Mr. Brian Garcar is a coach and math teacher at Struthers High School. He always works toward connecting with players and helping them reach their full potential. With 17 years of experience, he has formed a unique approach that combines teaching and coaching.
Teaching valuable lessons and building connections with players is a fundamental aspect of coaching any sport. Skills players gain on and off the court often extend beyond the game, influencing their lives and shaping them as people.
There are many ways Garcar implements this mindset.
“First, I encourage players to work hard and try their best every day, which will help them to build a strong work ethic. Second, I help the players to overcome adversity, which will help them to accept and work through challenges in their lives. Finally, I encourage the players to be good teammates, which will help them in their future jobs,” says the coach.
The ability to work with teammates while also having confidence in yourself is a very important aspect of the game. Learning these skills are hard and a good coach is essential for guiding young players in the right direction.
Garcar works with his athletes to bring out their best.
“I try to encourage them as they make mistakes and guide them as they work to improve on their mistakes. Through steady work and development, players tend to become more confident in their own abilities. When players realize that the success of the team comes from the contributions of all of the individuals, they are more willing to encourage their teammates, which helps the team grow,” says the coach.
Different players need different accommodations to support their progress. Understanding your team is crucial for success as a whole. Being a teacher allows Garcar to see his players in a different light, which helps him get to know them in different ways than just how they act on the court.
This helps Garcar effectively coach and connect with his team.
“The interactions that I have in the classroom help me to learn more about my players. I am able to see what motivates them in the classroom, and I can see how they learn new ideas. Both of these are very valuable when trying to make connections when they are players on the team,” says the coach.
