There is no such this as a perfect team but there are a few things you can do to bring the best out of your players.
To be a perfect coach you must learn when it’s time to lead and when it’s time to take a step back and allow for player freedom.
If you want to build a winning team you must know when to have a balance and to let go of perfectionism and instead learn to enjoy your team’s journey.
Here are three keys to great team management.
#1 – Allow each player to be successful.
As the head coach, the success your team has needs to be shared among everyone, and not focused on a handful of players or you.
In order for your team to be successful on the field, your players need to feel the reason why they have succeeded.
I’ve spent many hours mentoring coaches who only focus on a small group of individuals on their team and forget about the rest. All great head coaches have to be able to tell their players about their significance, both individually and collectively.
One of the easiest ways to build confidence within your team is to offer acknowledgement whenever possible.
All great coaches advocate for and compliment individual successes of their players whether big or small, both publicly and privately. When you place a high value on each individual on your team and share their contributions openly to the group, it will help team bonding and motivation amongst your players.
#2 – Accept each the individual player as they are.
Each player on your team comes with unique strengths and skill sets. One player’s strengths on your team may be another player’s weakness.
To be an effective head coach, you must be versatile by looking at the strengths of each player and what they bring to the team. When you understand this about your players your coaching will become easier and you will be able to develop individual players based on what they are good at.
Some players may need motivation while others may need skill development. But as their coach, you must be able to bend your communication style enough to be able to work with each individual. When you figure out how each player on your team learns better, this will empower them to train and play to their fullest potential. To coach in this way, you must get to know your players personally.
#3 – Be protective of your players.
When you treat your team as a family, they will work harder for you!
Be an authority. A leader that your team looks to for guidance and approval.
If your players feel protected, they will feel valued, which will build a positive and secure team environment. The best coaches I’ve mentored, build trusted and protective environments where their players aren’t afraid of taking risks because they know they will be supported by the coach. When the team loses, your players must trust that you will spend time with them to analyze, modify and correct them so they can go back out onto the field to try again.
I want you to check out a resource that has really helped my confidence as a coach called Soccer Coaches University. You will find already done-for-you session plans to SKYROCKET Your Teams’ Passing, Confidence, Accuracy and Pace FAST!
Talk soon, Coach Leonardo Capparelli Educator, Coaches Training Room
p.s… A little about me… I’m from Argentina but raised in the United Kingdom and have been coaching over 10 years now. I am the owner of The Football Domain Academy in London and have a range of qualifications from the English Football Association. My passion is helping and coaches on how to build high performance winning teams.
