My Coaching Philosophy

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My coaching philosophy is all about setting and reflecting the goals and principles I have set for myself and my team. My coaching values and beliefs are seen as birth. Having a coaching philosophy is important to me because I can re-evaluate myself and the team as well as keep track when things have gone wrong. It is important that as a coach I know all my staff and players and get the best out of ALL my players. I want my players to be in a safe environment. It is vital that each player is monitored and observed, making sure I am getting the best out of their abilities, and that they are being supervised e.g. wearing the right equipment, teamwork is being emphasized and there is no discrimination, such as harassment or abuse.

 

To me the most important thing is being a holistic leader to a team who can build their players to be successfully, driven, and confident in their abilities and selves, as well as to feel appreciated and valued (individually). It is also important that they are focused, engaged, are enjoying my sessions and are hungry to learn more. I believe I am not just a coach; I am an educator, guider and counselor to my athletes. I am very passionate about seeing my athletes grow and develop and it is always rewarding and satisfying for me to watch them reach their full potential. Furthermore, encouraging, and guiding my players is important to me because helping them grow to their best ability, giving positive results.

I believe my coaching philosophy relates to the game of football and ideal life. After 16 years of coaching I do believe coaching has provided me with heaps of insight and ideas, which helps me to become creative and develop players. I love what I do, and always try to provide players with situational recommendations, but insist that they make decisions. It is my job to be a mentor, educator, guidance counsellor, and psychologist. The most challenging one for coaches is being a psychologist. This is because each individual player is different in your team. Therefore having different motivational techniques and knowing how to deal with players is important. I have to also be able to analyse player’s results, give positive and negative feedback and try to guide players and assist them in their past experiences. So that in the future they might make the best decisions available to them.

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Moreover, it is important for me that my team works on keeping possession and defending and creating a defensive unit (which allows them to keep the ball). If they succeed in keeping and protecting the ball, they can push on forward and create goal scoring opportunities.  I therefore want my players to be able to keep the ball, especially at the back and not panic. Moreover, it is also important to have effective short and long term goals every season, as well as making sure I keep up to date with current knowledge of skills and effective methods of coaching.

I am a firm believer that hard work and practice pays off. Therefore, because of this I believe every coach and their team deserve to win. As a coach, nothing excites me more than the feeling of seeing a smile on a players face when they perform, do a skill, or score. Watching a player grow and develop is the best feeling ever. Coaching is both inspiring, and satisfying and enjoyable. This is the reason I have chosen this profession. Having a successful team requires a group of individuals driven by a common goal: be the best you can be. Players set their own goals and they establish their own limits. My personal teaching on philosophy of football is that it is based on engaging with players and making it always enjoyable, for any age. Football is now a popular sport for all ages.

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Experience has helped me grow as a coach. The experience has helped me to improve my professional skills. I have also developed my leadership and decision making abilities, and obtained additional job skills that I feel will open the doors to more employment opportunities.

A legend UCLA Basketball coach, Dr. John Robert Wooden had record winning exceptional matches, with seven consecutive wins at a time. During his 40 year career with NCAA Men’s basketball championship, he had a record of 885-203 win-loss. John wooden reflects on a concept, stating that “be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” Therefore it is important for me to continue to learn from other coaches, learn from myself and continually educate myself.

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Novice coaches

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When “philosophy” is mentioned, some coaches get turned off by the word. Some are blind to see how one philosophy can have a huge impact on their daily problems and work. It is a practical matter to have a coaching philosophy. Every coach needs direction and a direct influence on how to see and understand the world around us. What actions should one take, and why we chose to behave the way we do? We follow principles while coaching. If coaches acknowledge philosophy they will know that it directs their everyday life thinking and actions which would be useful to his or her coaching. Every coach knows that young players with less skills and  little or no confidence need special attention. Yet players that normally do are the ones that get more playing time and have the  most praise. That is one thing to think about. Before anyone decides to call themselves a coach, one needs to make sure they have established a coaching philosophy.

