While watching a video on YouTube I couldn’t help admire a young kid playing his electric guitar. He has definitely plucked those strings more than once. What followed after the video was a little advertisement selling, you guessed it, how to play guitar. Very clever if you ask me and with over 2 million views at a conversion of 1%, the owner of this video should be earning a fair crust.

Do you know how to play guitar?

I’ve dreamt of being the front man on the axe but never got around to learning. To make matters worse, I can’t even sing and don’t have long hair.

The fascinating thing is this, if I picked up the guitar and got some lessons, I could probably jamm out a few of my favorite songs.

I don’t know how to play guitar because I haven’t attempted to learn. I haven’t read books or sought out an old wrinkled rock star that suffers from memory loss. Books and a rock god would be a great teacher in this case, don’t you think?

What happens when you ask a young player to participate in a soccer drill? If he feels overwhelmed he might blurt out,

“I can’t, I don’t know.”

Can you learn how to play soccer from a book?

This kid doesn’t require a book or a coach; he requires enough courage to overcome his fear of the drill. He requires the coach to encourage him and the peer support of his team.

The youngster doesn’t require instructions or any other technical advice for that matter. He needs to muster up enough courage to become motivated and to give it a crack.

So next time a youngster blurts out,

“I can’t, I don’t know how to.”

Don’t give them instructions, they ‘re not learning the guitar, give them support. Give them confidene, patience and a pat on the shoulder, give them Love Based Soccer.

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

Back in the days, when tactics were simpler and players had limited roles, most coaches were not great thinkers of the game and some had argued that they weren’t required. Coaches in the past were less tacticians and more man-managers, mainly concerned with motivating their team. Through each generation the game has progressed and the importance of the coach has increased significantly. Those who adopted survived and those who couldn’t were found out.

The modern coach must have an analytical mind and be able to dissect play and zero in on the key problem areas. Only then can he win his players respect and help them develop the ability to make decisions on the field.

• The modern coach is tactically astute, innovative and always looking to find that extra edge in training and games.
• The modern coach is well organised, making sure that practices are well planned, with attention to detail and that all players are involved.
• He can converse intelligently with specialists in all sports sciences, from psychology to physiology to nutrition and coaching methodology.

Today, with so much money and prestige at stake, coaches must come to grips with a double edged sword. Given a greater role and ample rewards, they must also carry the burden of greater expectations from fans and team owners. Coaches are now as famous as the players and the successful ones have become a hot commodity. Anyone here heard of Sir Alex Ferguson?

Great coaches never stop learning. An insatiable thirst for knowledge and a natural curiosity are traits associated with the very best. Soccer today is truly a global game. By travelling both domestically and abroad, coaches can discover new ideas and acquire new perspectives. When was the last time you were pushed outside of your comfort levels as a coach?

The skills required by the modern coach (tactically) are

• An understanding of the Principles of Play. He can demonstrate the relationship between the principles of play and team shape.
• An understanding of Coaching Methodology. This simply means the coach knows how to teach.
• An ability to visualise the Ideal performance. This provides the coach with a clear vision and a goal.
• The ability to coach in the game. The ability to read the game and make the required changes.
• and most importantly, Player Management Skills. The ability to deal with players, gain respect, convince them to follow the collective game plan and inspire them to achieve their potential.

The first 2 qualities can generally be taught. Coaches can learn by attending soccer coaching courses and reading books. The 3rd quality comes from immersing oneself in the game and becoming a keen student of the game. The last 2 qualities are not easily taught and in many cases take years of experience to fully develop. It’s a safe bet that coaches who are successful at the highest level over a long period of time, with every team they manage, likely possess all five qualities mentioned above.