I like Ren and Stimpy. I'm not ashamed to say it. In fact, I really like the "Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy" song.
I digress. This month I would like to share my feelings on coaching at practice as opposed to coaching at games.
Soccer is a thinking man's/woman's game. Unlike football and baseball, soccer requires each player to make his/her own decisions during the course of a match. The decisions are based on past experience, individual ability and style, and a tactical framework laid by the coach. There are basic concepts that can be taught at practice to better prepare players for game situations, but the most important goal of a good coach is to give the players the proper tools to make their own decisions.
I would like to use professional soccer as an example for this model. (Of course I realize that professional players have already learned the fundamentals of the sport and are very experienced in game situations, but we can still learn from their actions.) When watching professional soccer matches on television, how many times have you seen the coaches shouting instructions to their players during the match? (Indoor soccer doesn't count in this experiment. It is part of the "circus environment" of indoor soccer for the coach to stand-up and scream like a Banshi, ie. Ron Newman. It must have something to do with being so close to the players, or perhaps it is something taken from other American sports like football, baseball, and basketball, where it is not only common for the coach to scream wildly, but to throw chairs and ice chests as well.) The answer should be "rarely".
In this model we are looking at the refinement and self-control of European coaches (not European fans. That's a different story). These coaches are among the finest coaches on earth, and they don't need to shout directions at their players. They do their coaching at practice sessions. They make minor adjustments based on the results of the last game, and based on their next opponents style of play. Adjustments are also made during games, but usually in the form of substitutions or halftime discussions. Most coaches just sit quietly on the bench and carefully observe the game. The coach watches the play, the players, and the officials, watching for problems and opportunities to repair or exploit. Is the pace to fast? Is the star player being marked, or double teamed? Is the game physical or technical? Are there too many long passes? Or not enough? Is one defender slower than another, or perhaps favoring one foot over another or nursing an injury?
These are questions and answers a coach should always be aware of. The coach shouldn't be concerned with how the players are doing their job but rather which job the players should be doing... in other words, what to do and not how to do it.
There are some psychological aspects to consider with coaching during the match as well. An occasional comment from the coach is often helpful at the youth level, in fact, sometimes it is necessary. For instance, a coach may move a faster defender into a new position to mark a particularly fast forward. Or, a coach may tell the midfielder to slow down the pace of the game if they are getting caught up in a running game.
However, yelling things like "mark goalside," "release the ball quicker," "shoot," "look for the open player," and "move into space" may be signs that the team is completely incompetent in the fundamentals of the game. These types of problems should be addressed in practice sessions, because if they are still problems at game time, your team will be at a disadvantage.
Coaching constantly from the sideline is nothing less than a nuissance. My response to seeing a coach screaming directions at the players during games is as follows: 1) the coach must have the dumbest players on earth if they need that much help. 2) the coach must not be doing his/her job right if he/she has to do that much coaching during the match. 3) the coach is panicking to change the style of play in order to achieve better results in a losing match. 4) the coach must not have any confidence in the ability of his/her players to make the right decision on their own. 5) I'll bet that the coach loses three of four players this season because they are tired of listening to their coach scream all of the time. 6) I wonder if he/she would stop yelling if I bit him/her on the ankle.
When I coach, I often hear people talking behind my back. "Look at that dog, why doesn't she bark any orders at the team? They look so lost out there, why doesn't she tell them to kick the ball long?" That always makes me laugh in disbelief. First of all, I do most of my coaching at the practice field.
Secondly, each week I will work on a theme. Each week's theme is based on the most obvious problems of the previous game. So if last week we had a hard time keeping the ball on the ground and completing short passes, the following week's practice would be devoted to short passing, and the next game would be dedicated to short passes. Therefore, "They look so lost out there, why doesn't she tell them to kick the ball long?" would be a particularly inappropriate thing to say.
Inexperienced coaches and outspoken fans like to be involved... they think it is helpful. They feel the need to be vocal so they are viewed as taking an active role in what is happening on the field. Silence is scary. Silence is eerie. Silence is unsettling. It takes a great deal of confidence to remain quiet on the sideline. Confidence in yourself, in your coaching ability, in your players' ability, in your team tactics, and in your team's ability to think under pressure.
However, let me warn you of the pitfalls of a silent coach.
Numero Uno: Your team must have confidence in themselves and in you. If a player doesn't know what to do, the silence of the coach is worse that fingernails on a chalkboard. If the players don't have confidence in themselves, they will enter into situations with too much caution and may second-guess their decisions. Or worse yet, they will begin to listen to the instructions shouted from non-coaches on the sideline.
Numero Dos: Your players must disregard anything that any other player, parent, or spectator tells them. (My worst pet peeve is when the referees begin advising the players on tactics and techniques... this is most common at the recreational soccer level, and it is completely unacceptable.)
Numero Tres: Your spectators, parents, and any other people on your sidelines must be informed that they are requested to refrain from shouting any instructions during the match. Encouragement is okay, actually encouraged. Things like "good shot", "nice play", "great ball", "keep up the good work" and the like are fine. Comments like "kick it to Johnny," "shooooot," "tackle the ball," "pass it," or "get the ball, dribble past their defender, cut right, fake left, step over the ball, now left and hit the ball far post" are most unwelcome. Try a game of silence and see what happens. I think you'll like the results! Ciao for Now.