[smurfgirl]

As others have mentioned, there have been many discussions about student vs. adult coaches here. I have posted in many of those topics, and my opinion remains the same throughout: do what is best for your team. A student coach or an adult coach can work, but it depends on the dynamics and values of your team. You want to choose the coach that is best for your team. On some teams, this may be a student, while on other teams, this may be an adult.

The number one most important thing in a coach is respect: you want a coach that your drive team and your entire team respects. You also want a coach that other teams will respect. And it works both ways... your coach should also respect the members of your drive team, your team, and other teams and their drive teams. Then, of course, you want a coach with a knack for strategy with the ability to plan ahead, think on his/her feet, work with others, and analyze situations well... because that is what a coach does.

There are many great reasons for adult coaches, and there are many great reasons for student coaches. You can find many of them by searching for these great debates. The bottom line remains that you should do what is best for your team, rather than choose something simply because it looks glamorous to you or because "everyone good is doing it". Maybe what they are doing is right for you, but then again maybe it is not. Think critically about your decisions and what is best for your team, and you will go far.


Good luck!

Ellen