In all these years working with soccer coaches we have made one thing very clear and we want to get it out of the way for all of you, to be one step further in terms of your training, A coach must understand that he is one more piece of the entire team.. We know that it may sound cliché or absurdly logical, but we do not have to take it for granted and we must always keep it in mind when communicating and interacting with our team.
So let's talk about the relationship we have with our players and how to improve it. In this way we will shed a little light on one of the keys to a successful team: The Union and camaraderie between the players and with the coach.
1. Prioritize our players, empathize with them. To do this, some of our tips are:
- Start the relationship cordially. The first impression matters. If we generate trust the first time with the other person, with good treatment, a positive attitude and being cordial, it will make the position in front of us closer and with more willingness to work together. As coaches we must give importance to this section and ensure that the players identify the fact that the union of pieces within the team has to be essential to achieve the objectives.
- Praise small progress. Being able to generate self-confidence in our players is essential so that they do not become discouraged and can improve their game, since the more confidence that is generated, the more positive thoughts and better attitudes will be produced that will be useful when making decisions on the field of play.
- Take their ideas into account with active listening. Respecting and listening to others helps us recognize their merits and build trust. The coach is not only there to provide immediate answers based on his knowledge and experience, but must also listen to and understand his team and take into account experiences and ideas of his players.
- Call them by name, so that they feel that you remember them. This will help build trust since calling them by name means we know them and will create a closer relationship.
2. Show ourselves cordial and receptive:
- Admit our mistakes quickly and forcefully. Admitting a mistake helps players relax and look at us differently. In the end, we are all human and we can make mistakes.
- Smile. Something as simple as smiling will create a good atmosphere and help motivate the team when training.
- Take an interest in others. If as coaches we show sincere interest in each of our players, whether with small gestures, we will make our players feel better within the group and our leadership position will be strengthened.
- Do not criticize or condemn others. Criticism usually kills a person's ambitions, so criticizing our players usually has a negative effect on them. The same thing happens with constant complaining that creates a bad environment, so it is essential to be responsible and transform that reason for complaint into a possible solution to the problem to enter into a positive dynamic.
3. Strengthen the team feeling:
- Throw small challenges. These will ensure that our team does not stay in its comfort zone or become comfortable. We must launch small challenges both at the team level and as individual challenges to the players. This will help increase their performance and create a greater feeling of team and commitment.
- Listen to your doubts, complaints and suggestions. If we persuade the team that an idea is theirs, they will carry it out with greater enthusiasm than if it is imposed. We must guide the team until the players themselves discover the idea we want to convey and adopt it as if it were their own.
If we apply these little tips, little by little our team will become a family, generating a connection and trust with the coach as one of the team, even if he is the one who leads.
We have more tips on how to strengthen team feeling here
The key is to trust our team and show that they can trust us equally., and we must never forget that we are all part of the same team and that we have to row together. As a coach you have to be a leader who accompanies decision-making and cares about his team, and not a boss who imposes his rules.