Candid Coach: Samiha Alexander of Georgia Heat
Ever since the Georgia Heat opened its doors six years ago, Samiha Alexander has been at its nucleus—coaching winning teams in almost every level. As one of this year’s USASF Coach of the Year nominees, she knows the importance of coaching safely in tandem with grooming top-notch teams. We asked Samiha to share her hard-earned insights on safety and success:
How has your USASF Coach of the Year nomination impacted your career?
Alexander: I think [I was nominated because] I love my kids and I set high expectations for them. I believe that they’re athletes, and I train them that way. I was very humbled by the experience and the fact that someone thought enough of me to nominate me. Now I want to make those people that believed in me proud and continue to build our gym and build those athletes to be the very best they can be.
Have you ever experienced an athlete injury or safety issue that taught you the importance of safety?
Alexander: Absolutely. Last year we had some concussions, so we had to retrain our athletes and rethink what we needed to do to keep that from happening. We worked with the bases to teach them how to cradle and catch correctly, and the flyers on various ways to fall more safely. It was important that they learn to fall tightly with their arms by their sides—the natural reaction is to put your arms out to brace the fall, but that can make a base take an elbow to the temple.
We also had a girl break her femur, and her doctor said that there was a previous injury in her case. [In light of that], we try to teach our kids that if there’s an injury, we need to know about it. We also try to explain that after injury, athletes won’t be able to walk back into the gym and be where they were three months ago. We remind them that they will get back to where they were, but we have to do it slowly.
I also talk to my girls about getting too comfortable in their skills, or not always being as focused as they need to be. Something really careless can happen and it causes an issue. When you lose focus, that’s when an injury occurs. This was not happening with new skills, but instead skills they’d already done and mastered. The coaching staff had to come together and discuss we needed to do to help the kids stay safe.
What are some of the biggest safety issues in the industry, and do you have any suggestions for solutions?
Alexander: One of the worst is athletes doing skills they’re not ready for. I think athletes need to master certain things before they’re allowed to do them, especially in competition. I believe that the industry is moving in the right direction as far as getting coaches and athletes to go through training. I also think coaches have to be honest with themselves, as well as with the athletes and their parents. We need to tell them that we’re going to put them where it’s safe and where they will become stronger athletes.
Tell us three things you wish other coaches would do more.
Alexander: I would like to see more coaches teach their kids the importance of sportsmanship. It bothers me when it comes down to the last two [teams], and when second place is called, first place is jumping up and down and screaming. I think it’s rude. Another thing I would like to see coaches stop doing is down-talking other teams. Coaches are role models for the kids they coach and shouldn’t demean other professionals. Also, coaches should teach a clean routine. Usually a clean routine means the kids can do the skills safely, not just to get points.
–Mandi Hefflinger