02: Grow Coach Newsletter
Soccer Coaching: Improve Your Players Mindset
A warm welcome from JustCoachMD. We are happy to have you on board. This is our second newsletter and the first one of 2024.
Here is what to expect:
How to help your players develop a growth mindset.
Coaching tips and action steps to help implement a growth mind.
Session Share: Three Team Game Squad Practice.
Problem/Fix: Identify and fix a common error young players make.
Spotlight: How to coach passing.
Coach Project: Take some action to help your players or team develop a growth mindset.
‘‘Dreams don’t work unless you do’’
(Maxwell, C)
In the ever-changing world of coaching, embracing a growth mindset is essential for players seeking success. The quote above highlights the importance of continuous effort, resilience, and a willingness to learn.
People with a growth mindset view challenges as opportunities for improvement. They understand that talent can be developed through hard work, persistent effort, and a commitment to achieve on-the-field excellence.
Soccer players who have a growth mind possess a strong belief that dedication and learning can lead to progress. This fuels the journey of turning their dreams into reality.
Growth Mind vs Fixed Mind
A growth mind and a fixed mind are two contrasting attitudes toward learning, effort, and intelligence. As coaches, it is vital to know the difference between them.
Growth Mind
Is characterized by the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication, hard work, and learning from experiences (good or bad). Performers with a growth mind embrace challenges, persist when faced with setbacks, and see effort as the key driver toward mastery.
Fixed Mind
Marked by the belief that ability and intelligence are fixed traits that cannot be changed significantly. People stuck in this mindset may avoid challenges to maintain the appearance of their current level of talent.
They give up easily in the face of obstacles and do not see the value in effort, because they believe they have a predetermined level of ability.
In summary, the key difference between the two mindsets lies in the player's perception of their ability and approach to challenging situations. One mindset embraces the stretch and the other can get lost in the struggle.
‘‘ You can’t do it, Yet’’
Usually, a player’s mindset comes from the environment that a performer has been exposed to as they grow up.
It’s vital to know that mindset can be changed from fixed to growth and also that different areas of your life can interchange between the two mindsets. One of our roles as coaches is to ease your performers toward a growth mindset.
Coach to Player Advice:
See Challenges as Opportunities
Encourage players to view challenges not as obstacles but as chances to get better and improve. Emphasize that facing tough opponents and learning new techniques/tactics is essential for growth. Reframe challenges as opportunities for improvement. This helps players develop resilience and a positive attitude toward overcoming difficulties.
Celebrate Effort, Not Just Results:
Shift the focus from celebrating results to recognizing when they have worked hard or shown dedication. Keep reinforcing that improvement comes from consistent effort, practice, and a willingness to push beyond comfort zones. Catch players being persistent. Acknowledge the value of effort regardless of immediate outcomes.
Feedforward and Encourage Learning:
Feedforward to players so they are clear on what’s working for them. Be clear on the actions that can help them move to the next level of performance. Encourage players to reflect on their performance, This aids the learning process. They should identify actions that are working for them and seek possible fixes to the mistakes they have made.
Coach Tips:
Create Stretch and Challenge Mastery Goals for Every Practice:
Design practices that stretch the players beyond their current levels of performance. This usually results in lots of mistakes. The practice might look messy and chaotic. But, challenge the players to see each mistake as a stepping stone toward future success.
Try to word the stretch, challenge, and mastery aspects of the practice in a way that emphasizes that effort and success are within the athlete’s control. As opposed to beating someone or being the best at an activity. (Sinek, 2009)
Remind players that mistakes are an opportunity to get better.
Failure can be a catalyst for deeper learning and improved performance.
Use the F.A.I.L acronym:
This means First, Attempt In Learning. It helps players to understand that mistakes are a normal and necessary part of the learning process. Added to this. Encourage players to change their positive self-talk, by adding the word ‘YET’ to any negative statements they make.
This will help to increase the player’s persistence and willingness to learn from setbacks. (Gilbert et al, 2010).
Key point: Shift the player’s focus from proving their ability to improving it.
Provide a Rationale for the Stretch and Challenge Mastery Goals:
Coaches should take the time to communicate the mastery goals to the players before a ball is kicked. Motivation at all levels increases when the coaches explain ‘why’ practice activities are important, and more specifically how they will improve aspects of their game. (Camire. et al, 2012).
Providing the rationale helps because:
Players value the activity more if the rationale is clear, and therefore invest more effort.
It builds trust between the players and the coaching staff.
Even better if the rationale is provided before the players arrive to practice. It gives them a chance to mentally prepare and think about the challenges they may face.
