Teacher, Coach, Mentor

What’s the difference between a teacher, coach, and mentor? Are they all the same – just different terms are used for different tasks. Clearly, all three are people whose goal is to help someone else improve in some aspect of life. Are teacher and student (coach and athlete, or mentor and mentee) supposed to have a relationship that extends beyond the “classroom.” In other words, does a coach play with the athlete in whatever activity they are involved in? Does a teacher actively engage in said activity with student or a mentor with mentee?

Mentor – a trusted counselor or guide

Coach – one who instructs of trains in the fundamentals of a competitive sport.

Teacher – one whose occupation it is to instruct.

Here’s how I have grown up understanding these terms. Teachers only work with students in a classroom setting – in bridge, teaching general concepts, bidding, more theoretical things. In tennis I guess this would compare to watching videos, doing drills. Coaching would include some teaching but involve more observing and commenting on the student’s play when playing with someone else, giving constructive criticism as an observer. Coaching in tennis would be watching the athlete’s matches and then going over things the player could have done better, giving encouragement, and helping prepare for a match. Mentoring would include coaching but include actually playing together and then giving constructive criticism afterward.  Mentoring in tennis might be more along the lines of playing a set or match against the student (presumably with the coach playing at less than 100%), and then discussing things to work on later.