What’s the Best Way to Coach Your Soccer Team?

How do you get your players to read the game, demonstrate technical skills and game understanding during training and games.   

When I started coaching my first team (U11 Girls) in 2000, I had a vision how my team should play. Play should be based on what I said. I directed, commanded, controlled the players’ actions and decision making. Being a former player I knew how to play and what to tell them. The bar was set by my level, their standard should resemble my ability.  When mistakes occurred I provided more direction and instruction how it should be done. 

Coaching education helped me see player development through different lens.  I was able to take steps away from creating a coach centered environment to one that was player centered.  My journey has taught me to be a more effective coach by using my eyes and ears and less of my mouth. 

First, before you start coaching (talking), you should observe your training session and/or game for what is happening and why.  When you use your eyes, you will recognize – organization of field, players and rules,  You can influence these factors, that can do a lot of teaching, with little or no talking.  You will only see your errors if you take the time to watch before you correct.

Second, listen to your players. When you pay attention to their ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘who’, ‘where’ and ‘when’ they are giving you information of the moments in the game. What you need to effectively coach a game or teach a training session, is being ‘told’ to you through player actions.  Your players communicate in different ways regarding their performance and effort.  This can never be measured in wins and losses. It can be heard loudly by keenly watching and intently listening during training and games.