A Final Note
COACHES, you should be looking to shift the player’s mentality from the win at all costs and proving yourself. Instead, focus on, how much effort, commitment, and dedication they can show towards the techniques and tactics they wish to master.
Give the players a rationale about how the session will help them improve. Encourage them to see mistakes as opportunities to learn. And add the word YET to any negative self-talk you hear. This will help the player to develop a growth mind as opposed to a fixed one.
‘‘Success is no accident. Its hard work, perseverence, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do’’
(Pele)
Coaches won’t go far wrong following the same advice they would give to their players.
Bonus Tip: Observe and Act
STEPS:
Look Out for Fixed Mindset Characteristics: Constantly reword or rephrase any negative fixed mind characteristics.
Praise Effort and Commitment: Praise/catch players who apply themselves and keep moving forward regardless of mistakes or adversity.
Spot Your Players Fixed Mind Challenges: We all tend to have them! Help them overcome them, by using thought-provoking questions or sharing your knowledge.
Action: What actions can the player take? We want them to be clear and energized on how to move forward.
By focusing on the future first the player is motivated to act. Feeding forward leaves the player uncomfortable but eager to get going. They know what is working and the obstacles holding them back. Suddenly their discomfort is converted into energy.
Read About feeding forward: HERE.
Session Share: 3 Team Possession to Score
Aim:
Connect 4 - 6 passes then score off a set pass from the outside support players to score in a mini-goal.
Set-Up:
20 by 20 space, place mini goals in each corner of the pitch.
3 Teams of 4 players: One team attacking (blacks), one team defending (reds), and one team supporting (blue)
Blacks and Reds are positioned centrally and Blues operate on the outside of the pitch between the mini goals.
How to Play:
The ball always starts with the attacking team. They connect 4-6 passes using the Blues then try to score 1st time in a mini goal off a Blue set-up pass.
The Reds win the ball and score in any mini-goal as soon as the ball has been regained.
Rotate the teams so each one gets to attack, defend, and support.
Problem: Not Using Changes of Speed!!!
Are your attackers not changing pace?
They have beat the defender with a great piece of skill, there is space in front of them to exploit. Instead, they cut back and allow the defender to get back in position. The attacker then has to beat the defender again, the space has disappeared and more players have got behind the ball.
This often results in a turnover of possession, that was once a promising attacking position. This is a common issue I see with creative attacking players.
Look out for this next time you are coaching!!!
Fix: Skill then Speed!!
If this is something you see, the solution is encouraging the player to use their skill and then turn on the speed. The change of speed after the skill allows the attacker to exploit the space and makes it difficult for the defender to get back into position.
The change of speed is an efficient way to give the player more time and space to make their next choice. Speed also frightens defenders, it makes them drop off. It disrupts a team's defensive shape and makes cover defenders step out of position.
Topic: Passing!!
Why is it important:
Possession: Helps teams to maintain control of the game and dictate the game tempo.
Creativity: It allows players to create scoring opportunities for teammates.
Teamwork: Effective passing requires coordination and communication throughout a team and the positions they occupy.
The ball moves quicker than the player: Well-executed passes can break through tough defensive lines, making it hard for the opponent to react.
Fundamental Skill: Passing is vital to every team and contributes to overall success.
How to coach it:
Future 1st: Scan your surroundings, before the ball arrives or when it is traveling between players to check for pressure and options.
Forward Facing: Encourage receivers of passes to take up a forward-facing body position to allow for a quicker attack.
First Touch: Once a pass has been received the first touch should give you time on the ball or take out the opponent trying to win the ball off you.
Fast: Ball speed is vital, passes must get to their destination. Use firm passes to ensure a player is not waiting for the ball to arrive.
Feet: It’s easier and quicker to control a ball along the floor, so playing into feet gives the receiver a better chance of keeping possession.
NB: There are times when the ball into space or in the air is required. Be mindful of this when coaching this technique.
Coach Project
Objective: Develop a growth mindset resource to help players track their performance and evaluate their session-by-session progress.
Task: Develop some stretch, challenge, and mastery measures for your next 2-4 practices:
Identify stretch, challenge, and mastery goals for up-and-coming sessions.
Rationale: Provide a rationale around why the goals are helpful.
Use the player/coach reflection log to keep a check on growth or fixed mind behaviors.
Extension activity:
Objective: Create a list of 2-4 ways that players can show a growth mindset.
Why: To reinforce the concept of developing a growth mind. These behaviors will build strong characters who thrive under pressure, learn, and evolve.
Please feel free to get in touch or share your ideas, actions, and interventions. We would love to hear from you. If you have any questions post them here and we will do our best to answer them.
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