[{"slug":"everyone-loves-an-underdog","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2F6i8dka77acgszoj408l64ikyjnwtpok2blep8ydlf.png?alt=media&token=d5f76cd9-2fcf-4440-80c6-9663b3ab9667"},"title":"Everyone Loves an Underdog","content":"

Here are our top ways to succeed as an underdog!

Team Spirit

A lot of success comes down to team spirit and teamwork, with every player playing for the team and each other, rather than for their own individual benefit. It's important that your team has a similar kind of team spirit and that you are all working towards the same goal together; if players choose to focus on individual accolades, your team may not work together as well. By showing excellent teamwork and spirit, you can come together and defeat formidable advisories.

Work hard

Working hard goes hand in hand with having a good team spirit. Players who work tirelessly on the field, running their tails off for your team to succeed is infectious and you must expect the same from all your players. Make sure that they put in the effort in training, giving 100% so that you reap the rewards on the whe it matters most. Implement the style that you want in practice, get your players used to this way of play and this will pay off in a game situation!

Don't stop believing

Never give up! If your players think negatively when losing in a game, then you're most likely to not be able to persevere, so it's important that your players have plenty of belief! Encourage them to never give up (even when it may seem victory is out of reach) and keep working towards your goal - anything can happen in sport!

Lead by example

Mentor your players, you could unearth some real gems in your team. By practicing and coaching your players well, you get your players up to a high standard. Get to work with your team using these tips and don't be surprised when you next play the 'big team' that your team thrives as the underdog!

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["underdog","motivation"]},{"slug":"players-watching-tv-can-be-a-great-coaching-tool","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fdp757m2dxktorwba3qcvnbgmheqpa0gqglklleycq.jpeg?alt=media&token=f9098712-751d-4add-bf64-135c2acc70b7"},"title":"Players Watching TV Can be a Great Coaching Tool","content":"

In an age where 24-hour live sport is almost a guarantee, a moment rarely passes where your players can't be learning and developing. The accessibility of the internet and television for today's kidss is consistently scrutinized; however by embracing them, it's easy to recognise the opportunities they present as a tool for us coaches.

Video analysis is not a new concept - in top level sport, video sessions are almost as regular as physical training sessions and are afforded a lot of time and effort. Videos are used to understand areas to exploit in upcoming opposition, to recognise aspects of play to improve and to take ownership over performances. As a result, a player's development should involve establishing the skills to be able to watch performances back to understand trends in play, strengths and weaknesses etc.

However, since most young players and grassroots coaches do not have the resources to be able to film games and/or access footage on other teams, a players analytical development is often easily overlooked. This is where the abundance of live sport and highlights packages on TV and the internet declare themselves as valuable resources.

It's easy to assume that 'viewing' sport requires little to no skill and you'd be right. However to analyze the game by properly 'watching' requires a set of skills that must be learnt.

As a coach, setting some small but enjoyable homework tasks to watch games on the TV and to analyze them is a great way to teach players how to 'study' the game - depending on players age and ability, tasks can be adjusted accordingly. Once equipped with the analytic skills to scrutinize matches, their sporting brains become capable of appreciating the influence on their own performance.

The Long-Term Athlete Development programme (LTAD) by I. Balyi, R. Way & C. Higgs (2013) outlines the curve of development for young athletes, focussing on their physical attributes. Discover how these skills we have outlined fit into the LTAD with a focus on your players analytical development.

Learn to Watch

Between the ages of 8-12, the LTAD suggests children are ready to begin developing foundational skills - this is no different for analytical skills.

At this age, children like to \"admire and imitate older people and share their thoughts and reactions in co-operative environments\" (L. Seth, 2019). They recognise outcomes but perhaps don't fully appreciate why or how they came about.

The case is the same for team and individual sports - young players will copy their favorite players so get them to watch a game or some highlights and get them thinking about why. Ask them:

What was your favorite goal and why?
Pick the best shot of the match in their opinion and explain why?
What player would you most like on your team and for what reason?

Watch to Train

From 12-17, people become 'physiologically responsive to stimuli and training' and start to be responsive towards 'sports specific skills and tactics' (I. Balyi, R. Way & C. Higgs, 2013).

This is an important period for developing analytical skills to start improving problem-solving capabilities. Players at this age can start to scrutinize performances tactically as well as technically.

Get players to watch a match and ask them:

Focus on three players from different positions and outline what attributes make them best suited to their role?
In an individual sport, identify the main characteristics of an elite player and compare them against an amateur player. What makes them different?
Can you identify the tactics each team has adopted? e.g. Is one playing a deeper, counter-attacking style and what benefit do they get from it?

Watch to Compete/Win

At 17+ years, the focus should be on 'optimizing the engine and teaching participants how to compete' (I. Balyi, R. Way & C. Higgs, 2013) and the same approach must be taken with the use of video footage.

Players should now have the skills to recognise technical points and identify tactical styles but as a progression, must now recognise how they can use it to influence their own performance.

Watching a game on television, players should start to think about if they were in the situation, how they would need to perform to exploit the opposition and compete. Ask them:

After identifying how the one team/player (in individual sports) is playing, highlight their strengths and weaknesses and consider what tactical approach you'd take to exploit/nullify them?
Focus on one player who plays in the same position as you. Watch how they play and what they do to help the team's tactics. Begin to use visualization to put yourself in that position and learn from the way they play to develop your own understanding.

Video in sport has a progressively influential role on elite teams preparation, yet is still somewhat neglected at lower levels. With the volume and accessibility of live sport and online highlights however, the opportunities for grassroots coaches is there to take.

Children need to see analytical skills being fed into their development process to prepare them for what is now a fundamental part of elite sport.

So next time there is a big game coming up, get your players thinking a bit deeper when they settle down to enjoy the match - you never know where it could lead them.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["game-film","watching-film","tv","television"]},{"slug":"playing-through-injury","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2F4odod9wipkuiprqffbpur36lp49b4prr1jwhez5x.jpeg?alt=media&token=b368dae1-a9ff-4617-92ed-9bf2ce109ad3"},"title":"Playing Through Injury ","content":"

Professional soccer players are often accused of setting a bad example for children with their theatrical diving and writhing on the field in supposed agony when they've barely been touched.

