Coaching

A front page report in the Sydney Morning Herald today highlighted the behaviour, yet again, of coaches coaching young teams. Screaming at players is not on.

Listening to the coaches at my local club it seems to me intentions are good across the board. After all who would put in training time and game time on a weeknight and weekend unless your heart is in the right place.

However, some coaches seem to find coaching children, boys and girls, a big challenge.

Surprise, surprise players love to play but don't want to follow coaches instructions in training.

To the coaches I say, don't be too hard on yourself, or the kids. Fun, fun, fun is the most important thing. Laughing with the players is a good thing to do.

Get the ball out in the warm-up and put at away at the end of the day. 1,000 touches a session for each player!

For young kids, maybe under 12's down, the tactics, the result doesn't matter. We want the kids to enjoy the game, we want you to come back again.

It's fun, it's football. Let's all have a great season and don't expect too much of yourself or your players.