Coaching High School Soccer: A Guide To Self-control
Monday, July 12th, 2010
In coaching high school soccer, it’s a fact that similar to confidence; self-control too is a choice players need to make. In soccer coaching, self-control strategies are based on the relationship between thoughts and emotions. All of us know our mental state influences our passions that accordingly enhance our performance.
With a view to help the players in learning the skill and discipline of self-control, there is a 12 step strategy which I shall discuss with you. But make sure that your player’s only take these steps when they are sure of its value to them.
What’s more, the players should also be prepared to take full responsibility for the actions they take. The 12 steps are explained below.
1. Awareness: When coaching youth soccer, help players identify their weak points. Have them analyze where, when, and how they lost control on field during the past.
2. Understanding: Allow the players to make out the reason that affected their thinking in such a way that they lost their emotional stability.
3. Differences: Give them time to recollect situations when they did lose control and when they did not. Let them gauge the difference in their attitudes, emotions, and behavior.
4. Problem: Make an attempt to identify the exact problem in coaching high school soccer. For example: Is it the guilt of letting the whole team down because of their performance?
5. Belief: The players should manage to raise their expectations from them including self-control as one of the behaviors. Support them so they can change.
6. Reinforcement: Reinforcement has the potential to accelerate a change in behavior. Therefore, you must not forget your duty as a coach to recognize and honor the improvements of players so that they stick to these.
7. Goals: Set a series of small goals for players that will lead them along the road to change. You need to make the players understand the link between actions, thoughts, and feelings.
8. Techniques: Put together different behavioral action items to uphold the confidence level. For example: When a particular situation comes up, this is the path that the players must go by.
9. Plan: In football coaching, teach the players to pursue their goals in a planned and systematic way.
10. Progress: Tell them to learn the skill of patience. Let the players understand that the ups and downs are integral parts of path to improvement.
11. Setbacks: Help the players in accepting the setbacks, as these will continue to happen. So, the best way is learn from them and become even stronger.
12. Remembrance: Last but not the least, help the players understand that there is a reason behind their attempts to change. They should always be clear about what are they doing and why. What would be there in future for them, if they don’t try?
It is well known that a soccer player must act swiftly and yet comfortably to be perfect performer. It means possessing energy without tension.
This should not be taken lightly. Coaching high school soccer must include relaxation techniques so that the players can learn to be in-charge of their emotions to save energy and kill any fears.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Practice Drills.