But perhaps more dangerous than faking a foul is playing on when genuinely injured - and it seems the macho attitude of some professional athletes are also having a bad influence on young people.

According to a recent study by a personal injury law firm, 56% of children would play on after receiving an injury on the field, while 45% worried that they would be branded a 'wimp' if they went off because of an injury. And of the 1,000 11 to 16-year-olds questioned, more than half (54%) said they 'admired' professionals for being 'tough' for carrying on despite injury.

56% of children would play on after receiving an injury on the field

45%worried that they would be branded a 'wimp' if they went off because of an injury

54% of 11 to 16 year olds said they 'admired' professionals for being 'tough' for carrying on despite injuryprevnext

As coach your main priority should always be the health and wellbeing of your players. So as much as we all love to hear of players continuing to play on through the pain, this attitude is not something you should encourage with your players. Allowing players to continue to play on when injured can lead to further injury and prolong the recovery period - meaning a player could be out of action for weeks or months, for the sake of an extra 15 minutes on field.

Keep and eye out for this developing trend and keep your players safe.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9","MbSl5IVBTG7v8ghSQ5q0"],"tags":["injury","trainer"]},{"slug":"3-tips-to-avoid-burnout","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fxadpq0dka68d5u87eh2irbsciyi8llya4vxb5jdqj.png?alt=media&token=b558ba89-df99-4828-9c08-ce7e90578c7d"},"title":"3 tips to Avoid Burnout","content":"

The true goal of any coach is to bring out the best in players and to help them reach their true potential. Playing sport can be a tough environment, with a lot of ups and downs. Players face stressors from internal and external competition, time conflicts, social anxiety and tough losses. Across multiple seasons the mental dedication and physical hard work required to cope with these challenges and keep bouncing back can sometimes cause 'player burnout' before an individual has reached their sporting potential.

What Is Player Burnout?

Burnout is the physical or emotional exhaustion caused by long-term stress. An instinctive method of dealing with stress is avoidance and this is one of the reasons why statistically there is a gradual decline in sport participation as we get older. As well as participation, player burnout also includes players that continue to participate, but not put in the same effort as they are capable of. So what are our top tips for you to avoid player burnout and help get players reaching their potential...

A Few Tips To Avoid Player Burnout?

People stay involved in things that bring them pleasure. Winning in and of itself does not always bring happiness. Players who are “enjoying the ride” while working to achieve goals are much more likely to have staying power. There are three basic human needs that contribute to a popular psychological theory of 'Self Determination'. I want to focus on how you can apply these three needs to your role as the coach, in order to increase motivation in your team and avoid burnout. These are:

Belonging

Autonomy

Confidence

Belonging

A sports club should be much more than somewhere that players turn up, play and then go home. You should try and make your team feel like a community, where players look out for and want the best for each other. One tip is to talk often to your team about the importance of teamwork, then give all of your players a specific role and explain to them how their role is important to the team as a whole. Also, make sure there is plenty in the teams calendar apart from training and fixtures, more social engagement within your team will mean your players will feel a sense of belonging. As well as increasing team cohesion and giving them something to look forward to!

Autonomy

Give every individual the confidence to make informed decisions on their own. You need your team to be wholeheartedly behind what they are doing, this means giving them a choice, whether this is what they do at training or your tactics. For example, give your players options at training:

\"After the warm up, do you want to work on movement off the ball or defensive structure?\" \"Do you want to do fitness at the start or at the end of your session?\"

This needs to be balanced with what you know is best for the team's performance but sometimes you will have to compromise as a coach. Keep training fun by having a different plan each time - too many similarities between practices will lead to players getting bored and losing motivation.

Confidence

This is when people feel that they have the skills needed for success. One way to make sure your players have this feeling is to set lots of achievable short term goals. It is good to have an ambitious long term goal but by having lots of smaller checkpoint goals you are constantly giving your players a sense of achievement.

At practices when you are working on a skill, make sure the drill or game is simple enough at first so that all the players get a sense of mastery first, then progress the drill to make it more challenging.

Give your players lots of positive feedback in the form of praise when they do something well. When they make mistakes, it is best to point out how they can be better next time, rather than just saying it was wrong and causing them to dwell on a mistake.

As a coach, we want to get the best performance out of our players and team. But whether it is with young children or high performing adults, it is important to remember that sport is a tough environment already! So by putting a bit more emphasis on how individuals feel, performance and longevity in Sport can be massively improved too!

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["burn-out","player-motivation","motivation"]},{"slug":"5-things-new-coaches-need-to-do","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Frsmjab1rxzi21fs24l3kxi22uteju0gqdqztnceervg.png?alt=media&token=bf7faf9c-d144-4279-9033-1e4b087d4366"},"title":"5 Things New Coaches Need to do","content":"

Coaching is an enormously rewarding experience and is a great opportunity for you to pass on your knowledge and assist in the development of young people but being a new coach can seem daunting at times. You are going to have a lot on your plate. Aside from coming up with new ideas and planning practices, there are plenty of other things which your new role as a coach entails. Here are the top 5 things all new coaches need to know...

Bond with everyone

Coaching, first and foremost, is about creating relationships with people. The backbone of being a successful coach is how you interact with your players. Whether it's taking the time to get to know each individual or simply using a nickname for them, developing a rapport will give everybody a sense of worth.

A situation where people feel relaxed around each other will make for a healthy learning environment and will make dealing with tough situations much easier.

Know their motivation

Understanding why your players play the sport and what they're looking to achieve is vital in recognizing what kind of culture to create and how you approach it. Your methods and your manner must shift depending on what they want from the sport; children's motivations will differ from elite, top level athletes and everyone else in between. Create a culture, tailored to the group's incentives and remember every team will vary,

Show your love of the game

Being a coach is about giving people the platform to express themselves. Players come to your practices because they love the game, yet during more mundane practices, there will be tension towards you as a coach; but don't fear disputes. Make your players recognise the value in all the practices and use conflict to motivate your players to fuel their passion. Give players the opportunity to an activity and don't quash their enthusiasm with negativity.

Be flexible

Regardless of how healthy your environment is, how strong your rapport is with players and how much they love the game, the unexpected will always spring up. We know how much work goes into preparing your practices, but make sure you're ready to change if something is not right, or some equipment is broken.

