The Importance of Developing a 'Training Mentality'

One of our core values at the DPA is to develop the 'training mentality' of our players. We believe that one of the key indicators of success for a player, along with exposure to a quality developmental environment, is the 'mentality' of the player. Let us be clear that by success, we mean "reaching your potential" as an individual, not the amount of games or awards you will win. By 'mentality,' we mean the attitude, work ethic, drive and commitment of the player to perform and compete, but we also mean an appreciation for the process itself. Practically speaking, it is our intent that our players engage their training with passion and a clear understanding of why they are doing what they are doing, and that quite simply, that it takes time to become a good player. 

At the DPA, we discuss, both formally and informally, how to develop a 'training mentality' so that the players can navigate the process of taking ownership of their own development (both for the specific class or training they are attending, but also for their personal development in general). For the young players its learning to love to play and to love learning how to master the ball, for older players it's setting clear goals and understanding the steps to achieve those goals. It is important to us that we help develop players with an appetite to train and play, who wholeheartedly engage the process of improvement. We want to empower the players to envision what they want to get out of it and to commit to what they want to put into it. 

It takes time to hone skills, for the player to add layers of form and function to his or her skill set. Those players who persist to work through technical deficiencies and have the mindset to challenge themselves naturally have a higher ceiling. Those kinds of players are not afraid of failure, and as a result, they develop confidence technically that carries over into their performance in matches. Players with a strong 'training mentality' are "students of the game" that are eager to learn new ways to solve problems, and consequently, they develop a sharper tactical game intelligence and overall deeper understanding of the game. 

Much of helping a player reach their potential is helping them create the environment necessary for high level learning, performance and skill acquisition. Developing a 'training mentality' is necessary if the player is going to fully engage the environment. The challenge for us as coaches, is to create environments where we are able to provoke and stimulate the players in creative ways that will constantly challenge them, while also being enjoyable. We need to embrace the challenge to develop players that love to train as much as they love to play!

NSCAA Convention

January every year brings the National Soccer Coaches convention.  It is a time to meet with other professionals, view new products, and attend educational sessions. This year the convention returned again to Philadelphia.

Some highlights from sessions this year:

1. Ian Barker - Director of Coaching for the NSCAA - opened up the convention with a session on different tactical ideas when attacking. "Look as far away from possession as we can first to see if we can get there."

2. Sam Snow - Director of Coaching for US Youth Soccer - presented a session on crossing and the importance of getting players not only to recognize the spaces they are in but also to be more detailed with them.

3. Janet Rayfield - Head Coach at the University of Illinois - presented a session on the 5 pillars of soccer and using them in small-sided games. What is the 5th pillar? Character. She presented another session on possession in the attacking third and how the purpose obviously is to score goals but just because we penetrated doesn't mean we have to shoot right away.

4. Exos who has been the performance-training group for the German National team presented an interesting session on warm up and speed development that can be used with youth players.

5. April Heinrichs from the National team presented a session on a progression to teach the national team style of play with a focus on partner awareness.

 Overall lots of great information to take back and use! Continuing coaching education is so important to stay up with the modern game.

Clock Building, Not Time Telling

Built to Last by Jim Collins is an amazing book! An excerpt from one of the earlier chapters says:

“Imagine you met a remarkable person who could look at the sun or stars at any time day or night and state the exact time and date: “It’s April 23, 1401, 2:36 AM, and 12 seconds.  This person would be an amazing time teller, and we ‘d probably revere that person for the ability to tell time. But wouldn’t that person be even more amazing if, instead of telling the time, he or she built a clock that could tell time forever, even after he or she was dead and gone?” (Collins, 23)

So, what does this have to do with soccer? Everything! Visionary leaders of clubs are thinking more about building a clock by creating a culture and way of doing things that will out last them.  They are looking to build something lasting.  The club itself is the ultimate creation, as that will allow the club to continue to have an impact on players for a long time. It is about a shift in vision where the leader of a club has to think less about themselves and more about the club by becoming an organizational visionary.  In order to do this though, clubs have to get away from the thinking of we have always done it this way so we must have to always keep doing it this way.