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COACHING EDUCATION FOR THE NON-SOCCER PEOPLE.
Posted on January 22nd, 2009 4 commentsI am currently teaching a ‘D’ License here on campus as an academic course. I have to admit, it is a pretty good idea to allow students to test for the ‘D’ License who are taking the soccer coaching course that is usually offered to PE Majors. We just adjusted the curriculum a bit, and there you have it.
Teaching the course is a bit of a challenge in that there are those that are taking it who are not currently coaching a team (which seldom happens when teaching a real ‘D’ course), or who have never played the sport before..
I find myself aware that I have to avoid coaching jargon. That I have to explain the sport of soccer in terms that they understand, borrowing from the other sports that they play. When speaking on the principles of defense, I have found myself referring to zone defenses in basketball. We have discussed defending in terms of a ‘full court press”, or a “prevent defense”… to borrow a football term. We even talked about “dumping the puck in to the corner and pressing to get it back” as a tactic… so that the hockey player that is taking the course has a point of reference.
This mental exercise has turned out to be quite enriching for me as well. I feel myself getting better at explaining things to the players as I use simpler terms, and rely even more on the game SHOWING them the things they need to learn. It has also resulted in me re-thinking some of the tactics of the game.
Last fall, I took a few classes on the martial arts. My previous experience with this content was frankly limited to watching “Kung-Fu”, on TV when I was growing up. Needless to say, my learning curve was exponential. But, the best part about the whole process is that it allowed me to experience what it was like to try to learn something new. I kept shouting to myself, “SLOW DOWN… LET ME TRY THAT A FEW MORE TIMES!” That, in turn, affected my approach in the classroom with these students who are learning about the game of soccer, and coaching it, for the first time. We are opening their eyes to new ways of thinking, and that is exciting.
Now, I have to adjust my methods to fit the learner… first. And, wouldn’t you know… they are starting to think, act, and play like players.
A good reminder for us as coaching educators, and coaches of players that are just starting out.4 responses to to “COACHING EDUCATION FOR THE NON-SOCCER PEOPLE.”
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That D licenses are being provided to those who have never played is a travesty.
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So… are you saying that people who have neer played should not attend the course, and be rewarded for taking the course by passing?
These are the people that we NEED to take the coaching courses, because they are the ones that are coaching young players. -
Jeff,
Great topic. I find this to also be true when coaching youth soccer players. If one week you call a position a “forward”, then the same position is called a “striker” the next week, the kids get lost easily. Consistency and familiarity are important concepts at all ages when it comes to communications.
Coach Mark
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There are many great coaches that have not played beyond middle school. Others have played, but admit they were all hustle and no skills. Anson Dorrance of UNC comes to mind.
Some easy examples in other sports are:
Lawrence Frank - New Jersey Nets (pro basketball)
and
Mike Leach - Texas Tech (college football)I recently saw an anonymous interview with a pro basketball player and he was asked about playing for a well-known former player as his new coach (only five years out of the NBA) and he didn’t like it because the coach kept saying ‘this is how i did it when i played’. He said he preferred someone who had never played and was willing to be in the tape room breaking down opponents and willing to coach the current game of basketball and not cling to the glory years.
I agree with this as I see a number of exhigh school soccer players, who have a license, but are coaching based on what happened when they played and not what they should have been learning in coaching courses and from studying. Playing some soccer can be helpful, but has little bearing on whether you are able to teach (ie transfer information). They are two different skill sets.
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