My Ultimate Guide for New Football Coaches

Welcome back to another blog!

After a challenging season with my North Curry Youth FC Under 9s that was full of progression, learning and fresh faces, I wanted to share some of the most important tips and best practises you can implement as a new football coach.

1. BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS

2. COME PREPARED TO EVERY SESSION

3. NURTURE FOOTBALL IDENTITY

4. REFLECT REGULARLY

5. HAVE FUN ABOVE ALL ELSE

   1. BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS:

• Take the time to get to know each player individually. Learn their names, understand their strengths and weaknesses, and show genuine interest in their lives both on and off the field.

• For youth coaches like myself, this is especially important to develop your relationship with your player’s parent/guardians too as they are full responsible for that young player getting to and from football! Communicate regularly and effectively with parents. Keep them informed about team activities, training schedules, and any updates or changes. Be approachable and open to addressing their concerns or questions.

• Create a positive and inclusive team culture. Encourage teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship among the players. Foster an environment where everyone feels valued and supported.

  2. COME PREPARED TO EVERY SESSION:

• Plan your sessions in advance. Set clear objectives and design drills and exercises that align with those objectives and communicate this to your players.

• Consider the age, skill level, and development stage of your players when designing sessions. Tailor the activities to challenge and engage them appropriately by using a variety of drills and exercises that focus on different aspects of the game to keep the sessions interesting and diverse.

  Think beyond matchplay! Some of the best drills I’ve been involved in truly keep football as the after thought and use a narrative to let young people explore their skills without a pre-determined vision of success that they might see on TV or online! This elimates the pressure to reach a certain standard and instead gives them a chance to learn skills in their own way! For example, instead of dribbling backwards and forwards, can players explore a western wasteland and navigate different obstacles using different skills? The sky is the limit.

  3. NURTURE PLAYER IDENTITY:

• Help players develop a strong sense of self-identity as footballers. Encourage them to set personal goals and support them in achieving those goals. Remember you are coaching people and not just players!

• Provide constructive feedback and praise their efforts and improvements. Help them understand their strengths and areas for development, and always give them hints and ways to work on those skills moving forward.

• Foster a growth mindset in your players, emphasizing that mistakes are part of the learning process. Encourage resilience, perseverance, and a passion for self-improvement.

  4. REFLECT REGULARLY ON YOUR COACHING:

• Regularly reflect on your coaching sessions and performance. Identify what went well and what can be improved upon. This doesn’t have to be for long; just make sure you incorporate it into your planning and post-sessions.

• Seek feedback from players, parents, and other coaches. Their perspectives can offer valuable insights and help you refine your coaching techniques. Player feedback may be brutally honest but is direct and to the point!

• Continuously update your knowledge and skills by networking with other coaches, attend county workshops, and sustain learning through FA Learning courses - many of whcih are FREE. Stay informed with your county FA’s local learning opportunties through their social media too!

  5. ABOVE ALL ELSE, HAVE FUN!

• Create an enjoyable and positive atmosphere during training and matches. Incorporate fun activities, small-sided games, and challenges that keep the players engaged and excited.

• Celebrate individual and team achievements. Acknowledge and appreciate the effort, progress, and commitment of each player.

• Encourage a love for the game by promoting creativity, creativity, and freedom of expression on the field. Help players develop a lifelong passion for football.

Remember, coaching is a continuous learning process, and the most effective coaches adapt and grow over time. Enjoy the journey, be patient with yourself and your players, and strive to create a positive and nurturing environment for everyone involved. Good luck!

If you’d like to get into football coaching in your local area and don’t know how, make contact with your local club and/or a club you’d like to be a part of and get start with the Playmaker course to gain the FREE baseline level of qualification needed to start your journey as a football coach!