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| Arsene Wenger |
“ When we coach we are not just teaching players about the game, we are teaching them about a way of life.” Arsene Wenger
Here are four thoughts about this very interesting quote:
1. Mentality. The mentality of soccer people should be one of optimism and brightness. The massive scope of the sport we are involved with is, in itself, cause for optimism. According to Sepp Blatter, our global sport touches over 2 billion people. ( Players, parents, grandparents, supporters, referees, aunts, uncles, managers, administrators, journalists, etc. etc.) The sheer numbers of people touched by the game we love is awe inspiring.
In addition our sport is an impressive vehicle for reconciliation. I remember being at a European coaching conference and sitting for coffee with a Macedonian, Serbian, Montenegren, Croatian and Albanian, discussing the game and the profession of coaching only a few years after the devastating Balkan civil war which pitted a number of these countries against each other.
In addition, the sport, itself, demands a positive approach. The sport favors those with the ability to rebound, to move forward against the odds. Whilst acknowledging the accomplishments of the past, our sport is all about tomorrow – and even teams with the worst record in the land can still look forward to tomorrow.
A positive mentality also comes from being involved in an activity which encourages fitness, sharpness and cooperation – as noted below.
2. Belonging. When human beings go through any event which is difficult, stressful and requires sacrifice a sense of community develops. People who have never been on a sports team will never really appreciate the glue which binds the members of a sports team together – especially a group which has been successful against significant odds. Members of the group defend each other against criticism, incursions from other groups. They will, often, cover for each other even when the criticism or attack is justified! There is an expectation that team members will protect and guard each other.
3. Personal Fitness. Soccer is a game of energy, strength, endurance, agility and speed. Soccer players tend to be wiry and slim above the waist – albeit it powerful and developed below the waist, especially in the thigh, hamstring and calf areas. Physical fitness and economical movement should be a lifelong characteristic and a way of life for soccer players, current and former.
4. Interdependence. The nature of the sport cuts the umbilical cord to the coach and forces the players to rely on each other. The development of group support is an understood aspect of soccer culture.
METHODS OF COACHING
The following video shows UEFA A License candidate, Greg Ryan, coaching the Michigan club team. The method Greg uses is called "Phase Play". This method of coaching links two units of the team to play together in one half of the field. In basketball we would call it, "attack versus defense."
One of the great features of Phase Play is that the coach can see everything without having to scan the whole field. One of the disadvanteges of phase play is that the defending back four almost never get to the half way line and end up parked outside their own D so it gets a little unrealistic!
Greg is working with his midfield defenders and is correcting a player's speed of approach. Greg shows the player exactly how he wants it done with his demonstration. In coaching a picture is always worth a thousand words.