Here is an excellent article on more reasons why parents (and coaches) should not yell instructions from the sideline during games: Why Sideline Screaming Can Stifle Your Child's Game.
In a nutshell: the players on the field need to figure it out themselves during games to really learn.
[Added 5/23/2009: I personally don't do truly silent Saturdays but do strongly discourage giving on field instructions during games. Spectators should focus on just cheering.]
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
FacebookTuesday, October 14, 2008
Honor the Game, Honor the Players
One of the most beneficial things a soccer coach can do is to be *quiet* during his/her team's soccer game.
What!!! you say? I thought coaches were supposed to be yelling, cursing, shouting, and goading their teams to victory! And don't we want them to win? They need my instructions in order to win! Otherwise they will make mistakes that could cost us the game!
Well, not in soccer. And not in many other sports. In soccer the field is big, the play is fast, and the players own the game. It is hard enough for players to pay attention to themselves, their opponents, their teammates, the officials, the rules, and the ball in this dynamic game let alone have a backseat driver on the sidelines trying to yell them instructions while they are busy playing. Either they cannot hear you most of the time or you distract them from the game when they try to hear what you are saying. Do you want players eyes on you or the ball during the game?
The players are closest to the action. They have the best information about what they need to do. They are in the driver's seat.
The best thing a coach can do during games is to sit back, relax, observe, talk to players sitting out, and take notes about what players are doing well and what the team needs to work on as a whole.
Plus the coach is the role model that everyone else on the team looks up to -- players, assistant coaches, and parents. The behavior the coach exhibits is the behavior others learn to emulate.
In soccer and many other sports, the best times for coaches to talk is when others can listen. The best times are at practices, before games, after games, and to players who are sitting out during games.
Let the players play, let the spectators cheer, and conserve coaching energy by applying it when and where it can have the biggest positive impact.
Honor the game. Honor the players.
What!!! you say? I thought coaches were supposed to be yelling, cursing, shouting, and goading their teams to victory! And don't we want them to win? They need my instructions in order to win! Otherwise they will make mistakes that could cost us the game!
Well, not in soccer. And not in many other sports. In soccer the field is big, the play is fast, and the players own the game. It is hard enough for players to pay attention to themselves, their opponents, their teammates, the officials, the rules, and the ball in this dynamic game let alone have a backseat driver on the sidelines trying to yell them instructions while they are busy playing. Either they cannot hear you most of the time or you distract them from the game when they try to hear what you are saying. Do you want players eyes on you or the ball during the game?
The players are closest to the action. They have the best information about what they need to do. They are in the driver's seat.
The best thing a coach can do during games is to sit back, relax, observe, talk to players sitting out, and take notes about what players are doing well and what the team needs to work on as a whole.
Plus the coach is the role model that everyone else on the team looks up to -- players, assistant coaches, and parents. The behavior the coach exhibits is the behavior others learn to emulate.
In soccer and many other sports, the best times for coaches to talk is when others can listen. The best times are at practices, before games, after games, and to players who are sitting out during games.
Let the players play, let the spectators cheer, and conserve coaching energy by applying it when and where it can have the biggest positive impact.
Honor the game. Honor the players.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Positive Coaching
Hi all,
I'm a long time soccer coach and referee for AYSO. I'm also a huge fan of the Positive Coaching Alliance. Following and living the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance will not only make your sports coaching experience easier and more effective, it will also make it a lot more fun for you and your kids!
This blog will focus on soccer youth coaching but is applicable to sports coaching in general. This post marks my debut as a Positive Coaching Alliance Champion.
Cheers,
Tim Oey
I'm a long time soccer coach and referee for AYSO. I'm also a huge fan of the Positive Coaching Alliance. Following and living the principles of the Positive Coaching Alliance will not only make your sports coaching experience easier and more effective, it will also make it a lot more fun for you and your kids!
This blog will focus on soccer youth coaching but is applicable to sports coaching in general. This post marks my debut as a Positive Coaching Alliance Champion.
Cheers,
Tim Oey
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