Do What You Have To Do
 To some extent, the professional coach must subvert their own emotional reactions for the higher purpose of achieving the athletes’ goals.  A professional should not expect to return home every night feeling emotionally satisfied from everything that happened in the gym that day - their gymnasts should. Coaches should expect to have to sacrifice their own emotional satisfaction for the improvement of their gymnasts’ emotional state and well-being.  If you want emotional satisfaction, try volunteer work for a worthy non-profit cause or invest in your personal relationships outside of the gym.  You cannot reasonably expect your emotional needs to be satisfied in a gym from the athletes.

How can you increase your chances of earning gymnasts’ respect?

•  Have and demonstrate positive expectations for each gymnast.  Positive expectations have been scientifically proven to be a more important factor in success than ability.
•  Provide a personal example to the gymnasts in terms of healthy and positive lifestyle choices.
•  Display a positive, enthusiastic attitude during all your contact with your athletes.
•  Administer your coaching in a fair and even handed manner.
•  Be 100 % consistent in your coaching and discipline.
•  Control your own emotions, emotional responses, language and negativity.
•  Provide a personal model by always showing respect to other athletes, coaches, parents and staff members.
•  Be above reproach in terms of honesty, loyalty, trustworthiness, kindness, courtesy, generosity and other admirable characteristics.
•  Do not participate in negative psychological “games” with athletes, coaches, parents or staff members.
•  Be attentive and responsive to the psychological state, stages and needs of your athletes.
•  Sacrifice when necessary for your athletes well-being.
•  Take responsibility for your athletes’ problems, deficiencies and learning needs to the same extent that you plan to take responsibility for their athletic successes.

Who’s The “Man?”
 Remember that you are the “adult” in the coaching relationship and act like it.  They are only children and not extensions of your ego.  They do not exist to satisfy or live out your dreams or expectations.  You can help guide them toward positive choices in their life, but the choices remain theirs.

A Positive Coaching Style
 Adopt a coaching style that involves teaching, instructing equality, respect for the athlete and their opinion and does not require intimidation, threats and negativity. 

Don’t Go For The Short-Term Fix
 Don’t expect that because intimidation and fear are a technique that works “successfully” in the short run that it will work in the long run.  Don't expect that negativity, criticism, unfair, inconsistent application of discipline won’t drive even a great athlete out of the gym.  There will be a point of no return - a point past which nothing you say or do will entice that talented athlete back in the gym.  It is your responsibility never to reach that point during their entire multiple-year, teenage rebelling career, so they may pass through to the other side of adulthood and the benefits of personal drive, motivation and emotional self-control.

Good Luck
 Respect is a simple human concept and yet difficult to achieve.  It takes a lifetime of positive activity and lifestyle to achieve and can be ruined in an instant of poor choice. 

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