Every Athlete Learns Differently

# Every Athlete Learns Differently

One of the most common questions I hear from young coaches is:

*"Coach, what's the best way to coach athletes?"*

My answer is always the same.

It depends on the athlete.

One of the biggest mistakes coaches make is believing that because something worked with one player, it should work with everyone.

It won't.

Every athlete is different.

They learn differently.

They communicate differently.

They respond differently.

They are motivated differently.

Your responsibility as a coach is not to make every athlete fit your coaching style.

Your responsibility is to understand the athlete well enough to help them reach their potential.

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Fair Isn't Always Equal

This is one of the hardest concepts for young coaches to understand.

Treating every athlete exactly the same is not fairness.

It's convenience.

Fairness means giving every athlete what they need to succeed.

One athlete may need encouragement.

Another may need accountability.

One may need extra repetitions.

Another may need more challenging drills.

One may need a difficult conversation.

Another may simply need someone to listen.

The standards remain the same.

The coaching may not.

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Coach the Person Before the Player

Before athletes become volleyball players...

They're people.

They're daughters.

They're students.

They're teenagers trying to figure out who they are.

Some athletes walk into your gym full of confidence.

Others are carrying anxiety.

Some have incredible support systems at home.

Others don't.

Some have been praised their entire lives.

Others have rarely heard someone tell them they matter.

You'll never fully know what an athlete is carrying.

Coach with that in mind.

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Not Every Athlete Wants to Be Coached the Same Way

Some athletes appreciate direct feedback.

Others shut down when corrected publicly.

Some athletes love being challenged in front of the team.

Others need those conversations to happen privately.

Neither athlete is wrong.

They're different.

Great coaches don't lower standards.

They change how they deliver the message.

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Listen Before You Correct

Young coaches often believe coaching means talking.

Experienced coaches understand coaching begins with listening.

Ask questions.

Observe.

Pay attention.

Instead of assuming why an athlete is struggling...

Find out.

You may discover the problem has very little to do with volleyball.

Listening builds trust.

Trust creates learning.

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Confidence Is Fragile

Not every athlete arrives confident.

In fact, many don't.

One careless comment from a coach can stay with an athlete for years.

That doesn't mean coaches should avoid difficult conversations.

It means words should be chosen carefully.

Correct behavior.

Correct technique.

Correct decisions.

Never attack identity.

An athlete should leave every correction believing:

*"Coach believes I can get better."*

Not...

*"Coach thinks I'm not good enough."*

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Learn What Motivates Each Athlete

Every player is driven by something different.

Some compete because they love challenges.

Some love their teammates.

Some are motivated by goals.

Some simply don't want to let others down.

The better you understand what drives an athlete...

The better you'll understand how to lead them.

Leadership begins with understanding.

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From the Sideline

One season I coached two athletes who played the same position.

Both were talented.

Both worked hard.

Both wanted to succeed.

But they couldn't have been more different.

One wanted immediate feedback.

She'd walk off the court asking,

*"Coach... what did I do wrong?"*

The other needed time.

If I corrected her immediately after a mistake, she became overwhelmed.

For a while, I coached them exactly the same.

One improved.

The other struggled.

It wasn't until I changed my approach that everything changed.

The athlete hadn't changed.

The coaching had.

That season reminded me of something I still believe today.

The best coaches don't just know volleyball.

They know people.

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Standards Should Never Change

Coaching athletes differently does **not** mean expecting less from some players.

Standards remain consistent.

Effort.

Respect.

Accountability.

Preparation.

Character.

Those expectations apply to everyone.

What changes is how you help each athlete reach those standards.

Consistency in expectations.

Flexibility in teaching.

That's great coaching.

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Common Mistakes Coaches Make

• Coaching every athlete exactly the same.
• Confusing equality with fairness.
• Talking more than listening.
• Publicly correcting athletes who need private conversations.
• Assuming motivation looks the same for everyone.
• Forgetting that athletes are people before they're players.

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Key Takeaways

• Every athlete learns differently.
• Fair coaching is individualized coaching.
• Standards should remain constant.
• Communication should adapt to the athlete.
• Listening is one of the most powerful coaching tools.
• Great coaches understand people—not just volleyball.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Isn't coaching athletes differently unfair?

No.

Fairness means helping every athlete reach the same standards, even if the path looks different for each person.

Should coaches treat star players differently?

No.

Every athlete deserves respect, honesty, and accountability.

Talent should never determine character expectations.

How do I learn what motivates my athletes?

Spend time talking with them.

Ask questions.

Observe how they respond.

Relationships always improve coaching.

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Continue Learning

• Teaching Fundamentals Before Complexity
• Coaching With Emotional Intelligence
• Understanding Before Correcting
• Building Trust With Your Athletes
• The Language Great Coaches Use

The best coaches don't have one way of coaching.

They have one standard...

And many ways of helping athletes reach it.