MORE THAN A COACH
True or False: The most important role of an intramural coach is winning games.
False. A coach’s role goes beyond winning and includes relationships, safety, mentorship, and creating a positive culture.
Fill in the blank: Students may forget the score, but they will remember how you made them ______.
Feel
What is the first step of the Coach Response Tool?
Pause.
In STOIC, what does the letter S stand for?
Structure
Organize for Success.
What important document must coaches have at every game to account for students?
An updated student roster.
Name one characteristic of a positive and memorable coach.
Encouraging, fair, consistent, respectful, calm, inclusive, patient, or honest.
Which response is better after a student makes a mistake: “What is wrong with you?” or “Take a breath and reset”?
“Take a breath and reset.”
Put these four steps in the correct order: Return, Correct, Pause, Connect.
Pause → Connect → Correct → Return.
In STOIC, what does the letter T stand for?
Teach
Who should generally be the coach’s first point of contact when an issue occurs?
The Program Facilitator, unless the coach is at a hub site and the situation requires hub-site support.
What are two ways coaches can quickly build relationships with students?
Learn and use students’ names, conduct brief check-ins, and recognize effort.
Why should coaches recognize effort instead of only recognizing results?
It builds confidence, encourages growth, and motivates students to continue improving.
Try: I enjoy watching you play
During which step should a coach acknowledge the student and help them feel heard?
Connect.
Name the three out of the five actions coaches use when actively observing and supervising.
Move → Scan → Listen → Interact → Anticipate.
When two teams share a bus, where should staff members be positioned?
Between the teams near the middle/boundary and toward the back so all students can be actively supervised.
A student makes a mistake that costs the team an important point. What is one positive phrase the coach could use?
“Next play,” “Take a breath and reset,” “I saw your effort,” or another encouraging response.
A student says, “This is stupid. I’m not playing anymore.” What should the coach avoid doing?
Yelling, arguing, embarrassing the student publicly, making threats, or immediately removing the student without attempting to connect.
During the “Correct” step, how should a coach address inappropriate behavior?
Clearly, calmly, respectfully, and without embarrassing or blaming the student.
A coach greets athletes by name, checks in with a quiet student, and praises effort. Which part of STOIC is being demonstrated?.
I — Interact Positively
Name three items or safety resources coaches must bring to games.
Field-trip binder, updated student roster, and first-aid/safety backpack.
Name the five major roles of an intramural coach.
Role model, relationship builder, safety supervisor, culture setter, and teacher of life skills.
A coach says, “You cost us the game.” Explain why this statement can negatively affect team culture.
It publicly blames and embarrasses a student, damages trust and confidence, and teaches teammates to blame one another.
A player blames a teammate after a loss. Demonstrate how a coach could use all four response steps.
Pause before reacting; connect by acknowledging the frustration; calmly correct the blaming behavior; return the student to a positive team action.
Name all five parts of STOIC in the correct order.
Structure
Teach
Observe
Interact Positively
Correct Fluently
A student experiences a possible head injury during a game. Which steps should the coach take?
Stop participation, provide appropriate support (ice packs), immediately report the injury to the Program Facilitator, parent/guardian, and hub-site manager, and complete required documentation.