One of the most difficult situations is coaching a team during a one-sided loss or a losing season. I had one team that did not score a goal the entire season( they hit the post once)— but the team played hard and never gave up during the entire season. Sometimes, these situations require a coach to rally the team, often one player at a time. An important coaching point is to shift the players’ focus away from losing and failure and toward a series of learning opportunities. Never give up or quit on your team— the players ALWAYS KNOW.
POST-GAME
Post-games involve sportsmanship and recognition of athletes. Don’ t forget the referees, too. This can be a great time or a difficult moment. Be careful about what you say at the end of a game. I like to keep it short and if possible, positive. I believe in honesty and responsibility— this is so important for your team. Too often, coaches blame everyone else( especially referees!). about routines. Go to games and watch the coaches before, during and after a game. Perhaps you are fortunate enough to be able to listen to another coach during pre-game, halftime or post-game to gain insight into presentations and their coaching points. Or you can use your relationships at United Soccer Coaches to learn more about what others do and why. As you explore and learn, it is important to be yourself and authentic.
Lastly, take advantage of being a member of United Soccer Coaches. We are colleagues in the coaching business. This is why membership is so important— ask coaches. I meet wonderful people at all levels of the game who truly are servant leaders and want to help you. This is why we have discussions, share stories and talk with other coaches. Keep learning, get better and enjoy the journey.
Players who had big games, scored goals and made outstanding plays will be recognized. Make sure to recognize your role players, substitutes, coaches, staff and anyone else helping you. Find those small, significant moments that changed a game. It could be a great defensive run by your center forward, a strong tackle at an important moment in the game or a long, unselfish forward run off the ball by an outside back that created space.
Last note: You welcomed all your players— make sure to say goodbye to all your players, too.
I generally believed in using a 24-hour rule for parents. Immediately after a game, it is not a good time to have a discussion about playing time, coaching points or other issues. In more than one instance, I reminded players that they play for me— their parents do not play for me. This helps them to be more responsible and yet, just as importantly, separates their behavior and actions from their parents, thus giving them ownership of their game.
Post-game is an important time to take care of your players— especially if they had a difficult game or tough moments at a key time( the game can be cruel and involve a lot of crying and despair). Remind them that physical mistakes are part of the game and mental mistakes can be corrected. The sun will come up tomorrow and they will have a chance to play again.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I know coaches are trying their best... yet don’ t be afraid to ask for help or have discussions with other coaches about the game. One of my best friends was my rival coach— we talked during the season and at the end of the season to see how we could improve. We felt that we were in the education and student-athlete development business. Being better coaches improved both our teams and enhanced our rivalry( which was very real during the games).
Michael R. Kodama is the Coaches Communities Relations Manager for United Soccer Coaches. He coached for over 30 years at Burroughs High School and was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California’ s Sol Price School. He is on the Advisory Board for the Center for Sports and Social Justice at Cal State East Bay and the Advisory Commission for the Kansas City Parks and Recreation 9th & Van Brunt Soccer Facility. n
If you don’ t know what to do— use your network to ask
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