People ask me how I create the right environment when it comes to coaching. Establishing trust is the most import part of creating a physically and emotionally safe environment. Without trust, it does not matter how good of a coach you are, how good the team is, how much they win, or how good the training sessions. As coaches we need to begin with establishing trust.
Next is to understand the needs of who you are coaching. It is important to take into account the age group, level of play, and the ability of the players. From there, I research and seek consultation on what other coaches and my director have experienced and recommend. Next, I draft up a training plan that I will execute throughout the cycle. As I progress throughout the cycle, I continually evaluate, reflect, notate, and make changes if necessary.
I also believe in getting feedback from my players, parents, coaches and club officials. It’s an ongoing process. Needs change over time and it’s important that I as a coach stay in front of it as much as possible. It allows me to be the best coach I can be and allows for the environment to be healthy. When you have a healthy and safe environment, players are happy, feel safe, keep coming back, and most importantly, will play their best when their best is needed.
The environment reflects the kind of coach you are and the culture that your players will be a part of. In my role as a youth soccer coach, burnout is a serious problem. Admittedly, I was not the best at creating a healthy environment. I never cared for it as I was solely focused on results. As long as I was winning, I did not care. As I have matured and learned from my own mistakes and processing what I learn from coaching courses, podcasts, working with other coaches, and consulting with people outside of soccer. This environment is very important and needs to be top priority.