Having a contingency plan for when the unexpected does come up, you can adapt calmly and solve the problem effectively.

Be a constant for your players

As a coach, everyone looks towards you in all situations; being level-headed in success, defeat and everything between is vital. When praising, be sure to praise the effort; this will make players recognise how effort will improve development rather than it coming without the work. Dealing with defeat is all about maintaining harmony within your team and keeping motivation levels high. At times, this will mean having to take some blame yourself in a dignified way.

By remaining composed regardless of the situation, you become a role model for the team to follow. Having a role model as a leader, players will enjoy learning from you and apply themselves to develop as effectively as possible.

As a new coach will soon discover, the role is not just about inspiration and planning, actually there are numerous aspects aside from the technical stuff that you need to know.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["new-coach","coaching-tips"]},{"slug":"how-perceptions-are-changing-about-women-coaches","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fgz65j1hspbjt7yzcw069ujbdsbksrr8h7ev7f5ewphj.png?alt=media&token=2d44ab17-c4cf-4f96-b218-a3989e30c460"},"title":"How Perceptions Are Changing About Women Coaches","content":"

There has been a perception of females coaching in male sport, that some may find it 'strange' and may even draw sexist remarks. but times are changing and it's becoming more frequent to see a female take a coaching position in what had been a predominantly men’s role. Educating others to help end the perception of females not being a good fit for coaching is pivotal to advancing our sports and promoting gender equality.

Professionally females are beginning to coach males more; retired basketball player Becky Hammon is the first assistant full-time coach in the NBA, and Grand-Slam winner Amelie Mauresmo currently coaches British Tennis player Andy Murray. Murray defended his appointment of Mauresmo, stating that \"women can be very good coaches\" and that he saw no reason why there shouldn't be more women coaches.

With 2 million fewer women taking part in physical activity compared to men, there is already a smaller base for coaches to develop from. Attitudes and perception must change to help ensure that female coaches are the norm, and look for other ways to encourage females in coaching. Women coaches have been a taboo in Sport, and somewhat unheard of, but not anymore - because females are coaching in male sports, some even professionally. So ladies, if you have an opportunity to coach and take part in the sport you love best, then go for it. We applaud you.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"communicating-effectively-as-a-coach","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fdqv1o83indl9scisg3zuek7l6xupaijg5make8uc04.png?alt=media&token=4bd16af9-3763-4726-ad60-dfd921afadf9"},"title":"Communicating Effectively As a Coach","content":"

A common misconception is that the coach's most important job is to decide upon the tactical approach which best equips the team/player to win the game. Infact, the most prominent influence is arguably how effective the coach is in communicating the approach. Sport is built upon creating relationships and managing them, their quality is determined by how individuals communicate with one another.

To communicate effectively, a coach must initially recognise what makes the athletes tick and understand their incentives. Once these are grasped, one must adapt the way they communicate to:

initially give instructions effectively;
to ensure athletes are comfortable within the team environment;
and finally to keep them motivated.

Recognizing communication as just the words a coach speaks is dangerous. Effective communication is broken down into three parts: 7% spoken word, 38% tone of voice and 55% body language.

The spoken word that two coaches deliver can be exactly the same. However with such a small percentage actually amounting to the overall communication, the message can vary dramatically from one coach to another depending on their body language and tone of voice. A message delivered loudly and with aggressive body language, opposed to one conveyed in a gentler, more accommodating manner creates a stark contrast in how the message is perceived by the athletes. The player-coach relationship and perception of the message determines potential changes in relationship with the coach and the overall reaction from the player.

How should you be communicating to get the best from your athletes?

Limit your points

Athletes need to have confidence in what you are telling them. Therefore, limit your communication to three digestible points that firstly you understand and that the athletes can grasp (use coaching tools to improve clarity). Through understanding, athletes will recognise their role and will trust in the communication from the coach.

Know your players personalities

Recognizing how different athletes react to different cues should influence the way you communicate with each individual - some need an arm around their shoulder, some need tough love. By building a relationship and getting to know what makes your athletes click will give you the best idea of how to communicate with them to maintain the relationship.

Realize everyone makes mistakes

Mistakes are inevitable, how you communicate when they happen is vital. With over 50% of communication body language, the slightest negative feedback can impede the athletes performance, particularly when working with younger athletes. Focus on delivering the most appropriate communication cues to suit the individual's personality when mistakes are made, even if it means hiding your private feelings.

Listen to your players

Appreciating that communication is a two-way process builds trust between you and the athletes. The healthy relationship and freedom to give their own input creates an environment which encourages leaders to grow within the team and elicits a mutual trust.

Don't over coach

Over communicating can stifle the athletes creativity and ability to think for themselves in the field of play; during games, athletes must be problem solvers. By over-coaching, you risk being perceived as not trusting them to find solutions for themselves - ultimately this will impede the relationship and team performance.

Communication is the backbone of how a team interacts and functions. The way you communicate with your athletes constructs relationships which influence how a message is perceived and ultimately how the team performs.

Make sure you get your communication right - the message can be the same but the outcome can be totally different if you get it wrong!

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["communication","leadership"]},{"slug":"yelling-at-your-players","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fvn3u73fkylls5zyjw8n8ovu3cwzvlgwxqxze5icvj.png?alt=media&token=f0635e55-3c80-4eb8-8952-87840d5634dd"},"title":"Yelling at Your Players","content":"

Some think we should never yell at the players and some seem do not seem to know another way to communicate. Think of the concept of an “old-school” coach. You probably got the image of the high socks, pulled up gym shorts and an old guy getting in a players face screaming trying to “motivate” them to perform. Many of you are probably seeing a specific face in your thoughts, too.

The idea of coaches yelling at their teams is ingrained into our image of being involved in athletics. However, there are some parameters that all coaches should consider if they choose to communicating with their players this way. When done incorrectly, it can create a real disconnect between player and coach, and the team’s chance for success and the athletes’ chances at having a great experience can suffer. However, when it is done with the right intent and in the right way, yelling can be a part of the team experience that actually leads to some moments of inspiration, motivation, and success.

Some of the keys to consider when deciding to do it are the audience, the timing, the purpose & intent for your yelling, what you yell, and how you yell.

