Learning is a highly individual process. It is a natural process that when respected can lead to amazing results. TOVO Institute Founder, Todd Beane, discusses the importance of eliminating ‘one-size-fits-all’ coaching.
When Coaches Get it Right
What happens if we actually revolutionised coaching at youth academies? What happens if we rid ourselves of the “this is the way it has always been done” attitude? What happens if we actually coached players to their full potential – one skill at a time?
Too often, we get it wrong at youth academies. Running players through a series of intricate drills is not necessarily good coaching. Many coaches put forth 90 minutes of training in a clean format following their federation course guidelines. They start with a warm-up, get on with some drills, put forth a match, and warm down. That may or may not be an effective session, but rarely do we as coaches ask ourselves if what we are doing is the best way to develop young players. Is this set-up the best use of our limited time with the athletes?
“…rarely do we as coaches ask ourselves if what we are doing is the best way to develop young players. Is this set-up the best use of our limited time with the athletes?”
Paradigm Shift
Lets begin to “train the individual within a team context” rather than just train the team. 20 players, 20 solutions. I can hear traditional coaches dismiss this paradigm. I hear them say, “we cannot do this”, “we must manage the team first”, “we don’t have time”, “we must win this weekend”, etc. And I do not believe them. We can do better and I have seen coaches do it.
Coaches are capable of focusing on the individual within the team context. Individual screens, player profiles, training plans – all aligned to maximise the potential of the athlete. And in turn, this does indeed maximise the potential of the team. A multitude of skill development activities, training games, and positive encouragements delivered to the player as he journeys on his development path.
This is when coaches get it right: when they understand that the team is a collection of individuals – each a unique being with unique talents to be developed over time. The best coaches have done this for years. Our best trainers provide the right solution in the right format to the right player at the right time. That is coaching at its best and the best coaching.
“…the team is a collection of individuals – each a unique being with unique talents to be developed over time.”
When we pretend that “one size fits all” training programs will bring uniformity, we deceive ourselves. Of course we hold individuals accountable to the team, but we must see each player as a unique individual on a unique learning path.
