Key Ingredients for a Winning Team
“Have a vision and then create your own reality. Otherwise, someone else may create it for you.” Tony DiCicco former head coach – US Women’s National Team.
Your offseason should be an opportunity to refuel your reading and studies. You need to have a game plan for every practice, game, camp, clinic or meeting.
That plan needs to be based on your coaching philosophy, built from the principles of the game.
Hot Shot Coach!
Have you been to that course, where you think it’s a waste of time? ‘I know this already.’ What are they going to teach me?
That was me in my ‘D’ license. The instructor was explaining the role of two players defending and I was arguing that it was wrong.
I thought I knew it all. Later, I learned about the roles and responsibilities of the 1st and 2nd defenders.
‘The Person Who Journeys Aimlessly will have labored in Vain’ – Mark The Monk
What principles are cornerstones of your coaching philosophy?
If you are coaching solely on your playing experiences and gut feeling, you have limited your growth.
A philosophy supports you during the most challenging moments.
- Being out of your Comfort Zone
- Constant changes in the game
- Embrace risk-taking
- Managing your Performance Environment
How To Start Your Coaching Philosophy
Understanding the pillars of training are imperative to building a coaching philosophy. The game centers around technical, tactical, psycho-social and physical demands.
Develop your principles around your personality. Do not copy other coaches.
Here is a 4 step guide to building a coaching philosophy.
- Understand the psychology of your players.
- Develop your communication skills on how to relate to your players. Listening is key.
- Study technical and tactical training (small-sided games)
- Study physical training
Here are some excellent resources that were recommended and have formed my philosophy. If you are coaching youth, high school or college player this will be for you.
Pillars of The Game
Warm Up, Fitness & Nutrition
https://malcolmbrown.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Warm-Ups-Fitness-Nutrition.pdf
Small-Sided Games
https://malcolmbrown.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Tech-Tact-SSG.pdf
Management Styles
https://malcolmbrown.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Philosophies-0f-Soccer-Managers.pdf
Leadership, Communication & Player Development
https://malcolmbrown.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Leadership-Communication-Player-Development.pdf
Goalkeeping & Tactics
https://malcolmbrown.me/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Goalkeeping-Tactics.pdf
The journey of a coach faces constant changes. Creating your principles based on the demands of the game will guide you along your coaching journey.
Start building your coaching philosophy today so you can be innovative tomorrow.
Resources
- Key Ingredients for a Winning Team. National Soccer Association, 61st Annual Convention, Jan. 16 – 20, 2018; Gerard Houllier, French FA
- The Journey of a Coach. National Soccer Association, 61st Annual Convention, Jan. 16 – 20, 2018; Steve McClaren, Former England National Team
- Catch Them Being Good, Tony DiCicco & Colleen Hacker, Ph. D. w/ Charles Salzberg.
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