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Also note--Reyna doesn't say coaches don't give instructions while the players are on the field.



Completely agree, that's why I quoted the relevant section of the article in my last post.

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As for sitting down no matter what, I remember a few years ago I was coaching a club match in Columbia; we were up 3-0, and the opposing coach was taking the approach of sitting down and not having any input into the game despite her team's struggle to hold the line.

Some of my players subbing off the field came over and very pointedly asked me, "Exactly what is she getting paid to do right now?"



You won't find me arguing with absolutes. Joystick vs Complete Silence - no thanks! However, I think far too often players (but especially parents) have unrealistic expectations about what a coach CAN do and should do during the game. Soccer is very different from most other major sports in North America in that the coach has minimal control during games and should be treated as such.

It's also a common obstacle (perhaps human nature) that progress is not assessed on a continuum. Coaches feel pressure to fix things NOW. This, I think, is why it is more likely that you will see coaches that stand, yell instructions, pace a little bit with their hands on their hips, yell a little more, sit down for a moment, get up, yell, pace, yell, etc... even at the highest levels. If player development is your priority, this can't happen.

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If a coach really wants to know what players expect, resent, appreciate, or stress over, I'd say listen to the players--every player, every season, and don't assume all of them have the same ideas about what works and doesn't work for them.



Agreed. I'd also say setting clear expectations for players/parents at the beginning of the season is another huge factor, "You won't see me yelling 24/7, and this is why..."

Last edited by Jack Rozier; 11/26/11 06:58 PM.