Purpose & Intent

Why are you yelling? What is your purpose in choosing this form of communication? Is it the best method to elicit whatever it is you want as an outcome from your team? Are you yelling because you believe that this will benefit your team or this player with some motivation to perform, or are you yelling to benefit yourself because it makes you feel better to “get it off your chest”? In other words what is your intent when it comes to yelling at your team?

If you truly believe that it is an appropriate way to communicate to your audience, the timing is good, and your purpose is genuinely intended to help bring out the best (or stop the worst) in your team, then by all means yell. But always keep in mind that you can’t “rewind the tape” and take it back. If you are yelling with the sole purpose of venting as your emotions are getting the best of you, you need to re-consider this method of communicating at this time.

Audience

The fact is that with a large group on a large field it is hard to be heard with raising your voice. Are there moments when you need to yell, no matter who the audience is? Sure. If you need to get a large group’s attention that isn’t paying attention to you, and they are somewhat spread out in a gym or on a field, yelling at them (or more likely to them) is an acceptable method to get their attention.

With the being said if you are talking to an audience of 1-3 and just getting in your face you may just sound like a ineffective jerk.

Timing

Along with the audience, another critical thing to consider is when to yell. Have they just gone through a very frustrating time in a game where they lost a lead or lost a big game? Have they had an extremely difficult, physical or mentally draining practice? Are they being lazy? Are they not paying attention? Are they being poor teammates to one another? Are they getting in trouble in school? Did the team suffer a tragedy recently?

You need to consider each of these questions and hundreds more like them before you choose to yell at your team or individual players. In other words, what is the team going through at this particular time? Is yelling at them an appropriate response to bring out the best in them, or could it have the opposite effect and basically crush their spirit? Understand their psyche at this particular time and choose your words and methods for conveying those words wisely.

Along with this, consider how much you yell. The greatest chance for success for a coach who yells is if s/he only does it occasionally. Too many coaches make yelling at teams such a common part of their approach that the team tunes them out when they start yelling. This is not good, for there may be a very important message in the words, but because they have learned to tune the coach out when s/he yells, the team never picks up the message.

For the greatest impact to occur, it is better to pick and choose your moments when to raise your voice and yell than to deliver a steady diet of it to your teams. That way, when you do yell, your teams will subconsciously think, “Uh-oh. This must be really important because we never hear coach yell at us like this.” Again, moderation is a good guide when it comes to the amount of yelling you do.

What You Yell

When most people think of a coach yelling, their first thought is that the coach is mad and that s/he is scolding the players. However, there are lot of things that coaches yell at players that have nothing to do with being upset at them. Sometimes, it is based on the arena in which they compete. To communicate across a large field or in a loud gym requires coaches to raise their voices, so they yell. At other times, they are merely yelling instructions or words of encouragement. Of course, there will be times when coaches are upset and they will yell. When doing so, though, they must choose their words wisely so as not to hurt, belittle, demean, or embarrass their players.

How You Yell

You must also consider your body language, facial expression, and tone like when you raise your voice. Are these non-verbals expressing what you want expressed? You must consider how you yell what you yell. In fact, you should consider this dynamic even when you are not yelling. How one says what one says speaks volumes to the audience to whom one is speaking. Choosing your words carefully is important; choosing how you communicate those words can be monumental.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["yelling"]},{"slug":"starting-the-season-off-strong","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fxhiz2fnar71rjmrzh8cn4g6wmzx7h9j07nuj0hnv.png?alt=media&token=c40d9849-dbaa-40c9-a4b3-f3cba985220a"},"title":"Starting the Season Off Strong","content":"

It is always great to start the season off with a bang by getting some early wins! Although getting a poor result isn't the end of the world, a good result will boost your team's confidence and morale, ahead of the rest of the season. Here are our top tips on how you can start the season on a high!

Be prepared

Make sure that your players are fully prepared and raring to go! A full and productive pre-season under their belts should have them fit and sharp ahead of your first game, ensuring that are fully focused and know the task in hand. We know that having a small squad and a lack of numbers can work against you but be aware of any potential injury worries and look to replace them sufficiently. Give yourself the best chance of winning!

Have a gameplan

Do your homework on your opposition and have a game plan, ready to execute on gameday. It's important that all of your players know their roles and responsibilities on the field, so use time in practice before to go through the game plan, making sure everyone is clear on what is expected from them, but be ready with a plan B for when plan A fails! If things aren't going your way, change the plan and adapt to how the game is going. Winners find answers!

Keep positive

Even at the start of the season, it's important to keep morale up and stay positive, even if you haven't got off to the start they wanted. No-one likes to lose but it's only the start of the season - there is plenty of time to change your fortunes! Look through what went wrong with your players in your practices, whilst moving on from the last game, and staying focused on the next task in hand. Stay positive, there's a long way to go yet!

Enjoy the ride!

This could be a successful season for you and your players, so if you're in the hunt for hardware, enjoy it! Challenging wins is an exciting time and one your players you should relish being a part of; trophies don't come around often! Create a positive atmosphere within the camp, as any negative attitudes could hinder your side's chances of success going forward.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["preseason","preperation","new-season"]},{"slug":"avoiding-injury-and-recovering-effectively","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2F4st1n5p3mi4aee25oa5nk2iydc1eif95wqa0ozjj.png?alt=media&token=a0b4e32e-5ce2-4e26-b192-d4c318c8a981"},"title":"Avoiding Injury and Recovering Effectively","content":"

After taking part in strenuous exercise, it is essential to take the right steps to ensure the best recovery. Your body needs to recover in the correct way, so you will be ready for your next practice. It's also important to recover properly so you can prevent injury, and reduce the risk of being out of your sport for a while!

One method that professional sportsmen and women frequently use is to have an ice bath. Now we know this may seem horrible but according to limited scientific research it aids recovery by removing waste products from your muscles, such as lactic acid. It can reduce muscle soreness such as DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) and therefore prevents injury. An easy way to get the same results is to have a post-exercise shower and alternate two minutes of hot water with 30 seconds of cold water, repeating this process four times. Use moderate temperatures for a minute in between, before you brave the cold again!

Here are our best tips for the road to recovery, so that you are feeling refreshed after your game!

