In coaching high school soccer, it’s a fact that similar to confidence; self-control too is a choice players need to make. In soccer coaching, the connection between emotions and thoughts establishes the self-control strategies. We are all aware that our feelings influence our emotions and this consequently boosts our performance.
With a view to help the players in learning the skill and discipline of self-control, there is a 12 step strategy which I shall discuss with you. But make sure that your player’s only take these steps when they are sure of its value to them.
Also, players must be ready to take full accountability for their actions. These are the 12 steps for your information.
1. Awareness: When coaching youth soccer, help players identify their weak points. Let them examine when, where, and why loss of control has occurred previously on field.
2. Understanding: Let the players find out and admit the reason that influenced their thoughts and resulted in them losing their emotional poise.
3. Differences: Give them time to recollect situations when they did lose control and when they did not. And then they should determine the difference in their emotions, attitudes, and behavior.
4. Problem: Make an attempt to identify the exact problem in coaching high school soccer. For example: Is it the guilt of letting the whole team down because of their performance?
5. Belief: The players should manage to raise their expectations from them including self-control as one of the behaviors. Encourage them to change.
6. Reinforcement: Reinforcement has the potential to accelerate a change in behavior. Being a coach, you need to appreciate the good changes in the players to ensure that these remain forever.
7. Goals: Start with multiple smaller goals, so that you can take your players along the path to changes. Help the players understand the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions.
8. Techniques: Set up multiple performance based methods to boost the confidence level. For example: Players must know which path to follow in a certain situation.
9. Plan: In football coaching, train the players to systematically and considerably follow their goals.
10. Progress: Teach them how to be patent. Let them know that improvement always comes in a series of ups and downs.
11. Setbacks: Train the players to accept that setbacks are bound to happen from time to time. So, the best way is learn from them and become even stronger.
12. Remembrance: Last but an important point is to let the players identify the good reason behind the change. They should always be clear about what are they doing and why. What will their future be like, if they don’t change.
It is well known that a soccer player must act swiftly and yet comfortably to be perfect performer. In other words, the stress-free efficient performance.
This should not be taken lightly. Coaching high school soccer must include relaxation techniques so that the players can learn to be in-charge of their emotions to save energy and kill any fears.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Practice Drills.
Tags: Coaching high school soccer, coaching youth soccer, football coaching, soccer coaching