Having daily sessions really is a big advantage for players at IFS, but maintaining motivation and dedication every day can be a challenge. It can be even more challenging, as a coach, not to slip into the role of ‘motivator’ rather than ‘educator’.
For young players to fulfil their dreams of becoming professionals, they need to be self-sufficient in their motivation and drive to become better. The coach, then, acts only as their educator and observer.
When doing a recovery session, for example, it is easy for players to become distracted or not as driven to complete a simple mobility exercise.
By educating the players as to why it is beneficial for them to do a particular exercise, at a particular time, and link the importance of it to their professional career, it becomes the players’ choice whether or not to complete the task. The coach then becomes their observer, giving feedback as to whether they are moving towards professionalism or not.
This then becomes a process of maturity, where players still need the coach’s guidance and support to make good decisions, but the ultimate aim is to set a task and be able to sit back and watch, or even walk away, while the players take responsibility for their own development.
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