6 keys when going on a soccer tour

Travelling away with your team, whether on a long trip or overseas, is one of the most exciting things you can do as a coach.

But there is a lot to plan for and, amid all the admin around transport, accomodation and training schedules, some things can get forgotten.

In 2022, Jon Cotterill-Bolsover was part of the staff from Chesterfield FC Girls U17s, who flew to Sweden to take part in the Gothia Cup, the world’s largest youth tournament by number of participating teams.
Here, Jon gives tips on what to think about if you are taking a team away...

01  Prioritise basics

Food, health and hydration are key factors when playing tournament football. 

Staying away from home and being active daily means the body will do a lot more work with smaller consumption. Plan meals well in advance – never leave it to chance that you will just find somewhere.

Snacking the right foods throughout the day, combined with a good meal at the correct times, will keep a player in the right state. Drinking water at every opportunity will ensure players do not suffer dehydration.

02 set ground rules

Some players may be away from home for a long period for the first time. 

Every household has different rules so set your club’s early – make the ground rules clear before going away for a tournament.

Remind players that they are representing the club at all times – make sure they don’t put themselves in positions where problems can occur. Night-time routines are especially essential.

Depending on the age of the players, set rules on alcohol use, and stick to them.

03 Have a plan

It is impossible to plan for every possibility, but it is easy to research the essentials.
   

Doctors, hospitals and first-aid equipment are some areas that can be checked out in advance, so you can be fully prepared should something happen.
 

Financial plans are also essential, taking into account if a player was to lose their money or a flight be cancelled at the airport. Having an emergency credit card or a plan to get access to cash quickly could be essential.

04 Insurance

In my experience, each and every player should get insurance that suits their needs. This prevents issues further down the line as some tournaments will ask for players’ insurance on registration.

There are group policies as well if you choose to go down that route. Ensure the policy includes football, as some travel insurers will not pay out for sporting events. There are a number of specialist companies for this.

You should also take out insurance as a coach and not under the standard player insurance. This should include liability. If you have coach’s insurance, check that it covers you for trips abroad.

05 Responsibility

A good risk assessment should be in place – it is well worth hiring a professional to do this for you so that every possibility is covered.

Setting points of responsibility are really important – when does your responsibility for players begin and end? 
   

For example, stating "Coaches’ absolute point of responsibility starts when the players board the coach to the airport and ends when they leave the coach on return" sets a boundary as to when your rules and processes are in place and when they end.

06 be ready for anything

The dynamics of tournament soccer mean there’s often drama on and off the pitch. However, it can be exhausting. 
   

Balancing rest and recovery with the thrill of being away from home can be tough mentally on coaches and players. Be prepared to adapt to anything, from nursing an injury on day one through to the mental anguish of being homesick.