1. Take time to prepare:
Having a plan for your team style can improve your players individual and team collective performances. As the coach of your team, playing out from the back has real value to develop your players to value possession of the ball and increase goal scoring chances, rather than rely on luck and athleticism. Your vision is going to make the difference!
2. Communicate your vision with players and parents:
Coaches can hold an informal parents evening to consistently communicate the expectations for the team style of play. This is huge to get everyone on the bus. This will reduce friction between players and their parents because they will understand what is being asked of them by the coaches. Complete buy in from everyone involved rather than the parents being left in the dark. This will reinforce the belief in you as the coach so you can take your players to the next level. Communication is key!
3. Select drills that focus on passing, receiving and shape:
Once you’ve identified your team style to play out the back, details the main ideas for your players and showcase these ideas in your training sessions. Build in the repetition prior to the season so the players can hit the ground running under full pressure in match situations. It will be far from perfect. But, as the players learn the quick lessons and the team is getting proper guidance and support from the coaches (and parents have good expectations) everyone will start to trust the process.
4. Build trust so when players make mistakes, the confidence is not lost:
Even when the team loses, the trust will remain strong as chances are being created and the players are really working together to achieve the common goal and create that true team style. The parents will start to value the true performance rather than only place emphasis on the result. Over time, the parents and players will see evidence of the style of play for your team. This will build trust across the board and buy in will increase as performances increase, win, lose or draw. There is beauty in having a plan and trying to execute the plan with everyone’s buy in.
