Becoming a Better Coach- The Best Get Better. Part 4 of a Three Part Series

The Best Coaches and Leaders are always trying to make themselves better as coaches and people. In order to do so you have to find ways to add every day, every week, every season and every year, that is why this is part 4 of a three Part series. No matter how you did last year or last week, in order to truly move forward You have to progress. If you do the same thing in the same way the program does not move on whether you were champions or did not win at all. Yes, this is a mistake that even leaders of Champions make. For unsuccessful seasons you would think it would be obvious that you can improve some area but to many it is not. Always start with Yourself and get your other leaders to do the same. An atmosphere that allows introspection will allow growth. Here are a couple of ideas for head Coaches and assistant coaches.

Coach Whenever You Can– this is an area that has really helped me throughout my career and even more so now as a consultant. Whether you are watching a match in person or on television(streaming), coach one of the teams. I have had great discussions, arguments and talks with Pep, Unai, Jeremy, Jason, Oscar, Becky, Bobby, Jamie,Robbie and Jurgen (the list is much longer because if I am watching, I am coaching)when their teams were playing. What adjustments do you make? How are they playing? How are we playing? Who needs to go in or out? Make your comments and decisions in real time to someone there or write them down. The next time you’re coaching Man City or San Jose St you know what you told Pep or Simon to do. Everybody does it after the match but if you want to get better do it during the match. Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they find a different way than the one you suggested. For assistants that are clamoring for your chance, this is a great way to be the head coach in a lot of matches but do it in real time and write it down or tell someone you’re watching the match with at the time you would do what needs doing. Assistants don’t do it for your own matches unless that is your assigned role for your match.

It is a really fun exercise when the coach or manager you are talking to listens and does what you have suggested and it turns into 3 points or salvages 1. Not as much fun when it doesn’t work but leads to further discussions if they did not act on your ideas. Thinking through your ideas and coming up with them during the match does help you become better when you are the decision maker and the BDE consultant is sharing ideas with you (whether he is there or not).

Start with One Idea to Improve- This suggestion is particularly aimed at assistants as it is important to feel vested and have ownership of some facet of your program although this is important for the head coach’s growth also. Take one area that you feel could be improved and learn everything about that area be it wing attacking play, fitness of midfield players, technical skills of a striker, or switching play by the defensive MF. Now make improving this area your extra task each day. Help this area and these players to get better while making the program better and also becoming a better coach yourself. If you really want a challenge learn more about an area that is a challenge to you and then you will have improved in a situation that made you uncomfortable in the past.