BOOK
From 'Why Losing Players Do Needless Practice' by Olympic gold medalist Jun Mizutani
A coach must be a “calm analyst,” not an “enthusiastic supporter.”
Chapter 4: What to Expect from a Coach to Win
I met Coach Qiu Jianxin during a period when I kept losing quickly even at the World Championships and felt at a loss
What qualities make a great coach or a good instructor from a Player’s point of view?
I would put a clear mind first. What Liu Guoliang, the coach of China’s national team (former Olympic gold medalist and Olympic-winning coach), and Coach Qiu Jianxin (who also goes by Chiu Chien-hsin; formerly active as a Player and coach in the Chinese national team and the Bundesliga) have in common is their quick thinking and their high analytical ability.
And they have confidence in themselves. They have 100% confidence, the kind that says, “I analyzed it, so this is definitely what we should do, and it will definitely be fine.”
It is hard to take in the words of a coach who says things like, “Maybe we should do it this way,” or, “This is what I think, but what do you think?” and asks the Player for their opinion. That is a type of coach often seen among Japanese people.
Sometimes the coach is wrong, but from the Player’s perspective, it is better to receive advice with confidence. Of course, if there is a major disagreement, the only option is to discuss it thoroughly. If the coach lacks confidence and there is no time to discuss it, it becomes difficult for the Player to build a relationship of trust with the coach.
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