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One of the most dreaded conversations between players, coaches, and parents involves playing time. Nobody likes it. In my workshops on conflict resolution for coaches and directors of coaching, I ask them to identify the most common types of difficult conversations and conflict they encounter. The number one answer is the conversation about playing time. […]
Before we discuss what qualities and skill sets that make for a good coach, we need to first acknowledge how very difficult this profession of coaching really is. Coaching is sometimes a thankless, frustrating “no-win” kind of activity. It’s most often done in a public fishbowl. […]
Creag Lawrence, FA PE coordinator, believes that setting boundaries and using consequences can benefit both coach and player. In the past, detentions, ‘laps’ or being shouted at was the extent of ‘behaviour management’ strategy used by teachers at school – or adults in the football setting. Interventions were used to apply control.In modern educational settings, […]
Read More… from Why setting boundaries helps both player and coach
Laura Seth, FA performance analysis education lead, looks at learning opportunities for young players away from training. We now live and interact in a digital world where live football – both at home and abroad – as well as a whole host of football-related content is available online and on television. With the winter months […]
A real moment of grassroots magic happened at the weekend that restored my faith in the sport, a child I’ve coached for about a year who came from a team who said he “wasn’t good enough” In all the games he’s ever played (including training) he’s never ever scored, at the weekend we were getting […]
Read More… from Alex gave me a look I will never ever forget, in fact it gave me goosebumps.
So my boy finally reached the magical age of 7 last spring and all the football training, school clubs could now pay off and I could get him on a team. It turned out the local FA affiliated club were looking for coaches to run an under 7 team. I jumped at the chance! I […]
Read More… from A very honest message from a parent coach, if only I had asked first….
This weekend I was so lucky, so lucky in fact not only did I get to meet my heroes. I also got to watch them play!!!! Because you see I wasn’t watching Chelsea or Man Utd, not even Barcelona….. I watched them play with so much passion and energy I could feel the love of […]
I’ve just sat down to dinner with the family. My phone is pinging messages constantly, and although I know I shouldn’t, I cannot help but sneak a peak. My messages are almost all concerning the football team I volunteer to coach. The messages range from wether I think the game (which is still three days […]
Read More… from Diary of a Grassroots Coach – I ask myself is all of this worth it?
