Two remarkably similar messages I read this past week got me thinking about coaching; coach modes in sports games to be specific.

After falling out of fashion over the past few years, coach modes seem to be on the comeback trail. I could dedicate a GameSpotting column or two to singing the praises of the coach mode, and probably will at some point, but that's not my aim here. Suffice it to say, I've always enjoyed coach modes, if for no other reason than they provide a different method of playing the game; variety being the spice of life and all that.

Baseball seems to be the most natural home for manager/coach modes. The pace of the game, the sheer number decisions to make in a single at bat, the limitless possibilities that can crop up in a single plate appearance, all of which affect the manager's next call; it makes for compelling stuff. At the same time, as a virtual manager, you can coast your way through a game in no time, with nary a thought towards your hand-eye coordination or ability to read a pitch.

Which brings me back to my original thought regarding two comments I saw this week. The first was from a GameSpot reader who wondered on our Sports Forum if either Madden NFL 2005 or ESPN NFL 2K5 contained a coach mode (they both do). This reader was asking on behalf of his father-in-law, who was looking to play some football with his son-in-law but didn't want to have to deal with the intricate controls that today's sports games require. He just wanted to set his team up against his son's team and armchair coach them on to victory or defeat. It was his preferred style of play.

The second item I read was an e-mail from a reader named Adam who wrote to ask me if EA's MVP 2005 contained a coach mode. As it turns out, Adam has a physically disabled friend who is unable to play the baseball game in a traditional manner, yet still wants to play some games with his friends; something a coach mode would easily allow him to do. I replied that while MVP does have a coach mode, it does not use the in-game engine, instead presenting a summary of the game in a streamlined boxscore format. I added that I liked this coaching mode, because it allowed you to get through a game quickly without having to sit through the entire game pitch-by-pitch.

The more I think about it, however, it's clear that this streamlined approach won't cut it for Adam's friend. Sure, it will allow him to play the game and control the action on the field, but only in an abridged format. Instead of watching Sosa or A-Rod slam a home run in real time against his buddies, he'll only see the words "HOME RUN" on the screen. And that sort of sucks.

As I mentioned earlier, coach modes are on their way back. Titles like MVP 2005, ESPN NBA 2K5, and ESPN College Hoops 2K5, among others, make use of full or modified coach modes that allow you to control the action on the field or court, without having to make each shot, rebound, or block yourself. Madden NFL 2005 introduced a coach mode this year as a "new feature", four years into the lifespan of the PS2. You could even consider Gran Turismo 4's B-Spec feature a sort of coach mode, albeit an exceptionally boring one.

The great thing about sports games is their mass appeal. People who wouldn't consider picking up a World of Warcraft or Shadow of Rome, regularly trek out each year to pick up the latest version of Madden or the new NHL 2K game. Sports games also lend themselves to a wide variety of play styles. Some people want to make every pass, dump every puck, and drift every turn themselves. Some just want to call the action from the sidelines and watch things play out. Sports games can also be built to accommodate everyone, regardless of ability or preference. With the next generation of consoles just around the corner, here's hoping we won't have to wait until Madden NFL 2010 for PS3 to see the reintroduction of coach mode as a "new feature."