• Core values: love, respect, loyalty, integrity, honor, punctuality, accountability, trust, fun, work ethic, impact, service, empowerment,“ we before the me,” and so much more. Could you rank your top five?
• Do these core values align with the“ higher ups” of your organization( e. g., a“ club philosophy,” board, administration, alumni, director of athletics, club director, technical director)? Is there a“ top to bottom” philosophy( e. g., Més que un club, the“ United” way, etc.)?
• How are the above values turned into habits in your program? How are players empowered to grow these on and off the field, in and away from sessions?
• How do you integrate the needs to develop and“ win”? What does success look like?
• What is your preferred style of play? Can you define it and if a spectator was viewing your match, would their observation align with your definition? How varied is it?
• Do you have a preferred formation? Why? Is it dictated by the organization( e. g., club)? Is it flexible? Do you select players to fit in your formation or adjust your formation to fit your personnel? Is your program able to adjust to the opposition on match day?
• How do you want your side to attack, defend, transition? Press versus counter-press? Restarts? Control space, the ball, shape, draw restraint line, and much more?
• What is your training philosophy? Systematic progression spectrum, small-sided games, varied? Does it align with your match philosophy? How do you simulate match competition in training? How do you emphasize the positive,“ correct mistakes,” or otherwise influence actions to fit into the style of play framework? How do you achieve optimal execution of skills under pressure?
• How do players / staff respond to successes / errors, situations where things are / are not going well?
• What is your coaching style? How do you communicate with all constituents? Coach-centered? Playercentered? Allow for creativity?
• What type of mentalities and personalities do your personnel have, respect, utilize and strive to impact positively for optimal performance?
• What is your leadership style? There are so many aspects of leadership but do you know your strengths, areas to grow in, and how you impact others, how to delegate, how your leadership aligns with your core values?
• How is feedback given to players? How do you set goals with them? How is discipline enforced?
• How do you manage starters versus substitutes versus non-playing roster? How do tryouts, recruiting, etc. impact your season?
• What does a year look like in terms of“ in-season” versus“ off-season”?
• How is player and personal development assessed? Technical, tactical, teammate, individual considerations? Player evaluations? Coach and staff evaluations? Goal setting? Who reviews progress in these areas?
• What do characteristics such as mastery and confidence look like?
• What defines the environment, team culture, identity for your team? How do you put practices into place to influence these areas? Can you distill it to three top features?
• What does professional development look like for you? Opportunities? Do you learn from courses, mentors, coaches at various levels, the United Soccer Coaches Annual Convention, etc.? In-person versus online?
• In the big picture, what do you hope to accomplish and achieve? Why do you coach? Not that you can necessarily control how others will remember you, but in essence, are there a few lasting impressions involving your core values that you will have on others in the game well beyond your time? n
Ashu Saxena, Founder and Chair Asian-Pacific Islander Coaching Community, author of“ The Well-Rounded Soccer Coach”( Meyer-Meyer Sport, 2018), United Soccer Coaches Master Coach Diploma, United States Youth Soccer Association & United States Olympic Committee National Girls Soccer Coach of the Year
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