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How to Address Bad Attitude

Stuart Thorogood

Just reaching out to the community for some advice, as others may have had similar experiences or challenges.

I currently coach an U10 team and this season i am on my own, as the other coach has moved on to our other U10 team. The team is made up of the same boys as we had last season, with three new additions. Admittedly, we have lost our three better players, two of which went on to join another team and another has moved up to our other U10 team.

The main issue within the group is attitude, which was something we didn't have a problem with last season.

For each match this season so far, the boys have been reluctant to do the three cheers at the end of the game, i appreciate that we have lost all of our games this season, but again despite defeats last season, the boys still did the three cheers, without issue.

The other challenge i have had is during the team talks between quarters, as well as before the game, when trying to get my message or points across, the boys are interrupting or not paying attention. This means the team not getting the right direction. I have had on occasions had to raise my voice and be firm with them, just so i can speak, which is not what i want to do.  

I also have a boy who is sensitive by nature and in each game this season, he has not wanted to go on when asked in the last quarters, for no particular reason. Interestingly, in today's game after saying he didn't want to go on, he didn't mind taking the ball and mucking about with the other subs on the pitch behind us, go figure?

In respect to the issues about team talks & three cheers, i have communicated to the parents about this and they are in support of the message that the boys need to improve. I have also re-iterated the message to them with their parents present. However, despite this, today's game showed me the boys have not really taken on board the message.

If any of you have faced a similar challenge, it would be great if you share how you overcome it, as i am looking for some advice for next steps. 

Thanks

Stuart

  • 0

    Hi Stuart, thanks for posting your message around the challenges that you are currently having with your current U10 squad.

    Firstly, please rest assured that all coaches within Grassroots football, have these types of issues in one way or another at some point during their coaching journey.

    Having coached my current U14 boys' group for the past 6 years, I will try to unpick a few things and hopefully provide some 'top tips' from these recent lived experiences as well as my former profession as a Secondary school PE Teacher.

    Naturally, when stronger players move on, this is going to create a void. However, see this as an opportunity to give other youngsters game time. Try to focus on the long term development of your group as opposed to short term results and score-lines as at U10 age and stage, there shouldn't be any explicit league tables and results published. This is a deliberate strategy on the part of The FA/England Football Learning along with County FAs and Leagues. Therefore, think about planning a few sessions linked to match-days which have more of a social/ team building focus, with individual challenges linked here  eg: try to praise one of your team-mates 3 times in tonight's practice session or today's matchday. When having 'team talks' then shine a light on those children who have done this particularly well: I refer to this as 'catching them in rather than catching them out.' 

    One of my themes at this age group was: 'Try to use the 3Cs to help us play well as a Team.' By linking practice sessions and matchdays together over several weeks, drip feed in the concepts of Communication (positive comments and good listening), Cooperation (working well in pairs, small groups, whole team/squad) and Collaboration (trying to achieve a specific aim together eg: create a shot on goal for a team-mate. Note, don't tell the children what the 3Cs are, allow them to explore, maybe giving clues by you praising really good communication consistently during part of their practice session.

    Re children not listening too well, there will be times when we have to correct behaviour and remind about expectations. However, let's not forget that they are children, attentions spans are short and we only have them for limited time for practice sessions and match-days. Therefore, experiment with the use of team-talks during practice sessions eg: if your session involves several small sided games, allow a 90 second maximum team talk in their small groups to identify 2 things they are doing well and 1 thing to improve; at Primary school, teachers will often frame this as 'stars' and 'wishes'. As you are coaching alone (as I do), ask a few parents to supervise these brief chats to help the children stay focused with the aim of everybody being included. Linking to match-days, during quarter times allow the children to 'lead' the talk, again sharing what they think the team are doing well. I use the concept of the 'ball is the power' meaning give a ball to 1 player who is the only one allowed to talk at this point - he/she has the 'power'.... don't forget to thank the children for listening, if they do this well.

    Finally, re the child who preferred to 'kick around' with his mates as opposed, trust me I've had this too. Allow him/her to do so and then pick up a quiet chat with parent afterwards. There might be lots of reasons why this child is lacking confidence or it might be that they simply enjoy 'informal play' more than 'serious' game time. If that's the case, next time he/she is on the pitch ensure you adopt a positivity and praise approach wherever possible, with body language and verbal comments.... again catching him/her in rather then out.

    Let me know how you get on with any of these ideas. In the mean-time, keep up the good work.

    Regards,

    Vinny Halsall

    Physical Education Offer & FA Grassroots Development Team