Stretch: It's hugely important after exercise to cool down efficiently, so you can again reduce the risk of muscle soreness and injury. Not only is it a simple and fast way to help you recover, but also can greatly improve your posture and movement.
Rest: Did you know hours slept before twelve at night are proven to be more effective than those slept after? Sleeping seven to ten hours every night when training helps aid muscle recovery, allowing your body to repair and recover at a natural pace.
Eat well: Now we know how tempting it is to get a lot of chocolate after a hard workout, but you must eat well to replenish your energy and help recover quicker! Eating protein after exercise helps recovery and growth and needs to ideally be eaten 30 minutes after exercise - if you don't eat properly and aren't fuelling your muscles after damaging them, then these will start to break down and put you at a higher risk of injury. Also eat carbohydrates after exercise as this is key to replenish your glycogen stores, the chemical form of carbohydrates in your muscles, to store energy for future exercise.
Avoid overtraining: Make sure you have plenty of rest days in your workout program, so you don't overtrain and run the risk of injury. Listen to your body - if you're feeling sore and tired the day after a big workout then don't train - it'll limit what you gain out of exercise!

","categoriesRef":["8SXQqpXwZKRLpHr1W4x7","Rbw4WTsoLu5258fYi4ja","MbSl5IVBTG7v8ghSQ5q0"],"tags":["stretching","recovery"]},{"slug":"how-to-keep-teens-in-sports","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fi80e6rzyfqjj42nquzkevkmq2zmtdwyhfnbang9mfk.jpeg?alt=media&token=814ef257-7ab2-4bdb-8c65-96fba2f66072"},"title":"How to Keep Teens in Sports","content":"

70% of kids in the United States stop playing sport at the age of 13. Most of these kids will give up sports to pursue other interests or simply because they find that sport isn't 'fun' any longer. When you look into the reasons behind this alarmingly-high percentage you have to ask how we, as coaches and parents, can help prevent this statistic from rising even higher.

As kids approach the teen years, other things will begin to take their interest and leave them less willing to commit their time to playing sports.

Furthermore, social media and smartphones play a massive part of a teenager's social life, as well as wanting to socialize more with friends. Although you can argue to them that playing with a team can be hugely beneficial in a physical, social, and psychological way, they still may change the way they wish to spend their time, with potentially an increased use of electronic devices.

There is often enormous pressure on kids to be successful; every parent wants their children to succeed. However if too much pressure is on a kid to be the best in sports, it'll make it hard for them to play just purely for the fun of it. When playing in a competitive environment, there is more pressure to do well, therefore limiting opportunities to play for fun.

How can we help teenagers stay in sports?

As coaches, relieve the pressure on your young players and talk to them; communication is key to helping you and your players understand what they want from sport and you can give them support on what to do. If they have ambitions of playing at a higher level of sport, then encourage them and give them a helping hand to achieve their dream.

However if they simply want to have fun, then don't pressurize them and make them feel that if they're not succeeding, they're failing. At a youth level of sport, it's often not always about winning, it's all about enjoyment!

Don't become a pushy parent! Behave on the sideline; by all means, give constructive feedback and encouragement, but verbally abusing those on the

field will only negatively affect your kid’s attitude toward the game. Shouting negative abuse from the sideline, your child will most likely get embarrassed and not enjoy the game as much, particularly if this becomes a regular feature when attending their games. Don't push them into playing a particular sport that you want them to play, let them choose themselves and then give them the support they need.

Make sure that they're having fun! This is particularly important if you're a coach so to keep your players committed, create fun practices and watch your players leave with smiles on their faces. Not only will it benefit players and make them want to continue playing, but your team's spirit and cohesion will improve, if your players are happy.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"dealing-with-mistakes","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fla09y1ha8xfsnxqk1pmd333mpm5b8s41yn3xd6y.png?alt=media&token=31fe3f8d-4c12-4047-9108-b4cefc58bcb7"},"title":"Dealing with Mistakes","content":"

Why do we make mistakes?

Errors are a part of every sport. No matter how much practice and coaching you get, they still creep in - but why? To deal with them is firstly to understand why.

Have a game plan

Recently, a coach said to me that in every situation, a player needs a plan A and B - when plan A doesn't work, resort to plan B. When you have a plan of what to do and an image of the situation around you, the chances of success increase dramatically. Regardless of which sport you play, without an idea of what you want to execute and how, you're much more likely to fail. Mistakes will creep in with indecision and confusion.

Situational learning

In sport, the brain is constantly making calculations and processing information to make the body react. The brain has to learn how to digest the cues, therefore when faced with new ones, reacting to them comes from calling upon previous similar actions which may not exactly suit the specific situation. Therefore mistakes come from a lack of previous knowledge in the brain to deal with a new situation. When the margins are so moving fast, the slightest defect when calling upon previous experiences can cause a mistake.

Pushing the envelope

As an athlete, you need a level of self-confidence to be able to push yourself to new levels. This process brings mistakes. As you improve, you try new skills, you take on harder shots and narrow the margins for error. While you are learning these new techniques you will make mistakes as the brain must process new movements and can even forget the simpler skills that got you there in the first place. However once you master these skills, the finer margins will soon become the norm and the cycle begins again hence why even players at the top continue to make mistakes.

How to deal with mistakes

Step 1 - Allow the mistake and understand it

Mistakes will happen. See them as temporary halts in your journey, just like how you pull up to a red light - it's not a terminal end to your journey, just an inevitable pause. The first step of dealing with your mistakes is to initially understand why it happened. Was it because you hadn't got a clear image in your head of the situation first? Did you not have a plan of what to do? Have you ever experienced the situation before? Did you forget the basic techniques to try and achieve something a little new?

Step 2 - Learn from the mistake

After recognising why you made the mistake, you must seek to rectify it. Go back to training and come up with ways to be more prepared so not to make the same error again. Working closely with a coach is a great way to be able to figure out why you made it in the first place and how to improve. The coach can give a different perspective on how to overcome the problem where an individual may find it hard to recognize how to fix the issue.

Step 3 - Don't dwell on it

By recognising the mistake yet not dwelling on it trains the mind to focus on looking forward to the next task. Being positive is a great way to overcome any doubts. Being in the position to be able to try new skills is a privilege in itself and illustrates ability. Keeping positive prevents falling into a negative rut, instead it keeps confidence high to perform future skills.

