Coaching: how can it improve your football team?

Left to their own devices, most players will progress to a degree when learning to play football. They will often become better as an individual with improved ball skills, and better ability to kick. However, if you put them into a team game they may struggle. Like someone learning to drive with an unqualified teacher; there are many opportunities to learn incorrect procedure or bad habits. Coaching gives all aspects of the game the same focus. It helps to build discipline, and it puts the player on the right track for the skills and fitness levels needed for the modern game.

Many young players lack the basic understanding of how important discipline is within the game of football. This relates not only to the game itself, but also in the way they look after themselves, and the way they interact with their team mates. A football coach can enable a player to see the bigger picture tactically, and where they may be inclined to cover the pitch looking for the ball, they may leave holes in defence which other teams can exploit. Coaching also enables an independent assessment of players weaknesses, whether it is kicking, defending or heading. These are areas which a coach can work on to improve the individual's game on a one-to-one basis. The benefit of a coach can quite easily be seen simply by studying the Premiership. Those coaches who are able to relate to their players and get the most out of them are appreciated, and players will often transfer to a particular club because of the coach. A coach should be able to make training enjoyable, but he must always be focussed on allowing a player to develop to the best of his or her ability. The ultimate aim is to create a team which understands the role each has to play, is motivated enough to win games and be able to battle when things are going against them. These types of discipline are rarely found automatically in a player, and usually require coaching.