Top managers share their coaching advice for grassroots leaders
Thursday, September 26, 2024
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What is the one thing that any coach at any level of football needs to have? We asked some of Europe’s best-known figures to find out.
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Whether you're coaching children at grassroots level or the best of the best in the UEFA Champions League, there are elements that apply across every single level of football.
Here, some of the top leaders in the game share their tips and advice for anyone looking to improve their coaching.
The coaching connection
"The one thing every coach needs to have is that connection with their players," says former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær. "We're human beings. Communication and one-to-one with your players, that's very, very important in today's football."
Forming a strong bond with your players was a common theme among several coaches, including former Germany coach Joachim Löw.
"First of all, having empathy for the player, for the human. You need to understand the person, what they feel, what their emotions are, how their brain works."
Interim England boss and EURO Under-21 champion Lee Carsley agrees and makes a practical suggestion on how to improve your connection with your players.
"Regardless of the tactics and the sessions and everything else, coaches have got to have the ability to listen and ask good questions," he explains. "Players nowadays want to feel like they're involved in their own development. So, the big thing for me, and somewhere I think we can all improve, is to listen a bit more."
On-pitch improvement
If you're a grassroots coach looking for some advice on how to improve your players on the pitch, UEFA Champions League-winning coach Fabio Capello highlights one area for focus.
"With the kids, you have to be their friend and teach, teach, teach," he says."It's most important to try and improve their quality technically – purely technically."
While working to improve your players' technical skills, Löw says that a good understanding of tactics that work for your team will help you build trust with your players while bringing results.
"It's very important to have a way of playing in your mind," he explains. "If your players are sure that you have a strategy, a way of playing, a philosophy that works for your team, they will follow you."
A positive environment
One element that is important across every level of football is the team environment, and that's something that Northern Ireland coach and UEFA technical observer Michael O'Neill picks out in his advice.
"For many younger players, you may be the first coach they ever have. Their engagement, their enjoyment is huge. And their education in the game is always more positive if it's in a friendly environment."
And how do you create such an environment? Jon Dahl Tomasson, current Sweden coach, says it's all about attitude.
"The most important thing for any coach, whether you're at the top level or you're coaching kids, is the desire, the love for the game, the passion to help them improve and to build something."
Find out more about UEFA's work in grassroots football.