Articles by Coach Frank
Reader, Game day is an exciting time for players, coaches, parents and fans. It’s the culmination of all of the hard work and planning of coaches, and the sweat and determination of the players on the training pitch. Whether it’s coaching a group of U6s and seeing the joy when they make a pass or score a goal, or it’s leading a team out in a final where we’re playing for silverware, staying self-aware in our coaching practice is crucial. Over the last season, I have watched a lot of coaches…
Reader, I have been having discussions recently with colleagues who work in coach development around not only the value of formal coach education, but the importance of support for coaches within their club. I am fortunate to have a role with a club in New Zealand as Head of Coaching, which is dedicated to providing support to staff, but this is not something every club has. Whilst we have formal processes in place for delivering workshops at the club, as well as formal observations and…
Reader, The words ‘high performance’ get thrown around a lot in sport, and more so as you work your way towards professional environments. Arguably, there is a requirement for both coaches and athletes to ‘perform’ in the environments, but how do we create a place where people feel confident to be high performers? Recently, I was fortunate to venture into an elite rugby league environment as well as two top AFL environments in Australia. The visit was a thought-provoking experience. I have…
Reader, Recently, I was fortunate to spend two days at two Premier League academies, observing, sharing ideas and reconnecting with old coaching colleagues. Venturing back into these environments is always a brilliant reminder of ‘the level’ at which high-potential and talented players and top coaches are working. The reality of top club environments in England or Europe is that they have more resources than almost any other around the world, and spending time working or observing can…
[FIRST NAME GOES HERE], It’s the 100th edition of our On The Grass newsletter, and it coincides with another major milestone we’re very proud of. To celebrate, we want to share a special offer to say thank you for your support, so keep reading… Player Development Project turns ten years old! Today, we share with you some of our best archive content (in the links below) and reflect on the evolution of PDP over the last decade. And we’ll offer our newsletter subscribers a special deal…read…
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…
Reader, One of the most common challenges coaches face is arriving at the training ground with a well-thought-out plan, then suddenly, things change due to illness, injury or unavailability. You’ve planned for 16 players, but only 11 show up. Like it or not, adaptability is a key element of effective coaching. First of all, don’t panic. This is a challenge all coaches are faced with, and we won’t always get it right, but it does present a real opportunity to learn. Secondly, remember that…
Reader, This week, I had a really impactful discussion with a trusted colleague and friend who is a genuine expert in the talent development space. I was sharing some ideas with him around potential improvements or adaptations to the club programme I lead. As we talked and I discussed implementing some new ideas, we ended up wandering down the rabbit hole of the environmental demands of football (and organised sport). In every session, it’s natural for coaches with a plan to consider what…
Reader, This week, I was fortunate to be part of an excellent workshop on leadership. The topic is so deep that inevitably, there were multiple threads that emerged from the discussion in the room, and the challenges the presenter put to the group. However, the key theme was around leading yourself, and out of that, knowing yourself and your personal values. In order to be an effective leader, you have to be able to be able to lead yourself, and be the best version of yourself. Most coaches…
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,…
Reader, Game day is not a time to overload players with information. If you’re lucky enough to train twice (or more) per week, training is the opportunity to support players with ideas, scenarios or strategies that they may need on game day. In the age of analysis, with platforms like HUDL and VEO at our disposal, understanding your own performance and that of your opposition has never been easier. However, no matter how much video, preparation or talking a coach does, ultimately it comes…
Reader, When it comes to coaching, understanding the impact of our interventions is critical. One of the most important qualities for any coach, at any level, is self-awareness. Last week, I was out on the grass supporting some of my club coaches. On a nearby field, I watched a young coach from another club stop his players in the middle of a small-sided game and deliver a long-winded stream of instructions. His players stood there in the rain, getting cold — some staring into the…