This all seems simple, yet the hardest thing to do is do the simple things consistently right.
Building trust between coach and player is vital for success at all levels.
If your goal as the coach is to aid development of youth players or to win the Premier League it is impossible without the relationship between athlete and coach.
The intangible bond between athlete and coach is very noticeable, at training sessions, in conversations and at games and yet at the same time difficult to quantify. It’s not earned on a course nor is it exclusive to coaches that have ‘played the game’.
As we move along our coaching journey we believe it is these interpersonal soft skills that separate the good from the great. Yes there will always be tactical innovators; new systems and roles but these are redundant if the player doesn’t buy into the methods or truly believe the words and promises of the coach. Call it personality, charisma or chemistry, it’s important and it can be improved. Conversely, the coach must buy in to the players and understand them.
Let Them Speak
This is a crucial starting point, how can you begin to understand your players if the communication is a one-way relationship.
With older players this can be done in a one-to-one meeting, but with younger players you could also distribute an ‘about you form’. This gives the player freedom to discuss their football, travel, past performances and everything in-between.
A Shared Vision
The key here is to ensure that these individual learning plans are agreed between player and coach, if they are driven by the coach the player will not take ownership when it really matters. Equally if they are set by the player but not agreed by the coach they can be very generic and are difficult to measure later on.
Be Honest
Throughout the player development journey the coach must remain honest. Too often we tell the players what they want to hear rather than what can help them reach the next level. Of course, we must be considerate with younger players and parents, but honesty is vital to this process. If you aim to be “nice”, later on when the targets are not met you will be seen to be untrustworthy and perhaps even inept.
Players always appreciated honesty, some more than others granted, but it has been the rock-solid foundation of success for many coaches – grassroots or beyond. You can’t build a true relationship on false promises or unwarranted praise.
Unconditional Support
This is the hard part, the part where most coaches struggle. Once you’ve set the expectations or targets, you have to stick to them. There is no linear path from novice to expert, everyone is different. It is so easy to be supportive and encouraging when the player is confident, scoring goals and demanding the ball. But what is your body language and communication like when they’re given 5 misplaced passes in a row? How can the player trust you if as soon as there is some adversity you cut all ties and claim they’re not achieving.
Try
- Rewarding the intent and/or positive action not just the outcome
- Role modelling those positive coaching behaviours of positive affirmation when players attempt something you’ve asked them and it doesn’t quite come off.
This builds trust in your coaching points and support for them.
If a player does not achieve their or the coaches desired success in training or in games, we should ask ourselves, “Is there is anything more I as the coach could have done to help them in that situation.” Almost always the answer is yes.
As coaches live for that golden moment, when the player becomes aware and self-reflective. If a player makes a mistake and tells you “I should have…”, sometimes even a look is enough. That is great coaching, when a player starts to self-correct and all you must do is nod or give them a thumbs up. As a modern-day coach, do players needs the so called ‘hair dryer treatment’ from us, when infact they start to recognise their own faults. It’s important to note, to get to this stage it can take weeks and months or sessions, games and discussions.
How do we as coaches get the best out of players?
Ask yourself key questions like:
- What’s motivates them?
- What makes them frustrated?
- Why do they play football?
- What are they like at school?
- What are the like socially?
- Do they have any siblings?
This will open a whole new level of understanding; you’ll get an insight to the person behind the footballer. Once you’ve worked out whether they need praise, encouragement, criticism, a high five or silence you’ll start to see fantastic results.
It’s not ALL about football is it?
Some players are easy for coaches to connect with, they might enjoy feedback or be the joker in the group. Most young players may be quite difficult to get to know properly, the player you see on the pitch might be very different to the personality at school, home or even in the changing room.
A great way to make that first connection is to get to know them by talking about something other than football.
A few simple questions could include;
- Do you have any brothers or sisters?
- How was school today?
- Do you speak any other languages?
- What’s your favourite thing to do in your spare time?
- Do you play any other sports?
- What’s your favourite…food/movie/holiday destination etc
This is something which is blindly obvious and has almost instant results. Players feel like you care about them not just how they play football. These conversations open lots of doors, create weekly conversations and even some great new nicknames!
“You can’t work with them exactly the same way. You’ve got to study and analyse each individual and find out what makes them tick and how you get them under control. Some you may have to put on the bench more. Others you’ve got to pat on the back more. I wish there was a formula…”
John Wooden
This all seems simple, yet the hardest thing to do is do the simple things consistently right.