Hi Michael, are there any particular areas of psych/social you are interested in? and targeting any specific age groups? Or just interested in the subjects generally? 

Hi Tim,

I have recently started helping to coach an under 7s team. I'm interested in the subject as a whole, but given that "football is a game of mistakes", I'm particularly interested in helping players to cope with making mistakes and losing matches. Clearly these are a big part of the game, but most coaching that I've seen so far focuses on technical and tactical.

That's great! There are some really useful articles on the bootroom, here - https://thebootroom.thefa.com/resources/articles

Just type corner into the search bar and this will pull up articles around the four corner model, which includes the social and psych elements.
Hope that helps. 

Evening Michael,

great question

for me, we read a lot about start them young owning the ball, running with it

etc which are all really useful things,  but the emotional feelings they go through good or bad are really important.

If a youngster struggles with the winning and losing or making mistakes then that,  I feel would be on me. It’s my job to let them know that these things in the grand scheme of things are not a backward step

but a stepping stone to becoming a better player. To be able to coach in a personal way to a youngster is key so they trust what you say is to help them by not putting them in that position to fail too many times week on week.

Giving them practices where they can achieve more often than not, 

but also being honest with what they can strive for to get better at and giving them (at that age) options of how to do it but not constantly giving them the answers.

we all look to others for appreciation but youngsters generally look to the parents when they play, so getting them on side by not saying you should of passed, you should of done this etc will really help.

wether we say to them “it’s only a game don’t worry” even at that age has no meaning it’s how we can help them to rationalise it that will really help

all the best

lee

This is great that someone else wants to understand the emotional and social aspects around children participating in sports and the positive impacts this can have and how to support our children with a positive approach. I’m interested in this as a parent and am hoping to put together some information for parents/carers and children for our club. I did see some useful information during a training session with child and adolescent mental health services and am aware of cognitive behaviour therapy to enhance thought processes, the 4 corners webinar sounded brill but has sadly ended. Are they due to hold another and are parents (volunteers) able to attend these courses?  

Thanks for your response.  There is some good content in the Bootroom.

Hi Helen,

For what it's worth, here are some resources that you might find useful:

I have a copy of Coaching Psychological Skills in Youth Football: Developing The 5Cs.  It contains some interesting ideas, but there are too many drills and too few small-sided games for my liking.  Still, I think it's worth reading.

Episode 20 of The Soccer Coaching Podcast, "Managing Player Behaviour, a conversation with Phil Beadle" is excellent and well worth listening to.

I have ordered The Coaches Guide to Teaching by Doug Lemov.  It looks very interesting and it should arrive later today.

Fantastic!  I’ll have a look, thanks! 

One of the most practical books I have around sports psychology is "Raise Your Mental Game" by Richard Nugent.

Easy to read with practical, usable examples and a section for parents and players too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Football-Raise-Your-Mental-Game/dp/0713688793/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=12YEOPMK0V1RO&keywords=%22raise+your+mental+game%22+by+richard+nugent&qid=1659900163&sprefix=raise+your+mental+game+by+richard+nugent%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-1

Other book sellers are available.

Kind regards 

Steve