The gang consists of me, a young child at the tender age of 37, a 7 year old, 5 year old and a 6 month baby. Due to the lack of mobility of the new born, we huddle around my son who sheepishly looks up thinking, who are these mad people?

“Team Punishment” has been swiped from the UFC reality show where mountains of flesh and muscle compete for a six figure contract into the brutal world of cage fighting.

Understanding the importance of Team Work

The concept of teamwork is extremely important to the success of any team or in this case, family.

Everybody has heard following catch phrases,

TEAM- Together Everybody Achieves More

A champion team will always beat a team of champions.

Any good coach will talk about working as one and for each other. It’s common knowledge that a team of superstars will always lose to a champion team. Perfect examples of this is Real Madrid, Manchester city and to some extent Chelsea FC. All squads are comprised of the best players money can buy but the title always seems to elude them. Teamwork anyone?

10 Tips to Develop a Well Oiled Machine

Does your team have agreed-upon goals and is every player aware of their role/goals?

Do your soccer players openly encourage and support each other even in the face of defeat?

Is communication open between the players and the coaching staff?

Do players respect each other and care for one and other?

Is it every man for himself mentality or do players refer to themselves as “we”?

Is the whole squad committed to improving overall team performance?

Are individual contributions and sacrifices recognized and applauded? This includes players that sit on the bench or miss out on match day.

Has the overall team created a positive image of “one for all and all for one”?

Does each individual know his or her role within the unified team?

Does each player consider himself/herself a “Team Player”?

Teamwork ensures all players share common goals and have the same vision. The best teams in the world evolve by having a shared attitude that bonds them together no matter the score line or problem.

The beauty of teamwork is this, everybody becomes accountable. The combined efforts of a team will always outshine the contributions of an individual. Teamwork is the highest priority and must be monitored constantly.

Players must be dedicated to the team and be willing to act unselfishly. Teamwork allows resources, accountability and commitment to deal with any loose spanners in a constructive and positive manner.

So next time you hear the cries of “Team Punishment” echoing from my household, look out! We are ready and waiting for any loose spanners including the bemused looks of my girlfriend.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

1-Encourage players to have strong minded attitudes which involve a “never say die” attitude and the infamous teeth clench.

2-Structure the players training programmes with realistic, achievable and progressive targets.

3-Recognise the player’s progression/ achievements with positive enthusiasm.

4-Advise and guide players on proper diet and training.

5-Convince players that their successes/victories are due to their own efforts, attitudes, persistence and training, not some random act of luck, chance or some magical wand or product.

6-Utilise appropriate, suitable and well balanced training drills.

7-Look the part and be a role model; always and I mean always display high standards of behaviour and appearance.

8-Concentrate on quality rather than quantity. Correct technique is a must at all times, not negotiable.

9-Treat all players equally and avoid favoritism. Do not spend more time on the “gifted” players.

10-Health and Safety of the players is paramount and sits above everything, including development, performance and winning.

11-Give your players the microphone. Encourage your players to ask questions and give feedback.

12-Accept responsibility for their well being and discourage inappropriate behaviour during training and even match days.

13-Concentrate on player’s posture and body language. Their faces usually give a good indication of how they feel.

14-Give all your players your undivided, equal attention.

For every “must” there are a number of “must not’s”.

Parents beware, coaches must not,

15-Criticise the physique of their players.

16-Give up on their players and lose faith.

17-Never tell your players their too slow or lack technical ability.

18-Encourage bad sportsmanship or to violate the rules of the game.

19-Promote or ignore the use of sport enhancing drugs or any banned substance.

20-Let the team or players think/ assume their success or win was due to luck or poor opposition.

Would love to hear your thoughts. Can you think of any other coaching tips to add to this list? Best 3 answers will win prizes, details will be sent via the newsletter so if you haven’t subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

The apparatus was a 5×5 patch of synthetic grass that puts the finest blade of grass that nature has to offer to shame, 4 cones, 1 soccer ball, 1 enthusiastic youngster that was demanding a kick all day, 1 patient old timer (me), and 2 smiles.

Method

Warm up: two goals and a quick run around to get the blood pumping. The game was played at a ferocious pace with Jack winning 6-2 on aggregate.

Once I got my breath back, we practiced the art of heading. A smaller, lighter ball was used to allow for correct technique.

After a few headers we moved straight into some zigzags which proved a little too difficult for the little guy. After battling through the cones for 3 sets we pulled the pin and opted for some shooting.

Shooting was definitely the highlight which involved an over theatrical goalkeeper trying to save shots from a distance of 2 meters. The theatrics and dives that followed would embarrass even the great Greg Lucanis.

The tension was building and after a long run up the backyard was filled with laughter. A 4 year old giggling hysterically at my attempts to stop the ball would motivate even the most cynical coach.

