ABSOLUTELY. 100%.
A famous example of a championship coach who never had an impressive playing career is current Serie A Roma head coach Jose Mourinho. In the Amazon 2020 ‘All or Nothing: Tottenham Hotspur’ documentary, Mourinho openly admits to being a ‘terrible’ player but a great coach (although he uses more colorful language than that to describe his playing ability.)
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Kids need INVESTED soccer coaches, period
I have known a great number of amazing coaches that previously played at a very high level of the game, and I have also known coaches that, despite their playing experience and knowledge of the game, lacked the skills required to be impactful or effective.
"A coach will impact more people in one year than the average person will in an entire lifetime."
Can you be a good soccer coach without playing experience? Without professional or collegiate experience? I AM, here's my story:
I'm not going to lie though, being a (female) competitive youth soccer coach that has never played professionally, completely surrounded by men with collegiate and professional experience, is HARD.
{Related read: Why I coach soccer: identifying my PURPOSE on the soccer field}
Back when I started coaching, I had several soccer parents (once they quickly realized I was no Alex Morgan) tell me not to tell the players that I wasn’t the amazing, fantastic soccer player that they believed me to be. Why? Because, according to the parents, they looked up to me and this would make them think less of me and not respect me. If someone told me this now I would call bull shit on it, but at the time I kept quiet and let the ‘perception’ of me as an accomplished player carry on with my young players.
Grow your confidence through preparedness.
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Why I wasn't a good soccer player
I was 100% a perfectionist and that made me into an athlete who’s number one goal was not to make mistakes, not to mess up. Forget about being excited to play, my passion for the game was literally non-existent because I was so wrapped up in trying hard to fit in and be accepted and liked.
I'll never know exactly what type of player I could have been with a better mindset, more guidance and a lot more dedication on my part, but I do know one thing:
That passion I never had as a player? I have found it, AS A COACH.
Filling the knowledge gaps
Playing rec ball and school ball, I had coaches that, while wonderful adults, weren’t super knowledgeable about the tactical aspects of the game. When I think back, I actually literally remembering learning NOTHING about the game except the extreme basics (which was probably also due to my lack of investment, gotta take personal responsibility).
Through my countless hours of working to fill my knowledge gaps and grow my soccer IQ, I've developed a deep passion for the tactical side of the game - researching, watching and analyzing the game, eagerly absorbing all of the details I was never taught.
Running soccer practices
I have become a coach who really invests a lot of time into teaching my players the details of how to play together as a unit and most importantly the WHYs behind things. When players know WHY they are doing something, they are way more likely to get behind it.
Demoing drills at training
One advantage that former players DO have when coaching is ability to demonstrate well and SHOW players what they are talking about. This is a very valid point. So what should you do if you can’t execute what you are trying to get your players to do? My solution is to demo what you can and then ask capable players to demo the things you can’t.
Owning your story & being authentically YOU
Realizing that your potential is not limited by what other people think of you is so unbelievably FREEING.
In order to really connect with people you need to be vulnerable, honest and real. This is how you get magic to happen on the soccer field. When players know that you truly care and you’re truly invested in them, they’ll work their butts off for you and for their teammates. This is what being authentic does, it inspires others to be authentic and give their full selves over to the collective cause.
Your soccer coaching journey
There is not one definition, one description, of a successful soccer coach. It is 100% possible to not follow the traditional path into coaching and still find great success. Don’t underestimate yourself, don’t undervalue yourself either.
Hi everyone! I’m Jenn and I create content to help female soccer players and coaches maximize individual and team potential by developing healthy mindset skills. Join other subscribers and sign up for the newsletter for all my best tips and advice!
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Great motivation, however getting the chance is the problem because the bias is out there and is not going anywhere. We all know there are great players who make horrible coaches. And as you say there are potential coaches who followed other paths, perhaps other sports, who would be a godsend.
I have coached a number of seasons and I suppose it is all about tapping your network to get the next opportunity. If I approach a brand new club and on their applications they ask what is your highest level of soccer and those sorts of questions I know I will never get a look or a response. I feel like I am bumping my head against the ceiling sometimes because of this part of my history I can’t go back and change even though now I have pretty good technical skill and can teach it to others.
Hi Dave! Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I 100% agree with you, the path is definitely harder without the professional or collegiate playing background. And yes, unfortunately a lot of people still don’t get it and some clubs are going to be impossible to get into just via a paper application. It’s definitely about ‘tapping your network’ as you said. My biggest advice would be to get involved in coaching courses both to improve credentials and also to meet other coaches and directors and make connections.
Well I feel seen! I just signed my son up for a local rec team (Under 5) and no one volunteered to coach. I figured someone would be better than me. But I love football. I’m British (in Texas) and I’ve loved and followed Arsenal FC and the premier league since I was 8 or 9 years old. While everyone else was into boy bands, my bedroom wall was covered in Arsenal posters. I tried to play as a kid, but I was gutted when I realized I just wasn’t very good. So I stuck to watching it and being the best fan that I could be.
Well fast forward to today and I’m on the parent group chat asking if anyone has played or knows the game. Reading your article made me realize that if no one offered to coach, me loving the game might just be enough to make me the best option! Here goes nothing…
Yay! I am so glad that this was helpful to you. You will do great! At 5, they don’t need a professional player coaching them, they just need an investing, caring adult, it’s BONUS POINTS that you love soccer and know a lot about how the game works. Feel free to reach out if you need anything, I’m here to help!
Well I loved the article. I only played in High school some 30+ years ago. My daughter now 13 asked to play soccer for a local recreation group, and they were needing coaches. So I volunteered. I have never coached soccer let alone truly understand the how and why’s yet, but I work every day try to absorb something. Had to face that we have 60 under 17 players on our large group that have been broken down into 4 teams. They all practice together. And I am responsible for one team.
it defiantly feels overwhelming and I feel very out of place sometimes. Having coached other sports or lead men and women in the Military, I still isn’t like coaching Soccer and I have learned I love it!
With that said any and all suggestions websites training applications please feel free to help.