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| Querying Coaches (September 2005) |
By Jay Martin
This issue is about soccer coaches and soccer coaching. That’s all. What better way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Soccer Journal. We have eliminated our regular features to concentrate intensively on soccer coaching and soccer coaches.
We identified coaches who have been successful at every level. How did we decide on the list of coaches? We used a panel of NSCAA members and members from the SJ editorial board to identify good coaches. Could we have interviewed other coaches? Of course, there are many very good coaches in this country and around the world. Some of the coaches you think are the best chose not to be involved. Others were not chosen by the board.
We asked questions that should provide a learning opportunity for every reader. The questions were determined by a survey of NSCAA members over the internet. They were told, what would you ask, if you could? We asked about all levels of soccer coaching. We asked about how they handle their teams and what they think of soccer generally in the United States, Europe and South America. We asked about tactics, training sessions, technique, needs, wants and desires. When we couldn’t contact a coach, we asked UEFA and Andy Roxburgh for help or Manni Klar at Success in Soccer. Or Paul Van Veen of SoccerCoaching International. We are indebted to these soccer people for their help.
This issue is probably not politically correct. There will be criticism and concern that too many men were interviewed. We did interview three of the best coaches of women’s soccer in the world. Some of the women who were asked for an interview declined. We did the best we could. But it doesn’t matter. We asked good soccer coaches about good soccer coaching.
We all want to know what the best coaches do, how they continue to be successful or what they are thinking. This issue offers you some of the answers.
At a recent UEFA coaching convention in Istanbul during the UEFA Champions League final, Andy Roxburgh offered insight into today’s “great modern coach.” These remarks were first published in The Technician. Like Soccer Journal, Roxburgh has interviewed many coaches about coaching. Here is what he said:
- You must make an investment. A coaching license is not enough. Modern coaches must continue to learn about player management, principles of the game, team building as well as coaching techniques.
- You must have your own style. Coaches must have their own style and dare to be different (Jose Mourinho?). You can not be somebody else.
- You must have a long term curiosity. Good coaches never stop learning. Carlos Alberto Parreira reflected on coaching by saying, “It takes a lifetime to simplify the game.”
- You must have a winning mentality. The last two Champions League coaches are good examples of coaches who are educated but also pursued their own path. Said Mourinho, “There’s a history made by each of us (coaches) that leads us to that final victory. It’s that history, in its entirety, that turns us into champions.” When Rafael Benitez found himself unemployed he went to study with the best in Italy. He reinvented himself as a European champion at Liverpool.
- You must have learning situations. You must find learning situations (assistant coach, ODP coach etc.) that will stimulate you to think about soccer for yourself, encourage self reliance, continue the search for simplicity and help understand the fine details (subtleties) of the game.
- You must learn to teach yourself. There is a time for direct teaching from coach educators. But, if you are to be independent and self sufficient then you must learn to teach yourself how to coach.
- You must have experiences that help. Being a former professional player or college player, having a father who was a coach, reading extensively about other coaches, observing the best while they work etc. can all contribute to you as a coach.
- You must be tough. Tough times never last, tough people do. Successful coaches are mentally strong, fully committed, well educated and self reliant. You must invest in yourself if you want to be special, if you want to be a winner.
So, there you have it. That’s all you have to do to be a good (or better) coach. But it’s not easy. There are many soccer coaches in the world. How many good ones? This issue will ask the best what it takes to be the best. You will learn something. Enjoy the issue and happy anniversary Soccer Journal! |
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