Ah the off-season. This particular period when we sometimes have to change clubs. Today I wanted to offer you parents of players, and you players who want to go to other horizons, some elements on which to wonder before taking the plunge.
Why talk about it now you will tell me? Because as with any goal, preparation is one of the many keys to success.
And because with the current context and my various exchanges with the coaches in post, I felt that the clubs were slowly starting to organize themselves for the next season.
How to choose your future club: my 9 essential criteria ?
Background: take a look back
The Internet is a great tool for finding all the information you want. In general, clubs like to highlight their career since their creation. You will already have in your possession, a lot of information concerning the seniority, the presidency, the internal organization and the stability or not of the club.
Reputation
It is important that you make up your own mind about where your child is going to set foot. To do this, if you have the opportunity, come and see one or more matches with your youngster to take the temperature “in situ”. Once there, don’t hesitate to talk to people: president, coach, players.
Stability
Another important point: the stability of a club. Has it been around for a long time? Is he in creation? Does the chair or board of directors change often? Is it a club that bets on the future?
Is there a long or medium term project in place? Do not hesitate to ask these questions, you, parents or you young player if you feel comfortable with it.
It can avoid many mistakes … Word of a former player who has not always asked all these questions upstream …
Ambition
It joins the project side on the long or medium term within the club. What does the club aim for in terms of club objective? What are the team goals that your youngster will integrate? What are the individual expectations?
Still a lot of valuable information to be gathered by asking these questions.
And if the club cannot provide you with this information, it also gives you valuable information. Maybe this is not the right place for him …
Find out about your future coach
Passion and love of the game?
A passionate coach is the assurance that he will not count his hours and that he will do everything in his power to move forward as difficult as it is.
And to play at a good level, passion must be present, otherwise motivation will take a hit as soon as difficulties arise.
Skills?
Many coaches stop training after graduation. It does not mean that they are bad but there are chances that he is very focused on technique and that he does not see the importance of psychology, physical preparation or even a problem of breathing or posture.
The continuous training of the coach helps the coach to be as equipped as possible to face the difficulties that he may encounter along the way and to act in an adapted and individualized manner to help you progress according to your case.
Experience?
Do not hesitate to question the coach directly about his experience: who did he train, where did he train? Does he keep doing it? How does he like to work? What is most important to him during a season? Does the player’s individual development interest him?
Then you can also use the internet or your network around you to ask questions in order to have more information.
Because sometimes, let’s face it, the coaches will first look at their interests and that of the club and will sometimes have glittery speeches to attract your youngster to their club without any real project behind.
It happens … and it is your responsibility to take all the information upstream to make your choice in all conscience.
Who better than his former players to talk about a coach?
On the other hand, do not be satisfied with a single opinion, it may not be sufficiently representative. It is also important to make up your own mind.
Don’t just look at the results you got either, go deeper.
Methodology / pedagogy?
Being interested in this point can be beneficial for the rest of your youngster.
What is the coach’s way of training? Does it have a particular methodology concerning shooting, footwork, physical preparation or other elements?
Does he take the time to explain what he wants and how he wants it? Does he give the floor to his players? Is it more on an “old school” or rather “modern” management? Does he need to shout at his players to make himself heard or is he more serene and in control of his emotions?
All of these insights can be invaluable before making a choice and going into the field is once again very valuable in obtaining this information.
Alchemy?
We sometimes tend to forget or relegate it to the background but feeling is an important criterion in the choice of your future coach. It is one of the many conditions for success.
Indeed, the trainer is the one who will help your youngster to progress in his sporting career and often even extra sporty by ricochet.
If the feeling does not pass between them, from the beginning, if you do not have a good contact, his progression will certainly be affected.
It is therefore necessary that you dialogue with your youngster and that he trust himself on this point.
If after the first few discussions you or he doesn’t feel comfortable there is a good chance that it will not work well afterwards.
Can you question him after the fact to find out how he is feeling? If the discussion he had with his future coach was fluid? If he was interested in your youngster? If he asked her what his motivations and personal goals were? Or on the contrary if he felt he was trying just to bring him to his club? Or / and that he only spoke about himself and his club? This will already give you some additional indications to help you navigate the future choice of your children.
Here we are at the end of my advice so that you can have some concrete elements available to facilitate the decision-making of your young person in the making.
For more information and / or individualized follow-up to support a young career, contact me by email at [email protected] or by phone at 0650254537.
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