All coaches must know how to game plan, to understand concepts and be able to teach their sports’ relevant skills to players.

But being a good head coach is more than just Xs and Os. If it was that simple, anyone could read a few books and put championship teams on the field.

Boris Blumenstein, author of “Brain and Body in Sport and Exercise” identified 11 traits that every good coach needs to have to deliver take what they know and deliver it to their players:

• Confidence. Coaches need the resolve to believe not only in themselves but in their fellow coaches, schemes and players as well. There is a determination that goes into building a team and seeing it through to success. There must be an unwavering confidence that when the team runs out on the field, you are putting the best they can be forward.
• Ability under pressure. It’s not just players who need to maintain performance in the fourth quarter or when playing from behind. Can you remain calm and call the correct play? Can you quickly recover from a bad break, call or play? Coaches are leaders, and they must remain at their best through good and bad to set the standard for their teams.

• Competitiveness. Players draw competitive fire from their coaches, and coaches must have a competitive desire to draw out what they see in players. A coach’s job is to help players become their best, even when they can’t see it.
• Focus. Just as players can’t get distracted in the huddle or on the sideline, coaches need to be razor sharp on the task at hand. Fundraising. Equipment. Facilities. These are not as fun as Xs and Os but demand respect. Can you focus on the little things that drive programs forward?
• Anxiety control. Everyone gets nervous. Can you keep those butterflies from manifesting and spreading to your players? Has your anxiety every caused you to miss a call, yell at a fellow coach or berated a player? The game is stressful, and anxiety is everywhere. The better you can deal with it, the easier game day will be.
• Composure. There will come a point in every game when something goes wrong or a call goes against you? Don’t think of the problem. Think of the solution.
• Self-awareness. We are who we are. Being a good coach means not only knowing your players’ strengths and weaknesses but your own as well. This is important when building a staff. Great coaches fill in their own holes by hiring experts and reinforcing areas they are not as strong in.
• Positive thinking. Every down is an opportunity to do something to benefit the team. Find those occasions and take advantage of them. Players seek guidance in the form of positive energy and direction. Be the leader they need.
• Team building. Individual player talent will take a group only so far. The sum of the whole should always be greater than the sum of the parts. Building team is a skill, one that takes practice and study. How much time have you dedicated to this art, or do you rely on schemes to take you to victories?
• Thought control. Don’t get distracted by what’s going on around you. Everyone has their jobs to do. Maintain discipline.
• Self-regulation. With all the pressure, with all the excitement, it’s easy to explode and let those emotions pour out. Keep it under check and act like you’ve been here before – even when you haven’t. Just as important is regulation off the field. Are you making time for your family? Are you taking care of your assistants?