Coaching Styles

Gym floors smooth, dribbles
Echo and practice shots ribbet
Like deranged frogs.

Suits and ties for coaches, tense
Beside the court, fingernails ready
For overtime.

One coach smiles, hugs, claps,
The other clenches his fists,
Ready to criticize.

When the calm one smiles, is he thinking
Rebuke, or does he see the flaw
And work toward lessons?

When the furrowed one frowns, is he planning
His attack, or does his hand grab too tightly
On the arm so player’s pain
Becomes his delight?

Two coaches in their prime, one easy
To approach, the other hard
To understand, only arrogance
Tinged with anger glow on his
Red face.