Such laughter not only inspires but also motivates you to continue the session. The only reward is the sound of laughter and a young child grasping his stomach.

Shooting was short lived when the ball was kicked over the fence and into the neighboring property. The pursuit for the ball began with a walk around the block that involved a piggyback ride and a few missing chunks of hair.

Skills, Development

The short session in the back yard focused on shooting, heading, passing, competition and fun.

Conclusion

Every time I see Jack he demands we play soccer. If it’s not soccer its jumping on the trampoline but that’s another story.

Does Jack really want to play soccer?

Maybe! Maybe not!

Does he want to hold his stomach in hysterics while trying not to piss himself?

What do you think?

The friendship, the laughter and the victories will echo in eternity. If the laughter continues and the jocks remain dry, there is no reason why little Jack couldn’t be the next Harry Kewell.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”

In the last post we discussed “fail and fail often.” The message was to learn from what’s working. In a nutshell, modify and adjust sessions according to what’s working. Forget about learning from your mistakes for one moment.

If you’re a coach and someone greets you with, “how are you?” or “how’s your team?”

How would you answer?

Can’t win a game and the players lack motivation and discipline. Every month I’m losing a player to another club.

Overall the team is okay but Jack can be a handful. He seems to be unsettling the whole team with his wild antics.

The team has won the majority of games but the parents can be intimidating and very abusive at times.

Next time you’re questioned about the team, highlight the positives and concentrate on the stuff that works. The story you tell, told or foresee comes from you, the coach, not from your team.

What story do you tell?

What story have you told?

What story do you foresee?

What story do you tell yourself ABOUT YOURSELF?

Wise grandparents tell stories of the good ol days. Politicians sell their lies. Drug companies sell a cure and marketers sell a product. We even sell our service to our boss for chump change.

What about you? Do you have something to sell as a coach?

Are you coaching Love Based Soccer? Do you have a mantra that reminds you how good you are? Or do you have something that reminds you that you’re a struggling coach and destined for failure.

When you think, plan, schedule or organize a session, what are you selling? Are you feeding your EGO or coaching from the heart?

You’ve learnt through experience that repetition works, that love motivates and that training will inspire. Everybody knows the power of the mind and the effects of being positive. The world is full of stories, amazing stories from players that had a dream and BELIEVED.

Before you implement any changes, before you try and motivate, inspire and develop your players, I challenge you to do the same.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars”

Your potential players are so busy dealing with life that they haven’t got a spare second for you. They have just bought the latest computer game and all the talk at training is about level 5 and trying to save the princess.

What’s your answer to the above?

Like anything in life, soccer is a transaction. The young child donates his time and attention to you. In return, you must train them, teach them and give them an experience/session that’s worthwhile.

When you, the coach, understand this, you start to develop empathy. You know empathy don’t you? Passion, sympathy, love and all the other good stuff. You start to understand your player’s emotions.

You learn to ask yourself with every drill and exercise, is this fun? Interesting? Am I developing these players? Is this challenging?

Am I fighting the status quo?

Love Based Soccer warns you not to fall in love with your own coaching methods just because it’s your own shit method. Never assume your coaching methods are fun or challenging. Ask your players and get the required feedback.

Look at every drill, session or exercise through the eyes of a young, impatient (possibly spoilt) child.

So the question remains, “how do you coach Love Based Soccer?”

10 Steps to Coaching Love Based Soccer

• Gratitude- Thank everybody for his or her attendance. Thank the parents for transporting their children to the session. Thank your players for attending.

• Punctuality- You must always be the first one to training. Parents rely on you while they rush off to some peace and quiet.

• Being prepared is a gift of love. Plan your training sessions in advance and have the drills mapped out in your head ready for action.

• Learn all the players’ names. Identify each player by his or her name and never yell out oi. A child loves to hear their own name, so don’t delay.

• Know who you’re talking to. Research your players, parents and obtain their objectives and goals.

• Respect- Actively respect your team, associated parents and supporters. Should go without saying, but just in case!

• Dress to kill coach. Make sure you look sharp, smart and clean. Coaching kids soccer requires clean boots, tracksuit (brand not important) and a big smile.

• Faith is an important component of Love Based Soccer. Believe that the parents and players are supporting you. Every single parent that watches you and listens to you wants you to be awesome and amazing. They also want a great experience for their children. No one likes to see you fail or bomb out. They really want you to succeed; after all, you’re coaching their kids.

• Energy, never admit to fatigue or anger. The kids always come first, no matter what!

• Always smile and wear your heart on your sleeve. Be approachable and always remember to have fun.

Love Based Soccer ensures when you coach your players, it inspires 2 sentiments. Love and respect for what they may become.

“May the winds of destiny blow you to the stars.”