Mentally Prepare to Coach

Mentally Prepare to Coach

In this article coach Josh Brown points out a crucial differentiator when it comes to success and failure as a coach – being mentally prepared to deliver. If we demand it from players then we need to demand it from ourselves – we need to be as mentally robust as them.

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Develop and Demonstrate a Growth Mindset

Develop and Demonstrate a Growth Mindset

The varied tactical approach’s of the modern game demands players who are more flexible in their thinking and willing to embrace change. Today, top teams restructure their tactical approach many times during the course of a game and “intelligent” players who can identify challenges on the field and provide effective solutions will thrive. The modern player will literally be required to “think on their feet” and embrace and thrive during change.

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Emotional Intelligence: Applied Practice in Football – A Perspective for Football Coaches

Emotional Intelligence: Applied Practice in Football – A Perspective for Football Coaches

Positive mindset allows performance levels to increase because it facilitates direction and focus. The relationship between mental preparation and sport psychology therefore becomes important and there is evidence of its use in cricket, golf and tennis. It is therefore not surprising that football has also introduced sport science to their mapped programme of which sport psychology is an integral part. Given the contention that sport psychology plays an integral role within football it would be purposeful to argue of its merit for football coaches in performance settings. 

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The Presence of Body Language

The Presence of Body Language

I keep saying it and I keep stressing it. Keeping great body language throughout training and throughout a match is imperative. It’s a must. In this article former semi pro player and now coach John Kirby tells us a little about his background and his thoughts on the psychology of football…with an emphasis on that all important body language.

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Taking a Coaching Break

Taking a Coaching Break

Coaching sport (especially soccer) can be one of the most fulfilling yet stressful professions or hobbies to do. It can be time consuming, it can be exhausting and the mental strain and wear and tear can deflate you. In this article Westside United senior team coach Josh Brown talks about the importance of taking a well earned coaching break.

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A Young Players Practical Guide to Goal Setting

A Young Players Practical Guide to Goal Setting

Goal-setting is important for young players in order to understand where they are at now and where they are trying to get to. When young players say they want to play for Barcelona these are dreams versus goals. Goals, as defined by Wikipedia, is a desired result that a person envisions, plans and commits to achieve: a personal desired end-point in some sort of assumed development.

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Best of Amplified Soccer Training Volume 1

Best of Amplified Soccer Training Volume 1

Take a look inside our first issue of Best of Amplified Soccer Training, a leading digital quarterly publication for coaches with resources from our partners and contributors, some of the best coaching educators in the game. Get 60 pages of drills, full training sessions, conditioning, psychology, exclusive interviews, sports science, nutrition, recipes and more all geared towards soccer coaches.

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The Secrets to Scoring Goals

The Secrets to Scoring Goals

What I touched on in the lectures were truly secrets. They are geared for player’s 14 years of age and over. Coaches who really paid attention to the details of what was said in my sessions will truly improve their team’s goal scoring. Those who did not missed some of the secrets.

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Winning IS Everything

Winning IS Everything

So what is the point in playing? To win! Winning games is only part of the equation especially as the result can have 3 outcomes (win lose or draw). The real part is the children knowing they are succeeding. The theme should be are we getting better. Are our skills improving? The philosophy should not be are we playing just for fun because; I regard that as an excuse and a loser’s attitude. Why are the children playing anyway? 

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Training Cognition in Soccer

Training Cognition in Soccer

If we want to meet our principle aim of developing the person then we must create sessions that allow the learner to explore and understand the process of learning. One way in which to do this is to use the ‘Cognitive Acceleration’ (CA) approach. This blog entry will try to offer a brief explanation of the approach and answer how it can be useful within our roles as coaches.

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Hope, Fear and Communication

Hope, Fear and Communication

In this short and excellent article, Coach Josh Brown provides us with an insightful account of the differences between hope and fear and the impact both these emotions can have on performance. He discusses how a crucial difference in communication can make all the difference as a coach.

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The Penalty Shot: Superstars Keep Missing!

The Penalty Shot: Superstars Keep Missing!

“It’s a Battle of the Mind”

“When you miss a chance in open play, people don’t remember. When you miss a chance on a penalty, people remember,” said Alan Shearer, all-time leading goal scorer for Newcastle United of the EPL. Decade’s later people will still talk about a missed penalty shot.

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The Last 9 Seconds: The Secrets to Scoring Goals on the Last Touch

The Last 9 Seconds: The Secrets to Scoring Goals on the Last Touch

Have you ever wondered why so many great goal scoring opportunities in the game of soccer are not converted into goals? In this book you will learn The Secrets to Scoring Goals on the final touch, A Psychological Perspective, John DeBenedictis provides soccer coaches with solutions to this problem tackling it from a psychological perspective. This comprehensive volume is packed with hundreds of full color soccer photos and illustrations.

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Using Silence in High Performance Communication

Using Silence in High Performance Communication

Do not be afraid to use silence as a tool in your high-performance feedback loop. It is a very effective teacher for high-performers. They are self-motivated, analytical, and critical of their own performance. If you are engaging and empowering them as problem-solvers, the silence allows them to learn to solve things on their own without outside assistance. This helps develop intrinsic motivation, internalization of locus of control, and self-reliance.

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The Deafening Sound of Silence

The Deafening Sound of Silence

Silence has a tremendous power as a form of communication, but many times it can be interpreted as a weapon instead of a useful tool. Children of all ages need communication. This is our gift, as sentient beings, the art of communication. Children grow, learn and explore the wondrous world through communication.

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