| I don't know if you know this but communication is | | | | varying the format. |
| the most important element to succeed in coaching | | | | You'll be amazed to know that coaches tend to |
| high school soccer. The term coaching signifies the | | | | forget sometimes that it is people who carry out the |
| art of communication. This has the effect of | | | | trainings. The objective of training is lost because the |
| expressing yourself to people with a view to | | | | coaches get so much occupied in just conducting the |
| perform them things in precisely the same manner. | | | | sessions well. An example of ineffective |
| Speaking of soccer coaching, almost all the coaches | | | | communication by a coach is when he fails to use a |
| are the former players who decide to take on as | | | | player's name while giving instructions which produces |
| coaches. Yet, there are a number of issues that they | | | | uncertainty. |
| are forced to handle. The reason why many of these | | | | Some guidelines meant for coaches in football |
| issues show up is the coach's inability to | | | | coaching include the following: |
| communicate. Your role as a coach would become far | | | | All messages that come from the coach are very |
| easier if you just pay attention to some most | | | | important. They should therefore be taken and read |
| important communication issues. | | | | correctly. |
| Let me explain them to you one at a time. | | | | Your language should be positive enough to push the |
| Coaches generally allow their emotions to become | | | | players to try hard to perform well. Help them to |
| involved while watching their kids play. They tend to | | | | improve rather than reprimanding them for not |
| become spectators rather than analytical observers. | | | | playing well. |
| They fail to notice the important points that could | | | | Make sure you spend quality time with all your |
| better their team's performance. The coaches fail to | | | | players. Research in this filed shows that coaches |
| have an effective conversation that could help the | | | | tend to spend comparatively more time with the |
| players get to the winning post. | | | | best players (up to seven times more!). |
| Although coaches have a complete knowledge of the | | | | Communicate the potential issues that could arise and |
| game, but they have a little training in communication. | | | | have a solution ready. |
| For example; use of flip charts and videos in soccer | | | | Accentuate your player's self worth by balancing |
| coaching is not applied by many coaches as they | | | | praise with criticism. When it comes to coaching high |
| aren't aware of them. The daily practice gets | | | | school soccer, tilt the balance slightly more towards |
| monotonous when there are communication gaps | | | | praise. |
| even though the coach may be technically very | | | | Believe me. Once you start to apply this in your |
| sound. | | | | training programs, the benefits will far exceed your |
| It is even more important in case of coaching high | | | | expectations. |
| school soccer because the players are not new to | | | | There's lot more to know and understand about this |
| the game. They have been performing soccer drills | | | | aspect of soccer only if you wish to. You can |
| on the same lines for quite some time, although at | | | | subscribe to our youth soccer coaching community |
| different levels. And one of the ways to avoid the | | | | which has tons to videos, and articles to improve |
| boredom of repeating important messages is to keep | | | | your team's overall performance. |