If you are a coach you have to be patient. It takes time and effort to achieve such mental strength (which is huge). Every coach has to have determination and motivation. Coaches have to always have direction for their players. Both games and practices should be competitive. You may love football as much as I do, but I believe academics are the most important aspect of your educational life. It is necessary that coaches always set themselves goals (short and long). I believe that if players are taught correctly they will outshine and be the very best they can be.

Coaching is a challenge, working with different individuals. This is because all have different learning  styles. But with this challenge comes success and great rewards. Another quote from John Wooden states: “when the game is over, I want your head up and I know that you did your best… this means to do the best you can do. That’s the best; no one can do more… you made the effort.” An example of challenges one may face is a team is not winning games. You would than need to focus on your philosophy is all about developing a player, winning is not important. It is also not about winning  trophies but enjoying the game, whilst learning and developing soccer skills. It is about learning the game, making it fun. A coach always has to remember the game is for players, it is not for the glory of a coach. Develop an individual player, ensure they are having fun, have skills and playing enjoyable football. When excellence is the goal, everyone is a winner.

Exploring the coaching world, every coach has their different coaching style. It is important  that when coaching you believe in what you say and do. As a coach I have improved on my patience skills, I am able to help build beginners and teach them effectively

Anyone can call them self a football coach, it is easy. But trying to coach is a different story. Creating your own training sessions is simple but trying to apply it and coach it without pulling your hair out is another story. Therefore for one to call themselves a coach, one would have to have a coaching philosophy. This is because one without a philosophy is like driving a car without a license. I believe children participate in football to have fun. If children do not have fun playing football, there is a problem. Every coach’s philosophy is unnecessary headache before and during a season. So you have to be mentally prepared for this. Therefore having a coaching philosophy is very important and takes concentration and time.

Players learn at their own pace so it is important to remember that your coaching philosophy reflects you as a coach and also a person. You have to be able to lead players in the right direction and take on board values and beliefs that you want your player to have. Therefore if a coach achieves this, their team will be winners and champions regardless of their win-loss ratio.

Furthermore, before any football coach develops a coaching philosophy, one needs to know what age, gender and level of athletes they want to work with. Below are some things, I believe are important to consider if coaching in certain age groups:

 

Under 6’s

At this age players have played football before and just want to have fun. It is extremely important that coaches are patient because it is an individual’s first time playing and being in a team setting. A coach’s job at this age group is to introduce players the simple and basic fundamentals of football.

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​Under 9s

At this age players start focusing on developing their skills and master the basics of the sport. They desire to make new friends and have fun. They begin to notice their teammate’s skills and abilities. They are eager to earn praise and desire to compete and score. Playing in a league can start here too.

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​Under 12s

At this age players have some experience playing football. They start to become more competitive, take on challenges showing their skills and trying to outdo other players. They also desire feedback from both their coaches and their parents.

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​Under 14s

At this age they have already developed the basic skills needed to play and just want to continually improve. This age group is also seen as the: challenging world of a teenager, where they are finding their own identity and somewhat have attitude problems towards the coach. ​

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15 and above

At this age players have developed a real passion for the sport and learn to gain respect. Players also join football camps, continue to play in football teams and play in high competitive leagues and competitions. Some even start their careers and play professionally or just as a hobby. Coaches also start to focus on formations, developing the defence, creating goal scoring opportunities, regaining possession and finishing set pieces.

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I believe when coach’s work with children, every coach needs to keep the focus on having FUN. My philosophy of coaching is that players, especially children play football because it is enjoyable and exciting. At the end of a season knowing you have done a good job as a coach, you want players to come back. Kids want to come back to a coach that has a positive attitude, encouragement and praise. Kids also like exciting sessions, not boring ones. Therefore a philosophy for this would be: practice games, not drills. Players don’t like coaches talking too much, therefore: let the game do the talking and let them learn for themselves. In terms of coaching methods it is not about how many goals scored or conceded or how many wins or losses, it is about enjoyment for the game: learning and developing football and life skills. A coach has to always have ideas, and be able to be flexible to adjust to every situation efficiently. Coaches also need originality, where one can become creative. A football coach’s role is to be a good trainer of technical skills and have tactical formations. Having a player’s first attitude mentality is essential.

