Let’s face it that like confidence, self-control in coaching high school soccer is an option that players can choose. In soccer coaching, the connection between emotions and thoughts establishes the self-control strategies. We are all aware that our feelings influence our emotions and this consequently boosts our performance.
With a view to help the players in learning the skill and discipline of self-control, there is a 12 step strategy which I shall discuss with you. But make sure that your player’s only take these steps when they are sure of its value to them.
Also, players must be ready to take full accountability for their actions. These are the 12 steps for your information.
1. Awareness: Assist the players in finding out their weaknesses in coaching youth soccer. Let them examine when, where, and why loss of control has occurred previously on field.
2. Understanding: Allow the players to make out the reason that affected their thinking in such a way that they lost their emotional stability.
3. Differences: Let the players recall situations in the past when they did and did not lost control. Let them judge the distinction between their behavior, attitudes, and emotions then.
4. Problem: In coaching high school soccer, try to find out the exact problem. For example: A players may be feeling responsible of letting the entire team down because of his actions.
5. Belief: The players should be taught to raise their expectations for themselves with self-control as one of the traits. Encourage them to change.
6. Reinforcement: Reinforcement encourages a change in behavior. So, as a coach, you must reward improved behavior of players on their way to permanent change.
7. Goals: Set a series of small goals for players that will lead them along the road to change. Guide the players in understanding the correlation between way of thinking, thought process, and actions.
8. Techniques: To maintain the confidence level, employ a set of behavioral practices. For example: Players must know which path to follow in a certain situation.
9. Plan: In football coaching, teach a planned and systematic way of chasing the goals to players.
10. Progress: Tell them to learn the skill of patience. Help the players realize the value of ups and downs in the path to improvement.
11. Setbacks: Let the players understand that setbacks are there to stay. So, the better is to use these to learn new ways to tackle these.
12. Remembrance: Last but not the least, help the players understand that there is a reason behind their attempts to change. They should always bear in mind why they’re doing this. What will their future be like, if they don’t change.
It is well known that a soccer player must act swiftly and yet comfortably to be perfect performer. This simply means use of full energy without stress.
Make no mistake about it. You must include relaxation techniques in coaching high school soccer and train the players on how to control the thought process so that they can keep themselves stress-free.
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Andre Botelho is a recognized authority in youth soccer coaching and has already helped thousands of youth coaches to dramatically improve their coaching skills. Learn how to explode your players’ skills and make training fun by downloading your free ebook at: Soccer Practice Drills.
