The Third 50 - E12 - What Makes a Great Coach?

The Third 50 - E12 - What Makes a Great Coach?

Author: Glenn Mills & Wayne Goldsmith March 8, 2024 Duration: 57:25

Wayne and Glenn discuss what makes a great coach. From the public perception of greatness to the reality of everyday people being great.


We asked ChatGPT it's definition of what is a great coach, and the answers were pretty darn good.


A great coach is someone who possesses a unique blend of skills, qualities, and attributes that enable them to effectively guide, inspire, and develop individuals or teams to reach their full potential. Here are some characteristics that define a great coach:

  1. Excellent Communication Skills: A great coach can convey ideas, instructions, and feedback clearly and effectively, fostering understanding and trust among their players or team members.
  2. Empathy and Understanding: They have the ability to understand the needs, motivations, and challenges of each individual they coach, and they empathize with their experiences.
  3. Leadership and Vision: A great coach has a clear vision for success and inspires others to share and work towards that vision. They lead by example, setting high standards of behavior and performance.
  4. Expertise and Knowledge: They possess a deep understanding of the sport, field, or subject matter they're coaching in, as well as the strategies and techniques necessary for success.
  5. Adaptability: A great coach can adapt their coaching style and strategies to suit the unique needs and circumstances of their players or team, maximizing effectiveness.
  6. Motivational Skills: They know how to motivate and inspire their players or team members, instilling confidence, self-belief, and a strong work ethic.
  7. Feedback and Development: They provide constructive feedback in a supportive manner, helping individuals identify areas for improvement and develop their skills and abilities.
  8. Patience and Resilience: They remain patient and resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges, maintaining a positive attitude and encouraging perseverance.
  9. Trust and Respect: A great coach builds trust and respect with their players or team members through honesty, integrity, and fairness.
  10. Commitment and Dedication: They are deeply committed to the development and success of their players or team members, investing time, effort, and energy to help them achieve their goals.

Overall, a great coach is not just someone who helps individuals or teams win games or achieve success; they also play a crucial role in shaping character, instilling values, and fostering personal growth and development.


We hope you enjoy this episode, and we're glad to be back.


Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith have spent their lives in and around the pool, and in their The Third 50 podcast, they dive into the conversations that happen after the stopwatch is put away. Named for the most grueling leg of a 200-meter race, this series explores what it truly takes to push through when everything hurts and the finish line still feels far away. Each episode feels like a candid chat between two seasoned experts, moving fluidly between the granular details of stroke technique and the broader, essential themes of athlete wellness and mental resilience. You’ll hear them unpack coaching philosophies, analyze the psychological demands of competition, and share stories that reveal the human side of high-performance swimming. It’s more than just tips for faster times; it’s about building the toughness required for that critical third fifty in a race and, by extension, in sport and life. Tune in for a thoughtful, grounded perspective that only decades of direct experience can provide, making this podcast a unique resource for swimmers, coaches, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of physical mastery and mental fortitude.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 24

The Third 50
Podcast Episodes
S3 E6 - SOCIAL MEDIA & SPORTS [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:06
Season 3, Episode 6: Social Media & Sports — with Dr. Valerie GruestOne spelling note first: the transcript reads "Valerie Gruest" consistently throughout, except one self-introduction moment where it's transcribed "Gruo…
S3 E5 - CREATING A SUCCESSFUL CLUB [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
Season 3, Episode 5: Creating a Successful Club (Part 1)Wayne Goldsmith and Glenn Mills lay out what actually goes into building a swim program that lasts — not the technique, the decisions underneath it.In this episode:…
S3-E4 - COACH - CHANGE THE SPORT - LEAD THE WAY! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:00
Coaches can help reverse competitive swimming participation declines by making the sport more flexible, engaging, and sustainable for athletes, families, and coaches. Participation Trends•Glenn and Wayne discussed declin…
S3E3 - NEEDLE IN THE HAYSTACK [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:19
OverviewThe meeting established a stage-based framework for measuring swimmers, emphasizing technique before maturation and integrated performance testing after maturation.Glenn and Wayne endorsed measuring the athlete’s…
S3E2 - So You've Got Some Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:40
Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss the importance of testing and data in swimming. They emphasize the acronym T.E.S.T.: Test, Evaluate, Swimmer, and Re-evaluate. Wayne shares his experience from running national tes…
S3E1 - State of Play [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:54
Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss the integration of AI in coaching, emphasizing its role in enhancing efficiency rather than replacing human coaches. They introduce the "ATTAC" method: Ask, Think, Tool, Apply, Che…
The Third 50 - E18 - The Talent Myth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Visit Wayne's Substack: https://swimminggold.substack.comVisit Glenn's Website: https://www.goswim.tvBUY & Review Wayne's book, The Talent Myth:AMAZON EBOOK AMAZON PAPERBACK Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss Wayne'…
The Third 50 - E17 - When to Start Teaching Data [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:22
Glenn Mills and Wayne Goldsmith discuss the importance of starting to teach data and swimming fundamentals early, emphasizing that teaching kids concepts like length and tempo at a young age makes their learning easier a…
FIFTIES at NCAAs [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:34
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the potential inclusion of the 50-meter event in NCAA swimming, proposed by the College Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA). They highlight concerns about the event's underwater nature, whic…
FIFTIES!!! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:33
Glenn Mills and Wayne discuss the impact of the new 50-meter sprint events on swimming, particularly at the Olympics. Wayne shares insights from a meeting with Bill Sweetenham, emphasizing the positive opportunities for…