By Danny Edman ’16, Staff Writer

After the success of the winter track team last season, the debate about the importance of coaches in our sports teams arose.  Last winter, the student-led and student-founded winter track team went to compete in its first indoor meet, and the boys won.  In my own personal experience in playing competitive Ultimate Frisbee (yes it’s a legitimate sport), coaching is limited and captains take full control of the team, even to the extent of scheduling practices, organizing games, and instructing other players on the team.  While there are certain advantageous aspects of this method, such as improving the leadership skills of the student captains, there is still no replacement for the relationship between players and coaches and the impact that a good coach can have on a team’s success.  

A skilled coach goes beyond having mastery of his or her sport; it is the coach’s job to set the tone for the team and exemplify the attitude that inspires the players to work as hard as they can so that the team can be successful.  While captains can fill this role to some extent, a coach provides a stable figure for the team, while captains act as extensions of the coach who help build and maintain strong team chemistry.  Even players who have had experience competing in a student-led team agree that coaches have a major impact on the success of the team. Johnny Capobianco ’16, one of the members of the winter track team, maintains that “Having coaches is absolutely necessary.  They know how to manage our workouts and act as the leader.”  Noah Peace ’16, who plays on the basketball team, agrees that a coach is necessary, commenting, “We need our coaches because they are in charge of managing our lineups and keeping our team organized.”  

However, I personally feel that the involvement and tactics that coaches use should depend on the level of the team and the significance of the game that is being played.  I believe that coaching Middle School or JV teams should be very different from the way that Varsity teams are coached.  JV coaches should focus on the development of skills and making sure that everybody has an opportunity to play.  This mentality should shift at the varsity level as the primary goal changes from learning the game to achieving success, even if it means that not everyone gets a chance to play.  This shift in attitude can only be set by a coach, which is why coaches are a necessity for our sports teams.    

Even though it is possible for teams to play without coaching, coaches are still essential in the development and success of a team. Newark Academy teams rely on their coaches, along with team captains, to provide leadership and stability. Although team dynamics and philosophies about coaching depend on a variety of factors, there is no replacement for the relationship between a skilled coach and his or her players.