My daughter, Bethany, loves soccer. She has had a good season, with some excellent saves and passes, but as of the last game, had not scored a goal. I am one of those parents who sits quietly and claps politely when appropriate. However, during the last second of her last game, when Bethany got a hold of the ball midfield, I jumped up and shouted, "You can do it, Bethany, I know you can, keep going, you’re almost there, you will score." And she did it! I wonder how much my enthusiasm contributed to her goal.

Sports teams have always used coaches (note, they are not called teachers) to work athletes hard and keep them focused and thinking positively. Lately, the coaching idea has spread to other areas. Many life coaches are now available to help adults set goals, focus and work harder to produce results. Some weight loss programs include personal coaches. It’s harder to cheat if you are accountable to someone. And just as some people won’t work out unless a personal trainer is there to push them, some kids won’t do their homework unless a coach is helping them.

For students, we have academic coaches, also called educational coaches. As the owner of a tutoring company, I have spoken to thousands of parents about their children’s tutoring needs, be it math, English or Spanish. But sometimes the student just needs a coach, someone to encourage him, help him focus, organize his time and get his homework done. For these students, we send tutors who have been trained to be academic coaches. In a world that has become more and more complicated with

extracurricular activities, sports practices every night and increasing academic pressures, just keeping up with responsibilities can be mind-boggling for a child or teen. With a coach, a student can take a deep breath and see a way that it all can be done, and with less stress. This is a holistic way to achieve success.

Here are some responsibilities of an academic coach:

1. Monitor quality and completion of homework. Too many students are fighting with, and misleading, their parents about homework. Many students are much more receptive to professionals than they are to their parents in finding better ways to get homework done efficiently.
2. Teach time management. This includes prioritizing and tackling homework and long-term projects, finding short cuts, focusing to use time productively and fitting in extracurricular activities and down time.
3. Teach organizational skills. This includes organizing supplies and papers so everything can be found easily. It also encompasses organizing ideas for writing, and organizing material to study for a test.
4. Teach study skills. Some ways to study are more efficient than others.
5. Explore goal setting, both academic and personal. A coach can help you see that schoolwork, homework, tests and essays are important, not just in the short run but as part of a greater goal.
6. Provide focus. It is so easy to get distracted every minute. A coach can help you focus by assisting in setting and writing down goals and looking at the big picture, as well as the small steps to get there.
7. Motivate. A coach will find reasons to push on.
8. Provide encouragement. Sometimes just knowing that someone believes in you can make you work harder. Improving self-esteem goes a long way.
9. Expect you to do your best. An academic coach builds a relationship with a student and can tell when he is just getting by or doing his best. High expectations can build confidence.
10. Provide a system for rewards. If you can work efficiently, there will be more downtime for fun and more time to sleep, right?
11. Reduce stress. Learning skills to work resourcefully towards goals provides a feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment.
12. Help balance school with personal life and be successful with both.

Can one coach accomplish all of the above? An academic coach is not a super-hero. He works not only with the student, but also with his parents and teachers to coordinate tasks and goals. While the coach may meet with the student once or twice a week, he can also show the parents small things they can do to facilitate the process. Communicating with teachers can uncover problem areas, such as too much homework in one or more subjects or a miscommunication between the student and the teacher. This is also an opportunity to clarify goals for each subject. It is much easier to get good grades when you have a clear picture of what the teacher is looking for.

An academic coach can be short- or long-term. Some students just need to learn some organization, planning and study skills, which they can internalize and then work independently. They may need a coach again at a later time. But like personal trainers, some students will work harder and achieve more with a personal coach on a regular basis for the long haul. We all want to work to our potential. An academic coach is another avenue to help with that goal.

• Look for coaching experience and knowledge in at least the subject areas that are most difficult for your child.
• Look for someone who is personable, loves helping kids and is an excellent listener.
• Look for strengths in organizing, motivating and prioritizing.
• After a couple of weeks, ask your child if the rapport is good and the coach helpful.
• Look for signs of a more relaxed and confident child who is getting work done successfully.