As a coach I am always striving to improve by going on courses, going to watch other coaches and making sure my advice is current and relevant. I am constantly reflecting on my coaching and looking for ways to enhance it.
I work in three-week blocks of coaching and have a particular focus for the sessions in these weeks. For instance, it might be that we need to improve our defensive organisation around free-kicks or corners.
I write down the key points I need to coach and then I break it down into the objectives for each session and the key message for the players to take away. From that, I decide which games and exercises will best introduce and reinforce the message.
Educating coaches at Brighton’s training ground
Immediately after a session I ask myself how well it went. Were the elements I was focusing on as effective as I had wanted?
I have sometimes come away from training sessions thinking the whole thing had been a waste of time because I hadn’t got my coaching point across. On these occasions I look back at the session and use something called an achievement exercise – I simply write down five things I achieved at the session.
It’s a powerful reminder of what I achieve in different ways. Some things might appear minute in the grand scheme of things but are achievements nonetheless – even things like all the players turning up on time is a positive.
Finally, I think about the sessions I have run during the three week period: Did I cover everything I wanted to? Are there areas where the players need more reinforcement? Looking back over the three-week period is a fantastic way to see how I am progressing and in doing so making sure the development of my players is progressing.
I know how little time you have to spare for analysing your sessions. But a little time spent on preparation every three weeks will reap dividends when you look at the progress of your coaching and the development of your players over the season.
For solutions to all your coaching problems on and off the pitch go to the AskDave section of the website
in Team Management, Tips and advice
When the season comes to an end, a coach has more things to do than just say farewell to his players. Take note of my 25-point checklist before you break up for the close season MORE
in Email newsletters, Tips and advice
A number of things caught my attention this week. One of them was a podcast that included an ex-player talking about playing in key games when the crowd was so loud the players had trouble communicating on the pitch, meaning they often got confused when making runs and supporting play. The team had to use a crude form of sign language to help them cope with the problem. MORE
in Blog, Team Management
When a team gets either promoted or relegated, it's not the end of the story. Find out what you'll need to do to prepare for the fresh challenges ahead next season MORE
in Blog, Tips and advice
I was recently on an excellent three-hour practical demonstration by an FA coach development manager, showing how to coach players without using obvious instructions. Manipulation of the sessions was used as the coach tried to get the message across though actions rather than long-winded explanations. MORE
in Blog, Refereeing
I hate it when the opposition manager turns up and starts his preparations by telling the referee what he expects and what he will be looking for in the game, rather than just getting on with what he should be doing. MORE
in Blog, Psychology
We had our own goal line technology outrage at the weekend when the opposition manager thought his team had scored from a free-kick that clattered the crossbar and bounced down into the safe hands of the keeper. MORE
