subject: Coaching Football Can Bring Tremendous Fulfilment [print this page] Coaching Football Can Bring Tremendous Fulfilment
Football is the most popular participation sport in the world and with so many people keen to play, there is a great need for football coaches.
From youngsters learning their skills and having fun to adults playing up and down the country, football is a game which can be enjoyed no matter what level it is played at, and the role of a good coach is to ensure that everyone has fun but hopefully can improve their skills and appreciation of the game. The style of coaching a youngster requires will be very different from the coaching that should be given to adults, so there is a need for a coach to be relevant and tailor their approach to the aptitude of the players under their tutelage.
One of the most important things a coach will do is lead the team through training sessions, and these should always start with a warm-up. Undergoing a warm-up before playing is the best way to avoid picking up a serious injury and to ensure that players are at their optimum level of performance when it comes to playing. The warm-ups should be focused on the game and different players may benefit from having warm-ups suited to their role. A defender who is expected to win a lot of headers should be encouraged to work on warm-up exercises that will work their calf and lower back muscles, as this will provide a spring in their step when jumping. Pacy wingers should focus on stretching their hamstrings to minimise the risk of these popping when chasing a ball down the touchline.
Tactics and formations are also very important for a coach to understand and pass on to their players. It is important for the formation and tactics to work around the players available, so a good football coach needs to know the strengths and weaknesses of their players. Understanding how the opposition will line up and what their strengths and weaknesses are likely to be are also valuable. Such decisions, which are usually in the hands of the coach, can decide the outcome of a match, so can be vital.
A football coach should always encourage the players to have fun, especially the younger ones, but it is always enjoyable to win, so this has to be considered as well. Using the right tactics and picking the right team can go a long way to ensuring the coach, the team and everyone supporting them enjoys the game.
