I recently purchased an e-book titled When "WE" replaces "Me" by Denise Schilte-Brown. I'm not entirely sure why I did and admittedly fretted over having the luxury of spending $10 necessary to do so given our current work status. I suppose it was the title that captured my attention. This is a short book of 120 pages written in novel form. I cannot say it is especially well written yet it delivers its message in a powerful and meaningful way. It is the best $10.00 I have spent in a very long time.
Throughout reading this wonderful book I was reminded of my son Lance's spring soccer team. We achieved extraordinarily on the pitch and I think everyone would be in agreement it was in no small part to our team culture we carried with us on and off the field. Many of the concepts and ideas addressed in When "WE" replaces "Me" we had amazingly stumbled upon. From shaking one another's hands in greeting and departure to caring enough for one another to help each other out on on the training pitch and in life. WE definitely replaced ME over the course of those 3 extraordinary years and especially culminating in that last year together. The comparisons and similarities drawn to our own team is not why I am in love with this book though,
It is the message delivered by a women's soccer coach to a men's football coach and his team that makes this book worth the investment. It is a message pertinent to athletics and even more so to life, There are four simple yet effective principles put into play:
1) Positive Self-talk
2) Make Time for Fun
3) A Servant's Heart
4) Breathe and Be Here
I like very much that I have come to incorporate some of the ideas presented in When "WE" replaces "Me" into my coaching philosophy and life. I am in awe over what I have learned in the two short days it took to read this book. I am motivated with enthusiasm previously unknown to explore more thoroughly the concepts, ideas and philosophies that have obviously touched me deeply. I highly recommend purchasing a copy and giving When "WE" replaces "Me" a read. You will not regret it.
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Showing posts with label coaching philosophy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coaching philosophy. Show all posts
Tuesday
Friday
The Basics for Beginner Coaches
I usually write about coaching teenagers as these are the ages I currently coach. Recent discussions with a group of colleagues have centered around our beginnings as soccer coaches. I have found myself waxing nostalgic of those days when I was put in charge of my eldest son's first soccer team. What struck me immediately was how little guidance we coaches were given. It was basically, "here's your roster and t-shirts now go get 'em tiger!" It was several years later that I wrote my first coaching manual. The target audience was parent / coaches involved in our local youth soccer organization. This endeavor eventually led to publishing 3 age specific coaching manuals for coaches in that association. These coaching manuals are apparently no longer in use and that is where today's writing begins.
The Shawnee Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is a recreational league servicing our local school district. It is a member of the West Central Ohio Soccer Association, a loosely organized independent league of similar community based soccer associations. The manuals I wrote were aimed at coaches of recreational teams and the players they would be coaching. The SYSA was at its strongest when it adhered to the recreational tenets it was founded on.
My father and father-in-law were founding members of the SYSA some 40 odd years ago. Their vision was to provide an organization and environment to promote the sport of soccer that would eventually lead to the founding of a high school sponsored team. In this they were successful. At some point, as my three sons were coming through the SYSA there was a change in direction as the parents in charge decided the organization, at least in part, needed to place a stronger focus on preparing players to play at for the high school team which had become fairly successful. Focus shifted from a purely recreational league to fielding teams comprised of only the very best in each age group. Remaining players were assigned to other teams that were more recreational in nature. The competitive balance associated with randomly drawn rosters was lost,
The coaching manuals I authored were not really applicable to these "all-star" teams, or so some would have you believe. The manuals fell out of use even for the purely recreational teams within SYSA. In perusing those manuals I would agree a re-write is in order. This is the catalyst for the reverse engineering of my current coaching philosophy and methodology. I have evolved as a coach and so too should too should the coaching manuals. It is an "if I only knew then what I know now" adventure that will undoubtedly result in new additions of those old coaching manuals. Rest assured parts of the new manuals will be published in articles on this site.
The logical place to start is from the perspective of a first time parent coach. What would such an individual need to get them started off properly on their journey as a coach?
1) Basic coaching knowledge including an introduction to coaching philosophy and coaching methodology.
2) Sample practice plans, info on game management and guidelines for interacting with parents and referees.
3) Knowledge of the basic fundamentals of soccer
4) The Laws of the Game
5) Soccer balls, a few cones, scrimmage vests
6) Possibly a whistle, stop watch and clip board.
7) An understanding that soccer is a player given game.
The best avenue for presenting this information is a coaching clinic, imo. And I did in fact present coaching clinics to the coaches of SYSA at one time. Those too have fallen to the wayside. It might well be time to bring them back alongside the coaching manuals.
The Shawnee Youth Soccer Association (SYSA) is a recreational league servicing our local school district. It is a member of the West Central Ohio Soccer Association, a loosely organized independent league of similar community based soccer associations. The manuals I wrote were aimed at coaches of recreational teams and the players they would be coaching. The SYSA was at its strongest when it adhered to the recreational tenets it was founded on.