In the pressure cooker that is the professional sports, even the best in the world will make mistakes in the hunt for success. A trait of the very best athletes is their ability to deal with mistakes and recognizing how to become better from them.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"preparing-for-the-big-games","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fgy7lrao7nunia2omo2mckel75zbbkyzmgmsqlfr.png?alt=media&token=20fd7d65-8ca5-4af6-b761-d2f41bc76fc9"},"title":"Preparing for the Big Games","content":"

With the regular season coming to an end and playoffs on the horizon we need to take a look at how to best approach the big games.

The success of a season may feel like it lies on the outcome of one game. These crunch games can be very challenging and therefore it's important to prepare mentally as well as physically.

Be in the best shape physically

It can be difficult to get this spot on. The last thing you want to do is go into the game not feeling 100% fit! So it is tempting to hold off in practice and maybe run a light practice. The downside to this is that an intense practice in the build up to the game can ensure your players are at peak readiness. I would lean more toward lighter practices as players will be coming in after playing week in week out and therefore should be going into the game feeling sharp.

Treat it like any other game

There are some excellent cliches knocking around when it comes to how teams should mentally approach a big game. Every team and player is different, teams will find certain things work for them while others won't.

Think back to your previous practices or wins over the course of your season. What did you do in preparation for that day? Can you replicate this in the lead up to your crunch game? Literally changing nothing might be the best way to approach it. If you've had regular success, why change anything!? Consistency is key!

Getting every player in your team on a level playing field in terms of motivation can be tricky. It can be difficult to contain over-exuberant players, but you should look to harness this to rub off on those players who might need a nudge in the right direction.

Know your opponent

If you know how the opponent sets-up tactically or where their strengths and weaknesses lie, you can prepare your team to either exploit the weaknesses or nullify the strengths. This might mean changing your normal tactics but if this gives you a better chance of coming out on top, then it's a no brainer right!

If you don't have any knowledge of the opposition, have a look at their previous results. This might tell you whether they are a team who are high scorers and are therefore dangerous in offense or a team conceding fewer points and will likely be tougher to break down defensively.

There can only be one winner on the day and no doubt the result will leave emotions either on a high or in the toilet, but this is why we play! So whatever the outcome on the day, try to reflect on the positives!

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"making-a-great-half-time-speech","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2F7j66zokz0pipqrumyqh8u2ij7zhctmylfz8b9v9a.png?alt=media&token=1b7c7f2b-2477-4ac6-b713-6d844964715b"},"title":"Making a Great Half Time Speech","content":"

Our little public school was drastically mismatched against the local private school powerhouse. On that day, on that field, in the blistering heat and humidity, the season was on the line and it wasn’t going well.

Soaked in sweat on the sidelines at halftime the team gathered looking to me for words of inspiration. I went through my head what the janitor said in Rudy, I even considered just speaking out the lyrics to ACDC thunderstruck or the beastie boys classic “Sabotage”. To tell the truth, I do not even know if they were listening.

I kept it simple: the deficit was not insurmountable. The weather could be an equalize eliminating any advantage for the other team. Whoever played harder would win the game. And yes, an upset victory in this brutal weather would go down as a life long memory.

Before the whistle, I put my hand on the shoulder of our team leaders. “The other team thinks this game is already over and they just want to go home,” I whispered. “They don’t want to be here, they have no idea what’s about to hit them when you go back on this field.”

The second half was a brilliant, red cheeks and cheers of joy as before the final whistle had blown the game as ours. When the game ended, we all ran out onto the field. A few parents even dumped water over the heads of our players.

Winning isn’t everything but that was pretty awesome! It was one of my greatest memories as a coach. Our team played the best half of their young lives. They played together as a team. They encouraged each other. And they pulled off an unthinkable upset.

I thought about the half time speech and wonder if it contributed to the turn around. Truth be told I think it helped but was not the deciding factor. But it did force me to take more time to think about what I need to say at half time in the future.

Being the overly obsessive maniac I am I looked at a lot of academic papers and interviews with experts, here’s what I got from it:

Keep it concise, keep it simple

Sorry, hate to be the bearer of bad news but they are not listening. They are tired and they are focusing on their own thoughts about the game. So, whatever you want to say, keep it brief.

What exactly did you see in the first half? What precisely do you want to see next? What are they doing well already? What can they do even better? Keep the directions simple, with one or two big themes or ideas followed by some specific instructions that can start them on the right path.

Make it personal.

Use empathic language. Show your concern for each member of the team. Ask how they are feeling. What did they think of the first half? Then, call out a few of your athletes with praise or encouragement or a gentle kick in the pants. Demonstrate you care about each player. Maybe even find a moment to whisper a word just for them before play resumes.

Something to the effect of “I know you are tired, but I also know how much you are prepared and are ready for this”

Make it matter.

This is called “meaning making.” Why does this next half really matter? What are the stakes? Why do you care? Why should they care? Sometimes it’s about winning. Sometimes it’s about pride. Sometimes it’s about progress. Find the meaning in this particular half and help them understand why it’s important.

Make ‘em feel it.

Pep talks — or “verbal persuasion”— have been analyzed by experts for years. Their most important finding: Making an emotional connection to your players increases “perceived self-efficacy,” which means they feel more confident, capable, and ready to succeed. Indeed, emotional pep talks work even better than informational, instructional, or strategy-focused speeches.

Over the years I have asked my players what they remember most about halftime talks, they typically can’t recall a single word. But they do remember the feeling when they went back out on the field. They knew that whatever happened, everything was going to be okay. They knew I believed in them. And as a result, maybe they believed a little more in themselves. And to me, that’s the magic of coaching.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["half-time","speech","motivation"]},{"slug":"competence-confidence-connection-character","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fgqn6netv1rxfnkbsz1mhc401obgaz3goddnb2m24x.png?alt=media&token=6520c190-a716-428c-aecb-58427f2cef79"},"title":"Competence Confidence Connection Character","content":"

The athletic field can be an intense place where emotions can run high which makes a vehicle for positive development and create the foundation for many strong characteristics that are essential for success in life. However, it’s also been linked with negative experiences and outcomes, such as stress, burnout, bullying and at times even physical abuse.

