2 years ago i got some friends together and we started playing football once a week for fun. over the next 2 years we have had quite a few setbacks, from people leaving to troubles at the fields we used to use. eventually we decided on joining a local 7-a-side league in order to play regularly. a grand spanking new kit and the knowledge that we'd have opponents every week was a great.
we started this league, and things seemed to get worse - internal politics, expectations etc started popping and after 1 season a lot of us (me included) decided to leave the team as it wasn't fun anymore. now another season is on the horison, and i've decided to recommit myself. i started becoming too competitive and let the factors like politics and our performance detract from the simple joy of kicking a ball around with some friends. we did decide, however, to start fundamental training so we could just sharpen the basics like awareness. this, however, has created a new problem...coaching and managing
i have been doing a bit of research into training, developing and coaching football and nothing has grasped my interest in such a way for a very, very long time. i find myself constantly thinking of tactics and draining drills to improve certain aspects of the game. in my head, i devise set pieces...i assign defensive strategies...i plan out how i'm going to explain these tactics and drills to the team...something's got to give.
if i don't start putting these things into practice i cannot be held accountable for my actions.
if i don't do something, i might just pitch up at some team's game with a bundle of hastily scribbled tactics and start shouting at them from the touchline.
"play a 4-2-3-1 with a combination of ball-winner and passer in front of the defence" i'll sob when they find me, lying in the fetal position in the gutter.
then the court will force me to join a 12-step program, but since it's all religious mumbo-jumbo i'll just disregard it, until one day i'm spotted running up and down against the fence of some school in a monogrammed tracksuit, clutching a sweaty bundle of training drills and formations while shouting at the kids playing football during their break.
and then, finally, fingers will be pointed at my friends and family after i am arrested for accosting a small boy on the street and coaching him to death. didn't they see the warning signs?!?!?
so, i have decided to join a coaching association and get qualified. the basic bronze coaching level lets you coach development, focusing on ages 5-9. then, maybe i can find a school or something that will let me help out. anything to make the voices stop!
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