Coaches are Instruments of Youth Development

When I play my guitar, I usually have to adjust the string tension to be sure it is “in tune.” Without this adjustment, it would sound unpleasant and possibly ruin the pleasure of playing. Coaches are instruments of youth development. If they don’t continually check tension and be sure that they are “tuned in” to themselves and their players, they probably sound unpleasant and ruin some of the pleasure of playing.

Tension or stress can manifest in different ways. For coaches, angry shouting is one of them. I often hear coaches angrily shouting at players during a game, “Move over two feet,” “Stand there,” “WHAT are you doing?” and “I TOLD you to…” I then see the player take a stutter step, look confused at the coach or a parent, and momentarily lose track of the action of the game. This kind of tense or angry shouting of directives is stressful to players and tends to interfere with performance rather than enhance it. It interrupts spontaneity, and takes players out of “the zone” or “flow” of the game.

Instead of angry or frustrated directives, a coach can be mindful of being stressed, take a deep breath or five or ten, notice what is happening in the game, recognize that the players will learn eventually as they gain experience, and find something Susie is doing right and focus on that. Sometimes improving performance means allowing players to make mistakes without angrily correcting them in the moment, allowing them to learn for themselves. A coach that can “step back” in this manner is an effective instrument of development.

If coaches desire to lead by example, manage tension, and improve their own performances, “tuning” in to their own stress is important. When coaches notice that they are shouting out negative directives or are angry, they could stop for a moment, check tension, and re-tune to self and players. They might ask themselves, “How is what I’m saying really helping?” “Could what I’m saying be perceived as unpleasant?” “How is this approach really improving the play?” “What could I be doing or saying differently right now?” “How can I manage my tension right now?” In order to change up the energy from stressed and tense to relaxed and supportive, they might learn how to practice breathing techniques, recognize self talk and how that may be creating tension, and practice being mindful of the language used to communicate with players. “I TOLD you to…” is not usually helpful language. Instead, “Great pass, I see how hard you are working. Now remember to…” is much better, and obviously said on the sideline.

Coaches can also recognize how their comments impact players. Are they able to understand what is being said given their developmental level? Are they being supported and encouraged or ridiculed and degraded? Does the player look confused? Does the player respond with shoulders sagging, looking down, stopping mid-play, or hesitating? Does the player look focused on his own game or is she trying too hard to please the coach? Focusing on players’ responses to what is being said is one way to tune into them and adjust tension. In order to support development and enhance performance, coaches need to say things that keep players focused in the here and now, that reduce stress, and that focus on what players are doing well in a supportive manner.

In summary, coaches can tune their “instruments,” themselves. There are many ways to do that including using breathing control techniques, being aware of self talk, being mindful of language used to communicate with players, and noticing how players respond to communication. Managing stress and striving to communicate in helpful and healthy ways, and consistently finding ways to develop as a coach and as a person, parent, teacher, and mentor will in the long run make for good soccer music in the form of finely tuned coaches.