Posting questions from our Introduction to coaching football tonight. Any advice for working with players with ADHD?

We have a goal keeper with adhd. She loses her head at time and gives up. U14s girls. Any advice?

  • Hi Ciara, happy to help on this one. Also girls U14 with ADHD. I am very lucky of the three with ADHD one is super open about, as is her mum. We have deal, she (player) feeds back on sessions, worked what didn't (and importantly.. why & how) in turn I re run it, adapt to her suggestions and the other 2 drift in and join. We also have a player forum and she is in the leadership group. we don't view ADHD as a problem, bit of a cliché but more as a super power, she sees things differently and when she is concentrated, she things sees things much faster. Now she has found her voice (and we all want that in our GKs) she is increasingly analytical and vocal on the pitch. She makes good calls and the girls trust her more and more, in turn she raises her game. What I have learned from them, others in the family who have or work with ADHD, is that most common thing we see is a 'shut down' when processing becomes overwhelming. Sometimes that is switching off and sometimes it is kicking off, they don't know which it will be so you can't be expected to either. Some excellent FA resources but I'd start with a conversation with the parent to get a feel for the pattern of events then, if the parent and player are OK with it, have a good chat with the player and ask her to help you to help her. I am sure you will find that 'losing her head' and giving up are not necessarily linked. Hope this helps