My father and father-in-law were founding members of the SYSA some 40 odd years ago. Their vision was to provide an organization and environment to promote the sport of soccer that would eventually lead to the founding of a high school sponsored team. In this they were successful. At some point, as my three sons were coming through the SYSA there was a change in direction as the parents in charge decided the organization, at least in part, needed to place a stronger focus on preparing players to play at for the high school team which had become fairly successful. Focus shifted from a purely recreational league to fielding teams comprised of only the very best in each age group. Remaining players were assigned to other teams that were more recreational in nature. The competitive balance associated with randomly drawn rosters was lost,
The coaching manuals I authored were not really applicable to these "all-star" teams, or so some would have you believe. The manuals fell out of use even for the purely recreational teams within SYSA. In perusing those manuals I would agree a re-write is in order. This is the catalyst for the reverse engineering of my current coaching philosophy and methodology. I have evolved as a coach and so too should too should the coaching manuals. It is an "if I only knew then what I know now" adventure that will undoubtedly result in new additions of those old coaching manuals. Rest assured parts of the new manuals will be published in articles on this site.
The logical place to start is from the perspective of a first time parent coach. What would such an individual need to get them started off properly on their journey as a coach?
1) Basic coaching knowledge including an introduction to coaching philosophy and coaching methodology.
2) Sample practice plans, info on game management and guidelines for interacting with parents and referees.
3) Knowledge of the basic fundamentals of soccer
4) The Laws of the Game
5) Soccer balls, a few cones, scrimmage vests
6) Possibly a whistle, stop watch and clip board.
7) An understanding that soccer is a player given game.
The best avenue for presenting this information is a coaching clinic, imo. And I did in fact present coaching clinics to the coaches of SYSA at one time. Those too have fallen to the wayside. It might well be time to bring them back alongside the coaching manuals.
Monday
Coaching Tips
Coaches spend a lot of time evaluating individual players, teams, opponents, team shape and systems of play. I wonder how many of you spend time evaluating your own performance as a coach? This thought came to mind as I analyzed and evaluated my own recent training sessions. As coaches we have a responsibility to continually improve upon what we do. How can we realistically expect our student / athletes to put in the time to become better if we ourselves are not willing to do the same?
Seven things that can help you be a better coach:
1) Have a defined Coaching Philosophy
2) Thoroughly plan. You should have a season-long comprehensive plan outlined for training. Within that plan must be a certain amount of flexibility to allow for varying numbers in attendance at training. Planned progression through techniques and tactics with perhaps 3-5 areas to strongly emphasize throughout the season. Strong elements of continuity and consistency must be present. For example, utilizing the same warmup/stretching routine on a daily basis. Variety must also be present to maintain high levels of concentration and interest.
3) Keep and maintain a Coaching Journal complete with practice plans, reviews of training and notes on individuals, small groups (Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, Forwards), and the collective team as well as on yourself and the coaching staff. This "self-evaluation" technique can be very enlightening.
4) Learn from the players. Question and answer sessions that allow players to provide input on identifying problems and on how to solve the problems they encounter on the field can provide valuable insight to use as a coach. It can also help to establish a sense of ownership among the players and when they feel they have a vested interest, players tend to be more committed to the team.
5) Become a student of the game. Coaching courses, Coaching clinics, mentors, video, books, the Internet are all readily accessible. Invest time in continuing education. The moment you think you know all there is to know about coaching is the time you should walk away from coaching.
6) Ask a fellow coach to observe your training session and provide feedback. We provide input to our players all the time. It's a good thing to have someone else provide you input on your peformance.
7) REMEMBER ALWAYS that soccer is a GAME to be played. Games are supposed to be FUN! Do not be afraid to laugh at yourself, temporarily abandon your well-laid plans and just let the kids PLAY every now and again.
Seven things that can help you be a better coach:
1) Have a defined Coaching Philosophy
2) Thoroughly plan. You should have a season-long comprehensive plan outlined for training. Within that plan must be a certain amount of flexibility to allow for varying numbers in attendance at training. Planned progression through techniques and tactics with perhaps 3-5 areas to strongly emphasize throughout the season. Strong elements of continuity and consistency must be present. For example, utilizing the same warmup/stretching routine on a daily basis. Variety must also be present to maintain high levels of concentration and interest.
3) Keep and maintain a Coaching Journal complete with practice plans, reviews of training and notes on individuals, small groups (Goalkeepers, Defenders, Midfielders, Forwards), and the collective team as well as on yourself and the coaching staff. This "self-evaluation" technique can be very enlightening.
4) Learn from the players. Question and answer sessions that allow players to provide input on identifying problems and on how to solve the problems they encounter on the field can provide valuable insight to use as a coach. It can also help to establish a sense of ownership among the players and when they feel they have a vested interest, players tend to be more committed to the team.
5) Become a student of the game. Coaching courses, Coaching clinics, mentors, video, books, the Internet are all readily accessible. Invest time in continuing education. The moment you think you know all there is to know about coaching is the time you should walk away from coaching.
6) Ask a fellow coach to observe your training session and provide feedback. We provide input to our players all the time. It's a good thing to have someone else provide you input on your peformance.
7) REMEMBER ALWAYS that soccer is a GAME to be played. Games are supposed to be FUN! Do not be afraid to laugh at yourself, temporarily abandon your well-laid plans and just let the kids PLAY every now and again.
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