Worthwhile Coaching?

[djasha68]

I am wondering if other coaches sometimes think like me. I do wonder if all the effort we go too is really worth it. First of all dont get me wrong I love coaching, I find it fascinating, fun and gives me something to do at the weekends. What I am referring to is the lack of training time that we have at the amateur level. I have my boys once a week, for 1 hour and then a kick about no coaching,just for fun. I would do more sessions but the lads have other interests as well, so could not get them more than once a week anyway. So what difference do you think you make, having them once a week, with so many things to cover, do we honestly believe we are making a big enough difference to worry about getting all your coaching badges? I have spoke to an acadamy coach about this, he believes you need at least 3 sessions a week, if you are going to improve players significantly. Of course you also need lads that want to train that often to improve, but the honest answer the average kids just want to play games and win.
I do sound like I am being pessimistic here, not meant to sound that way, just sometimes I do wonder! Anyways I will still be coaching untill I cant go to the toilet by myself anymore.

[74offsuit]

I've been wrestling with this one myself recently, but from a slightly different angle.

I have been coaching three times a week. We made a decision to really try and improve in a couple of areas pre season. The lads were up for it, so we started three, one hour organised coached sessions.

As we moved into the season, the lads still wanted to keep the intensity, so we have carried on.

The problem I am having is that the lads do not seem to be absorbing the information. They'll play all day and they work hard in the sessions, but when it comes to a match situation, it all appears to get forgotten.

I'm now stuck as I do not want to continue with the same old drills as if it gets boring, I know they will switch off.

My hunch is, it's going to click soon, and we can move onto other stuff.

My challenge now is to keep the concepts, but find new ways to coach them.

I am also wondering if I am taking things too seriously for the level we are at.

Ah well, plenty to think about

[djasha68]

Hi 74Offsuit,

Im glad Im not the only one who thinks like this, I thought I might get slated for saying that.
I think your comment about do we take it too serious hits the nail on the head. Lads realise they are not going to be professional players, they really enjoy competitive games, as for the coaching side its not as high on their list.
I asked my son this question, "How do you compare your enjoyment at a training session compared to other activities, such as going out on bikes with your mates or playing FIFA 08 on XBOX?" He basically said playing games would be top of his list, training would be in the top 5, depends on what we are doing at training. So basically here I guess is we take it more serious than most of our players do and probably expect them to take it more serious than they really want to. We are really providing an organised FUN activity, key word is FUN. I know you guys all know that but it is easy to forget, especially when you have been planning a session for the last hour or your team lost 5-0 at the weekend.

[Val]

Originally Posted by djasha68

Hi 74Offsuit,

Im glad Im not the only one who thinks like this, I thought I might get slated for saying that.

No, we don't do any slating here. About the only time that would happen if you perhaps told Ian that the English couldn't produce any young talent

There are so many things for kids to do nowadays, and so many of us adults who want to support our loves. I live in a fairly rural area, but kids can play soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, football, basketball, swim, baseball/softball. In addition, this is a waterfront area, so there is boating and golf (and a good friend is building a rowing club), gymnastics is big, and in this area, we've got a great ice hockey program. Add to that the fact that all of us adults are trying to expand our programs seasonwise (we've got fall baseball now (a famously summer sport) and winter lacrosse and indoor soccer) and we've not even included things like scouting, church youth groups and band/dancing/voice.

Is it any wonder it's hard getting kids out to do anything?

So no, you are not alone...

[ian.curry]

Very true Val

I'd love to train more, and perhaps the significant development of inviduals could be there if I had more time.
I do believe that a team's development however, can be improved with 90 minutes training per week, I've seen it with my own team.