For both competitive and non-competitive teams
We all want to win and it’s obviously an important part of any sport but winning isn’t the only part of player motivation. Enjoying playing the game and fair play is just as important.
“it’s not that you won or lost but how you played the game” – Grantland Rice, early 20th Century American Sports writer
- Equal playing opportunities and attention for all no matter the standard of football or an individual’s ability ensuring a positive experience for every player
- Don’t over play your best players. All should get equal amounts of playing time
- Don’t be too demanding of your players. They are young and still learning.
- Be sympathetic and caring to injured players from both teams
- Don’t teach kids how to ‘cheat’, stick to the rules
- Make sure your players respect and show good manners towards teammates, opponents, referees, parents and managers/coaches. The best way to teach this is to do it yourself.
- Don’t argue with the ref, if you have a grievance take it up with them at half time or after the game
- Make training sessions useful but fun. Limit the amount of talking in sessions and encourage your players even if they are getting it wrong. And if a player needs to be pulled into line, don’t send them running around the field as punishment, get them to sit the session out for 5 minutes and do a fun drill so they miss out.
- Keep training sessions at the correct level for your age groups and ensure that as a coach you are up to date on the latest training techniques.
- You are a mentor not a drill master. Get your players to enjoy you, your ideas, your training sessions and most of all football.
- We all like winning but winning easily is no fun for anybody. If you are winning easily make it harder for your team to score (remove a player, set number of passes before a goal can be deemed a goal etc)