Reader,
Whether we are coaching U6s or working in a high-performance environment, emotion is a constant for players, coaches, parents and support staff.
The game invokes emotion and is also inherently competitive. Anyone who has coached for any length of time will know that players want to compete, to win, and as coaches, we most likely want the same.
I had some experiences last season that pushed me emotionally when I was in the dugout.
Often these were related to the welfare of players, finding ourselves in new environments and how much I cared for the group. As a coaching staff, we always had a purposeful goal to carry ourselves in line with the team values, model those values and keep each other in check if emotion came into the game.
What I reflect on in sharing this is that if we are the adults, the leaders, and at times (because we’re human) it can be hard to self-regulate, then what should we expect from our players?
So, how can we support children, youth or young adults to emotionally regulate and stay in control?
In truth, I don’t believe we will ever see perfection in this area, again because we’re human. However, we can support players with strategies to turn the dial up and test our players, or to wrap support around them when they hit that red head state and need support for the next session, game or moment on the pitch.
Four Things to Consider
- Consider setting emotional or psychological challenges in your session plan. For example, are there individuals within your team whom you want to test, make uncomfortable or push mentally? Are there players who need to get success or have elements of the practice dialled back to give confidence? In order to do this, you need a high level of trust in the environment and in your relationship with the players. This could be as simple as making ‘poor referee’ decisions in a small-sided game, or dialling up the challenge point to a level of discomfort for the players.
- Ensure you are well-read on the topic of psychology in a coaching context. Tactical knowledge can be gained by playing or studying the game of football. I would argue the challenge of managing multiple personalities, group dynamics and the emotion of game day is a lot more complex than the tactics or principles of the game, because humans are complex.
- Know your players: Sometimes, players will lose their heads. This may be as simple as a moment in the game and a loss of control, but it could also be a sign of something more going on beyond the pitch. Good coaches require emotional intelligence. Ensure you check in and connect with your players on how they are going, beyond their on field performance. Knowing your players and their stories is essential to impactful coaching.
One thing to try this week
Design a practice with a mental challenge in mind for the players in your care.
This could be as simple as an overloads game, where it’s a 6v8 scenario, for example, the team with fewer players has to find ways to deal with being outnumbered.
It could be a practice that focuses on joy and connection in the group after a loss. Think about how you can put mentality at the forefront of your design, above technical or tactical outcomes.
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Check out this in-depth Masterclass Discussion with world-leading Sports Psychologist, Dan Abrahams.
I follow Dan’s work closely and love hearing him speak about the mentality of top performers. There is some real gold in this discussion for coaches at all levels.
