How To Improve Soccer Players Using Soft Skills

Coaching the I-Generation

Julian Nagelsmann formerly of Hoffenheim and now with RB Leipzig said, ‘anybody can coach, not anybody can care’. 

Coaching demands caring, given the objective is to improve the performance of the individual and the team. The more you demonstrate human care, it’s the more likely the on-field performance will improve.

An outstanding player can only attain greatness through a biological struggle. Overcoming the ups and downs during the struggle is where the support of the coach is needed with a human touch.

Trying to Get That First Win

I have struggled to demonstrate caring during coaching. It was the final game of the fall mini-season (3 games) against Riverdale United. Our record was 0-1-1. We were trailing 0-1 at half time, which prompted the decision to play a 4-3-3 formation.

Olivia G. played as a right forward for the first. She kept moving inside, instead of providing width and my frustrations started to show with constant yells to stay wide.

That went on for about 5 minutes until I substituted her. On reflection, it was not her fault, she had never played that position in recent games.

The Face Of The Team

Have you experienced that season trying to get that first ‘W’? The competitive nature of us as coaches drives us to win.

When you coach, the health of your team is a reflection of your face. Your expression says how you feel.

The I-generation responds less to command style coaching of screaming and yelling. There might be an initial reaction, but over the long term, it’s less effective.

For players to buy-in, there needs to be a relationship between you and your players. Soccer players learn and are able to apply when there is a player-coach connection. This blog is about applying soft skills during coaching.

5 Action Steps To Coach The I-Generation

You need to embrace a human approach, giving individual unconditional attention and mentoring.

1. Build Rapport
   As your players arrive for practice, inquire about there day. Ask questions that are open-ended directly related to their lives. For example, ‘tell me something that was special at school’.
2. Opportunities for Player’s Decisions
   Your coaching should be player-centered. One method would be the following.
   1) Tape a player in action during practice;
   2) Discuss that moment with the player;
   3) Have that player watch the video.
   Then you can have the player reflect on the moment.
3. Responsibility
   Give your players ownership at games and practice. Let them plan and set up sections of the practice. Have them break down the playing area, select teams and suggest team formation.
4. Relationship
   Organize a player-coach meeting before the season kicks off. You need to gather answers to 2 questions, of factors preventing the team performance.
   1) What are the top two things that prevent our team from performing at our best;
   2) What is your number one personal challenge?
   Gather the responses and weigh human versus sport decisions.
5. Love, Care & Acceptance
   You need to show that each player is a valuable part of the team at every practice or game.
   That can be achieved by recognizing the efforts of every player and praising those actions (effort).

Showing that you care about your players as a person, can go a long way in improving individual and team performance. This needs to be practice daily.