be measured from winning, trophies, and
medals, the true success of a team cannot be measured at all. It
comes from the little victories and accomplishments that occur each
day: a higher leap, a brighter smile, pointed toes, a new friendship.
Give criticism, yet always in a positive manner, motivate, lead,
inform your team of when they are doing well, not simply poorly,
and above all, make time for fun and laughter each and every day.
***Below you will find a succinct outline of items that are essential
to accomplish throughout any given year coaching a dance team. Although,
this list is not entirely inclusive and may vary greatly from program
to program, I hope it establishes a solid reference for you to use.
Spring/Summer:
I. Create the summer calendar
II. Design and meet on warm-ups for the upcoming year
III. Organize, schedule, and complete first booster meeting with
all parents and
dancers together
A. Create and provide copies of the dance team constitution, calendar
information, apparel options, warm-up payment, and any other mandatory
requirements of your dance team, high school, or booster club
IV. Select music for the upcoming fall season; determine choreography
deadlines for captains or choreography committee within the fall
season
V. If your team attends a dance camp during the summer, organize
and confirm information for that particular camp
VI. Create fall schedule and provide copies for both parents and
dancers alike
VII. Confirm performance dates for the fall season with the athletic
department
VIII. Have fun and work hard; the fall season is a precursor to
your winter season
IX. Solidify costume ideas for winter season and complete necessary
meetings with costume designer
X. Fundraise, fundraise, fundraise
Fall:
I. Have monthly booster meetings
II. Teach and clean dances for the fall season throughout
III. Select music for the winter season
IV. Have music for the winter season cut in beginning of October
V. Determine choreography committee(s) and establish choreography
dates for the winter season
VI. Determine competition dates for meets within your state as well
as local competitions; register if necessary
VII. Create winter calendar and provide copies for both parents
and dancers alike
VIII. Prepare and have fall banquet
Winter:
I. Have monthly booster meetings
II. Teach and clean dances for the winter season throughout
III. Attend competitions and invitationals
IV. Prepare and have winter banquet
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