What if I ask you how to coach soccer, or for that matter youth soccer? Although the question looks simple and easy but you’ll find it difficult to answer even if your try your best.
Of all the soccer skills, communication is one thing that is imperative for both coaches and players to learn. A coach needs good communication skill for giving instructions, sharing feedback, evaluating players, counseling them, and maintaining discipline.
Players discuss issues with their coaches, peers, parents; share their feelings (good or bad) with teammates, and give tips and tricks to those new in the team. It is the comprehensive language of soccer by which players and coaches transmit their thoughts and feelings.
Soccer coaching has some fundamental principles of communication that are essential for coaches to learn and then teach them to their players.
1.Always call your players using their names. This is not just polite but is also relaxing.
2. Make it clear in your head what you want players to do and achieve before sending out instructions.
3.Be empathetic: The goal of communication is to connect and not to defeat. So try to understand their point of view as well.
4. Be careful of your body language: It should be comfortable and easy to allow others to open up with you.
5.When addressing the team, maintain eye contact with each player one by one. Look into the eyes pf people that you get to talk to.
6.Your style of speaking should influence the person you are talking to. So select a style that best describes you and also suits the other person.
7. Pick a topic that needs attention. Communication answers many questions, how to coach soccer works only when it is straightforward and short. Choose a list of items and stick to it.
8.Be objective: Keep in mind that you are a soccer coach who is speaking to a team or a player. So keep your sentiments in control and talk to them only about the game.
9.Speak clearly: it is important that your intended message reaches the recipient as it is.
10.While teaching soccer, focus on the main points. The players should be reminded of the important points by repeating them in different ways.
11.Add humor to your style and words with a view to lighten up things whenever possible.
12.Give your players time and attention to understand and seek clarifications from you. Permit them to ask questions.
A soccer coach who does not exhibit good communication skills required to distribute the information correctly will not be a good coach in the long run.
In conclusion, how to coach soccer is something that must make get the coach into a mode of trying to understand and make allowances for different cultures. Register for our youth soccer coaching community that has a wealth of articles and videos on coaching young players and how to help them develop excellent skills.
Andre Botelho is known online as “The Expert Youth Soccer Coach” and his free ebooks and reports have been downloaded more than 100,000 times. Learn how to skyrocket your players’ skills and make practice sessions fun in record time. Download your free ebook at: Soccer Drills.
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