Our role as coaches is to encourage healthy development in players. We are important role models are significant adult influences. How coaches interact with players determines the outcomes of participation. Therefore, coaches play a vital role in the contribution of sport to physical and psychosocial development.

These positive outcomes can be broken down into the four C’s:

Competence
Confidence
Connection
Character

Competence

Competence means to have a positive view of yourself in specific contexts. These can include sport, academic, work and social environments. To feel competent is a fundamental psychological need for humans in all cultures. Those who feel competent are more likely to be motivated to work hard and pursue and achieve excellence.

The feeling of accomplishment that happens when an athlete achieves a goal is powerful. It can motivate them to keeping pushing forward. Therefore, sporting experiences can foster a sense of competence in all participants, including those whose abilities are less developed that others. Obviously, the role of coaches is central to promoting a sense of competence. Contexts that hinder the perception of competence are associated with lower motivation, performance and well-being.

Confidence

To have confidence, you need to have a positive sense of self-worth and self-efficacy. Having this view of yourself can influence motivation, the capacity to learn and also subsequent performance. Confidence is developed during childhood, however it can be fragile, especially into the teenage years. Coaches are well placed to help youngsters show more initiative and be more independent. Coaches that focus on self-reference improvement promote internal motivation, a willingness to work hard and resilience. Furthermore, they create athletes who view themselves positively.

Coaches can help youth players develop competence in their sport and confidence in themselves.

Connection

Connection is associated with a sense of belonging. Everyone wants to feel like they belong. A key reason for children’s engagement in sport is to pursue friendships. Athletes at the elite level also have the same need to belong that children do. Sport provides opportunities to develop a strong sense of belonging to teams and squads. These positive bonds among team members provide a warm and friendly environment in which to develop physical and social skills. Additionally, positive connections with coaches through constructive and encouraging feedback promotes enjoyment and other positive outcomes, such as increased effort.

Character

The development of character and caring hasn’t always been linked with sport. However, sport can contribute to the development of character and a sense of compassion. Moral development and integrity also come under this fourth C. Respecting others and demonstrating appropriate behaviors on and off the field is central to the development of good moral characters. Also, sportspeople with good moral character are sensitive to issues such as access for all and tolerance of differences.

Developing these four C’s in athletes should be important to all sport coaches. Therefore, coaches need to be mindful of how they behave and how they go about contributing to the development of their athletes. Consideration of these four C’s in coaching practice strengthens positive sporting experiences for all. A focus on development encourages athletes’ continued engagement in sport, which is necessary for them to improve their sporting abilities. .

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"3-points-in-creating-your-teams-culture","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fpit4y5uy81wwnv963rc1vhwrqb3i70jywt69alrso.png?alt=media&token=aabd6b03-0b90-4ce6-9a27-e279ae50bcc5"},"title":"3 Points in Creating Your Teams Culture","content":"

Team culture is a represnetation of the values you want your team to embody. The culture can you create will influence the performance of your team. Impacting how players work together, play on the field and the people they become when they finish.

Coaches and players value a strong team culture for many reasons. When a positive team culture is in place, it not only provides a common goal but also shows how each individual’s unique strengths or abilities contribute to that goal. Rather than having a dynamic in which only a few superstars shine, a strong team culture recognizes everyone’s value.

Teams that have a sense of cohesion also tend to have higher morale. The reason is that everyone on the team feels a part of something bigger and sees an opportunity to contribute to a grander goal. A team culture provides guidance and encouragement for players to do their best work. On any team, tensions and conflict happens. When a solid team culture is in place, it provides a framework for constructively working through these issues. It allows people to keep the shared goal in mind and remind players that they’re all there to support each other.

Here are three key areas for you to think about when developing your teams culture.

1) What does your program represent?

Values portrays the \"principles or standards of behavior\" that are set to drive team standards. Think about what you want your team and players to represent and embody; these may be specific areas you want to invest in and drive towards.

This can include ownership, having your players pride themselves on their performance and taking a no excuses approach. Similarly, instilling work ethic within the team drives standards, ensuring your players are fully committed to give their all during each session and be the best they can be. Some other examples include teamwork, trust, humility and respect.

2) What is the teams mentality?

Attitudes are crucial in influencing how players think and feel whenever they turn up to training and invest their time in sport.

It is important to create attitudes that permits the athletes to gain a sense of accomplishment. This can be accomplished by challenging the athletes on your team to go out of their comfort zone; if mistakes are made these should be seen as a positive rather than a reason for shame.

Fostering an environment where mistakes are accepted as part of the process allows players to flourish. Other examples include focussing on the process over the outcome and adopting a do not give up attitude.

3) What is the end goal?

Clear goals are crucial for athletes to create something they can drive their efforts towards.

How does your respond when things are not going well?

An important goal is to respond positively to adversity. Create players that are resilient, look out for each other when things get tough to create a culture of togetherness and willingness to work for one another.

Players are pressured into winning as the ultimate aim. This is important when performing at elite level, coaching younger players and grassroots level is a different ball game. A key goal for many teams is to simply have fun. Taking the pressure away from your players can keep them motivated and allow them to express themselves on the field.

Each team is unique and consists of a variety of personalities, abilities and ages. You should work with your players to create values, attitudes, and goals that best fit your team. A culture driven by the athletes will be much stronger since it will be one they truly believe in.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":["team-culture","team-values"]},{"slug":"kids-should-participate-in-sports","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fyamdywuij648fm2kzsdapqf4j8csv7kz3i7h1ezhg.png?alt=media&token=2db8aa7f-aa25-4f09-a7c7-f813e57052a7"},"title":"Kids Should Participate in Sports","content":"

Sports are a great activity for everyone but it is especially great for kids for many reasons, whether it is on a team such as soccer or basketball or an individual sport like tennis or golf. Playing sports, competing and being physically active can benefit kids throughout their youth and beyond, from improving their health, building character and increasing their self esteem.

Regular physical activity benefits health in many ways; it helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints, all of which are essential to a child growing up. Physical activity also helps to control weight and reduce fat, as well as preventing the development of high blood pressure, which benefits your child's health long term. According to statistics, if children participate in sport from a young age then they are more likely to continue with sport during their adult years, therefore keeping them healthier for longer.

