Is the moment lost forever? Stop! Freeze! Coaching in the flow!
Guest columnist Chris Sydney on the importance of the true reason coaches coach – and the importance of the TEACHABLE MOMENT.
A youth soccer coach comes in and demonstrates the proper technique and tactic on passing the ball in behind the backline from midfield. Explains all the visual Q’s that lead to the decision on why that ball should be played in behind at that moment. That moment only had to do with the teacher educating the student.
What is really happening here? It is all about the correct T.I.P: Correct Time, Correct Information, Correct Player. This is when a youth soccer coach makes an impact on the player — enabling the player to be well equipped for the situation next time.
In the big picture, this coaching moment did not have anything to do with winning the league, game on the weekend or getting to the knockout stage of a tournament.
I am referring to the instant when a student’s knowledge becomes broadened by their coach’s ability to share knowledge and deliver the information at the right time to ensure its absorption and use.
Are coaches usually successful in imparting information?
Whether or not a coach was successful at teaching information — well, that is the method by which coaches were evaluated when I was growing up. I even remember this being important when I started coaching. Could your coach identify a “teachable moment” — this is what sets talented youth soccer coaches apart from their peers.
Todays coaches are evaluated on multiple factors and the roles of a coach has become more layered. I believe it is important for coaches to simply Deal with It!
We can no longer just:
- plan which league to play in
- select tournaments to attend
- create training sessions & coach games
- do youth soccer player evaluations
- communicate to parents
Now as a soccer coach, you have to understand how to use social media, edit video, give interviews, sell the club, promote the league, and other non-field specific jobs.
This is where the question that starts this article comes in…
Is the teachable moment lost forever?
Are coaches less interested in the coachable moment as the primary reason to coach? Have the new responsibilities as a coach made coaches have to become a Jack-of-all-trades, but master of none?
By none I mean the primary reason we should be coaching, having the abilities to teach, educate and inspire.
I like listening to coaches and parents to hear what they think are the qualities of a good coach. Often I hear, ‘He coaches at a top club! He knows a lot of college coaches! He made the right substitution and adjustment in game for us to win. He wins highly competitive State titles! He has the connections to get his teams into the top showcases in the country! He is a good recruiter! He always wins! He has good connections to pro coaches or is a former pro.’
All these qualities are great to have and can complement the primary reason coaches coach. But it seems that we have flip flopped the primary and secondary requirements for coaches.
I also often hear, ‘He is very organized.’ Is the meaning of organized that his thought process and delivery of information to his players is well organized and effective — or is it his organization ensures parents are satisfied with all the arrangements made for the team?
To achieve success, you must blend organization of team and parent. One is no good without the other. Organization is essential to everyone’s life. Organization is the utopia everyone in life should strive to achieve.
In 2015, every one of these qualities stated are important requirements to be a youth soccer coach and a coach who neglects any of these will always fall short.
But has that teachable moment taken a back seat to everything else?
Have coaches now become organizers, recruiters and managers who can make an adjustment during a game?
My instructors on my USSF C course opened my eyes to the delivery of information and choosing the right moment to improve trends that could be corrected. Manipulation of field size, touch restriction, numbers up or down were all secondary to the primary, ‘Could you recognize the moment to teach, educate and inspire?’
Can we get back to this time? You see it doesn’t matter what level you coach at, this should be the basis of your motivation to be among players.
Coaches need to embrace all the new responsibilities that come with being a successful coach in our modern life. Yes, this will challenge you and make you a better coach.
Coaches ask players to come out of their comfort zone and push themselves to somewhere they have never been before. We should also come out of what we know and walk out into the new responsibilities that complement what you have always done so well. Teach, educate and inspire!
The moment may not be lost, but we need to keep a watchful eye on it, so it is not only present in our toolbox. It should be in construction of every player and team we build.
Coaching Instructors on my C license: Mike Haas, Jan Smisek, Gordon Miller, Rene Miramontes.
Related Article: Life of a Soccer Parent Who Coaches