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Additionally, one of the bestselling books by Stephen Cover “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” provides readers with the fundamental and basics ways to be successful. In order to get where we want to go, we need to know where we are heading in a chart based pathway. Therefore every coach needs to always evaluate at the end of a season and question if they are including the four characteristics of coaching: tactical, technical, fitness/nutrition and psychological/ social factors. Every coach has to set overall goals, it is vital. One important one is: what is your goal for a season? How we achieve our goals is all part of the philosophy. Coaches need to be to decide both personal and football development : what individual characteristics do you want to see developed in your players, what do you want your players to achieve by the end of the season, and what creates sporting behaviour?

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​As mentioned before, every style of coaching is different. Therefore a coach has to be able to deliver a session correctly. The important things to consider are: your style does it fit your personality, do you have a free form or desire to discipline, and are you development or result positioned type. Also reflection on your weakness (needing a assistant), being prepared for each session (planning, conducting and evaluating both training and match session). Do you expect more from your players more than yourself? What can they expect from you? As every coach knows, communication is very important. Therefore every coach needs to evaluate how they communicate. Are you motivating players for the right age or gender? Do you give brief or detailed messages? Another thing coaches know is discipline, every coach needs this (being on time and early before taking a session). Team rules, and penalties for them being broken, what is the acceptable reasons for missing practice or games. If coaching a young age (what conduct are you expecting from your parents)? Every coach has to be constantly enforcing the rules in matches and of the team. Coaches need to be able to address and confront issues of: tardiness, attitude and absences of training. Every coach needs to know if their individual philosophy ethical? Is their safety for primary and what I’m doing safe? Is my philosophy age appropriate and does it support my ability to achieve my main objectives?

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Moreover, proper football equipment is all about coaching the right drills for the right age group. For you do not want to teach an under 6’s team a complicated drill on how to do a bicycle kick. Coaching is about learning in all different positions, so that players grow and learn all the skills which are required and needed to be developed in the game. One thing coaches have to remember when coaching youngsters it is not about where you are in table, how many goals scored or conceded. But players enjoying and learning, receiving equal playing time, so that they are given equal opportunity to learn. It is shown that some of child abuse is mainly on the field. Therefore coaches have to remember when coaching a young age group that they do not get too angry, shout critically. They have to develop personal relationships with the child and their parents. As coaches you will face children that have never played football in their lives. Therefore as coach’s patience is a vital. How will children learn and improve if we do not allow them to make mistakes.

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​When looking at all ages, even adults, a coach has to remember: winning equals good coaching and losing equals poor coaching. However if you are working with a losing team, a coach needs to think long term. Coaches will always be role models and teachers.  One thing to always take on board, to be a great football coach you have to always remember helping your players achieve their dreams and goals. It is essential that a coaching philosophy motivates and underlies every action a coach takes on and off the field. We as coaches have to develop self-awareness. Children are great imitators, therefore shaping them into your own image, is what you have to watch out for.  Being honest with your players, at any age is always the key. Every coach has to remember at every game to keep their head up. Knowing you tried your best means you did the best you can do. You made that effort and that is the best. No one can do more. There are many football coaches in the world today where their focus is on coaching a certain age instead of younger players.  They feel they are above that age. One thing to remember is that different coaches are better with different age groups. No coach is too good to coach a youth team. Young football players are foundations of the future.

​For many years I have coached players from the ages of 3-18 year olds. I have also developed my knowledge and experience in coaching adult teams too. In order for me to develop I have to continue to become a practical coach on philosophy, as there are two main responsibilities: become a student always, and learn from other coaches by observation, (as perceiving is also the way to success).

Overall I believe an essential role of a coach is to make sure to always prioritize and outline objectives.

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Natasha Ademakinwa