Playing sports will also help children develop social skills which can benefit them for life. They'll learn to interact with other children, therefore improving their social life and making new friends, but they'll also interact with other individuals such as coaches. They'll learn key leadership, team-building and communication skills that'll not only help them on the pitch, but also off the field within key aspects of their future. With most children's social life being taken up with the rise of computers and mobile phones, sport is a great way to get your children outside and away from the television screen!

Sports can have a huge positive impact on a child's self esteem and confidence. If they receive plenty of encouragement, from coaches, teamates and parents, this will help to build their self confidence and in turn, will help them to succeed on and off the field. On the other hand constructive criticism is also a major part of sport and although young athletes may not always want to hear it, they need to accept criticism and use it to their benefit, by learning from it.

Children that participate in sport often excel academically, as they can apply the same principles and hard work they learn through sport to their studies, if they put in the same amount of dedication. Physical activity helps children develop and improve their cognitive skills, as well as improving their concentration, attention and classroom behavior. Encourage them to take part in sport and apply the same hard work to their studies!

Sport is not just very beneficial for children but it's also great for all adults too - get involved in sport today and encourage your kids to take part as well!

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9"],"tags":[]},{"slug":"5-tips-for-the-off-season","sport":{"slug":"coach-sports"},"previewImage":{"url":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/coach-sports.appspot.com/o/images%2Fp6n74dwgmybefw4c1fg4ubyylmizdkf6ny2glifed.png?alt=media&token=eae20241-2550-490b-b0a6-4c71466bb94d"},"title":"5 tips for the off season","content":"

The be the best you can be you need to make the most of your off season. That does not mean you have to be a year round die hard athlete or coach in season and the off season. But it does mean you should plan ahead so you can live a full life and be ready for your season when it comes.

For both coaches and players, the off-season should be utilized to improve the individual so that when the team comes back together the pieces that are being put together are done with the greatest group of talent possible.

What do you need in order to have that perfect balance in the off-season so that improvements are made but at the same time not letting your sport inhibit your ability to live a complete life.

Here are our 5 suggestions:

1) Injury Prevention

To reduce the risk of injury it is important you continue some activity over the off-season to maintain and increase your muscular strength. This can be as simple as regular stretching accompanied by push ups, sit ups and burpees. Obviously it can be as extensive as having personal trainers and detailed diets plans but we have to be realistic for what is appropriate for each athlete. But even at the most basic levels and athlete should be doing some form of regular exercise leasing up to the season. One of most enjoyable and simplest way for athlete to be ready for the season is to be involved in another sport in the off season that entails physical activity that is a good compliment to your sport.

Therefore, as a coach, it's important that you set realistic expectations for your athletes so that they strike a balance between overtraining and under-training as appropriate for there team.

.

2) Evaluation

Over the course of a full-season, bad habits and technical flaws creep into players' games and coaches' methods. The off-season offers a great opportunity to correct these away from the pressures of matches and competitive sessions.

The lack of pressure helps individuals refocus on the intricacies of their sport, rather than just doing enough to get the results. A coach can rediscover their coaching philosophies and develop a clear idea of how they want to lead their sessions.

For players, defects can be addressed in an environment that isn't dictated by time or other players, giving them the scope to improve their technique in a more controlled environment.

The same can be said for physical training too. Within a busy season, it's tough to really make strides in strengthening potential imbalances or weaknesses for fear of not feeling fresh for games. Without these pressures, the time is there to spend on concerted efforts and proper recovery.

3) Prevents Panic Training

When it comes round to pre-season, you don't want to be well off the pace. The start of pre-season is about getting match-ready, making you sharper and quicker rather than developing your base level fitness - that's a job for the off-season.

Leaving it too late causes stress and panic that can be easily avoided. Maintain your fitness over the off-season so that when you come to pre-season you can really push yourself in the sharpening sessions, rather than burning yourself out by cramming in more sessions that you need to.

For a coach, when players keep fit over the off-season, they have more freedom to start with more advanced sessions rather than starting with basic fitness and skills sessions. Having this head start in pre-season will soon see you reap the rewards going into the main season!

4) Enjoy New Activities and live a full life

Maintaining fitness and activity levels doesn't mean carrying on with the same sport, doing the same exercises and sticking to the same routine. Get away from your sport and discover new ways to stay fit and get stronger.

Try a different sport and pick up new skills that you can transfer into your own sport. For example, if you're a hockey player, go and play tennis - seeing and hitting balls on different planes and trajectories could just give you a new angle to look at how you hit the hockey ball when you get back on the pitch.

Plus, your body gets a rest from the regular vigours of your sport-specific movements, strengthening other parts of the body through the different types of movement in other sports.

As a coach, getting away from your sport and experiencing different coaches and coaching other activities will give you a great new perspective on how to overcome new challenges. You will learn different approaches that you could well be able to transfer to your own sport for the upcoming season.

5) Create new ideas and strategies

Continuing a level of training throughout the off-season gives players and coaches the opportunity to try new ideas away from the pressure that comes with having to get it right for matches in the main season.

Not only is it a chance to correct defects, individuals can also learn new skills in a low-pressure environment. This lack of pressure that comes with the nature of the off-season often allows players to rediscover their enjoyment for the sport after a long season.

Recharging motivation levels is vital for coaches and players alike - by teaching and learning more advanced skills and approaching things from different angles can refresh an individual's interest in seeking improvement.

There are many positives to training throughout the off-season so long as you find the balance between resting and overtraining. Individuals need to be recuperating after a long season, but doing enough to learn new skills, correct technical issues and maintain fitness levels.

Trying new sports or activities is a great way to refresh an individual's perspective on their sport and allows them to discover different approaches and learn new skills. The off-season lends itself to refining techniques away from a pressurized environment and if done properly, will see players and coaches going into pre-season full of confidence.

The prep out of season will dictate your start to the new one. Focus on maintaining, strengthening and learning in the off-season to hit the ground running come pre-season.

","categoriesRef":["E3m7Egy4ti0CUgyA88c9","8SXQqpXwZKRLpHr1W4x7","MbSl5IVBTG7v8ghSQ5q0"],"tags":["off-season","pre-season"]}]