Over the years I have tried to compile some general ideas to help keep the game simple. For newer coaches, learning all kinds of formations and tactics can be daunting. Furthermore, all of the tactics I have learned all seem to fall back to some pretty basic concepts.
When coaching players I try not to “tell” them the answers. I prefer to ask them questions that makes them think about how to solve problems. Soccer, unlike many other sports, forces players to go out on the field for an entire half and make decision after decision on their own. The absolute best feeling for me as a coach is when I can sit down on the bench and watch the players fix problems to get a result.
Story time!
During a youth game I was sitting on the bench next to the other coach that I worked with. We had our team coached up and we were sitting back watching. I had my phone in my pocket and I noticed it was vibrating due to incoming text messages. I glanced at the phone and a high level division 1 college coach in the stands was texting me with questions regarding our defensive midfielder. I responded to the coach… The coach replied and said something like, “Why are you responding now, you’re in the middle of the game?”
My response was simply, the players have this handled, they know what to do, and we don’t have to tell them anything today. It was more important to me to provide information to the college coaches so that our midfielder could have a chance at a future in the game. That is the best feeling in the world… The players understand the basic ideas and can fix the problems themselves!
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