What Makes a Coach Successful (continued)

The first idea we came up with was that a successful coach was one who prepared his team to play at the next level. The next level could be anything from a higher club team, hs varsity or jv, college, state team, region team, national team or some other level, which will be different for each player.  Another possibility we discussed was that a successful coach was one who could teach in a way that allowed the players to learn, work hard and enjoy themselves at the same time.  I realize that many coaches don’t believe you can work hard and have fun but that is one of the real challenges of being a successful coach. We finally realized that a coach’s success could only be determined be each individual coach depending upon their individual situation.  However, some of the traits of a successful coach would include the ability to teach both the techniques and tactics of the game at the same time teaching them the ability to love the game.

Without overemphasizing the importance of coaching in the overall scheme of things, I believe that coaching is both a science as well as an art.  The science of coaching is the ability to teach the techniques of the game as well as the tactics.  In soccer, this can be learned by attending both NSCAA and USSF coaching courses in the US (I assume there are similar courses in other countries).  At courses and clinics like these (as well as reading things like this newsletter) you can learn the type of drills and ideas that are necessary to become a coach.  Does this mean that anyone with a high coaching license will be a successful coach?  Not necessarily.  Through courses, clinics, books and playing experience, you can learn the science part of coaching. However without having a pretty solid mastery of the art of coaching, you will not be a successful coach.

The art of coaching is the hard part. It’s the ability to actually teach and motivate a player or team. In the same way that a mathematician does not necessarily made a good math teacher, a soccer player does not necessarily make a good coach.  Real teachers have the ability to actually understand each of their players and know that each player has different buttons to push in order to get them to learn and work hard and enjoy the game.  A coach who really has the art of coaching is very easy to spot.  Watch them speak to their team and you will see every player’s eyes on the coach soaking in everything he says.  When a coach doesn’t understand the art of coaching, that same team will start to look off in different directions when the coach is speaking.

What is more important the art or the science of coaching?  In my opinion this is a no brainer.  I would much rather have the ability to teach and motivate because learning the rest is relatively easy.  If I only had the science part of the game down, it wouldn’t do me much good because without the ability to transfer this knowledge, it wouldn’t do me much good.  If I only had the art of coaching, I could learn the science by going to these courses and watching the game and talking to other coaches.  It is much more difficult to learn the art.  How many coaches are willing to learn to be a teacher as well as a coach?  Unfortunately, not nearly enough.

The purpose of today’s newsletter is simply to give some people (players and coaches) something to think about.  I would enjoy hearing other people’s opinions on this subject.  Just send your opinions to comments@finesoccer.com.  

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