“One, two, three…all eyes on me,” “Hey guys stop fooling around.” Sounds familiar? You have probably used commands along these lines to get your players’ attention at most of your practices.
Next, you deliver some form of punishment to get their behavior in line with your expectations.
Time outs, laps, ‘suicides’, “you’re not starting next game.”
Come next practice, their behavior is very similar.
Soccer..After School
I coordinate an after school soccer program at 4 Elementary schools in New York. The activities are in a gymnasium, which you would think is great for the controlling of behavior.
Wrong!
From the moment they enter the gym, bags are thrown on the ground, they are literally bouncing off the walls. Kids in motion.
Taking attendance and starting the session, now becomes time-consuming. By the time they become stationary (torture for kids), in a group, the jokes start in responding to their names.
“Is Mattocks here?” The responses range from ‘President’, ‘President with a funny name’, to many variations creating more noise.
Before the first game is started, one or two players are in time-out on the steps.
WHO’S IN CONTROL
With any group of soccer players you are coaching, there will always be different personalities, abilities, and interests. The practice will be high a priority for some, and not for others.
If you can’t get your players to focus, you are losing practice time. You are always yelling, dishing out punishment and reporting kids to parents.
On the other hand, if you could get players to focus, coaching would be less stressful and you could enjoy watching your players and team grow.
5 STEPS TO GET YOUR PLAYERS TO FOCUS
1. Coaching
Your training needs to be planned before you arrive at the field. Organize activities before players arrive, if not, setting up must be quick.
Talking too much is a major problem with youth coaches. Trying to explain every detail, will not be understood.
If you take more than 60 seconds to get them playing, you have lost them.
Players do not care how much you know, it’s how much they play that keep will their attention.
2. Connect
Players will give your all the attention if they know you care. You need to take the time to get to know them – family, interests, hobbies etc. Carry out a survey
3. Compliment
Catch Them Being Good,’ by Tony DiCCicco says it all. Look for those moments when your players show positive behavior. For example, supports a teammate in a difficult situation.
4. Care
Your players get know by your language, tone of voice and behavior how much you care about them. If you care about them they will give you 100%.
5. Communication
Observing and listening are two important qualities. You can know more about a player by watching their behavior under pressure, and talking less during a conversation.
The art of asking guided questions will get your players talking more and you gathering information.
Access Your FREE Guide Sheet to Getting Players’ Focus
https://pages.malcolmbrown.me/buildfocus
References
The 21 Indispensable Qualities of A Leader – John C. Maxwell
Catch The Being Good – Tony DiCCicco
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