Soccer coach

Most people don’t even know that being a soccer coach is an actual job. They usually think that everything dealing with soccer, or any sport in general, is just a hobby or a passion. This is only part of the truth. Sports jobs need a lot of professional and technical preparation.

In my life, I have always wanted to do a job that allows me to inspire other people. You might be asking yourselves, how can a soccer coach inspire other people? Well, the soccer coach is a very important figure as it is an example for the players. The relationship between a coach and his players is comparable to that between a father and his children.

The coach is not only the person who teaches soccer techniques and strategies. There’s something more. His duty is to share his passion with a group of subjects, with the aim of achieving a result. Coaches can pass on their knowledge to other people, and this is the part of this job that attracts me the most.

What are then the characteristics that make a coach a good coach? It’s difficult to answer this question. However, I realized that many of the qualities of a good soccer coach are common to other professions:

1. Teacher
2. Architect
3. Communicator

Let me explain you each of these areas with examples from my experience.

Teacher

First of all, an effective soccer coach is a good teacher. And as a teacher, my duties are:

• Developing basic soccer skills
• Organizing training sessions
• Planning fitness preparation

One of the tasks of my job is planning the exercises and setting up the equipment for training. I have to make sure to teach my players the fundamentals of the game and that my team is learning. The basics include passing, dribbling, shooting and tackling. I am usually provided with assistant coaches that help me train specific areas of the game, such as defense, attack, and goalkeeping. I like making actual demonstrations of exercises instead of giving oral instruction. Players can get the most benefit if they see how to put an exercise into practice. In this kind of job, player development is the most important goal. Results are secondary to it, at least at the amateur level.

The part of the training that my players hate is fitness preparation. The type of physical workout varies based on the different periods of the season. For example, after summer break I plan relaxed practices so that my players can recover their optimal physical condition. Instead, as we approach the regular season training sessions aim at maintaining the fitness of the team. I usually alternate intense training with recovery sessions after games at this stage.

Architect

When I say that the job of a soccer coach looks like that of an architect, I refer to tactics. Coaches need to practice not only technique but also tactics. This involves a lot of studying and preparation. Before being able to coach, I had to take specific courses and get a coaching license. There are some strict requirements to meet to become a soccer coach, just as if you want to become an architect.

As an architect, I design strategies and plans for specific play situations, including free kicks and corner kicks. To do this, you need to study the strengths and weaknesses of opposing teams and consider the best way to approach each game. At the professional level, it implies analyzing opponents’ games to identify their characteristics. I have never personally done such a thing as a coach since I have only trained young kids so far. Though, when I was a competitive player myself, I used to spend long nights staring at a screen with my teammates and coaches before the game day. So, tiring, but so important!

Communicator

Last but not least, it is important that a soccer coach knows the importance of communication. Good coaches should be able to convey their ideas in a simple and clear way. How am I supposed to teach if not by communicating? Even if before I said that demonstration is better than words, speaking with players is key. This includes recognizing the players’ performances and achievements. I always encourage them to do better and congratulate with them for a well-played game. My life as a coach involves a huge amount of communication. I have to talk, write, and listen. Not only with players, but also with parents, administrators, and the support staff.

The game of soccer is a constant flow of communication and psychology. For example, before the game, I stimulate the team to play at its best from the start. Then communication continues during the game when my assistants and I deliver instructions to players. And after the game, when we review the team's performance with the players and identify the issues we need to work on before the following matches.

•     •     •

So, training is not a simple task at all. It requires to mix technical, tactical, and communicative, qualities to master this job. They must know the athletes in front of them, their strengths and their limits. Not only on the soccer level but above all on the psychological level. This is the only way I can share my enthusiasm and passion for this amazing sport.

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