I am a coach who believes in teaching while allowing others to grow by identifying strengths, weaknesses, and scope for growth. A Friendly environment to learn & open to every doubt!

Find out more about Kartik

• Tell us more about your subject. How did you develop an interest in this field?

  Football, as we all know, is one of the most recognised sports globally, having millions of fans all around the world. I was one of them, and to be very specific, I started very early, playing with my friends regularly and then growing into a football fanatic as I grew older. I started representing my school and colleges, and also watched the game more closely to get to know the intricacies of the game in depth. Since then I have never looked back as I not just teach but keep learning myself every day.

• What or who is the motivation behind you choosing to teach & why?

  As a young kid, I was always a part of some coaching group/academies. However, a few years ago, I realised how the coaching system in general is not the most effective in helping young kids learn the fundamentals of football in detail. Similarly for cricket. Having played the sport myself, I gained a lot of knowledge which I felt I could use for the benefit of young children and most importantly in an environment that's fun and friendly. If you're playing a sport, you should enjoy it and not treat it as you treat your academic classes. I believe I was able to achieve this with most of the students I taught and that motivated me to continue with teaching.

• How does your work help society?

  Sports is not just about rules but much more than that. It helps me inculcate values like teamwork, sportsmanship, never give-up attitude, handling pressure and so much more that an individual not only applies in sports but in every walk of life. Building a healthy competition amongst individuals while keeping the core values alive helps us in building a society that eventually learns and executes by observing their peers thus making the circle bigger. The same kids then also use these values while pursuing studies or any other situation that demands commitment and problem-solving.

• If you had to think of a role model for your work, who do you think of & why?

  Some of the greats of the game like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Virat Kohli are three role models I think of for different reasons. Ronaldo for his determination and grit, Messi for still fighting it out despite having physical issues while Virat Kohli for his attitude. I believe all these qualities are a must for any individual who wants to excel in sports and hence I believe in propogating the same.

• Tell us about your hobbies outside teaching.

  Sports in general has been a hobby always. Sometimes cricket, sometimes football, while I also actively play Badminton, Table Tennis and Volleyball time to time. Outside of sports, I like analysing sports as well, looking for patterns that can help me and my students to get better. I also listen to music depending on my mood.

• Do you have an anecdote to tell us about your student or professional life?

  There are quite a few to share, and while I can't share all. I'd share one of my favourites. One of my students, who was so shy and underconfident when we began coaching, went from being shy to being a notorious kid who always had questions to ask. He had an obsession with football, and I only got to know more as we continued sessions. This made me realise how much a friendly environment is required for kids to feel confident, because that is when they express themselves fully, helping coaches like me to understand the root cause of the problem while we help them to overcome those difficulties. Prioritising becoming a friend to the kids becomes very important; otherwise, the formal coach-student relationship only becomes a barrier that delays progress.