I
recently came a list
of 'common coaching faults'
in the soccer coaching compilations provided by
Soccer-Coach-L. I have
reproduced it below along with some of my own observations.
When I first read the
list I realised that most of the coaches I know (including me!) are sometimes guilty of a couple of these 'cardinal sins'.
Certainly, this list has made me reflect on my
coaching style and try to be a better coach the
next time I step onto the coaching field.
Hopefully, it will do the same job for you!
-
The coach boring the group with long-winded speeches.
-
The coach complicating the exercise by offering too much information and by elaborating on the
chosen theme by involving too many phases of play.
-
Skills practices becoming endurance work.
-
Forgetting to agree ground rules with the
players.
-
Not planning a coaching session in advance.
-
Sticking too rigidly to a session plan!
-
The coach following the ball around instead of observing from a detached position.
-
The coach acting as ball-boy.
-
The coach failing to demonstrate.
-
Ball-boys taking part in the exercise.
-
Poor organization of the footballs.
-
Not having a football per player at training sessions.
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The coach offering instructions while running.
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Criticizing a child (rather than the behaviour).
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Not discussing or involving parents/carers.
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Lack of awareness of space required for a particular exercise - forgetting that lines and
bodies limit the area.
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The coach failing to communicate the purpose of the exercise to each player.
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The coach speaking in generalizations.
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Failing to consider the health and safety of the
players.
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The coach offering a running commentary.
-
Spectators and additional players encroaching on the field.
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The coach trying to
demonstrate something which he cannot do (Steve: I do this a
lot!!)
-
Using drills that involve children standing in lines for more than a few seconds.
-
The coach failing to spot flaws in the practice and subsequently neglecting to make appropriate
corrections.
-
Forgetting that the teaching process involves:
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