Reader,
If you coach for long enough, or perhaps you’re just starting out, it’s likely you could find yourself in the role of Assistant Coach at some point.
I’ve worked as a Head Coach, Co-Coach and Assistant Coach – all of these roles present different challenges.
Last season, I jumped in to assist one of my club U17 coaches in a mentoring capacity and really enjoyed it. My key focus throughout was to let him lead and provide a perspective or key information that could impact the performance of the group.
I have also worked alongside ex-professional players, which has presented me with great learning opportunities, and I would highly recommend that developing coaches try and find these opportunities during their coaching career, especially if you haven’t played professionally.
In my mind, the key to being an effective assistant coach is to find the balance of challenge and support. It’s important that you develop a relationship with your coaching colleague, get clear on the approach you’re going to take together, have role clarity and aim to complement each other.
For example, both coaches do not need to speak at half time or during every intervention. As an assistant, you need to be comfortable in yourself, not be on a mission to justify your existence. There will also be moments where an assistant coach has to step in and lead. This could be match analysis, warm-ups on game day, or individual coaching.
Three Things to Consider
- If you’re working with a Head Coach for the first time, invest time early on in the relationship to get to know each other away from training. Sharing ideas around your own coaching beliefs, football philosophy or understanding what the key objectives are from a coaching and club perspective are valuable.
- Ask the Head Coach explicitly how you can support them. When it comes to challenging them, you need to be mindful of when and how you do this. You need to have developed trust to do this, but a difference of opinion is inevitable on some matters, and this can be really healthy if done well. Many Head Coaches are looking for a challenger as opposed to an ‘echo chamber’.
- Pre-plan exactly who is leading what components of the session and on game day. I have been in a position where game-day warm-ups (for example) are a key game day component to deliver, so knowing what the Head Coach (and the players) need on the day and delivering is important. When I have been leading as a Head Coach, I have aimed to empower those around me to fulfil their roles without me micro-managing.
One thing to try this week
If you’re working as an assistant coach, consider taking on the challenge of really diving into a focus on individual player needs.
This is an area I am passionate about, and found that when I have been in assistant or co-coaching roles can add real value to the players.
The Head Coach can maintain focus on the group and tactical focus of the team, whilst the assistant leads on supporting players individually with their targets or goals.
One Critical Resource on the Topic
Check out this video discussion from the PDP archives on how to work with an assistant coach.
