Sean Rooney, editor
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Friday, January 4, 2014 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS
Playing underdog card can be fun
Jim
Loughlin
What I enjoy most about coaching teams in Medicine Hat is that we are often considered the underdog.
In my opinion, coaching the underdog can be exciting as there typically is way more to gain than to lose. The
challenge for the coach will be to create a positive atmosphere to help the athletes embrace the opportunity before
Training Matters
them.
Positivity can be difficult, especially early on if the team loses more than it wins. Notice I said difficult – not
impossible.
First of all, it is important for the coach and players to focus on what can be controlled. Setting goals to win is not
within the team’s control. In sport, there will always be opponents that play better than you on a given day, or for
that matter are just better than you regardless of the day.
Thus, for me, the two main controllable items are attitude and effort. Set a goal for each game to work harder and
have a better attitude than the opposition. Be sure to remind the players about this goal prior to every game.
Secondly, set mini-goals for each game based on other controllable items such as trying to use a team tactic that you
have been working on in practice. Make sure that the goal is based on attempts to implement the new tactic versus
succeeding at implementing the new tactic. Attempting to implement the new tactic is controllable. Whether or not it
is successful is not controllable. Remember that without the attempts there will be no chance of success.
Ensure that you and the players celebrate successful attempts with a pat on the back or a public, “Well Done.”
Next, remind the players of the ways they have successfully achieved their attitude, effort and mini-goals.
Immediately following each game, ask the players two questions:
Jim Loughlin is the head 1. “Can anyone give us examples of how we achieved our goals for today’s game?”
coach of the MHC Rattlers 2. “What do we need to work on for our next game or practice?”
Notice that these questions focus on what was done or what needs to be done. To create a positive atmosphere, avoid
Soccer teams and is the
focusing on what was not done. The players cannot go back and change the past the past is not a controllable item.
Medicine Hat Soccer
I am not saying to ignore when the players or coaches have not achieved a particular goal.
Association’s district
What I am saying is that it is significantly more productive to focus on what needs to be done next instead of
head coach. He can be
dwelling on what did not occur in the past.
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Finally and perhaps the most important item to consider is to keep the player’s parents in the loop regarding the
[email protected] goals set by the team. Parents are a key part of the team and will be major contributors to helping the players
recognize the progress they are making.
Have pre-game mini-talks with the parents to let them know the focus for the upcoming game.
Alternatively, you can have short post-game chats with parents while their child is changing following a game.
Let the parents know that you are counting on them to help support their child, yourself as a coach and the team to
celebrate the mini-successes. Parents will appreciate being informed about what is being worked on and in my
experience will be enthusiastic participants in lending their support.
Considering the timing of this article, could you imagine if we took the same approach with our various New Years
resolutions?
What would happen if we set mini-goals, remained positive, committed to give one hundred percent effort and
celebrated all of the small successes we have while striving to realize our New Years resolutions?
I’m willing to bet that when we reflect on 2014 a year from now that we would be really pleased with how far we
have come.
Happy New Years to everyone. All the best in 2014 as you strive to make it a memorable year.