Reader,
I am currently preparing for a series of introductory level workshops, aimed at coaches of all abilities in a club context who will go through a form of ‘induction evening’ to map out coach expectations, and discuss communication, behaviour and other fundamentals of coaching.
Preparing for these workshops got me thinking about the best question to begin with to engage a wide range of coaching abilities and experience, from first-time volunteers through to experienced and advanced performance staff.
The question I plan on starting with is; ‘What is coaching?’
For me, whilst broad, this question is actually critical as a reminder of how we conduct ourselves on the pitch, whether it’s working with players who have never played football, or if it’s in a performance context, how we behave, lead, communicate and engage can define the player’s experience.
Whether you’re in the middle of a season, or just getting ready for another year on the grass, I challenge you to give this question some thought.
I believe the answer to this question is based on two key areas.
- Our role as coaches is to support the development of humans. People and groups are complex, and social and cultural interactions are at play in any group from the moment you enter the environment, so being aware of that complexity and reminding ourselves that developing people takes skill, understanding, empathy and self-awareness – not just tactical knowledge is crucial.
- The environment we create (or co-create) with the players will ultimately shape the experience of all involved. Coaching requires many facets. Facilitator, leader, teacher, confidante, decision-maker, the list goes on. Ensuring that we create environments that find a balance of stretch and support is critical.
Three Things to Consider
- Is coaching about you, your ideas, ego, beliefs, and philosophies or is it about the players? The term player-centred gets thrown around a lot, but putting the players’ experience first is critical to effective coaching.
- How do you optimise the environment to allow players to perform? Whether in a grassroots, development or performance context, psychological safety and belonging are crucial ingredients in effective environments.
- Coaching is not talking. Players are not empty vessels to be filled with knowledge, so whilst you may have played the game, studied the game or attained elite qualifications, ultimately coaching is about so much more than your knowledge.
One thing for you to try this week
Write down some key reflections on the environment you currently coach in. Beyond the technical and tactical aspects, what do you see in the form of social interactions?
This could be the level of player engagement, joy, laughter or connection. What areas do you believe could be improved, and what areas could the players own in that process?
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Check out this PDP Guide on the Fundamentals of Coaching which tackles the question I have posed to you today which includes a video discussion with myself and top English academy coach, Dan Wright from the PDP archives.
